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WOMANS OWN Women Doing it Their Way July 2000 When Claudia Hanlin, 34, was planning her wedding five years ago in Cold Spring, New York, finding exactly what she wanted - from the cake to the photographer - proved incredibly time-consuming. So Claudia came up with the idea for a library that would offer one-stop shopping for the harried bride-to-be. "There are a lot of resources, like magazines, for brides, but all you get are listings," says the former strategic management consultant. Having spent 10 years helping Fortune 500 companies with their business strategies, Claudia knew exactly how to get started. She took a break from her consulting practice last year, and spent the month of July researching her idea. The library, which would be free to brides, would make money by taking commission from its suppliers. By August, Claudia found office space, lined up the companies that would provide services and products (like catering, music, and flowers), and opened her doors in Manhattan on January 1, 2000. By the end of that month, she had already broken even. Claudia sat down 250 brides in January alone. Brides-to-be residing outside of New York can call Claudia at 212-327-0100 for advice and party planner referrals in their area (or check out her website at www.weddinglibrary.net). "I love what I'm doing," Claudia says. "In this business, you make things happen for people and see results."
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