 Featured in this article was a photo of Aleene's "family partners" starting with Aleene, followed by Dad [Woody Hershman], Vera Jackson [Aleene's mother], F. Murrin "Papa" Jackson [Aleene's father], Aleene's grandmother - known to us as "GG", Lois Epp [Aleene's aunt], Claude Epp [uncle] and Bill Jackson [cousin]. All of the immediate family members were involved in the Aleene's business at the time. At this time, Aleene also had three children under the age of 6 [Candace, Fred and Heidi]. |
Life Magazine The focus of the article was money-makers of a new era and the sub-title read: Despite taxes, they take risks and profit from own businesses. The article focuses on the "daydream of striking it rich in a business of their own" and featured six "adventuresome folk who take the risks of self-employment for the potentially richer rewards it holds." The article goes on to offer some interesting facts about Mom's business at the time: "... some, like 28-year-old Aleene Hershman, pyramid hobbies into profits. As a youngster in Los Angeles, Aleene used to slip out to florists' trash cans, pick up old posies and peddle corsages on Wilshire Boulevard. Four years ago [1949] Aleene lost $1,200 in a mail order business set up to sell corsage supplies, but a year later she came across some Formosan wood fiber, found it ideal for making artificial flowers and bought $12 worth. In 1952, selling the materials from which housewives and hobbyists can make artificial flowers, Aleene's Fibre and Floral Supply Co. grossed almost $1 million and took care of the employment problems of most of her family. " |
