Nancy Heise worked with children as a nanny and daycare provider for many years. Her work with children was interrupted by several, devastating medical events that befell her during the past 15 years. Nancy currently manages kidney cancer and a non-related disability that left her physically unable to continue earning a living doing the work she loved, caring for children.
some of the art she has created as part of her Stevens Point-based business. (Photo courtesy of Splendid Photography by Serena, splendidphotographybyserena.com)
Despite her hardships, Nancy was determined to become a self-sustaining business-woman rather than to depend on
family, friends, volunteers or public assistance for support. “I refused to accept a state of poverty and encourage folks to
strive to achieve their goals despite their circumstances,” said Nancy.
Nancy began working with the Social Security Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program to start her own business developing new children’s products including the recordable story book, recordable stuffed animals and an innovative newborn swaddler. The products were successful, but were taken over by larger companies. As Nancy’s products lost their market share she was again thrust into poverty.
Undaunted, Nancy began looking for additional opportunities to use her design talents and creativity to provide something of value to children. With assistance from CAP Services’ Business Development program, Nancy started her own business, Whimsical Walls by Nancy, in the fall of 2012.
Located in Stevens Point, Whimsical Walls specializes in the creation of children’s graphic art using a variety of art mediums including hand-drawn line-art, paper piecing and computer-generated design elements. Whimsical Walls offers
more than 200 unique art pieces which can be printed and mounted for sale as children’s graphic art. Nancy’s art
work is currently available online at Etsy.com under the name ”Wallafun”.
Throughout the summer of 2012, CAP Services worked with Nancy to develop a comprehensive business plan focusing on the creation and marketing of unique graphic art designs that appeal to children. CAP also provided Nancy with a small loan for start-up working capital in November of 2012. As her business grew CAP provided an additional small loan for inventory in April of 2013.
This summer Nancy was invited to become one of the first 20 women worldwide to participate in the Walmart “Empowering Women Together” program, www.walmart.com/empoweringwomentogether. The Empowering Women Together program offers Walmart customers an opportunity to support small, womenowned businesses around the world through on-line purchases of their products at an exclusive section of the Walmart website called “The Store for Good”.
Whimsical Walls’ relationship with Walmart continues to grow. Currently, Walmart is pursuing the purchase of several of Whimsical Walls’ exclusive art designs for inclusion on the general Walmart.com online marketplace.