Welcome to Aardvark Mall! It is a pleasure to share my story with you. The multiple purposes of this venture make it different from traditional e-commerce sites.
Let me begin by sharing with you the event that left me wondering how to handle the challenges now present in my life. It was June 25, 1995 that I was in an auto accident. The back and brain injuries from this accident, though considered mild to the doctors, presented major hurdles for me to overcome. My short and long term memory were reduced to 50% or less. Also affected was memory recall in the areas of education, experience and family. Two back surgeries and continuing back issues left me with mobility issues. It became evident that traditional work environments were not going to be good choices for me. Needless to say, I felt defeated and depressed as my personality was that of a perfectionist and that standard of measure was going to make life miserable! With the help of a neuro-psychologist I was able to accept the changes in my life and could face what the future had in store.
In July of 1999 my husband and I purchased a home computer. I had read information on using computer technology to rehabilitate brain injuries. Of course, it emphasized that the greatest success was with early intervention and 4 years had passed since my injuries. What I hadn't thought about was that my computer skills were lost and I would have to try to learn it all over again. The nice thing about computers, though, is they don't care if you ask it over and over for the same thing, which is a good thing because my learning curve was one big continual event! I began to see hope for using this tool to replace the income I had lost. This was made evident after I got on the Internet for the first time in my life! I must say that I was naïve. When the idea of Aardvark Mall came to me in a dream, I thought it was unique. Now I know that virtual malls are pretty common and stiff competition comes from replicated and club sites that offer them. However, I'm not sure how many have been created as a brain injury rehabilitation tool!
There have been several versions of Aardvark Mall since that initial Gourmet Aardvark web site was created. It has taken time for the dream to find the right web designer who could visualize the direction I wanted to take the development process, provide the level of service and have the patience to work with my communication issues and limitations! Now, through the cooperation of Ed Andrist at Paradigm Web Design, Aardvark Mall is evolving into a virtual mall to serve personal and business shoppers throughout the world! With the continued patience and support of my family and friends, the long hours of work involved in maintaining and growing this type of venture can continue.
So we have covered two purposes for Aardvark Mall, rehabilitation project and income creation. Perhaps my most important goal is also the hardest to achieve. You see, I would like to be an example of success to others with similar disabilities. Part of this success is simply from the creation of Aardvark Mall. However, for those of us who have lost the means to create an income, the other side of the success equation comes from becoming profitable. This is where you, the Internet shopper, will be so important to me! If you would remember to return here to shop and help me spread the word, I would be forever indebted to you! Remember that the nature of affiliations requires that shoppers enter the store through a link on Aardvark Mall. If you go from another site, I will not receive credit for any purchases you might make. So, I cannot over emphasize that you come to Aardvark Mall to go to the store, not through coupons or company e-mails, unless they are from me. I will develop a newsletter in the future and hope you will sign up to receive word when I get this phase started. There is a box to express your interest in this on the front of Aardvark Mall.
Finally, in my effort to give back in some way, I am working on a page called Public Service. This page will contain links to services and organizations to help people and causes. I wish I could do more than one page but the success of the mall will dictate how that will evolve. It is a connected dream to be successful enough to contribute to the causes. As Aardvark Mall becomes profitable, I will be able to support programs that are important to me. I believe that it is important to the world for us to give back as we can.
Folks, thank you for allowing me to share my story. I hope you will find your experience at Aardvark Mall is an enjoyable one.
In Appreciation,
Carol Braman, Owner
Aardvark Mall
Bella Vista, Arkansas 72714
