Tiramisutra.com started as a hobby to fund another hobby, wakeboarding, which unfortunately I have been too busy to do lately! The Web was a low cost solution to announce the 'shop's' presence over a year ago. It's low maintenance, but serves as a great store front, brochure and announcement board.

Through very kind word-of-mouth, and this virtual shop front, we are now kept busy. We are so severely short-handed around this time, that even with help from some family members, we are averaging 18- to 20-hour days.

Because of the festive rush, I can't check my e-mail as often as I'd like to…that's one of the main ways customers reach us, orders@tiramisutra.com

Since Tiramisutra.com is about the only 'shop' that we have for now, I do make it a point to reply to messages…even after a 20-hour day. I also rely on my mobile phone a lot. The business phone line actually gets re-routed to my cellphone when I am out running errands or doing deliveries. Phone re-routing is an essential function, as I am always on the go.

UPSHOT

We're looking to expand the business and may move our home-based business to a small factory space in February. As we grow, I do have dreams of fitting every one involved in the business with the newest-fangled handheld device so we can all access the most updated information, such as orders and customer contacts, on the go. What would be really cool is to have people doing the deliveries outfitted with one of those electronic gadgets, just like what FedEx employees have. I imagine we would then be able to update delivery schedules on the go and have customers electronically sign for deliveries instead of having printed paper delivery orders.

Vital stats

Julie Sim, 30, single, clocks up to 20 hour days in the days running up to Christmas and New Year's, making tiramisu creations like Chocomisu and Berrymisu, on top of the classic version.