City life isn’t for everyone, but initially the Stafstroms took to it quite well. All the amenities were readily available—close-by neighbors, shops, exciting activities, and affordable, high-speed Internet access at home. This raised the bar for Robin Stafstrom’s online expectations of quickly checking her emails, updating her Facebook page, and monitoring her bank account.
Back to Their Roots
But the city couldn’t hold the family’s attention for very long. After 12 years of city dwelling in O’Fallon, Missouri, the Stafstroms decided to return to their roots—the country, which offered a calmer way of life and much more space. “The city just wasn’t the best place for us; we knew eventually we’d move back to a smaller town.” And, eventually they did, moving to friendly Elsberry, Missouri. “Here, driving though town, you’ll always see someone with a friendly smile or wave. This can just make your day.”
To Robin’s dismay, the broadband cable Internet access she had become accustomed to in the city wasn’t available in her area. For three long years she struggled to stay connected to her city friends through Facebook and emails using a slow dial-up connection. “The dial-up we had just wasn’t cutting it,” said Stafstrom, who acknowledged that the lack of highspeed Internet was one of the more difficult aspects of her transition. With dial-up, she couldn’t multi-task the way she had before, and downloading even one Web site was a chore. Fed up with dial-up, Robin began looking for an alternative. “I checked with all the typical major providers and not one came within five miles of our home,” she said. Stafstrom had almost resigned herself to living with dial-up, but she knew she couldn’t give up that easily. It wasn’t until attending the Lincoln County Fair that Robin discovered HughesNet® and Double S Cellular & Satellite.
Unlike terrestrial solutions, HughesNet® satellite broadband does not rely on cable or phone wires, making affordable broadband services available to consumers and small businesses everywhere, regardless of geography, at speeds comparable to DSL. The compact antenna needs only to have a clear view of the southern sky.
Superior Service
“I had heard about HughesNet and even a couple of my friends had the service, but I thought it was too expensive for my family,” said Stafstrom. With the help of HughesNet dealer Ailene Taylor, owner of Double S Cellular & Satellite, Robin learned that satellite Internet was actually a costeffective solution for her. With HughesNet, Robin could go back to her habit of using several Web pages at once and easily connecting to friends and family. “Ailene helped me to see the benefits of getting HughesNet and, after that, it was a no-brainer.”
Building a Business
With the faster connection, Robin is able to spend less time waiting for the Internet to load and more time working on something more important. And, thanks to HughesNet, Robin has been growing her flower business, Imagine That Florals and Gifts. “I’m able to multi-task now. I can connect with not only my friends, but my customers as well. I can upload photos quickly, which helps potential clients see our designs first hand. Managing my business has become less of a headache.”
Until now, Robin’s business had been limited to providing silk flowers for weddings and family events, but with her new HughesNet connection, she plans to expand it. Previously, Robin took most of her orders by phone, but now she is able to use HughesNet to accept orders over the Internet. “I’ve already bought my Web domain name and am looking forward to building and designing the Web site. The fast connection will give me the opportunity to grow my business in ways that I never thought I could with dial-up.” Robin has big plans for Imagine That Florals and Gifts, and HughesNet can help realize her vision.