Mandi Cook shops at Real Deals on Home Décor while her 2-year-old son, Tyler, keeps himself occupied.

Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star

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How can a mom with four boys find the time to run a business?

Penny Peterson can answer that question. She discovered a franchise with the motto "2 Days a Week, 2 Good to be True" and was sold.

Peterson, 36, now co-owns Real Deals on Home Décor with her husband, Jeff, 40. The store opened in October in a shopping center on the south side of West Ina Road.

Jeff is an Air Force pilot who works at the store part time. "I'm the CEO, and he's the CFO," said Penny. She also has a friend who helps out occasionally.

Last May, a series of events motivated Peterson to buy a franchise. Her sister shopped at one of Real Deals on Home Décor's franchise stores in Utah and suggested she check it out.

Then Peterson's youngest son started school in August. She looked at the franchise Web site, visited a store in Mesa and jumped in with both feet.

The franchise model gives her the opportunity to fulfill the dream of owning her own home-décor business and still have time for her family. She spends about 25 hours a week running the business.

Opening a new business is stressful, and at times, Peterson had doubts about her decision. About a month before the store opened, Peterson had a serious "What have I done?" moment. By then, she had found the location, signed the lease and bought the stock.

A week before the scheduled opening, she had no furniture and all of her stock was on the floor.

"I wondered, how is this going to become a store?" she said.

The hard work paid off. Her husband built the counter where she rings up customers. The place overflows with themed decorative items ranging from Americana to French country. Lamps, statues, signs and pottery are displayed on accent furniture. Clocks, metal wall hangings and paintings cover the walls.

"The franchise encourages owners to come up with inexpensive and creative ways to display and section off different styles of home décor," said Peterson, who used old doors, desks, console tables and even industrial shelving to turn one large space into divergently decorated "rooms."

Customer Mandi Cook said she has bought baby shower gifts, house decorations and a birthday present for her father from Real Deals.

"I moved into a new house around the time she opened," said Cook, 26. "I love that it's totally affordable and it's such good quality."

Even Cook's 2-year-old son, Tyler, was interested in a glass jar on the counter. Or perhaps it was the candy inside that drew him.

"I come in here every Thursday because she has cute, new stuff," said Rebel Poole, 36, who bought beach décor for her bathroom. "The prices are crazy good."

Peterson said her best advertising method by far is word of mouth. Customers frequently bring in family and friends to shop.

"We provide one-of-a-kind items at true warehouse prices," she said. "There is nothing else like this in Tucson."