CNN Shines Spotlight On 2 Tulsa Businesses

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- CNN is in Tulsa profiling two local businesses experiencing success despite the economy in crisis.  SeekingSitters and Just Between Friends will be featured in a segment that will air later this year.

A CNN crew spent Tuesday morning immersing themselves in the lives of Just Between Friends founders Shannon Wilburn and Daven Tackett.  Shannon's children were taped playing Guitar Hero, and her living room was transformed into an interview set.         

The Green Country entrepreneurs will be featured in an upcoming business segment called: How We Got Started.

"The great thing about national publicity is that we have found in the past is that it gets our message out to every community," said Shannon Wilburn with Just Between Friends.

Also profiled is SeekingSitters, a Tulsa company that says it finds parents safe, reliable babysitters.  Since opening in 2005, it has expanded to 26 locations in 10 states.

Just Between Friends was launched in 1997.  The child and maternity consignment business now has 86 locations in 20 states.  Each franchise holds two events a year that allow mothers to sell their old clothes and buy new ones.  Its founders say the sales have become even more popular during these tough times.

"People that have never had to worry about money and purchasing things for their kids are now a little worried.  They're trying to save wherever they can," said Daven Tackett with Just Between Friends.

CNN says the ability to thrive during the recession is what attracted the network to SeekingSitters and Just Between Friends.

"Although in the good times, it was fun to have this business, now in this economy it's a necessity," said Daven Tackett with Just Between Friends.

Shannon and Daven say they enjoy providing a service they believe helps people who are trying to cut back and CNN appearances aren't so bad either.

"In 1997, if you had asked me my goals and dreams for the company, it could have never been this. I love it that we help people all over the nation," said Shannon Wilburn.

How We Got Started is expected to air on both CNN and CNN Headline News sometime in September.