The Wall Street Journal - December 14, 2004

Home-Sourcing Gains

"For others, the increased flexibility of working from home offsets any financial burden. [Willow CyberAgent] Esther Dejesus, an Orlando, Fla., insurance agent based at home earns between $3 and $4 an hour less than what she made as a manager at a company that runs citrus groves. Because her old job required a 140-mile commute each way, financially, "it's a washout," she says. On the other hand, working from home allows her to teach aerobics and care for her elderly grandmother."

“Office Depot will contract with WillowCSN Inc., a closely held outfit in Miramar, Fla., that manages call centers through a network of about 2,000 home-based workers.

“Chief Executive Officer Basil Bennett says its contractors already field calls for businesses such as Carnival Corp., Virgin Atlantic Airways and Verizon Communications Inc. He hopes to add 650 more contractors before year end, including many staffers laid off by Office Depot."