The Indie Experience
November 4, 2008
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 9, Issue 38
To subscribe, click here
-- Media Partner --
1. A New Indie Beauty: Meet, Chat, Greet Have Fun @
Our New Social Networking Site!
2. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
3. New at the Blog: The Media is You!
4. This Week On Indie Business Radio: 5 Qualities of
Effective Leaders
5. Indie Candy: Jennifer Kirkwood :: La Dolce Vita ::
Georgia
Indie Beauty Ritual: Ginger Mustard Bath
1. A New Indie Beauty: Meet, Chat, Greet, Have Fun @ Our New Social Networking Site!
After
months of meticulous planning, I am pleased to announce the launch of
a new Indie Beauty! That's right, a website designed to make it easier for the 700+ members of the Indie Beauty
Network to network, do business and enjoy new media and collaborative
opportunities.
Our flagship site is Indie Beauty Network.com, and even though the domain has changed, everything else there is the same. It's still the place for you to go to join IBN, learn about our products liability insurance program, renew your membership, and enjoy the group coaching and other teleseminars. Here are some highlights of fun things at the new site!
- An Indie Brand Community area where you can connect one-on-on with your favorite Indie Beauty brands
- Fun videos on the home page featuring IBN member products and services
- Shop Indie! links that make it easy and fun to buy Indie Beauty products
- 20 lively Discussion Forums where you can talk shop about everything from PR and intellectual property, to packaging and cosmetics labeling and regulation
So what are you waiting for!!? Click here to join the Indie Beauty Business Revolution today!
2. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
Welcome Renewing Members!
Lotioncrafter | Jennifer Welch | Washington
* Member since July 2006; Lotioncrafter is a
wholesale supplier of fine cosmetic ingredients, packaging and equipment
dedicated to providing you with the best in customer service, fast shipping, and
after sale support. Featuring fine cosmetic ingredients, actives and
cosmeceuticals, preservatives, silicones, scales and formulating equipment.
Visit our website for accurate information on ingredients, formulating,
regulations and more.
Perianne Skin Care | Cora Michael | New York
* Member since October 2007; Perianne Skin Care is
environmentally adaptable skin care. We seek harmony with nature, and health for
your skin. Our practical, plant-based treatments are made with seasonal organic
ingredients. Giving you beautiful skin year-round.
Paradise City Herbals | Sherri Lee Pierce | Massachusetts
* Member since September 2006; You can feel good about my
handcrafted organic herbal bodycare, soaps, perfumes, and incense. I use herbs
fresh from my own garden and never any synthetics, chemical preservatives, or
petroleum products. All the ingredients are natural and are listed on the label.
Vegan blends available. And of course, there's never any animal testing.
Everything I make is tested by volunteer humans and is unconditionally
guaranteed. Packaging is reusable and / or recyclable. Also featuring bulk
herbal supplies you need to DIY!
Patti's Potions Natural Soaps | Patti Eder | Wisconsin
* Member since April 2005; Patti's Potions is your reliable
source for natural, handcrafted, environmentally friendly soaps, lotions, balms,
and home fragrance products. This is a woman-owned and family-run business.
RAESIN Images Mineral Cosmetics and Skin Care | Rae Kat
Switzer | Tennessee
* Member since October 2004; RAESIN IMAGES Mineral
Cosmetics that ROCK! We carry over 500+ eyeshadows, including the famous Chiffon
Eyeshadows, high pigment, crease resistant, delivering exceptional wearability.
Especially designed for women of all ages who genuinely care what goes on their
skin. Personal consultations from KAT Switzer, 17 year freelance makeup
artist/image consultant.
Southern Soapers Fragrances | Kelly Bloom | Virginia
* Member since October 2007; Southern Soapers Fragrances
supplies soapmaking supplies, soapmaking kits, and fragrance oils suitable for
all soapmaking processes as well as candles. All our fragrances are skin safe
and IFRA certified. Southern Soapers supplies quality bath & body
formulating supplies and ingredients. Additionally, you will find unique
packaging solutions unavailable elsewhere.
The Aromatherapy Shoppe | Cheryl Teets | Virginia
* Member since October 2007; Fine Line of Handmade
Products. Olive Oil Soaps, Bath Salts, Aromatic Spray-n-Spritz, and Balms made
Naturally for You.
The Greek Goddess | Alexandra Pacella | California
* Member since November 2006; 100% Hand Poured Soy Candles.
miSPA | Mimie Wong | California
* Member since October 2006; We offer wholesale &
retail of our unique, harmonious line of rice-based skincare inspired by the
Asian time-tested beauty regimen. mi™, is the solution to youthful, radiant
skin. We blend the finest essential oils, exotic butters, aromatic fragrance
& natural herbs with rice bran oil & other rice extracts to indulge skin
in pure bliss. Our exclusive formulas REJUVENATE, RENEW & RELAX mind, body
& soul. The result is a complete collection of simple & pure handcrafted
SPA body care that takes the mystery out of healthy, glowing skin.
B.Soapure | Hendrika Terelst | New York
* Member since September 2005; Pure skincare.
Christina's Candle Lights | Christina Baldenchini
| North Carolina
* Member since October 2007; All of my candles are made by
hand in my home studio. I use only the finest waxes, wicks, scents and jars.
Your nose can tell the difference!
CT River Candles | Brenda Hunter | Connecticut
* Member since October 2007; CT River Candles makes Hand
Poured Natural 100% Soy Container Candles. The inspiration for these candles has
been the scenic Connecticut River. Each candle label features seasonal photos of
the river and the candles have been scented and colored with that in mind. We
currently offer a diverse variety of fragrances including bakery, floral, fruit
and holiday scents. We use natural dye in our candles however candle colors may
vary slightly by batch due to the characteristics of working with a handmade
product.
Evo Solutions | Gigi Targa | Colorado
* Member since October 2006; All natural, synthetic-free,
massage and body lotions, bath salts, and massage lotion holsters.
Kelphead Products | Janice Parks | Washington
* Member since July 2005; Our bath and beauty products are
all made with a touch of the sea. We use sea salts and seaweed powders and
extracts to bring those wonderful nutrients from the sea to your body. We
believe in keeping our products as close to nature as possible by using pure
essential oils and fine quality natural ingredients. We are also concerned with
the protection of our environment and the conservation of our natural resources.
Welcome New Members!
Joyful Bath Co. | Rochel Roland | Maryland
* Our luxurious, therapeutic bath salt blends are based on the ocean's
natural healing powers and inspired by bathing rituals and remedies from around
the world. Our natural ingredients include mineral rich salts from the
Mediterranean and Dead Seas combined with honey, buttermilk, ginger root, green
tea, oats, coconut milk and pure essential oils. No parabens, No preservatives.
No animal testing. No artificial colors or dyes. Pure, natural, and healingfor
men and women.
Witch Hazel | Kristin Brayman | New York
* Apprentice Indie.
Perfect Scents | Monica Roozen |
* Soap.
Neroli Rose | Carrie Gottlieb | New Jersey
* We manufacture the finest, all natural, skin care products for the face
and body using rare, shea butter from the Nile Basin and top, therapeutic grade
essential oils. Our creamy, skin care products are food grade and 100% vegan.
Katuri | Ruth Rose | Texas
* Holistic Serums produces treatments for the hair and skin to rejuvenate
using all natural ingredients.
Happy Face Dermaceuticals | Rob Streeper | Texas
* Happy Face Dermaceuticals in engaged in the identification,
characterization and patenting of natural products and extracts and derivatives
thereof. We provide professional consulting services as well as a range of
proprietary actives and finished products targeted to the cosmetic and
cosmaceutical marketplaces. We have a fully equipped laboratory designed for
natural products characterization. In addition, we offer professional consulting
services in these areas.
Body Systems | Teri Patterson | South Dakota
* Fresh ingredients and fresh products to fully utilize
nature's botanical bounty. Sample, retail and backbar sizes available.
BE NATURAL | Lydia McCaskill | Washington, DC
* Apprentice Indie.
ANDE Cosmetics | Andrea Frayser | Smithburg
* ANDE Cosmetics started making premium all natural plant based cosmetic
products for women undergoing cancer treatment. Since that time we have expanded
our line to provide plant based cosmetics for women of all colors and skintypes.
ANDE products are developed to improve your skin's appearance even after you
take your makeup off.
Soap Dance | Patti Ehaney | Wisconsin
* Soap Dance is a natural body care company located in Appleton,
Wisconsin. Founded in 2000, we specialize in natural, homemade soaps. We also
create other body care items including lotions, creams, fragrance mists, lip
butters and glycerin soaps. Our products can be found at local retailers
throughout the Northeastern Wisconsin area, my retail store, various national
outlets and at our local, seasonal farm market.
Learn more about Indie members and their exciting products, services and activities by visiting their websites through our Online Member Directory. You can search for your favorite Indie by state/country, business name, keyword or alphabetical listings.
3. New At the Blog: The Media Is You!
Here
are some current new and popular blog posts. Enjoy and feel free to make your
opinion known. And don't forget to leave your blog or website address so we can
learn more about you, your products and your services. Do you have something to
say? Post a comment and join the discussion!
(Video) The Media is You: enjoy the video about why and how you must be an effective media outlet for your business!!
Style and Substance as We Rock the Vote: the importance of both to effective leadership
So, Who Are Those Indies Anyway?: meet the Indies in the banner at our new site
(Video) New Indie Beauty Site Launch: enjoy the video to find out why I launched the new site!
A Prayer For Simple Gratitude: the importance of maintaining an attitude of gratitude
Want more great information to help you grow your business? Then click here to get my blog posts automatically delivered directly to you through our RSS feed. If you prefer email, provide your email address at the blog, upper right corner.
4. Indie Business Radio: Five Qualities of Effective Leaders
This
Week's
Show: The Encore Effect
Mark Sanborn is a leadership expert and the author of several books on the topic. He joined yesterday me for his second appearance on the show to talk leadership. He says there are 5 things effective leaders to do produce the encore effect that leaves customers and clients applauding and clamoring for more!! The show audio will be available at the site in a day or two. Meanwhile, part of the interview where Mark talked about the leadership qualities of Senators McCain and Obama in this blog post.
-- Media Partner --
5. Indie Candy: Jennifer Kirkwood :: La Dolce Diva :: Georgia
Jennifer
Kirkwood found the Indie Beauty Network earlier this year and called me right
away. I had so much fun talking with her. It was a bright spot in my day -- no
wonder now that I see her bright smile in a photo she sent me a few weeks ago
for this feature.
Jennifer, age 44, owns La Dolce Diva in Marietta, Georgia. When I launched the new site, Jennifer jumped in with both feet becoming one of the first to set up her Profile Page and her Indie Brand Community. Jennifer is wonderfully creative as you'll see from this Indie Candy feature. She shares a lot of what she's learned about business with us here.
When did you start your business and what was the inspiration for it?
As far as formal education outside of the beauty arena, I had a choice
between going into either advertising/graphic design or fashion design. I decided on fashion
design and eventually received a BFA from The Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
I majored in Fashion Design and specialized in Design Studio (Couture Design). I lived and worked in
New York for about 13 years. I wanted to be the next Valentino, but quickly found out that the money was in
mass markets, not specialty ones. I was asked to serve as an unpaid apprentice for the late couture designer, Geoffrey Beene, but I needed
to eat so I declined, and then fell back to my roots of playing sports and worked as a designer for an active athletic apparel company. I immediately started traveling the U.S. and Europe, shopping for trends and attending trade shows. That is when I fell in love with Italy.
I moved back to Atlanta in 1996, partly because I missed my sisters and my mom. I also started to realize that I wasn’t happy about who I was letting myself become.
I wanted to get ahead and improve the quality of my life. A turning point came the day I
fulfilled a dream and took my first horseback riding lesson. That day, I ran home,
called my mom called my Mom and told her I was putting my condo up for sale, moving home and buying a horse. And that’s what I did.
But I never forgot my time in Italy.
Wandering the cobblestone streets, palazzos, museums and countryside, enjoying the delectable gelatos, white truffle pasta and local Chianti, spending endless hours in tapestry and pottery shops, soaking up the flavor of “La Dolce Vita”, my love and appreciation of Italy continues to grow.
It was this love for Italy’s opulence, beauty and sophisticated style that inspired me to look for ways to share my passion with others.
After several years of attending wedding showers, birthdays, baby showers and numerous occasions of celebration, I realized I was always searching for that perfect gift ~ one that meant something.
So I decided to create a line of fabulous products that could be gifts for most any occasion ~ but not just ordinary gifts. My products would be beautifully packaged, wonderful quality and be inspired by Italy. I wrapped this all up into the iconic idea of the Italian Diva…but a sweet diva, not a self-absorbed one!
As I mentioned above, I am still a contract designer for a very well known golf company on the West Coast and a Junior/Cheerleading Company on the East Coast. Luckily, I work from home and can juggle my multiple lives.
My love is packaging, creating a theme, aesthetic and message. I designed all the packaging, logos and drew the diva head logo myself.
How many retailers carry your products nationwide?
I am currently in about 60 boutiques in the US, and just recently added a spa account in Beirut, Lebanon.
What's special about your products? What's your niche?
The Dolce Divina, Bella Divina and Cucina Divina Collections reflect my personal love of Italy, They are meant to whisk you away to a charming Roman café or a Florentine garden ~ if only in your mind ~ while still reminding you that friendship is what truly defines the sweet life.
The Palermo Luxurious Body Butter, pictured here, is from my Bella Divina collection. It smells of the intense bouquet of Sweet Pea Flower and will transport you to you seaside summer Mediterranean villa.
The packaging is the driving force of the line, instantly conveying elegance, whimsy, uniqueness and fun. The scents are both Dolce (sweet) and Bella (beautiful) to suit any diva's personality.
My products are meant to be a gift with a message. Bath and body products are the perfect forums to pass on a daily reminder of how fabulous you and your diva sisters are. Starting each day with a message of empowerment and having your senses transported to an Italian Garden or
Piazza. if only in your mind.
The Diva Mantra says it all:
You, my Sweet Diva, are smart, savvy, fun & fabulous!
You have a passion for life & living it with style.
Resilient & bold, you have the courage to chase your dreams & make them reality.
You can giggle like a girl or strut like a star.
You are true to yourself and your Diva sisters!
What's new at La Dolce Diva these days?
The most exciting thing right now is trying to build up my blog. It is really fun to see people subscribe and know that people are actually reading it. It is also a great distraction and creative outlet for me. It has re-energized me and my enthusiasm for my business and product.
How do you market your products?
I exhibit at The Atlanta Gift Show, have an online boutique and recently started A Diva’s Guide to the Sweet Life
blog.
I had some good product placement when I had contracted a PR firm for about 9 months. Ultimately, the return was not enough to validate continuing the relationship. But, that is not to say I don’t believe in hiring a PR firm, it is just difficult when you are small to utilize your funds wisely and effectively.
What tips can you offer others who are thinking about starting a business?
1. Keep your day job for as long as you can.
2. Work out of your home for as long as you can.
3. Surround yourself with friends and mentors whose opinion you value and trust. Even if you don’t agree, they may bring up options and considerations that will be enlightening to consider or be aware of.
4. Stop Tweaking: As a creative person, my first thought is always to tweak and redesign, that is my comfort zone. Well, that is not always
a problem, but you still can't just keep spinning your wheels tweaking.
5. Get out of your vacuum. What you are obsessing about may not be important at all.
6. Shop your competition. Know their prices and general product.
I try to learn from other similar businesses as much as possible, but always remain true to my own brand and why I started it. After all, to compare is to despair!
What do you love about being Indie?
First, the satisfaction of something that is my own creation. Second, the lifestyle. I love the flexibility of my own schedule. Third, the hope of the payoff down the line…the thrill of the chase.
How did you find the Indie Beauty Network and what do you think of it so
far?
The Indie Beauty Network has really opened up a whole new neighborhood for me. In addition to being informative and inspirational, I have been exposed to new media social networks such as Twitter, blogs and LinkedIn with built in friends from Indie. Instantly I was part of a “club”.
What are the biggest challenges you face as an Indie and how do you overcome them?
1.Getting and staying out of my own way.
2. Staying positive.
3. Juggling jobs.
I try to discipline myself to remember that my own mental health is as important as getting out that next order, or designing that next line. So, I try to ride my horse twice a week. He is my main luxury, but I would sacrifice a lot to keep him. When I ride, I can’t think of anything else. Besides the physical outlet, mentally, he keeps me semi-sane.
Who helps your business be successful?
I could not do this without my Mom. She is the one who knows me best and is able to keep me focused. My sisters and friends have all either helped me directly by working markets, building trade show booths, stringing jewels, smelling samples or endlessly listen to my every thought and concern without telling me to just shut up!
What is a good book you have enjoyed that has helped you build your business?
I really got a lot out of Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point . The book makes me watch trends more than normal and try to determine why something suddenly tipped into or out of success. (If there is really any explanation at all!) Another of Gladwell's books, Blink, reinforced my belief to trust my instincts and to have confidence in making split decisions.
When you're not working, what can we find you doing?
Horseback Riding, helping my friends decorate their homes and spending time with my family and friends.
What are your annual revenues?
In my first show, I “made” $500. My booth cost $3,000. Let’s just say I am doing much better with double digit % growth each year. But I don’t live off it-yet!
What do you think of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008?
I’m nervous. I am trying to move ahead, but I will not know what I am going to do until something gets decided.
This is Indie Candy, so if you were a brand of candy, what would it be and why?
SweetTarts. Because sometimes I’m sweet, sometimes I’m tart.
If you enjoyed this issue, please feel free to share the link with others! See you next week. In the meantime
Enjoy your life, build your business and have your way!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Indie Experience
The Indie Beauty Network | www.indiebeauty.com
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2008 by The Indie Beauty Network (IBN) and Donna Maria. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized distribution or reproduction is prohibited. IBN does not necessarily endorse any product, event or ideology featured in this newsletter or on IBN's website. All information is provided on an "as is" basis and no express or implied warranties are given. Any use of the information contained in this newsletter or on IBN's web site, including recipes, is solely at your own risk. IBN and Donna Maria disclaim any liability in connection with the use of all recipes, products reviewed and other information. Except for sponsorships, this newesletter refuses compensation from companies to feature or mention their names or products. Opinions expressed in any Product Review are personally those of the reviewer and do not represent the views of IBN, Donna Maria (unless she is the reviewer) or any other person or company.
