The Indie Experience
November 17, 2008
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 9, Issue 40
To subscribe, click here
-- Media Partner --
1. Indie Beauty: Connect, Collaborate, Succeed @ Our Social
Media Site!
2. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
3. New at the Blog: The Media is You!
4. Featured Indie Business Radio Show: The Riches Are
in the Niches
5. Indie Candy: Hollybeth Anderson :: Hollybeth's
Natural Body Products :: Georgia
Indie Beauty Ritual: Home For The Holidays Botanical Scents
1. Indie Beauty: Connect, Collaborate, Succeed @ Our Social Media Site!
If
you're a member of IBN and you haven't checked out the
new site, you're missing out on tons of great discussions, blog posts,
questions, answers, photos, videos and tips. Thanks to these Indies, whose recent
contributions are hot topics of discussion right now!
- Kelli Parisian (Parisian's
Pure Indulgence) on adding value to your customers' experience
- Jill Jones (Bidwell
Botanicals) shares fantastic handmade holiday gift ideas (look out
Martha!)
- Debbie Chialtas (Soapylove)
offers tips on hosting a great soapmaking workshop
If you're not a member, once you join the Indie Beauty Network, you can join the fun and collaboration right away!
Not quite ready to take the "real" beauty business plunge? Then the Indie Beauty Academy may be for you. Our first teleseminar is tomorrow: Top 10 Things You Need to Know to Be Successful in the Indie Beauty Business. Enroll in Indie Beauty Academy here. For those who are not quite ready to step up to the business plate, our new Indie Beauty Academy is a good place to get your feet wet and decide if the beauty business is for you. It's free! Check it out here!
2. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
Welcome Renewing Members!
Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy | Alan and Penny
Keay | Minnesota
* Member since December 2004. We provide 100% Pure
Therapeutic essential oil for use in aromatherapy. We have developed our own BHH
Massage Oil blend for use by massage therapists. Several essential oil synergy
blends are available for a wide range of health concerns and massage
applications. Free consultations provided. Unscented personal care products are
available for personalize scenting.
Vim Essentials | Noelle Katai | California
* Member since November 2005. Founded by a Certified
Aromatherapist, Vim Essentials, LLC is a lifestyle and aromatherapy products
company. Designed for mind, body and spirit, the distinctive product line
includes decadent body butters, mind-blowing shower & bath gels with no
harsh surfactants (no sodium laurel/laureth sulfate), sheet & environment
mists, exotic bath salts, silky creams and lotions, facial treatments, mists and
lip balms. Ingredients are the best of nature from around the world.
Cosmic Tree Essentials | Elizabeth Thompson | Canada
* Member since November 2006. We offer personal care
essentials hand crafted from beneficial botanicals and minerals chosen with your
general well-being and the Earth's sustainability in mind. We emphasize raw,
organic and fair trade botanicals that have been used through the ages and stood
the test of time. All our products are vegan, including our truly cruelty-free,
synthetic mineral cosmetic brushes.
HPO Spa Treatments | Debra Small | Missouri
* Member since November 2006. HPO Spa Treatments is a
natural alternative to hair and bodycare, combined with therapy for everday
living. All products are made with the highest quality, clean ingredients
ensuring high potency and optimum results. We have a full range of products for
all textures and types of hair. Our products are great for sensitive skin.
Welcome New Members!
Oasis Wellness, Inc. | Martha Gandley | New
Jersey
* A massage and wellness center to heal and revive you.
Second Sight Essentials | Julie Schroader |
* We produce a wide array of aromatherapeutic products for immediate
consumer use. We ensure superior quality and effectiveness by using only the top
3% of each season's essential oil yield.
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!!
Serving Up Good Service: a simple 3-step approach to profitability
3 People Who Will Destroy Your Business: this post is getting lots of comments and feedback!
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. Featured Indie Business Radio Show: The Riches Are in the Niches
Featured
Indie Business Radio Show: The Riches Are in the Niches
There's a lot of talk about the state of the economy these days, and how it's affecting small business owners. I am hearing from a lot of Indies who are feeling the pinch and having to make adjustments.
In my opinion, this is no time to give up on your business. The poor economy will not last forever. Don't you want to be here when the good times start rolling again? I do, and I want you to be here with me. So today, I'm featuring a show about the importance of having a niche. In tough times, it's critical to return to your roots -- your niche. Engage it, water it, nurture it
Susan Friedmann is the author of Niches to Riches: How to Make it Big in a Small Market, offers tons of tips in this show to help you make sure your niche is secure and to tap into it deeply to sustain positive business growth in any economy.
Enjoy my interview with Susan today by clicking here.
-- Media Partner --
5. Indie Candy: Hollybeth Anderson :: Hollybeth's Natural Body Products :: Georgia
Hollybeth
Anderson owns Hollybeth's
Natural Luxury in Decatur, Georgia. But that's just what she's doing
right now. Hollybeth spent the first part of her professional on an airplane
as an international business development executive. She has lived in 50
countries throughout Europe and Latin America and feels more comfortable
speaking Spanish and French than she does speaking her native English. Some
people call her the southern gypsy, but with the start of Hollybeth's
Natural Luxury last year, it looks like those days are over. Here's a little
about how this international jet setter found her second wind making eye
creams and sugar scrubs.
When did you start your business and what was the inspiration for it?
I have been blessed to see the world. This past year is the longest I have stayed in the United States without leaving in my life. I thought I would go through withdrawal but I am happy to say I haven’t. I started making eye cream because I was addicted to eye cream. While living in a Spain a friend’s mother told me to always use eye cream and for some reason it stuck. I would have friends over for dinner and red wine and after eating, we would concoct different recipes for cream. I would always forget the recipes for the best one we made.
My friend Laura Brown, who also helps me with media outreach, actually
helped me realize why I love making beauty products. She observed that it
takes me back to my roots, and that it all started with my Grandmother. She was so right and I never even thought about it until she said
it. My grandmother and I would walk through the woods and she pointed out to
me all the plants and herbs. We would sew all my clothes; we would knit and crochet and cook. She was a fabulous gardener so I even went with her to the cannery to can all the beans and tomatoes we had in the garden. So in certain ways, working with essential oils and organic ingredients is going back to the earth….my roots.
A year and a half ago I started focusing full time on the business, i.e. with no other source of income. I did this because my life changed
dramatically in many ways at once. My father passed away in my arms. My grandmother passed away the day after my mother was diagnosed with cancer.
One of my best friends passed away. I turned 50. Clearly, it was time for reflection; so I
decided to make my hobby into a full-time business.
What's so special about Hollybeth products?
Our products are made from our own handmade, personal recipes using certified organic ingredients.
How many retail outlets and spas are Hollybeth products in?
30 and growing!
What's new at your business these days?
A representative from the one and only Victoria Magazine strolled aimlessly up to my booth at a trade show not too long ago and started talking with me. We're going to be featured in the March issue and I am over the moon about that! We also have press coming out in Lucky Magazine (2nd time), Cottage Living and Southern Living during one of the winter months.
Who helps your business be successful?
Jeanne Taylor and her team at Designing Solutions are geniuses, not only are they artistic but so logical and professional. This business would not be where it is today without them. My friend and neighbor, Dee Jay is the queen of numbers and has helped make the creams, trade shows, you name it she has done it! Laura Brown is the Media Guru and fabulous writer, also I think she is part therapist or psychic – she sees things I would never see. So without these three talented female friends and colleagues, we would not be here today. Also, my family and friends have been here for me throughout.
How do you market your products?
In 2008, I did far too many trade shows. Now I will only do 4 per year, if that. We also have online sales. My main marketing strategy: sell all the time and always talk with people.
What tips can you offer others who are thinking about starting a business?
Go with your gut. If I had listened to everything everyone told me and/or believed it I would NEVER be doing this! I met a lovely young lady who does the same thing I do who is completely debt free. I so admire and respect her for that! I have actually been approached by investors but have backed off from considering that for now. I will give myself another year and see what it brings before I seriously consider investors. I have to say that I have not been as wise as I would have liked with credit cards.
What business book have you read that's been especially helpful to you?
A couple of years ago while doing this as a hobby I bought 2 books that are the best out there: The HandMade Beauty Cookbook (this book is no longer in print) and Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox .
What are the biggest challenges you face as an Indie and how do you overcome them?
My biggest challenge in the beginning was overcoming the fact that a friend who created my logo thought the company should be named after me. I took everything so personally, i.e. in the beginning if someone didn’t like the cream and/or smell I was devastated. Now and I am so proud of what we do, and I have the confidence of knowing that there are legions of people who love what we create.
When you're not working, what can we find you doing?
Right now, I am a full-time caretaker for my elderly mother. Also, I am looking forward to meeting Husband #2, but I don't know where he is yet. I also enjoy gardening, marathons and reading. I love to travel. I still have more countries to see!! Not that I am counting but I’ll be 51 soon and I've only been to 50 countries (I only count the ones I have been in for a week or more). S have to make 51 countries next year – would LOVE to go to Mongolia or Bhutan.
What are your annual revenues?
Wow… Honestly can we wait till next year for this question? I am not trying to avoid it – just that we are not where I would like to be – maybe can we say we have not hit a million….. yet? HA!
What's on the horizon for Hollybeth?
We recently put down on paper the following items and for some reason it made me so proud of what we are doing! Our mission is to create luxurious body products from natural and organic ingredients and to play our part in making this a better world by donating to charities that make a difference to us all and above all to support fair trade practices while achieving our goals.
We will invest considerable resources in the near future living out our
code:
- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
- Practice what you preach both in and out of work – conserving our environment – recycling and respecting the planet.
- The Customer is always right.
- Fair Trade is as important as organic.
- Always be honest.
- Take responsibility and initiative – we are all in this together.
· Cleanliness is our main guideline
· Source locally when possible to lessen our carbon footprint
· Source only certified organic where possible
- Recycle all that we possibly can
· Packaging in glass and sfi certified boxes
What do you think of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008?
Oh my!! I will try to practice the 3 B’s like my Dad taught me, be brief, be precise and be gone.
Here goes. As Americans, we have been blessed to have the opportunity to start our own businesses. As a small business owner, the added FDA fees coupled with existing costs would be staggering for all of us. I would much rather have a company spend
money on product development than on governmental fees. If the real goal is
to help consumers, I feel that maybe more funding needs to go to areas that are already in place but not
regulated.
It concerns me that the law appears to be taking away the privilege of being a small business owner – it almost seems a tad socialist - the imposition of added fees/costs.
I wonder if the genius creator of Aveda, and other brands that started in a kitchen or a garage would have been successful had they been burdened in the beginning with this gloom and doom of this kind of legislation.
(Sign our Petition Opposing FDA Globalization here!)
This is Indie Candy, so if you were a brand of candy, what would it be and why?
A marshmallow, because I love them. They are fluffy and great with sweet things I love, including peanut butter and chocolate.
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.
