The Indie Experience
February 16, 2009
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 10, Issue 3
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-- Check out our new Apprentice Program for startups! --
1. A Note From dM: ... And the Good News Is!
2. Featured Indie: Least Likely To Breed (LL2B)
3. Pick & Click: Choose your fun!
Make It Yourself!: Orange Nail Gloss
1. A Note From dM: ... And the Good News Is!
I am a news junkie. I guess it goes back to my days of majoring in
Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations when I was in college. Both of
those fields have changed a lot since I was trained in them, but the basics
are still the same, boiling down to the sharing of news and information of
interest to people who are interested in you and what you have to say.
Today, the organized sharing of information is at the center of any successful business. Of course, products and services being sold must be top notch, but no matter how good they are, if the news of their relevance is not shared with a group of people who care about them, then they are just nice products on a shelf. That's why I was so excited to spread the news about Indie Rachel Lane on last week's Indie Shopping TV. Rachel (pictured with me and armfuls of her wonderful products) owns Barcelona Bath & Body in Grapevine, Texas. She makes soaps, sachets, 100% soy candles and room sprays. She's also planning to launch a line of bath and body products later this year. It's a good thing too, because the good news is that industry reports say that the personal care industry is going strong, despite the economy.
Sales of Personal Care Products Continue to Shine!
I read a report in the February 11 issue of Global Cosmetics Industry Magazine that said that skin care products are expected to provide strong opportunities for growth in the coming years. Baby boomers seeking anti-aging products and an ever expanding variety of flavors and fragrances are forecasted to keep things headed in a positive direction, even though economic times are kind of uncertain right now. This is good news for the Indie Beauty business and good news for consumers because it means they will continue to be able to choose from a vibrant selection of innovative personal care products.
No matter what you sell -- beauty products, merchant account services, shoes or coffee -- sharing insightful information about your products with the people in the "public" who care about them will be the key to your success. It's not about buying ads targeted to the masses. That's the old way of sharing your news.
More Good News!
The more good news is that there are fantastic low- and no-cost new technologies that help you connect with people in genuine, authentic ways. Whether its in an advertisement, a blog, a video, an audio stream, a Tweet or a comment at someone else's blog, be relevant, be consistent and don't let up. There's an interesting conversation at my blog on this topic, and you can see that there is more than on way to get the word out. You might find some interesting ideas you can incorporate into your business in that post and the comments. Feel free to share your experiences too.
What are you waiting for!!? Your public is waiting!!
As always, I invite you to join me and over 1,200 people at our social networking site! There's lots to see, do, share and learn. All are welcome as our guests and Indie Beauty Network members are happy to welcome you as our guests! If you have suggestions, feedback or questions about how I might serve you better, please do not hesitate to send me an email message to donnamaria @ carolina dot rr dot com.
Thank you for having me again this week. I hope you have a fantastic week as you also enjoy your life, build your business and have your way!
-- Media Partner --
2. Featured Indie: Leigh Stephens of LL2B.com in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I
met Leigh a little over a year ago when she and her company,
LL2B.com (short for "least
likely to breed") first joined IBN.
I was impressed with her creative balms and the light-hearted way she
ran her business. LL2B stands for "least likely to breed," and I have always
wondered what that meant. Now, the mystery is solved! Leigh is a 32-year old
Indie, wife and mother of a beautiful baby girl and a thriving business! I
know you will enjoy some of Leigh's story.
How did you start your business and what was the inspiration for it?
I started planning my business about two months after my daughter was born. I launched on September 1, 2007. My first product was a diaper balm, so I guess you could say she was the inspiration for the business. The name, "least likely to breed"started as a joke. My friends and I put off having kids for a long time. Most of us never even considered having kids at all, so we said we were the least likely to breed people in the world! Eventually, 8 of us got pregnant and had babies in 2007. It was quite a phenomena! And that's the story behind the name.
How did your professional background help prepare you for launching your own venture?
I'm a bit of a free spirit and so my background is quite varied. I am a certified massage therapsit and I have a degree from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. I'm very artsy I guess you could say. I was a pastry cook for several years while working my way through school. Later, I became a project manager for a private art collection, then later still, an independent arts consultant. I helped my husband found and co-direct BaseKamp Gallery, a non-commercial studio and exhibition space whose primary focus is to participate in the creation, facilitation and promotion of large scale collaborative projects by contemporary artists.
What are some of the things you did in advance of starting your business that have helped make it successful?
I've had a number of successes and so-called "failures" up to this point so I just see my business as one more facet of my life. I'm very curious, I love to research and I'm good at making things so it seemed to just naturally come together. I have to say that I feel like I'm not really setting a good example as I whipped it up in under a month. I didn't really have any sales expectations at the outset - I was just enjoying what i was doing. Because, I'm an artist I started strong with the branding and I believe that has stood me in good steed overtime.
Who helps your business be successful?
My husband watches daughter and helps my label lips balms. That ... and most of my friends have big mouths and are happy to share the love far and wide :)
How do you market your products?
So far it's just online and word of mouth - I've only taken out one print
ad (and that was a flop) so I'm just on the "go with the flow" marketing
plan.
What is your most popular product and why do customers tell you they
like it?
I have two rather distinct lines - custom lip balms and the baby & mom balms. People like my "Bad A*s Booty Balm." They say it works well and cleans up nicely. Also, I'm shamelessly fond double entandre so all of my baby and mom balms are very distinct and really stand out in a crowd.
What's new and exciting with your business these days?
I
was contacted by the Director of Events for Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to
make lip balms for an event during the Inauguration! We made 1,000 lip balms
-- see some pictured at left -- for the Democratic party. I was thrilled!!
In other news, we recently opened a retail store. We don't really have hours yet. We're located on Main Street in Souderton, Pennsylvania. Hours are by appointment since I design my schedule around my daughters needs. Call us at 215-206-5612 to arrange for a visit.
What forms of social media do you enjoy using?
I'm not much it in part because I consider myself a shy person. I love talking to kindred spirits! But, the amount of time updating, and "grooming" that is required is a bit exhausting for me. I do have a Facebook and a Flickr account but I don't update them very much.
What book have you used that has helped you start your business off on the right foot?
Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069 by Neil Howe and William Strausse. While not a business book per se, it continues to capture my attention. I think it's helped me put in place a loose conceptual architecture of the business and helps to clarify my position when speaking to my generation. So, ultimately I see it a great business communication tool.
What do you think are the best things about being Indie?
One of the many things I like about being self-employed is that I don't have to ask permission to try new things, or try to convince someone else that I can do something. If I think I can do it, it's up to me to make it happen. There's such freedom in that!
How did you discover the Indie Beauty Network, and do you enjoy your membership?
I was researching liability insurance options when I found the Indie Beauty Network. I love it! I have not been using the network to it's full potential to be sure (like I said above I have a hard time managing multiple social networking sites, real life and getting all my orders squared away) - but everyone I've met has been absolutely lovely and supportive. I'm Indie all the way and believe that working for myself is the only way to go. I love setting my own hours and hanging out with my daughter whenever I want to or need to.
What other tips do you have for others starting a business?
Research, know the odds even if you don't want to accept them, acknowledge your weak points. Get a CPA you trust and work with them through the year - not just at tax time.
What has been your biggest Indie Business challenge so far, and how are
you overcoming it?
Managing distribution channels, protecting intellectual property and attorney type stuff. I've had a few opportunities and bumps in the road that made me wish I had done some things differently. Fortunately, I have friends who get paid to do that kind of stuff and who have been very generous with advice. Yet I still I feel conflicted about acting on advice and things that I do not fully understand.
What are you doing when you're not working in your business?
I used to travel a bit, but ever since the baby and the business I'm usually always working. But I do like to go hiking, I love England and try to get over there as much as possible. While there, I like to read and research. Oh! And get some wonderful massage and bodywork. It's the best!
What do you think of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008?
From what I understand of it, I'm against it. I would like safer cosmetics - that is why I buy handmade, but paying a steep yearly fee and wiping out cottage industry is not the way to go.
3. Indie Happenings: Connect, collaborate and have fun!
New @ Indie Beauty: Our new social site now has well over 1,200 people, all of them thirty to connect with people who make and sell natural, handmade, artisan, Indie products. Here are some of the latest activities, discussions and fun things to do at the site:
- Connect With These Hot Indie Topics of Interest
- Join the Conversation around Hot Indie Topics and Fun Things
to do
- New video featuring Lisa Price of Carol's Daughter
- New events, including tomorrow's members only IBN sponsored teleseminar on how to take your own product photos
- Indie Member sponsored events, including Margie Zable Fisher's Facebook teleseminar and Jamila's seminar on using virtual assistants in your business.
- Indie Members have posted over 1,000 photos at the site (have you added yours??!) and several fun videos
Indie Business Radio Show: The studio was closed today for the holiday, but next week, my guest will be attorney and business growth expert Andrew Sherman. Andy is the author of dozens of business books and his newest is Road Rules: Be the Truck, Not the Squirrel. This is a fantastic book about how trucks look at the big picture while squirrels run around chasing after little pieces of things, and eventually get run over by the truck. It's not that the truck is big, but the truck is focused and that, says Andy, makes all the difference. It's the perfect show for Indies, don't you think? Join us live at 1:00pm EST next Monday, February 26. You can listen to the show live at my radio show site, and if you want to listen and chat with other listeners at the same time, then join us at this chat page. (It's free of course, but login is required.)
Facebook: Join me at the Indie Beauty Network's new Facebook page!
Indie Cafe: We'll gather gain for another Indie Cafe next Monday night, February 23. Our topic, based on the radio show of the same day, how to be the truck, not the squirrel. In case you haven't joined us for Indie Cafe before, it's huge fun, where where Indie Business owners meet to let our hair down and have fun sharing tips and information to help us successfully manage home and business. From new media to how to juggle home and business, we cover it at the Indie Cafe. Click her to join us next Monday at 10:00pm EST for an hour of encouragement and uplift at the Indie Cafe.
Indie Shopping TV: Last week's Indie Shopping TV show was tons of fun, with Rachel Lane of Barcelona Bath & Body demonstrated her line of products in studio with me. I love doing the show, but I have to say that having a featured Indie right beside me on the set was absolutely exhilarating. Rachel is an energetic presenter and her products are so colorful! She showed off her sachets, handmade soaps (hand cut and hand beveled!), 100% soy candles and room freshener in 5 color coordinating scents. The 30-minute stream here. The edited version will be ready in a few days and I'l lbe sure to share that with you too! You can enjoy all of the Indie Shopping Shows at this link.
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 - 2009 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 newsletter 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.
