The Indie Experience
April 13, 2009
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 10, Issue 10
To subscribe, click here
-- Media Partner --
1. Lifestyle CEO Note: The more things change ...
2. Featured Indie Tip: You Never Know Who's Watching!
3. Pick & Click: Choose your fun!
Make It Yourself!: Lisa's Rose Milk Bath-Fresh Version
1. Lifestyle CEO Note: The more things change ...
It's
hard to believe, but I've been publishing this newsletter for nearly 10 years. (If you
haven't been a subscriber that long, you can see the very first issue
here. Yikes!) Through the years, I have
discovered that, while the details change, I still love reaching out to
touch you each week (well, nearly) to share what I'm learning with you and
to hear from you. I hope you are enjoying the
journey as much as I am. Lately, I've been making a few changes to
accommodate the expansion of my business. But even with the changes, rest
assured this newsletter will continue to bring you the informative and
entertaining news and information you have enjoyed for nearly a decade. Thank you for your patience as I
try different formats on for size. If you see something you love or don't
love, please email me. I
love to hear from you!
Last Saturday, I hosted Indie Business Breakfast: Charlotte. Our guest speaker was social media expert Jason Keath (pictured with me here). Jason shared numerous tips for using social media tools to support marketing campaigns. He reminded us that social media can be fun, but without a strategy, it can also be a colossal waste of time. In Jason's words, "Defining the value offering of your business, researching your target customers, and having a clear call to action can save people so much time down the road."
You can enjoy my Indie Business Minute summary of what Jason shared at my blog at this link. You can view photos from Indie Business Breakfast: Charlotte, and from the Georgia Spring Fling where I was the keynote speaker on April 4, at our new Indie Business Facebook Page. Upcoming Indie Business Breakfast in Atlanta, Washington, DC and Portland (with more to come) are also announced there, along with tons of tagged photographs of members and their products. If you'd like to host one in your city, email me.
Thank you for having me again this week. I hope you have a fantastic day as you also enjoy your life, build your business and have your way!
-- Media Partner --
2. Featured Indie: Dusty Warren :: The Bath Nook :: Tennessee
Last
year, I introduced you to Dusty Warren, a Premium IBN member who joined as
the CEO of JorrenCO Virtual Assistant in Teneessee. If you missed that
featured, you can enjoy it here.
Dusty had recently started offering her virtual assistance services and was
excited to join Indie Beauty because she heard so much about beauty products
companies who needed the convenience and efficiency of virtual help. The
problem was that, soon after she started working with people who made such
wonderful products, she became hooked and wanted to learn to make them
herself. Before too long, Dusty contacted me to ask if she could change her
membership name from JorrenCO Virtual Assistant to
The Bath Nook!
I encouraged Dusty to follow her heart, though I felt a twinge of sadness for the Indie Beauties who were going to lose a dedicated virtual assistant. (If you provide such services, let me know -- my Indie Beauties need you!)I love to follow the journeys of my members so I caught up with Dusty earlier this month to find out what she's doing and how her beauty business is growing. Here's a little of what she shared.
dM: When did you know that you had to transition from being a virtual assistant to another type of business?
Dusty: During the startup phase of the virtual assistant business in 2006, I began searching for a niche. Pretty much all businesses can use a VA, but I wanted a target market so I could stand out in a crowd and serve a particular type of customer. I focused on Indie beauty and handmade cosmetics and joined the Indie Beauty Network in 2008. I noticed that everyone who makes beauty products seems to be constantly in need of assistance so this sounded good to me. As I developed new customers, I also got to try their products. The more I did that, the more interested I became in how they were made and whether I could make them myself. I pretty much knew I wanted to switch fields even before I made my first batch of soap.
dM: When did you launch The Bath Nook?
Dusty: I took my time, doing lots of homework on ingredients and what people were interested in. Once I decided to take the plunge, I didn't waste any time. I immediately closed JorrenCO and launched The Bath Nook on October 1, 2008.
dM: What kinds of products does The Bath Nook sell?
Dusty:
Soap. It's pretty simple. I offer 5 scents: Oatmeal, English Rose, Lavender,
Sandalwood and of course Unscented. Oatmeal (pictured) is the most popular
by far because it's lightly scented so both men and women can enjoy it. It
also contains real oatmeal which is an exfoliant and helps to soften the
skin. In addition to fragrance, my soaps contain coconut oil, shea butter
and other natural ingredients.
dM: How do you compare being a VA to being an Indie Beauty product manufacturer?
Dusty: I have found that it's far easier to sell a product than it is to sell a service. With a product, at least if you're face to face, customers can see it, touch it and smell it. They can actually experience the value of a product personally before buying it. This allows people to be satisfied right there on the spot so it's only a short step to continue to positive experience and make a purchase. You can't do that with a service.
dM: How is your website coming along?
Dusty: It's very simple. I'm quite a perfectionist and I see so many other people like me trying to create these huge websites that are fancy but don't generate any sales. Since I'm just starting and working a full-time job and being a mom and a wife, I decided to keep it simple and set up a site that caters to my repeat customers. It's more important to me that my customers have an easy and efficient way to buy than to have a snazzy site right now.
dM: What's it like working a full-time job and running a business of your own?
Dusty: I work 40+ hours a week at my full-time job as as administrative assistant for a facilities manger at a large corporation.
dM: How do you market your products?
Dusty: I do almost all of my marketing locally. My goal is to get people to buy a bar or two of my soap and then go to the website to make a purchase. Most of my customers are friends and friends of friends who are spreading the buzz by word of mouth. I give away a lot of samples, then I follow up. When I do that, people almost always make a purchase. It works very well for me.
Dusty: My short term goals are to get better product labels, beef up the website and have my marketing materials professionally designed and printed. Long term, I want to begin getting my products into retail stores and salons and spas in my area.
dM: What is a favorite book you have read that has helped you with your business?
Dusty: Soap & Cosmetic Labeling Book, Marie Gale.
dM: How did you find the Indie Beauty Network and what do you think of your membership?
Dusty: I first found it when I was researching target markets for my virtual assistant services. Later, when I became a Premium manufacturing member, I discovered so many resources. There's always something for members to enjoy, from great educational audio teleseminars and coaching programs at the private members only site to the connections I make at the social sites. There's always someone willing to share and help you if you need it. I love that!
Dusty's story shows that you don't have to choose one thing for life (or even for a year!) and do that only forever. You can have different passions and skills at different times in your life, and pursue them at the right times for you. In other words, you can (and should!!) reinvent yourself! I also like seeing how she's growing her business in a logical fashion. Dusty has a plan. As a wife and mother of three children, ages 13, 15 and 16, and a full-time employee at a job as the administrative assistant to the facilities manager at a company in her town, Dusty is putting her administration skills to good use. Sorry! You'll have to get another VA now. (By the way, here's a good one!) Learn more about and buy some of Dusty's products at The Bath Nook.
3. Pick & Click: Choose your fun!
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.
