The Indie Experience
October 19, 2009
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 10, Issue 25
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1. Notes and Highlights From dM, the Chief
Executive Indie: Me? Make Excuses??!
2. Meet Our New and Renewing IBN Members
3. Where's dM?: Seminars and Events With dM!
4. This Week's Indie Business Radio Show: Christy Strauch, author of "Passion, Plan, Profit"
5. Featured IBN Member: Jim DeBetta :: Inventor's & New Products Consultant :: Georgia
6. Indie and Small Business Resources
7. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie: Dear Mr. Chairman ...
Make It Yourself!: Lisa's Rose Milk Bath - Fresh Version
1. Notes and Highlights From dM, the Chief Executive Indie: Me? Make Excuses??!
It's fall! My favorite time of year! The air is crisp and I can work out without getting too sweaty and gross. Speaking of working out, I am off my game! I have not been on a run in nearly a month. That is *so* not good. And it's not because of the weather either. It's because there's so much to do and my fitness routine just seems to always "move itself" to the bottom of the pile. I'm working on changing that (again). In the meantime, I have a few other things that may or may not qualify as excuses. I'm calling them "excuse-planations." LOL!
Excuse-plnation No 1: my children both have birthdays this month. That means lot of parties, lots of children and a bit more money than I usually spend, being the frugal mom that I am. One party down (last weekend) and one more to go. Whew!
Excuse-planation No 2: I have been tracking more and more pieces of proposed federal legislation affecting the small and independent business community. There's so much that I launched a new community blog just for Indies to monitor everything and collaborate on possible solutions. We cannot address everything individually, but our collective voices are another matter. Please watch the video (left) and then visit the blog to weigh in with your thoughts on how new laws are affecting your ability to be successful.
Excuseplanation No. 3: I finalized and faxed a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Monday, about the new FTC rules affecting bloggers and social media users like us!! The letter suggests that the new rules need to be changed to more accurately reflect our impact in the media world. You can read more about that below.
Excuse No. 3: I don't like to prepare to exercise. I like how exercise makes me feel and after a few minutes of it, I'm all good. It's getting there that's the problem. Anyone ever feel that way?
Anyhoo, I'm so glad to be invited into your email box this week. I hope you enjoy this issue!
2. Meet IBN's New and Renewing IBN Members
Joyful Bath Co. | Rochel Roland | Virginia
* Member since 2008. 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 healing for men and women.
Fuzzb | Sherri Baldy | California
* Artist Designed Bath & Beauty products and Fine Teas. We
create fine perfumes, handmade artists soaps, lotions, bath products,
scrubs, balms, creams and candles and more.
PureBliss Essentials | Grace Antares | Oregon
* Member since October 2008. PureBliss Essentials
was born from a lifelong passion about quality skin care and beauty products
along with a frustration of the hype and pricing in department stores. Our
custom recipes are developed with organic and locally produced ingredients,
and combine the latest scientific technologies with the best of nature. We
specialize in premium anti-aging skin care and healthy soaps and bath
products at a competitive price and impeccable service. We deliver the
latest skin care technologies to the everyday man or woman.
Beauty Less Traveled | Anna Cauble | Massachusetts
Beauty Less Traveled's Wedding Moon Scentuary line includes
romantically scented bath and body products for engaged pairs, newlyweds,
married couples and wedding romantics. Wedding Day Grandeur for Everyday!
Engage yourself in massage candles, champagne baths, and more!
LM Bath and Body Products | Lucille McCraney | California
LM Bath and Product Products offer handmade soaps, body
creams, lotions, bath salts and salt scrubs.
Anu's Essentials | Anu Prestonia | New
York
Welcome to Anu’s Essentials an on-line boutique created with
your beauty, health and wellness in mind. Our products are natural and are
made with the finest of ingredients. At Anu’s Essentials, our goal is to
offer you products of quality that will enhance your grooming practices,
nurture your skin and hair and leave you feeling refreshed and delicious.
Enjoy!
Yeshakem Soap Shoppe | Mary Dollarhide | Colorado
* Member since 2007. Shalom, and welcome to Yeshakem Soap
Shoppe. Here you'll find the Dollarhide family's unique, private label line
of natural and organic bath and body products. French-milled olive oil and
shea butter soaps, exquisite Dead Sea bath salts, natural hair and skin care
and more--our handmade products are the most luxurious and gentle you'll
ever buy. Specializing in handcrafted bath and body products containing only
natural, organic and Fair Trade ingredients. Beautify your home with our
pure beeswax candles. Wholesale inquiries welcome.
RD Alchemy Natural Products | Regina Disilvestro | California
* Therapeutic, herbal body care for health, beauty,
massage and spa.
TTN Therapeutics | Tracie Nichols | Pennsylvania
* Uniquely beautiful and effective custom essential oil
blends formulated by a Certified Integrative Aromatherapist, lovingly hand
packaged and tuned with Tibetan Bowls. I specialize in working with hospice
care providers, counselors & psychotherapists, energy therapists &
bodyworkers.
Leaf People | Julie Williams | Colorado
* Member since 2008. Leaf People, a premium organic and
wild harvested skin care line specializing in visibly radiant results. All
our products are hand manufactured without any synthetic ingredients. Visit
our website for a full description of our face, body and bath lines and
locations where you can pamper yourself with luxurious leaf people spa
treatments. A raw food diet for the face.
GreenScents, LLC | Ariane Chicles | Florida
* Botanical, natural, organic and vegan products for men, women and
children.
3. Where's dM?: Seminars and Events With dM
Here are some other exciting things coming up!
Next Week on Indie Business Radio: My guest will be Marc Warnke, author of "Options Not Excuses." Listen live and join the live chat at 1:00pm New York Time on Monday, October 26, 2009 here.
dM on "Online Marketing With RSS Ray". Ray will interview me on "The 7 Characteristics of Highly Effective Twitter Pages and the Importance of Twitter Follower Numbers" on 12/9/09 at 1:00pm EST.
dM at Indie Business Revolution: Join me, Kayla Fioravanti of Essential Wholesale and Monique Hayward, author of "Divas Doing Business" at this fantastic event at Bay 13 Restaurant in Portland's Pearl District. Click here to learn more and register!
dM at 2010 Conference of Handcrafted Soapmakers in Denver, CO: Join me and hundreds of other soapers for the premier soaping event of the year! I'll deliver a presentation on advanced social media and how you can use it lead your business, expand your sphere of influence, maximize your time, and generate more sales! Click here for details. (My husband edited and produced the video on that page!)
4. This Week's Indie Business Radio Show: Christy Strauch, author of "Passion, Plan, Profit"
<
--- Featured photo: Christy Strauch, Indie Business Radio Show guest
Christy Strauch, author of "Passion, Plan, Profit," joined me on yesterday's show. I apologize for not sending this newsletter out in advance of the show (another reason to follow me on Twitter or join the FaceBook Page). It was a fantastic show and Christy shared wonderful tips all of us can use to stay on track financially. The audio will be ready in a day or two so please stay tuned for that.
In the meantime, you can enjoy hundreds of free shows to help you be successful in your small business at the Indie Business Radio Show website at this link.
Indie Business Radio airs live every Monday at 1:00pm New York Time. There are two ways to join the live show:
Listen Only: Click here at 1:00pm New York Time and follow the instructions to choose your audio player.
Listen and Chat: Once you activate your audio player (above), you can join us for the accompanying live chat on Savorchat at 1:00pm New York Time. Just click the link, sign in using your Twitter or FaceBook account, and you can join us live!
Visit the Indie Business Radio Show 2009 Archives to enjoy past shows. You can also subscribe to the show on iTunes by searching on Indie Business Radio.
-- Sponsor --
5. Featured IBN Member: Jim DeBetta :: Inventor's & New Products Consultant :: Georgia
dM: How did you start your business and what was the inspiration
for it?
Jim: I started my business because I wanted to help others learn how to run a successful company and avoid the many mistakes I made. I also did not want to run another consumer products company and handling employee, dealing with issues, etc but I missed the excitement of running a small start-up. So, I figured that I could live vicariously through others and by coaching and consulting with start-ups I am able to do that.
dM: What is your professional background or prior work experience help prepare you for entrepreneurship?
Jim: Well, I started out by being a part of a successful products company and that allowed me to consult and teach in this business. All I am doing is helping others do what I have done and of course learning how to manage a consultancy has its own learning curve so I take measures to learn and grow so I can effectively help those that place their trust in me.
dM: What are some of the things you did in advance of starting your business that have helped make it successful?
Jim: I read some books on coaching and consulting, and I even called a number of other consultants to learn how their ran their companies. I also thought of unique programs and tactics that would make me stand out and be more helpful to my clients. I listen to others and always look to learn how to improve myself and my business.
dM: What's your niche?
Jim:
My niche is that I teach people how to sell to major retailers and how to
prepare to do so in a “tell it like it is” way, and doing so is not just
about the mechanics of it. It is a lot about how you speak to people and how
savvy you are in discussing deals with them. I also have various ways for
people to learn and coaching them on a monthly basis is very unique in my
line of work.
dM: What do you think of all of the invention/patent commercials we are inundated with these days?
There are a lot of them for sure! I think that the companies who create them need to always remember that most people will not enjoy massive success in the invention business and leading them to believe that they will make massive amounts of money can be misleading. In other words, having a responsible message is important but at the same time I understand that they must make things sound positive or no one would buy their services.
dM: Do you participate in any trade shows?
Jim: I attend many trade shows and have either exhibited or walked well more than a hundred in the past decade or so! I mix it up….I go to all kinds of shows to see what is happening out there in the world of products and since I represent inventors who make everything from baby products to high fashion products I need to be out there visiting all types of shows. I also attend shows to help my clients out – to support them when they are exhibiting. I have gone to such shows as CES, Toy Fair, ABC (baby products), Motivation Show, Outdoor Retailer, SuperShow, and many other leading industry shows.
I have always enjoyed marketing products directly to the world’s largest retailers. I do this through direct contact – I don’t waste time or energy on much else. If I have a great product to show a buyer, I call him/her right up and tell my story. Also, for my clients, I stress the importance of great public relations and the power of the internet – especially social media marketing websites. Creating a wave of excitement and awareness is the way to go and can be done without spending massive amounts of money like it does for traditional marketing methods.
dM: Tell me what are the most frequently made inventor’s mistakes.
Not knowing the proper steps to
developing and selling a product and not being patient enough are two
reasons I see so much failure in this business. I often talk to people who
believe that they can somehow bring a product to market for virtually no
money and that is another big mistake. I talk to people regularly who tell
me they read an article about how to “develop and sell your product for
under a hundred dollars” and I always get upset when I hear that and worse
when people actually believe it. There are no shortcuts in this or any other
business if you plan to succeed. It is a tough business to sell to retailers
as there are so many products invented by only a limited amount of space on
store shelves so knowing how to develop, market, and sell correctly are
critical if you want to gain an edge.
dM: What's new and exciting with your
business these days?
Jim: There is so much going on with me!! I have just written a book about the invention process to help inventors learn the process, I am about to launch a new membership club with various levels so all entrepreneurs at every stage of their business can learn what they need to know to get in a position of success, and my radio show continues to draw exciting guests. The business of inventing is being dominated (at least for me) by women and this is a great thing to see. I cannot believe how many ladies are taking up inventing and developing consumer products and I think it is great! The tough economy has actually lead to a massive increase in calls and emails to my office and with so many people looking to change their careers or explore their inventive side I feel 2010 will be an uplifting year for many people.
dM: What sort of social media do you use in
your business and why? (That's IBN member JoAnn Hines with Jim and me at
Indie Business Revolution: Atlanta!)
Jim: I am everywhere when it comes to social media! From Facebook and Twitter to Linked In and You Tube, I try to stay visible in as many places as possible. I spend a couple of hours a day on these sites and I usually share articles and basic info to help people and refrain from attempting to sell my services on a regular basis. I also socialize a bit too and develop many relationships on these sites. The benefits for me are that many people that get to know me on these sites often reach out to me and ultimately pay me for advice when my basic offerings I place on these sites are just not enough for them and they need more help. I also have met so many nice people and I too look to get questions answered and learn so much from so many others. A great example of a positive experience for my business is when I help someone with their questions and then they come to me weeks or even months later and wish to hire me….they always seen so appreciative and feel I can help them further.
dM: Who helps your business be successful?
Jim: So many people that I learn from each day. My wife keeps me on my toes too…she leads with her gut and she is hardly ever wrong so I look to her when I need help. While there is no one person I look to, I still consider my wife to be my ultimate guide! I run my own company and although my wife has her own work (being home with our 4 kids), she is always there when I need help with anything.
dM: What tips can you offer other small and independent business owners?
Jim: Learn all you can about the business you want to be in before you jump in. Be prepared for the ups and downs emotionally as they will occur. Money is always a factor so learn to conserve and spend wisely. It is also great to have the support of your significant other as that support will be vital at some point. Love what you do…and learn from everyone you can.
dM: How did you discover the Indie Beauty Network and what do you think of your membership?
Jim: I am lucky – I know the owner!! Now, knowing dM is a great privilege but that is not the reason I joined IBN. I joined because it is a great community with so many smart minds that are eager to learn everything they can about business. The members are helpful, open, and offer lots of valuable advice. This is a very sharing community and anyone starting out with a new business would benefit from it just like I do. There is not much I would change but I would love to see a yearly gathering for all members in a nice warm city that we can all meet up, interact, and continue the work we all accomplish on the site.
dM: What do you think are the best things about being Indie?
Jim: I live my personal life my way by being Indie. I can go out and get an office job in my field but that would mean commuting and missing the moments like walking my kids to the bus stop, having dinner with them every night, and being able to coach their baseball teams and volunteering at their school . When I want to go away with my family, there is no boss to check with. I also can work as much or as little as I want and I control my own destiny. I would not trade being Indie for anything!!
dM: How has owning a business enhanced your life? Any regrets?
Jim: I see my family all the time and for me there is nothing more valuable to me. I have no regrets about being Indie and would not change anything.
dM: What has been your biggest business challenge and how did you overcome it? (That's Jim chatting with Ishmael Holmes at Indie Business Revolution: Atlanta!)
Jim: Staying focused on my main goals is my biggest
challenge. I am like so many entrepreneurs in that I always see
opportunities in most everything I see and I know I must steer clear of
pursuing them all. I combat those urges by participating in a mastermind
call each week and I also reach out to others I know who experience the same
things so they can tell me what they do to remain focused.
dM: What are you doing when you're not working in your business?
Jim: My hobby is my family and when I am not working I am usually with them! We love to travel and make sure we go away at least a few times a year. I love early American History and love to visit places like Colonial Williamsburg or other colonial period towns to just explore and hear how people lived back then. I also like sports and just being around the house…
dM: How are you handling things in light of this unusual economy?
Jim: I am quite busy and the calls and emails are at an all-time high and business is very good for me. People want to be Indie more and more and with so many job losses and lack of trust of corporate America, they are searching for ways to work and live life on their terms. I think this is a great time to start a business. When the economy comes roaring back one day, you want to be on the front end of the wave and not watching from the sidelines. With costs for employees and services are at a low this is a good time to negotiate for best prices for things you need for your business. Get out there now and start doing what you really love!
What are your annual sales like?
Jim: My business has grown each year and is on track to be up as much as 50% this year over last year. I am hopeful that 2010 will even be a great year.
How to connect with Jim:
Website
http://www.jimdebetta.com
Social Network
http://www.theacademyofentrepreneurs.com
Indie Social
http://www.indiebeauty.com/profile/jimdebetta
Twitter
http://twitter.com/jimdebetta
6. Indie and Small Business Resources: Explosion of Activity at Social Network!
There
are over 3,900 people at our site! Each week, I make additions to the site
so you can enjoy it even more. Each day, a new IBN member is featured!!There are also some brand new fun and informative discussions going on all the time. Here are some recent highlights -- join us with your thoughts and experiences, and find out what other people in your industry are doing!
Question of the Week: What is your best selling product for the holiday season? (There are already some informative replies with some great ideas for products that sell!)
Bionic Beauty Giveaway!: Win some Davines hair care products! (Don't throw anything at me -- they aren't Indie products, but it sure is nice to win some free stuff to try now and then. Plus Jamie over at Bionic Beauty is a well respected beauty blogger and you just might wanna make her acquaintance if you know what I mean ...)
What To Do With All That Money?: LOL! Well, I know there's probably not tons of it, but hopefully there's some, and you need to invest it (notice, I did not say "spend" it) wisely on your business. So, here are some tips to help you do that.
Yummy Holiday Goodies from IBN member Traci Dalrymple at Kokokhan: chocolate peppermint sugar scrub, peppermint foot soak, dark chocolate body balm. Yum-O!
7. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie: Dear Mr. Chairman ...
<-- The first page of the letter I faxed to the Chairman of the Federal
Trade Commission this week
In case you missed it, earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission issued some new "guidelines" with respect to using advertisements, endorsements and testimonials in blogs and other social media outlets. (You can read my layperson's summary at this link.) Not surprisingly, they regulate Harriett the Homemaker Blogger and Polly the Part-Time Beauty Blogger the same way they regulate Bob the Business Blogger.
And you know how I feel about "one-size-fits-all" rules! After seeing that a large trade organization made a bit of noise about it, I thought it was necessary for a smaller one to do the same.
So, Monday, I faxed a 5-page (but easy to read!) letter to the Jon Liebowitz, the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, with my perspective on how unhelpful their new one-size-fits-all guides are. Please read the letter so you can be informed about how these important guides affect your use of your blog, FaceBook, Twitter and everything else.
I invite you to leave your comments and questions as well. We have to roll up our sleeves together!
How can I help your women's group or conference gathering?!!
Donna Maria Coles Johnson, the Chief Executive Indie, helps small and independent businesses owners, combine smart sales and marketing strategies with integrated, branded digital media tools to create relationships, expand their sphere of influence and increase sales. Through her blog and weekly radio show, dM delivers helpful and entertaining content that inspires, encourages and informs small business owners worldwide. Known for her innovative yet friendly style, dM's expertise has been showcased in Entrepreneur, Global Cosmetics Industry, Working Mother, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, National Public Radio, ABC World News This Morning, WUSA-TV9 (CBS Washington, DC affiliate), Ebony and a host of other regional and national media outlets.
Whether the topic is integrating career and family, leadership, small business ownership or new technologies, dM has a life-changing presentation for you and your audience. Contact dM today at donnamaria @ indiebeautynetwork.com to discover how she can contribute to your unforgettable conference or gathering event.
If this issue of The Indie Experience has been useful to you, please feel free to hit the Forward key and share it with a friend, or you can link directly via URL to this issue here.
See you next week! In the meantime,
Enjoy your life, build your business and have your way!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Indie Experience
IBN Social Network | www.indiebeauty.com
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2009 by 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.
