The Indie Experience
December 21, 2009
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 10, Issue 33
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1. Indies On Assignment: Is Hoarding Killing
Your Small Busines?
2. Meet Our New and Renewing IBN Members
3. This Week's Indie Business Radio Show:
Nancy D. Solomon, author of "Impact!: What Every Woman Needs To Know To Go
From Invisible To Invincible"
4. IBN Members Share Tips For
Success In 2010!
5. Indie and Small Business Resources
6. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie: How Can I Help
You??!
Make It Yourself!: Gothblossom Mud Masque
1. Indies On Assignment: Is Hoarding Killing Your Small Business?
Every week, I share a quick tip you can implement in your business, along
with a homework assignment so you can track your progress.
Assignment #5: Is Hoarding Killing Your Small Business?
One of the most exciting things about being a small business owner is seeing so many positive things flow directly from your efforts. You make a sales call and you land the business. You customize a product for someone and they blog about it, which helps you get new business. You spend hours researching and designing a new product and as soon as it launches, it's a big hit. You launch a blog and it turns out to get a fair amount of comments from people who share how much they love your products.
If you have enough of these fantastic successes, you will soon find yourself unable to handle it all yourself. As your efforts pay off more and more, you will need some help and one of the best kinds of help there is these days is a virtual assistant (VA). A VA is a person who works as a contractor to help you perform many of the administrative tasks associated with running your business. If you're not sure how VAs work, you can learn more in this interview with a professional VA.
Recently, IBN member Joan Morais (pictured) told me that she engaged the services of a VA earlier this year, and it has made her business run much more smoothly. The work Joan's VA does frees her up to capitalize on profitable business opportunities. By not being mired down in time-consuming details, Joan is able to focus on expanding collaborative opportunities and maximizing her business using the power of technology.
Assignment: Read what Joan says about how a VA is helping her be more successful and consider whether 2010 might be even better for you if hire a VA. Joan's tips are simple and easy to implement, and you'll see from her experience that you don't have to spend a fortune either! I invite you to share you comments, opinions and questions in the comments at the blog. I look forward to hearing from you!
Selected recent articles that may interest you:
Blog vs. FaceBook Page: Do You Need Both?
New Johnson Family House Rules: my 8-year old daughter's charming take on how the Johnsons should behave
How To Increase Product Sales And Visibility Through Site Parties: it's fun, easy and a great new 2010 IBN member benefit!
It's your lawn. Mow it.: my commentary on the social media learning curve
Should you use your real name online?: an interesting conversation I participated in on Twitter
Thanks for allowing me into your email boxes and have a great week!
2. Meet IBN's New and Renewing IBN Members!!
Here is a listing of the new and renewing IBN members! You can see an entire
official
membership directory at our flagship website. You can also meet members
who are active in our social networking site
here!
Salome's Simply Delightful Creations | Selena Cozart | Virginia
IBN Member Since December 2008. Salome's Simply Delightful
Creations is a woman-owned, home based business. We specialize in handcrafted
and handmade bath and body products. We feature handmade cold process soaps
made the old fashion way using only the finest ingredients. We also feature
hair care products designed with Type 3 and 4 natural African American hair
in mind.
Handcrafted
Soaps by Bonnie
| Bonnie Speigle | Washington
Handcrafted Soaps by Bonnie offers a variety of premium soaps and
bath & body products. All of our products are 100% handmade with only
high-quality ingredients.
Mad Hippie
Skin Care Products | Samuel Stewart | Maine
Mad Hippie Skin Care is a small company out of Portland,
Maine. We specialize in anti-aging skin care products.
Karen's Botanicals | Karen Palcho | Pennsylvania
IBN Member Since January 2008. Karen’s Botanicals
creates exquisite, effective personal care products using the highest
quality certified organic ingredients available. Our unique cleansers,
toners, creams, oils and serums are made from simple, ancient materials and
are intended to give sustenance and pleasure to daily life. Our products
begin with fresh, whole, organic plants that, like whole foods, contain a
wide spectrum of nourishing compounds. No commercially prepared bases,
synthetic fragrances, coloring agents or harmful petroleum derivatives are
ever used.
System Bath | Shelley McNamara | Texas
System Bath believes in “Loving the Earth while Loving Your
Skin..”(TM) Every Organic Spa Product is packed full of skin loving beach
derived ingredients and is handmade fresh with dreamy tropical aromas. From
lotions and sugar butter scrubs to hair and foot care, each delectable
product renews and leaves skin feeling Island Beautiful!
TwoSisters Soap Co. | RosaMaria Geonnotti | Arizona
IBN Member Since December 2006.
TwoSisters Soap Company is a small family owned business. Members
of 4 generations create and produce handmade soaps, lotions, salts and other
bath products. We use only the finest oils and botanicals in our products.
Wholesale and retail available.
Perfect Scents Bath, Body and Mind | Monica Rozen | Texas
Perfect Scents makes all natural, organic bath products.
3. This Week's Indie Business Radio Show: Nancy D. Solomon on going from "Invisible To Invincible!"
Today,
I hosted my last Indie Business Radio Show of the year! If you missed any of
the 42 shows I hosted this year, you can stream or download them all
here.
Today's show featured Nancy D. Solomon, author of
Impact!: What Every Woman Needs to Know to Go From Invisible to Invincible
~ Every outward influence you have, positive or negative, starts with the influence you first have on yourself.
~ Be authentic, discover your life purpose and translate your potential into something that makes a difference.
~ Found out what your job is and get it done.
~ Your relationships are only as healthy as you are.
Your impact is defined by what fingerprint you leave with a person after they've had an encounter with you.
The show audio will be ready in a few days. Meanwhile, check out hundreds of shows at my radio show website where you can download or stream them for free.
Indie Business Radio airs live on Mondays 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 this year's shows. You can also subscribe to the show on iTunes by searching on Indie Business Radio.
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4. IBN Members Share Tips For Success in 2010!
This week, I'm doing something a little different. Instead of featuring one IBN member, I am featuring several!
One of the best things about leading IBN is that I get to see so many businesses make great strides throughout the year. 2009 has been no exception!! I asked a few members to share some of the things they did this year to be successful, and what they suggest you do to achieve as they have.
I shared Joan Morais' tips at my blog today. Here are some more fantastic suggestions and I will share more at Indie Business Blog throughout the week.
Rachel
Lane :: Barcelona Bath & Body (Texas)
Rachel Lane, Founder/CEO of
Barcelona Bath & Body, creates luxurious soap,
soy candles, room spray and sachets by hand in Grapevine, TX. She sells
retail through barcelonabathandbody.com and wholesale to florists, spas,
gift shops and boutiques. Whether you are shopping for yourself or personal
and corporate gifts, she can help you set the mood for your life!
1. This year I ... participated in two mastermind groups.
2. This was a great move for my business because ... As a solopreneur, this has allowed me to build a virtual dream team who have helped hold me accountable for reaching my goals, been a sounding board, resource network and support system. In addition, it has provided me with an opportunity to share my experience and skills to help like-minded business owners with their challenges.
3. 2010 is a great time for you to do this because ... 2010 is the perfect time to join a mastermind group and set yourself up for success. In fact, I am joining a new one in January. It is a great way to ensure that you put the necessary strategic planning time into your business and start the year off right!
4. A resource to help you do it ... Here is a fantastic free resource (PDF) provided by Jack Canfield for starting your own mastermind group or learning to recognize the traits of a valuable mastermind group.
Lisa Rodgers :: Cactus
& Ivy (South Carolina)
Lisa M. Rodgers is the CEO, Founder and Chief Guinea Chick of
Cactus & Ivy,
a cruelty free, vegan and natural bath and body products manufacturer,
utilizing specialty ingredients to revitalize and restore the skins normal
balance.
1. This year I ... This year I focused on participating more in social media.
2. This was a great move for my business because ... With the likes of Twitter and Facebook, I have been able to place Cactus & Ivy in front of a wide variety of individuals with varying tastes. Providing giveaways and posts to draw attention to the Cactus & Ivy website my blog, The Southern Accent, has been my main focus.
3. 2010 is a great time for you to do this because ... If you aren't active in social media to toot your own horn then 2010 is a great time for you to start! Cactus & Ivy has enjoyed a ton of new customers and contacts because of actively working both Twitter and Facebook. Not to mention I have gained friendships as well.
4. Some resources and tips to help you do it ... , I got started on Twitter after reading dM's blog so check that out. I joined in May 2008 because of something dM said about becoming more social and taking advantage of Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Also, once you are on Twitter, keep a constant eye on Twitter for beauty review sites interested in new submissions.
For instance, @skirtgreenville was looking for a local person to profile in their January issue. I made contact via DM and asked if they would be interested in me even though I wasn't exactly local. They agreed to feature me so long as I was willing to travel for the photo shoot. I didn't have to think about that for long so off I went. As a result of this quick interaction on Twitter, I will be profiled in the January 2010 issue of the wildly popular Skirt! Magazine in their Greenville, SC edition.
5. Indie and Small Business Resources: Give 'N Take @ Our Social Networking Site!
<--
Featured photo: our home page screen shot, featuring the
pretty smile of Terri Simmons of Mangoberry Botanicals in Georgetown, Texas!Each week, I make additions to the site so you can enjoy it even more. Each day, a new IBN member is featured and there's also a fun new poll where you can share your favorite fall fragrance oils.
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!
Upcoming Events: classes, teleseminars, online training, conferences and more!
Making A DVD: How can I create and publish my own soapmaking DVD?
What Exactly Is A BLUE Moon?: Have you ever wondered?
6. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie: How Can I Help You??!
I
would love to speak at your next 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 blogs 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 Newsletter
www.IndieBusinessBlog.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.
