The Indie Experience
January 18, 2010
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 11, Issue 2
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1. Indies On Assignment: Add The 2010 Logo To
Your Site!
2. Meet Our New and Renewing IBN Members
3. This Week's Indie Business Radio Show:
Mindy Green on Success In The Herbal And Aromatherapy Industries
4. Featured Article: Launch Your Own Magazine! Debbie
Did! Why Not You?!
5. Indie and Small Business Resources
6. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie: How Can I Help
You??!
Make It Yourself!: 1 2 3 Dry Skin Mask (this easy recipe keeps getting rave reviews at the site!)
1. Indies On Assignment: Add The 2010 IBN Logo To Your Site!
Each week, I share a quick tip you can implement in your business, along
with a homework assignment so you can track your progress.
Assignment #6: Our 2010 Member Logo Is Here!
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from members is how they can display their affiliation with IBN at their websites and blogs. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply download the 2010 member logo and paste it at your site where it looks nice! It really couldn't be easier.
To do this, just log onto the Member Logo Guideline page and be sure the read about how the logo can be displayed. If you cannot abide by the guidelines (including linking back to IBN's site as indicated), please don't use the logo. Once you agree to the logo guidelines, just click the link to enter your member username and password and the logo is all yours.
Remember to remove any old HTN and HBN logos from your website, and remove logos that are from 2009. You don't want to look like you're not keeping up with the times, right?
For a fun historical review of IBN's logos through the years, enjoy this blog post.
Assignment: Join IBN if you have not already done so, and download the logo today!
HOT This Week At Indie Business Blog:
- Why Twitter Is Not A Waste Of Time For Small Business Owners, In 29 Words
- 3 Steps To More Effective Leadership Of Your Small Business
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!
Website links are included where appropriate. 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!
Raesin Images Mineral Cosmetics | Rae Kat Switzer | Tennessee
IBN Member Since 2004: RAESIN IMAGES Mineral Cosmetics that
ROCK! We carry over 500+ eyeshadows, including the famous Chiffon Eyeshadows,
high pigment, crease resistant, delivering exceptional wearability.
Especially designed for women of all ages who genuinely care what goes on
their skin. Personal consultations from KAT Switzer, 17 year freelance
makeup artist/image consultant.
A Wild Soap Bar | Maggie Hanus | Texas
IBN Member Since 2000; Serving up a distinctive menu of wildly
aromatic natural soaps and body balms handmade with cold pressed olive oil,
responsibly wildcrafted and organic botanicals, and pure essential oils.
Experience soft, smooth, moisturized skin. We make it easy to be clean AND
green! Retail. Wholesale. Private Label. Custom Manufacturing.
Alabu Soap | Dean and Maryclaire Mayes | New York
IBN Member Since 2007; Relief from common soap! We Promise:
Alabu soap will clean and not irritate your skin. Most people find they need
less or no moisturizer when using Alabu soap. For our retail and wholesale
natural soap customers alike, we make all of our handmade goat milk natural
soap from 100% pure, farm fresh goat milk (no water, no powdered milk).
Etta + Billie | Alana Rivera | California
IBN Member Since 2009; We create small batches of handmade
bath and body products that are good for your body and good for the
environment. We strive to source our raw materials from organic, fair trade,
and local producers. We never use synthetic chemicals, preservatives, or
petrochemical. We are passionate about creating pure, simple, nurturing,
natural products.
KLEAN Bath and Body | Jennifer Hardaway | California
IBN Member Since 2005; Our goal at KLEAN Bath & Body, is to
give our customer products that are pleasing to the nose and spirit as well
as to procure the finest ingredients we can get our hands on. Join us on our
journey across the world as we dip into exotic oils, butters and fragrances,
for products that will delight you (and your skin)!
Here We Are With Luci | Luci Weston | New Jersey
IBN Member Since 2004; Here We Are is the life and style
online destination covering serious topics to girlie-girl stuff the way
women live their daily lives. We value your trust, so enjoy the articles and
reviews knowing they are honest and unbiased. Our philosophy is simple, if we
like it, we will tell you, if we do not, we will tell you. Join this busy
woman's guide to a better, brighter, easier lifestyle on our way to running
the world!
Inesscents | Wendy Ashley | Oregon
IBN Member Since 2007; Supplier of organic carrier oils such
as organic almond oil, organic jojoba oil, organic avocado oil, organic
olive oil and organic sunflower oil as well as bulk raw materials such as
unrefined and fair trade shea butter, mango butter and cocoa butter.
Barcelona Bath & Body | Rachel Lane | Texas
IBN Member Since 2004; Surround yourself with the finest in
home fragrance and personal care, beautifully packaged for gifts and
everyday use. Barcelona Bath & Body is known for premium quality.
Handcrafted in Grapevine, Texas by knowledgeable artisans, our exquisite and
exclusive soaps, room sprays, sachets and soy candles enhance every aspect
of your home and your life. Go Barcelona. You will never want anything else.
Double Dare | Jackie Buisman | Oregon
DoubleDare is a pioneering socially responsible cosmetic company that is
dedicated to providing therapeutic products with all-natural, superior
ingredients that deliver genuine benefits for mature skin. The Initial line,
Delayed Gratification, consist of therapeutic skin creams for men and women
that are absorbed slowly into the skin while moisturizing dry, troubled
areas. We believe that through intentional self-care, a world that embraces
and celebrates the natural process of aging can be realized. A new paradigm
for future generations will be created.
Wunder Budder | Lisa Dolloff | Massachusetts
Natural handcrafted skin and lip care and aromatherapy products brought to
you with love since 2002. Look and feel good, and don't forget to smile!
Angelic Glow Handcrafted Soap | Maria Gelnett | New York
We carry unique, all natural, cold-processed glycerin soaps and a large
variety of soapmaking supplies! We also offer beginner and advanced
soapmaking classes throughout Upstate NY.
botanicalbasics | Christa Tolson | North Carolina
botanicalbasics provides complete skin care systems using only the highest
quality all natural & organic ingredients without harmful or damaging
synthetics. Featuring REAL Botanical Skin Care formulated with more than 70
active anti-aging botanicals. Handcrafted in small batches, with botanical,
organic & all natural ingredients and scented with pure essential oils. As
conscious participants in our global community, we maintain enviro-ethical
business practices, packaging and products while endorsing ingredient
sources who uphold these same standards.
AmazeMinerals (Peters Products) | June Peters | Ohio
We make innovative, mineral based face cream in small bathches.
Soelle Beauty | Lilya Sorkin | Massachusetts
Soelle Beauty strives to develop a beauty line that is always mindful, pure,
and healthy. There are many skincare products on the market containing
trendy ingredients, diluting them with fillers and additives most of which
bear little value to your skin. Our philosophy is to cut through the
clutter and use the purest, most effective ingredients the earth has to
offer, this is why we are introducing the “all-purpose” organic ARGAN OIL.
Soelle believes that ARGAN OIL is the earth’s perfect beauty serum to
nourish your skin, hair, and nails.
Khataji | Laura Giles |
Virginia
Khataji makes natural bath and body products for people who do not want to
read labels, but want to know that what they buy is safe for themselves and
the environment. Go ahead. Love yourself with Khataji.
3. This Week's Indie Business Radio Show: Mindy Green on Managing A Successful Herbal And Aromatherapy Business
<
--- Featured photo: Author, herbalist and aromatherapist, Mindy Green,
today's radio show guest
Mindy Green is partly responsible for my longstanding addiction to all things essential oil and aromatic. I purchased her book, Aromatherapy: A Guide To The Healing Art many years ago. Today, it's in tatters and I refer to it over and over again for information on using essential oils properly. On today's show, Mindy shared some great tips for anyone in the herbal and/or aromatherapy industries today. We discussed product labeling, aromatherapy certification, marketing and more!
If you missed the show, it will be available at my radio show website in a few days.
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 all of last year's informative, business building shows. You can also subscribe to the show on iTunes by searching on Indie Business Radio.
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4. Featured Article: Launch Your Own Magazine! Debbie Did! Why Not You?!
A few weeks ago, I asked several IBN members to share what they did in 2009 that helped them be successful, and what they recommended you do to achieve your goals in 2010. As always, the insights and tips my members provided were amazing. I blogged or highlighted each of them, and you can enjoy them as follows:
- Blogging Brings Home The Business With JoAnne Bassett (blog link)
- Is Hoarding Killing Your Small Business With Joan Morais (blog link)
- 3 Ways To Double Your Sales In 2010 With Marla Bosworth (blog link)
- An Aggressive Social Networking Strategy Brings Home The Bacon With Sherri Willson (newsletter link)
In this final installment, I am pleased to feature tips from Debbie Chialtas, owner of Soapylove in lovely San Diego, Ca. Soapylove is home of the Soapy Pop. With many adorable designs to choose from, Soapy Pops are fun to give and use. Each one is the same size as a real popsicle and has a wooden stick, which is helpful with slippery hands. Debbie has been a member of IBN since November 2007. Below is a photo of Debbie sporting her super cool Soapylove tee shirt!
Debbie Chialtas is a self-taught glycerin soap crafter who turned her hobby
into a full time career. She currently ships her Soapy Pops all over the
world, teaches frequently, and has built Soapylove to include a supply line,
a recently published book, and her seasonal eZines. Debbie and her family
live in San Diego, CA
One of the most dynamic people I know, Debbie has accomplished a lot in a short period of time, and 2009 was a banner year for her. I asked Debbie to share something outstanding about 2009, and to offer insights to help you do what she's done in your niche. Here's what she said:
In 2009, I ...
launched a digital magazine called Let's Get Soapy,
which is the only eZine for melt and pour soap crafting. It features fashionable and fun
glycerin soap tutorials, trends, supply reviews, and other helpful articles.
This was a great move for my business ...
because it allowed me to use my love of crafting and design to provide
something new to the M&P community. The eZine has turned into a seasonal
publication that is a healthy part of my income and a neat way to introduce
Soapylove to crafters.
2010 is a great time to create your own eZine because ...
Since more and more print magazines are closing their doors,
their readers are using the Internet to find inspiration and learn. If you
are an expert in your field or just love to bring experts together, you can
create a product with virtually no financial investment.
Here are some great sites to get you started ...
Issuu is an amazing
online library of eZines. These are all free to view, and you can see some
amazing layouts and page designs here.
Cerizmo is a great service that makes selling digital files extremely affordable. They handle payments through Paypal and email the files to your customers. It is completely hands-off once you upload your files (which should be .pdf).
Microsoft Publisher is the program I use to create my eZines. I have never taken a graphic design class in my life but I can use this. If you have a PC, chances are this is already on your computer! Any other self-publishing software will work, too. Once you create your document, just print it using Acrobat or other PDF writer, and you are ready to roll!
To see what Debbie is working on now, check out www.soapylove.com. You can also connect with Debbie on Twitter, at her blog and at her FaceBook Page!
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 this week's Featured member, Lisa Kasper of Blue Moon
Candles in San Jacinto, Ca!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!
Question of the Week: It's Martin Luther King Day: what do you think of when you hear these words?
How Your Products Can Be Featured: this post explains how to add your photos to the site so I can feature them to our 4,700+ members and guests!
Announcing New Twitter Site Integration: you can push your site status updates out Twitter with the click of a button!
Baked Cinnamon Apples: easy, delicious and a real treat!
Opening Postponed: please show this small business owner your support, and let her know she's not alone
Lots of beautiful product photos are at the site -- jewelry, soap, perfume, candles and more!!
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!!
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.
