The Indie Business Experience
March 1, 2010
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 11, Issue 7
To subscribe, click here
-- Click to Join IBN Today!! -
Indie Business Roll Call!: If you are present and accounted for to start a new week of service, success and profitability, click here to check in at our FaceBook Page! You can meet everyone who was one of last month's roll calls here!
1. "How To" Monday: Colorado Today, Your
State Tomorrow?!
2. Meet Our New and Renewing IBN Members
3. This Week's Indie
Business Radio Show: The Importance of Fitness
For Small Business Owners, with Certified Fitness Coach Kimberly Linton
4. Featured Article: Jane Benjamin Bonner :: Taylor's
Corner :: Georgia
5. Indie and Small Business Resources:
Encouragement, Inspiration and More!
6. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie: How Can I Help
You??!
Make It Yourself: Spring Fling Flower Blossoms Body Butter
1. "How To" Monday: Colorado Today, Your State Tomorrow?!
As we speak, Jerell Klaver, candidate for US House of Representative in Colorado, and co-owner of a Salus, a Colorado-based cosmetics company (on Twitter), and dozens of other small business owners are preparing to participate in hearings before the Colorado legislature on the Safe Personal Care Products Act. You can read my commentary on the pending law here.
I also created this video to share with you some of the main problems I see with the law as currently drafted. (If you cannot watch the video here, please click here.)
As you might imagine, this bill has generated a ton of discussion over the past week. We have created a FaceBook page for people who support "Safe Personal Care Products, The Right Way," and I hope you will join us there.
While there are dozens upon dozens of people participating in this effort and I cannot possibly list them all here, there are a few IBN members who have been incredibly instrumental, not only with regard to the Colorado bill, but also with regard to cosmetics legislation pending in Congress since 1998. You can follow them on Twitter by clicking the links below:
Kayla Fioravanti (Kayla is maintaining a frequently updated list of links to all blog posts relating to this legislation. Bookmark it!
If you follow them, you will be connected to others who are active on the issue as well.
While this bill is in Colorado, the fact is that many states are considering legislation in their own states. Imagine trying to serve your US customer base and having to comply with federal laws, plus potentially 50 other separate statutes! I can't imagine any industry could hold up under such weight. So whether you manufacture cosmetics, buy cosmetics and even if you are a small business owner in another industry, take a look at what is happening in Colorado and get involved in making sure that states do not pass burdensome and unnecessary laws that would damage your business without any corresponding benefit to the people you serve! Colorado today, your state tomorrow!!
HOT This Week At Indie Business Blog:
1.
"Book Bits, the New Indie Business Book Club!
2.
The Other Side of Mompreneurship
3.
Should You Join a Competitor's FaceBook Fan Page?
4.
Oppose the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act
5.
You Have to Learn to Play Hurt
6.
Are Your Ready For the March Fitness Challenge?!
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!
If it's time to renew your membership, click here! To join and start putting IBN to work for you today, click here!
Nature's
Gift | Marge Clark | Tennessee
IBN Member Since June 2000
Wide selection of organic and wildcrafted essential oils and hydrosol,
purity and quality tested and guaranteed. Synergistic blends for skincare,
physical and emotional balance. Marge is one of IBN's
first members and a constant supporter and cheerleader of my work and the
efforts of small businesses everywhere! Thank you Marge for 10 years of
membership! It is my pleasure to serve you!
The Packaging
Diva | JoAnn Hines | Georgia
IBN Member Since January 2007
Packaging, packaging consulting, packaging coaching, packaging vendors and
suppliers, packaging services, packaging expertise, packaging training and
education, packaging bootcamp and packaging workbooks.
Solveit All
Naturally | Dr. Tamara Hartley Hunt | Arizona
IBN Member Since February 2009
Solvit All Naturally is the parent of four companies devoted to
manufacturing skincare, hair care and body care products that are 100%
Natural, 100% Vegan and made with Organic Ingredients. Formulated by a
Naturopathic Physician and manufactured in an approved lab facility, we
offer product lines specific to anti-aging, improving all common skin
conditions, a line of pet care products and professional grade healthcare
supplements. Solvit All Naturally has been granted approval by PETA and The
Organic Trade Association.
Bauble Bath
| Sarah Straub | Idaho
IBN Member Since February 2008
Creating bath baubles in indulgent fragrances, with purifying mineral rich
salts, essential oils, botanicals and luxurious oils to pamper the skin. Our
Thick, creamy body scrubs made with a variety of botanicals to aide in
rejuvenating the skin will leave your skin supple and glowing. Wholesale
inquiries are always welcome!
Tierra de
Cabros | Gladys V. Swaim | Texas
IBN Member Since February 2007
Tierra De Cabros is a family owned business specializing in bath and
toiletry items made with goat milk from our small family farm. We also offer
hand poured candles.
Betina Skincare | Betty Miller | Ohio
IBN Member Since January 2006
Add a little bounce to your day with Betina’s luxurious yet affordable
natural skin care products. With nature’s helping hand, we are able to offer
some exciting products which provide rich nourishment and conditioning for
the skin.
Our line of products includes handmade soaps, lotions and creams, bath salts
and soy candles.
AngelCreams | Angela George | Florida
Apprentice member.
Kissed By Nature | Joe and Melody Diehl | Colorado
Relax,rejuvenate and awaken your soul with naturally noursihing skin care.
Premium ingredients define our products and our mission.
Naturally Melange | Shanese Sibley | Indiana
Naturally Melange has fashioned its skincare products from exceptional
ingredients from around the globe. Our products are pridefully offered for
all to indulge in a naturally beautiful experience.
Surfz Up | Paula J. Cattano | North Carolina
Surfz Up, Inc. uses the healing, therapeutic properties of botanicals and
pure essentials oils in our product formulations. All of our products are
rich and nourishing for your body and will never contain toxic chemicals or
artificial fragrances. All of our product scents are derived from our
proprietary essential oil blends. We think the quote by Gandhi says it so
eloquently, “The greatness and moral progress of a nation can be judged by
the way its animals are treated.
Nourish Baby Organics | Melissa Allen |
Tennessee
Nourish Baby Organics is a handcrafted organic skin care line for babies and
mamas. We use high quality certified organic herbs and oils in our line and
package them in safe eco-friendly containers.
Markalice
Cosmetics | Yun-Ching Tin | California
Markalice Cosmetics provides you with 300+ color Mica colors and a full line
of skin and body care. We also can provide you with business solutions for
your printing and packaging needs. Just e-mail us with your needs and we
will work with you for whatever it is that you need. We have low minimums so
it fits into your budget.
My Sweet Garden
| Jena Huttemann | Pennsylvania
My Sweet Garden Sugar Body Scrubs are the natural way to indulge in a
relaxing spa experience without leaving home! These aromatic scrubs, infused
with fresh lavender, tangy citrus fruits, floral, or sweet peppermint,
gently exfoliate and polish your skin. Custom made to order, they are
delightfully packaged in 4-8-12- or 16- ounce recyclable Mason jars, topped
with colorful ribbon. A unique alternative for that special celebration!
Arcadian Angels | Brigitte Brown | New Jersey
Arcadian Angels is a personal products company that creates, distributes and
sells personal care products with a commitment to a person's whole self and
well being. Our ingredients will always come from nature including herbs and
essential oils and will demonstrate how one's purchase of our products will
initiate a healthy change. Our business practices will always be conducted
respectfully while honoring the earth, environment and above all the human
body.
Kopa Haiku
| Gary Gray | Hawaii
Kopa Haiku-Our company handmakes bath & body products, from Maui, Hawaii.
3. This Week's Indie Business Radio Show: Certified Fitness Coach Kimberly Linton: The Importance of Fitness For Small Business Owners
<
--- Featured photo: Today's radio show guest! Kimberly Linton,
professional fitness trainer, small business owner and
kick-you-in-your-butt, no-excuses fitness fiend
Hank Moore is a seasoned business advisor who has worked with some of the largest and most respected businesses in the nation. He is a member of the "Silver Foxes," an organization dedicated to sharing the wisdom of seasoned executives with the CEOs coming along behind them. He'll talk with us today about long-term strategies to protect your company in any economy, and how to position yourself and your business for future expansion and profitability.
Join us for today's show!! 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 2010 Archives to enjoy all of this year's informative, business building shows. Click the "Older Archives" to enjoy hundreds of other fantastic shows -- all free, all for you, all the time!
-- Sponsor --
4. Featured Indie: Jane Benjamin Bonner | Taylor's Corner | Georgia
I met Jane last year at the Indie meetup in Atlanta, Georgia. That's Jane on the far right, along with me and Sandi Garett (on my right) and IBN member Kenya Calloway of Jai's Natural Body Products (profiled here). (You can see the FaceBook Photo Album from the event here.) Like so many IBN members, Jane is not letting any grass grow under her feet or her business. When everyone else is touting dismal retail statistics, Jane is managing a growing retail store and her profits are growing along with it. She shares a bit about what it's like to grow organically while bootstrapping, which so many of us can relate to. Take is away, Jane!
dM: What was your inspiration to start your business?Jane: When my daughter, Taylor, was an infant, she was unable to use most of the over-the-counter baby products because of her sensitive skin. My sister suggested that I use pure cocoa butter on her skin. From there, I begin experimenting with other natural ingredients, to create different products, until I had an entire product line. Ever since college, I have worked in retail to earn extra money. Interacting with customers helped me understand what buyers wanted. They are the ones with the knowledge that gives us the edge. Feedback is the key to success.
dM: What are some of the things you did in advance of launching your business that you recommend others do?
Jane: Research! Before, I started Taylor's Corner, I spoke with family and friends about beauty products; I gathered their opinions on everything from the types of beauty products and scents they used most often to what they felt were fair prices for the products. Their answers helped me to establish my product line. Also, I join several social networks, including Indie Beauty.
dM:
What's your niche?
Jane: My niche is being able to custom
blend any scent into any product that Taylor's Corner carries. Additionally,
the products are also special because that are all made fresh by me.
dM: How do you market your products?
Jane: Right now, I market my products through word-of-mouth, my website and store front. Because I make everything fresh, all of my products are sold retail only through these avenues. That way, my customers know that they are getting the freshest & best products for their money. I do one or two shows a year typically church events or local festivals. Mainly, I concentrate my sales through my store and word-of-mouth.
dM: What's your most popular product?
Jane: My customers love my body butter. The feedback I get is that they love how smooth it goes on the skin and how soft it makes their skin feel throughout the day. It is my certainly my best selling product. Here is a comment I recently received: "I have tried Taylor's Corner body butter for my hands and the elbow grease for my rough spots. My favorite scent is mango. What I like most about Taylor's Corner Bath & Body products is that they are freshly handmade in order to avoid the harsh ingredients that others use to extend shelf life. Try it; you'll like it." ~ Ruby D.
dM: What's new and exciting with your business these days?
Jane: I just introduced two
new products, massage candles and body parfaits to my product line. I am
really excited about the products. Also, I just remodeled my store, and it
looks great. One of my favorite corners in the store is pictured here.
dM: How do you use social media in your business?
Jane: Right now I use Facebook to do most of my networking, but I have a Twitter account as well. Also, I use MailChimp to post Taylor's Corner weekly specials for my customers who are on my mailing list.
dM: Who helps your business be successful?
Jane: My family and friends are what makes my business successful. They buy my products; they share their opinions; and they tell their friends. And when I am experimenting with a new product, they are my testers.
dM: What are the best things about being a small and independent business owner?
Jane: The network of friends and the support
you give to the members as our leader. I really enjoy how prompt your
responses are when I have a question and how you get out and engage with us
in person. You are not just a face on the computer. You are a real caring
person who wants to see us succeed. Thank you.
As a relatively new business owner, I think being Indie adds to the
credibility of my business. Taylor's Corner is not just another huge product
line or big box wanna be. It's an independent product made to order for each
customer.
dM: How did you discover IBN, and what do you think of your membership?
Jane: I discovered the Indie Beauty Network while doing research for Taylor's Corner. I was searching the internet and came across Indie Beauty. I enjoyed reading the newsletter. Once things were established on the business front, I became a member. I would recommend Indie Beauty Network to anyone is thinking of starting a business.
dM: What tips can you offer other small business owners to help them be successful?
Jane: Before doing anything, research your business and have a plan. I also think it is important to be passionate about what you are creating and selling. People notice and it makes your business not only more enjoyable for you, but also more believable for others! And, of course, make sure you are legal and pay your taxes!
dM: What is a favorite business book, and why do you recommend it?
Jane: I really enjoyed reading Mommy Millionaire, by Kim Levine. It had a lot of insight about starting a business from the ground up.
dM: How has owning a business enhanced your life? Any regrets?
Jane: I love owning my own business. I am the boss! I have the creative freedom to do what I like. I have the opportunity to mold Taylor's Corner into something big. It feels good to know that I have something that I can leave behind for my daughter to continue to grow. She is the reason why I am often up until 1am making products!
dM: What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a small business owners, and how did you overcome it?
Jane: My biggest challenge thus far has been increasing my revenue in this economy. One thing that I am doing is offering my products in smaller sizes which helps the customer who loves my products but cannot afford to buy a larger size. I am also offering more deals and sales, as incentives to purchase.
dM: What are you doing when you're not working in your business?
Jane: When I am not working on
my business, I am, the director of finance at a nonprofit which provides
legal services to people who otherwise wouldnothave access to them. In my
spare time, I like scrapbooking and knitting.
What are your sales like?
Jane: So far, my sales have increased by 25% from 2008. With the holiday season approaching, I hope to double my annual sales to 50% over last year. Taylor's Corner is growing slowly, but it is growing!
How to connect with Jane:
Website
FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/taylors.corner?ref=search&sid=533309003.1606308266..1
Twitter
http://twitter.com/taylorscorner
5. Indie and Small Business Resources: Give 'N Take @ Our Social Networking Site!
Here's a sampling of some of the fun photos, blogs posts and discussions being led by IBN members right now! (This will be updated after today's radio show!)
1. Commission only reps or in-house sales people, which are the best?: Jim DeBetta has some helpful ideas!
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.
