IBN Success Spotlight on
Carrie Duncan of Pixie Vision Botanicals
April 28, 2003
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Introduction To Pixie Vision Botanicals
Carrie
Duncan of Pixie Vision Botanicals in Soquel, California, runs her handmade
beauty business part-time at the moment, but has high hopes of taking it
full-time. Prior to starting Pixie Vision, Carrie worked as a freelance
graphic designer providing Web design, graphics art and animation services
to her clients. While she continues this work currently, she is taking steps
to phase it out and concentrate fully on Pixie Vision in the future.
Starting Small With Big Ideas!
Pixie Vision Botanicals started 4 years ago as an annual holiday gift passion. Carrie made handmade beauty goodies for friends and family and received such encouraging responses that she decided to participate in holiday craft shows. This allowed her to start small, and as she improved her recipes and ideas, her business began to grow. Carrie recently launched her Web site and looks forward to enjoying 100% of her sales online.
The Pixie Vision line includes handmade soap, bath salts, bath teas, massage oils, after bath spritzes and eye and dream pillows. To launch her line, Carrie used money saved from her successful craft shows and some small lines of credit she obtained specifically for Pixie Vision. Her background as a professional designer has allowed her to save thousands of dollars on a professionally designed Web site and on labels, brochures and packaging materials.
The Details Of Running A Business & Looking To The Future
Pixie Vision's best selling products are its dream pillows. Carrie says this is because the hand-stenciling on them makes them really nice gifts. Of course, her handmade soaps are big sellers as well.
Carrie's overarching goal is to earn a level of income from Pixie Vision that will allow her to support myself as well as enjoy other goals in life. So far, she's doing great, pointing out that she loves making her products and seeing the delighted reactions of happy customers. Of course, Carrie says, she takes the bitter with the sweet, recognizing the huge challenge of "getting the word out about what Pixie Vision is and why our products are worth purchasing." In fact, getting the word out is such a challenge that Carrie points out that the best advice she can give to a new handmade beauty business is to "learn everything possible about marketing!" Another important detail is to make sure the labeling on your products is just as lovely as the products themselves.
Benefits of IBN Membership
Carrie is excited to be participating in IBN, and as one of our newest members is looking forward to using IBN to spread the word about Pixie Vision. She's also looking forward to networking with others who share her love of handmade toiletries and other interests.
Carrie and Pixie Vision Botanicals can be contacted at pixie@pixie-vision.com and through her Web site.
