A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 7, Issue 47
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1. IBN Member Update: Welcome New & Renewing IBN Members!
2. Lifestyle CEO Report: Entrepreneurial Couples
3. Are You Ever Going To Retire? Here's What You Said
4. Handmade Beauty Business of the Year: Nominations Are Now Open!
5. Introducing Monthly Beauty Business Exchange
6. Feature Article: Talented And Gifted
7. Here & There: Calendar of Upcoming Events

Handmade Beauty Recipe of the Week: Cinnamint Body Lotion

\Life.Style CEO\n. A person who owns and manages a business, not solely for financial gain, but also to enjoy the personal rewards of entrepreneurship, independence, flexibility and fun.

Last week's show featured tips for helping couples manage their money better so they could maximize their chances of success in business. If you missed it, you can listen to it here. This week, I'll be joined by Kathy Marshack, author of "Entrepreneurial Couples" to learn what other traits make couples successful and love and business. Join me and Kathy LIVE at 1:00pm EST to learn more, at Global Talk Radio.com. Just click on "Listen Live" at the home page to join us! Call in your own question or comment at (800) 773-0355. 

Are you looking for a great book to help you sort through all the issues associated with enjoying success running a business with your spouse or significant other? If so, you might enjoy this book as much as I do. Kathy Marshack's professional background has equipped her to help people dissect and understand the complicated business of being in business with the person you love. If you're thinking about going into business with that special someone, or if you're already there, this book offers several steps you can take to make both the business and the relationship profitable for the long term. 

And visit the Lifestyle CEO website book page to get the scoop on my book featuring several members of the Indie Beauty Network who are the ultimate examples of successful Lifestyle CEOs!

Several weeks ago, I wrote a column about the "new" meaning of retirement and how the economy of this new millennium is affecting our perception of what it means to retire. If you missed it, you can enjoy it here. I asked you what you thought of retirement, and whether you ever planned to do it. Here are a few comments you sent me.

You know those "talented and gifted" programs they have in public school systems across the country? The ones where the most T and G kids in the school are exposed to more unique and diverse opportunities than the other kids on the school? While I'm not adverse to TAG programs in general, it seems to me that a young person who is not allowed into the TAG program might feel like he or she does not deserve to receive or achieve in life. I guess one day I'll write a column about that, but for now, I will simply borrow the program name to introduce a woman who is like a TAG program all unto herself.

Cheryl Talley Moss owner of Cheryl's Products in Mesquite, TX, describes herself as "52 years young". She is a mother, author, beauty business owner and breast cancer survivor. Here is some of Cheryl's story.

Out of Adversity, Opportunity

I unofficially started my business nearly 15 years ago when I began researching a natural approach to healing from breast cancer while I was battling the disease. I learned that shea butter was a natural ingredient that soothed the burns I received while enduring radiation therapy. It was then that I began creating shea butter skin creams and lotions. Throughout the years, my children and friends encouraged me to start my own company. I spent years in my “kitchen-turned-laboratory” developing healthy hair and skin care products.

Inspiration for Cheryl’s Products also came from my mother [pictured with Cheryl at left]. I have fond memories of my mother whipping natural moisturizing and nourishing ingredients into hair and skin care products. She passed away 3 years ago on my birthday, Independence Day. This may sound crazy, but I can feel my mother’s presence while I’m working in my “kitchen-turned-laboratory”. 

I launched my publishing company in order to self-publish my first book, Healthy Hair Care Tips for Today’s Black Woman. I was prompted to write the book because I realized there wasn’t enough information out there about black hair care. In the book, I reveal the hair care tips I developed as a salon owner. I also worked in the research and development department of E F Young Manufacturing, the oldest manufacturer of hair and skin care products developed exclusively for African Americans. [You can read more about that company here.] I have also been a beauty college instructor and manager so I am well qualified to offer black hair care tips. My work has been featured in national magazines and the book continues to be a “must-read” for urban-contemporary stylists and clients. it has sold over 6,000 copies.

Two years ago I experienced an amicable divorce after 29 years of marriage. After that, I decided to officially launch my product line. My ex-husband and I remain good friends and we have a daughter, age 29 (pictured on the book cover), and 2 sons, ages 27 and 24. I'm also recently a grandmother!

I started both businesses without any loans or investors. In 1999, I was newly divorced and had very little money. I used my own savings of $5,000 to get Talley Publishing off the ground. So, I guess you can say that I started producing my products by my boot straps after that. I have kept a promise to myself to reinvest back into the business every penny made from Cheryl’s Products for the first 3 years. I launched the line with 14 products. We now carry over 60 handmade products. 

Writing: A Result of Passion and Talent

I love to travel, and every time I return from a trip, my friends loved my interesting and funny stories. I relished telling the stories, but I also found myself enjoying prolonging and embellishing the endings of stories about my travels. My friends love how I tell stories and they encouraged me to start writing about them, so that's what I did.

My debut novel, Sooner or Later is a romance suspense that has received excellent reviews. It deals with real life issues like infidelity, obesity, "baby | momma drama," and discrimination in the work place.

Keeping It Together

Cheryl’s Products and Talley Publishing are my full-time jobs and they keep me very busy. The biggest challenge associated with my businesses is offering a variety of high quality healthy hair and skin care products at an affordable price. I know that quality products start with high quality ingredients. Yet these ingredients can be very costly. Right now, I am only making a small profit, but I’m confident my company will grow tremendously within the next few years.

I hand make every product from scratch in small batches to ensure quality control and freshness. I do all the research and development, and design the packaging and marketing materials. My children help me with the retail side of the business. In addition to staying busy with the product side, I am writing the sequel to my romance suspense novel. It’s called Momma’s Back and She’s Tired of the Drama. I also plan to release my second black hair care guide in the summer of 2007.

To date, I have not spent a penny on advertising. My customer base has grown tremendously by word of mouth. I am a firm believer that word of mouth is the best form of advertisement. I know I make great products! After a satisfied customer tries my products they tell others. That’s advertisement money can’t buy! I’ve been self employed since 1991 and I enjoy what I do for a living. It is truly a blessing to be able to use my creativity. In the past, some of my jobs stifled my creativity. In addition to working at the businesses I love, I enjoy reading, gardening, and listening to music while designing clothing, hair ornaments & jewelry for my family and friends.

24/7

My typical day starts with a heart of thankfulness and praise to God because He allowed me to survive breast cancer. I believe God spared my life for a reason and I am determined to share all the gifts and talents He has blessed me with. So, I begin each day early with prayer and devotion. Next, I usually write because I do my best writing early in the morning when my thoughts are clear. Then I check my email for orders. After filling the orders, I take inventory and if necessary I whip up new batches of products. Last but not least, I check with my host of family and friends for feedback on the latest product I am testing.

Cheryl's Words of Wisdom

My advice for anyone that is looking to become successful in the beauty industry is to learn all you can about the industry. My 25 plus years in this business has taught me that hair and skin, no matter what race or nationality, is chemically the same. However, there are a few physical differences. Once you master the physical differences, you will know the needs of every hair and skin type. I advise anyone that wants to become successful in business to study the business they want to get into and to surround themselves with positive people. Achieving success is about hard work, dedication, sacrifices, staying focused, being determined and avoiding negative people.

Favorite Business Book

The Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book by Dan Poynter was extremely instrumental in launching Talley Publishing and Cheryl’s Products because the production and marketing principals apply to both businesses. The technique used to promote and sell a book are frequently the same as those used to promote and sell my beauty products.

Future Plans

My immediate goal is to add body scrubs and polishes in each of our 7 signature fragrances and to continue to develop healthy hair and skin care products that will be beneficial to everyone, no matter what race or ethnicity. My long term goal is to open retail stores across the country. I plan to open a retail store in Dallas next year.

I found IBN while surfing the Internet for classes to learn more about my craft. I’m grateful to be a part of an organization that offers a wealth of information and resources.

Editor's Note: Cheryl is a shining example of what any of us can do by harnessing our gifts and talents and figuring out a way to share them with the world as we also support ourselves. No amount of adversity will remove the requirement that we provide for ourselves so why not combine talents, gifts, educational background, prior work experiences and everything else about you to create the kind of lifestyle you can enjoy from the inside out. Cheryl's done it and so can you!

You can enjoy excerpts from Cheryl's novel Sooner or Later at her website, where you can also buy her books and handmade beauty products.

As always, there's a lot going on at IBN, and our members are very busy. I'll be including this chart in upcoming issues so everyone can stay abreast of the happening here at IBN!