The Indie Experience
February 5, 2007
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 8, Issue 5
To subscribe, click here
1. Meet IBN's New and Renewing Members
2. This Week On Indie Business Radio
3. Hot Off The Presses: The Magazines Are Here!
4. Indie Candy: Mary Avery of Cerise: Blow Up Your Bath
5. Indie Calendar: Indies, Indies Everywhere!
Pamper Yourself This Week: Kitchen Cupboard Facial Exfoliant
1. Meet IBN's New and Renewing Members
Welcome Renewing Members!
Frieda's Bath | Frieda Nugen | Oklahoma
* Member since February 2006; Handmade bath products.
Lily Gulch Soaps | D'Anna Catterson | Colorado
* Member since February 2006; Lily Gulch Soaps is a specialty handmade soap company which makes premium cold-processed soap using all natural, all vegetable ingredients. Pure essential oils scent our soaps and botanicals provide texture and natural coloring. Look for our new line of handmade sugar, coffee and salt scrubs, bali reef and dead sea bath salts, rhassoul clay masque and body oils. We offer natural bath accessories and attractive gift baskets and ship using natural packing materials.
A Little Ol'Factory | Christine Ziegler | Texas
* Member since January 2006; For over 6 years we've been supplying customers in over 20 countries with exceptional natural products for aromatherapy, aromachology, perfumery and personal care. Our offerings include tested essential oils & absolutes, genuine hydrosols, carrier oils, liquid & bar soaps & bases. Retail, wholesale and private labeling available.
Bottles and Jars.net | Anne Kremer | New York
* Member since January 2002; Bottles and Jars.Net is a supplier of plastic
and glass packaging for all your toiletry needs. No minimums. Master Card
and Visa accepted.
Welcome New Members!
Penny Lane Candles | Penny Wallingford | Mississippi
ME Naturally Mineral Makeup | Marilyn Etzel | Texas
Natural minerals, natural botanicals, natural beauty.
Velvet & Sweet Peas Purrfumery | Laurie Stern |
California
Velvet and Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery is where artisan natural
perfumer Laurie Stern creates her unique collection of rich botanical
perfumes. These luxurious crème and liquid perfumes are hand blended with
the most luscious natural and organic ingredients. Indulgently packaged in
fine French crystal bottles and glorious jeweled boxes, all perfumes come
tucked into lush silk purses with their own whimsical Victorian scent cards.
They make exquisite gifts for yourself or anyone who deserves a special
pampering treat.
Berkanaway, LLC | Jennifer Lynne Echrt | Illinois
Berkanaway LLC was founded by a Naturopathic Doctor who has carefully
chosen, designed and formulated products to heal and enhance our lives.
Offered are Aromatics including pure Organic/Biodynamic and Wildcrafted
essential oils, hydrosols and carrier oils and tools to utilize them.
Innovative synthetic-free Aromatheraputic formulated products include
facial, body, baby and child care which are packaged in Miron violet glass,
also available empty. Custom formulating for those in the healing arts is
available. We also provide educational training and materials.
Pumpkin Creek Candle Co. | Gina Curtis | Nebraska
Quality handpoured candles, soaps and more.
Heaven Scent Too | Janice Roth | Texas
Makers of handmade soaps and a luxurious line of heavenly scented
bath and body products. All of our designs and body products are carefully
chosen and produced for their detail and individual beauty. Whether it is
for a special gift, unique keepsake or as an elegant addition to a guest
bath, our heavenly scented soaps are sure to be admired and cherished by
all. Our bath and body products are sure to give you that pampered feeling
found in only the highest quality products.
Persephone's Treasures | Dianna Trout | Illinois
Lampwork beads and jewelry design.
Skintype | Alec Laughlin | Arizona
Skintype is a complete line of naturally vital, highly effective
skincare. Our ultra-pure, phyto-based line of skincare products is delivered
to you without the hyper-pricing and outlandish claims normally associated
with cutting edge skin care products.
Learn more about Indie members and their exciting products, services and activities by visiting their websites through our Online Member Directory. You can search for your favorite Indie by state/country, business name, keyword or alphabetical listings.
2. This Week on Indie Business Radio: Platinum Marketing on a Bronze Budget With Marketing Expert Susan F. Benjamin
Launched in October 2005 as the Lifestyle CEO Show, Indie Business Radio offers practical advice and workable strategies to achievement-oriented, independent entrepreneurs who are trading in the traditional corporate ladder to enjoy life and business on their own terms.
Current
Guest: Susan F. Benjamin
Author of "Instant Marketing for Almost Free"
Topic of Discussion: Platinum Marketing on a Bronze Budget
How To Enjoy the Show: The show was great and you can click here to enjoy
the show!
About Susan F. Benjamin
Susan Benjamin has brought communications issues to the nation for almost 20 years. Publications from The Wall Street Journal to The Chicago Tribune have featured Susan’s novel approaches while her opinion pieces on language-related issues have appeared in USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Daily News, Government Executive and countless others. Her most recent book, "Instant Marketing for Almost Free" is a treasure trove of marketing tips that any small business can use -- and many of them are nearly free! Use the link below to purchase your copy of her book today!
Upcoming Indie Business Radio Guests
February 12
Show: Duplicating yourself to increase profits
Guest: Debra Cohen, owner of Home Remedies of NY, Inc.
Topic: tips for expanding your business using a franchise model
February 19
Show: Making love and business work
IBN member couples talk about business as a lifestyle and how they combine
love and business amidst laundry, diapers, homework and other obligations
March 19
Show: Breaking the mold to promote your business
Sabrina Bouyahi, owner of Push The Envelope Public Relations
Topic: practical PR strategies to set you apart from the crowd
March 26
Show: Shout it out!
Shannon Cherry, owner of Cherry Communications
Topic: making your voice heard in a global economy
3. Hot Off The Presses: The Magazines Are Here!
Members
and subscribers!
Check your mail boxes for the new magazine: The Soap Issue. If you have not subscribed, you can do so here. Back issues are now available!
We are in production for the first official issue of 2007, featuring a cover story on the Indie Business of the Year! Who will it be? Subscribe today and be among the first to find out!
4. Indie Candy: Mary Avery: Blow Up Your Bath
Bath
bombs are not sophisticated, but they sure are fun. This week's Indie Candy
turns them out by the thousands as she encourages all of us to blow up our
baths -- a lot. Meet Mary Avery (pictured in white, with daughter and
business partner Amanda) of Cerise
in Thousand Oaks, California.
Inspiration Came Quickly
Mary was in the process of finalizing a line of creams and candles when the
company she used to help make her products decided to sell the bath fizzie
portion of her business. At that time, Mary's neighbor and friend Gina was
looking for a way to earn money while being at home with her two young
children. Gina and Mary put their heads together and decided to visit the
bath fizzie company in person. They few out to Oregon to have a look.
"The next thing we knew," recalls Mary, we were the proud owners of a bath fizzie business. We struggled beyond belief
to come up with a name for our newly formed company. One day, a friend
called and said CERISE, and the adventure began."
Streamlining For Success
Like all small business, Mary and Gina struggled to produce product while
also streamlining the business into a manageable operation. "We decided
to divide the company into separate divisions, one for bath fizzies, which
is run by me and Gina, and the other for the cremes, soy candles and
well-being stones, which is run by me and my daughter Amanda," Mary
says.
The trio has found that respecting each other's boundaries is a key to success. "We are all really good friends and are determined to keep it that way, and we have to be respectful when it comes to finances, creativity and control," says Mary. One of the best things Mary says she has done for Cerise is to engage website designer Kim Baron of Fallen Muse WebWorks. "Kim is amazing," says Mary, "And we are also about to hire an accountant. Our husbands double as amazing cheerleaders and equipment managers who know when and how to step in when needed and out when not," she laughs.
Motherhood and Business: The Ultimate Multi-Task
Like so many Indies, Mary and Gina are mothers. Gina, pictured here,
recalls with a smile the day she and her 2-year old son enjoyed a little
bath fizzie fun around the family toilet. Now, that's a hilarious mental
picture! And what a great trick to get boys to take a bath in the first
place! Gina's kids are older now (9 and 6), but it's still a challenge to
tend to them while also running a business. When she's not working the
business, you can find Gina working part-time at a local middle school in the front office,
and on the weekends and anytime between, she's camping, dirt biking, scrap booking, and
just generally keeping the peace.
"Moms juggling business and family is the ultimate multi-task," says Mary, and with a total of 5 kids ranging in age from 19 to 12, she should know. "Being in business for ourselves allows us to be available for the minute by minute needs of our family, yet it's also absolutely insane sometimes and there's never enough time in the day." Mary believes that organization is the key to success for moms in business and it definitely "keeps the screaming to a minimum," she says. Business and motherhood also makes romance a little difficult. "It does its best to kick the romance out of the marriage -- just one more challenge that moms have strive to meet and beat. There will never be enough time in the day, and never ever is everyone be happy all at the same time."
Mary spends non-business time running a real estate business and serving as a practicing as a massage therapist. On weekends, she's driving to and from hockey games. Her goal these days is to find a way to spend more time with her friends who are equally as crazed. But then, there's that time thing again. Mary's daughter and business partner Amanda is also busy as a full-time college student. "In the old days when she had time, Amanda could be found on the dirt bike track, horseback riding or swimming.
Trying to squeeze personal hobbies in between children and business is a
challenge, and even though life is busy and often crazy, Amanda, Gina and
Mary would want to live any other way.
Business Challenges
"Our greatest challenge is getting our products out in the market place.
Today's world is full of marketing opportunities, it can be expensive and
turn out being worthless. On the other hand, you can take a simple,
affordable marketing step and it can turn out to be priceless. It's just a
matter of sorting through the clutter and keeping your ear to the ground for
new opportunities. Networking is great, but it takes an endless amount of
time and energy.
"And speaking of not having enough hours in the day, every time I open the Indie Experience newsletter or visit IBN's website, I find something else I have to look into. Not such a good thing when there's so little time! Seriously though, IBN offers a great product all around."
Best Business Book
When
I asked Mary what her favorite business resource is, she laughed and shared
a long list. "The California state franchise forms have been pretty
entertaining as are the FDA regulations. The IRS pamphlets and employee tax
forms are also quite riveting. When I find the time lately, I've enjoyed
'The Martha Rules,'" says Mary. "I've never been a big fan of her
style but have learned to admire her business savvy and strength," she
says.
Coming Down The Pike For Cerise
Mary says that 2007 promises to be filled with hard work, dedication to
quality products and new beginnings. "We're excited about a bunch of new
bath fizzie releases, including ones for manicures and pedicures that will
include tea tree oil. We're also going to launch our "Fido Fizz"
for our special 4-legged friends. Plus our creme line recently introduced a spectacular new all over body therapy
creme and the scrub line features a new blue algae scrub, a coffee scrub, and a very exciting sea salt hand
scrub. Our soy candle line recently launched in glass containers."
5. Indie Calendar: Indies, Indies Everywhere!
As always, IBN members are everywhere doing their share to support and encourage other Indies to maximize success. Check out the chart below for an overview of upcoming events and if you think one in your area is for you, click on our Calendar for more details.
Members, listen up! This weekly feature is just one of the
ways IBN spreads the word about your business. Do you have an event coming
up that you'd like us to publicize? An open house? A special class? A sale
at your physical retail location? Add your event here
and I'll cue it up for the next newsletter!
| Date | Event | Location |
| February 8, 2007 | You Invent It - You Package It - Join Jo Ann Hines, the Packaging Diva, for a free interactive Internet radio show with tips on how to package your products to sell. | Online radio show |
| February 16-17, 2007 | The Business of Aromatherapy - a practical and useful approach to getting started as a self-employed business owner. | Sarasota, FL |
| March 17, 2007 | Start Writing Your Business Plan Today | San Francisco, CA |
| April 12-15, 2007 | Bath and Body Product Making Boot Camp | San Francisco, CA |
| Summer 2007 | The Indie Business Conference (pictures from the 2006 conference) | Charlotte, North Carolina, registration to be announced |
Best & Success!!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Indie Experience
The Indie Beauty Network | www.indiebeauty.com
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2007 by The Indie Beauty Network (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 The Handmade Beauty Connection (HBC) 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 the HBC 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, HBC 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.
