The Indie Experience
October 1, 2007
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 8, Issue 39
To subscribe, click here
-- Sponsor --
1. Meet IBN's New Members!
2. New At the Blog: Indies For The Cure
3. Today On Indie Business Radio: Tips For Publishing and Marketing Your Book
4. Indie Candy: Marilyn Thompson: Victoria's Lavender
Indie Beauty Ritual: Maple Oat Facial Scrub
1. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
Welcome
Renewing Members!
The Aromatic Way | Donna Lang | California
* The Aromatic Way's natural aromatherapy body care products are
formulated by a certified aromatherapist. We only use pure essential oils
and no synthetic fragrances to scent them. The lotions, creams, and balms
are made with nutritious vegetable oils and Vitamin E. Several of the
products are also made with infusions of organically grown herbs. Be good to
yourself - indulge in the Aromatic Way!
Welcome New Members!
Health Quest | David Yee | California
* Small, family owned manufacturer of health care products, including
cleansers, body and hair shampoos and skin care.
Valana Minerals | Valerie Reed | California
* Valana Minerals creates all natural mineral and vegan makeup
formulated for women of color. The color palate contains rich, deep colors
that coordinate well with tan and brown skin. Our products contain
beneficial ingredients, vegan lip colors and amazingly soft synthetic
cosmetic brushes. Our philosophy mandates high quality products, education
on safe cosmetic ingredients and application tutorials. Each of these
aspects of Valana Minerals makes our company a unique addition to the
cosmetic industry.
Wingsets Aromatherapy | Ann Wooledge | Nebraska
* All of our recipes have been uniquely formulated by a certified
aromatherapy professional. Our products are handmade in small, controlled
batches to offer the freshest product. We use the very best and most
beneficial carrier oils, essential oils, botanical extracts and pure natural
butters that have been processed in ways to assure they retain their
therapeutic qualities. Our ingredients are organic or wild-crafted when
available.
Body Botanicals, LLC | Kristie McNamara | Colorado
* Specializing in effective, sophisticated, luxurious skin care
products that are toxin free. Whether you want to soften wrinkles, prevent
sun damage, tone your pores, soothe dry skin or treat your baby's diaper
rash...we have it! A full line of face, body and baby skin nourishing
products. We have fused botanical ingredients with the science of producing
safe products.
Spaoshi | James Smoot | Florida
* Promoting health care for you and your pet with pure, natural
products.
Moonmaid Botanicals | Cynthia Johnston | Tennessee
* MoonMaid Botanicals is an herb company dedicated to providing safe
herbal alternatives for the good health of people and the planet. Since
1995, Cynthia Johnston has been creating a line of products for women. We
are currently expanding our line of to include products for menopause and
PMS, and soap, bath and aromatherapy products. Raw materials are organic,
wild crafted or grown in our garden.
River City Soaps | Roxanne Shirvan | Texas
* Handmade soap celebrating the culture, history, and natural
resources of Texas, from East Texas piney woods to West Texas rodeos, Hill
Country wildflowers to sunny beaches, wild berries to citrus groves. Our
soaps are an affordable luxury for yourself, and they make great gifts for
Texans, both native and transplanted, and for those less fortunate folks who
live elsewhere.
An Aromatherapy Conference This Month!
For those of you interested in clinical aromatherapy, Laraine Kyle, RN, a
renowned expert in the field, is hosting the International Clinical Aromatherapy Conference and
Wellness Expo on Oct 18 - 21. For details and to register, click here.
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. New At the Blog: Blogs of Interest to the Indie Community
Blogs
of special interest to the Indie Beauty community:
Indies
For The Cure: it's breast cancer awareness month, and in honor of my
mother-in-law and all of the other brave people battling the disease, I am
inviting you to join me for Indies For The Cure. It's easy, fun and
together, we can do a lot!
The Upside of Frustration: for anyone who has ever had a technology
meltdown
Grow
'Til You Go: fuel for when you feel tired and uninspired
The
Whole Hog Business Blog: are you committed, really committed?
What
They Know For Sure: what we can learn from a few rich dudes
Win
This!: last chance to win some Manuka Honey Drizzle!
Peek-A-Boo,
Who The Heck Are You?: you can run but you can't hide
3. Today on Indie Business Radio: Tips For Publishing and Marketing Your Book
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. Enjoy downloads and audio streams of recent shows at this link.
This
Week's Show: Tips To Successful Publication and Book Marketing
Guests:
Husband and wife team and co-authors of Purple Snowflake Marketing shared
valuable tips to pitching your book idea to publishers, publishing it
yourself, and marketing it either way
How To Enjoy the Show: The show will be available at Indie Business Radio tomorrow. Meanwhile, you can enjoy all of my shows there.
Upcoming Shows:
October 15: Deborah Balmuth, Managing Editor at Storey
Books on how to get yourself published (confirmed)
October 29: Shannon Kilkenny, author of The Complete Guide To
Successful Event Planning on how to plan a holiday product party (confirmed)
-- Sponsor --
4. Indie Candy: Marilyn Thompson: Victoria's Lavender
All lives are touched by tragedy of some kind. As much as we dread thinking about it, we know at all times that the nearly unthinkable will happen. When it does, it's good to consider that others have encountered tragedy and gone on to inspire us with their example of determination and courage. Marilyn Thompson of Victoria's Lavender in Newberg, Oregon, is a person who has done that.
How did you start your business and what was the inspiration for it?
This year marks our 5th year in business. I named it after my youngest daughter, Victoria (pictured with Marilyn). The business came to exist following several years of triumph and tragedy.
Within 2 years of marrying Victoria's father, and one month before our daughter's birthday, Troy Thomspon, my husband was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. I cared for him in our newly purchased home in Oregon's beautiful wine country until he passed away. During Troy’s illness I was unrelenting in my study of natural alternatives for health care since traditional medicine had nothing to offer with the disease. In that journey, I learned a great deal about the natural resources available to us, and the importance of using toxin-free, natural and organic products whenever possible.
During this time, I managed a successful real estate business, encompassing 2 offices and 45 agents. As time went on, I was determined to figure out a way to work from home and be here for Victoria. Troy died 4 years after he was diagnosed, just a month before our daughter's 5th birthday. My strong desire to be with our daughter full-time, coupled with my growing knowledge of healthy lifestyle alternatives, fueled my creative passions. I added my art degree and business background, and Victoria’s Lavender was born.
Troy
and my growing connection to all things natural was of course a big part of
the inspiration, but a lot also comes from the lovely home we purchased
overlooking the lush Willamette Valley in Newberg. The views are beautiful,
especially at sunset when this photo was taken.
What have you learned about maintaining a home and a business that you think could inspire other single parents?
Victoria is the youngest of 4 daughters (there are 3 others from Troy and
my prior marriages), and the only one still at home. Even though I usually work 6 days a week, sometimes 7, I love that she can come home from school without going to daycare. I am passionate about the importance of
parents being at home as much as possible when their children are young.
With our older girls, it seemed I was always picking them up at the last possible minute before
daycare closed, and then when they were older, they returned from school to an empty house every day. So even though I work many evenings, I
take time during the day for Victoria’s activities and homework, and keep a pulse on what’s going on at school. Plus,
I'm home, which makes a big difference.
I urge parents, whether single or not, to do whatever it takes to be home for your kids. This is my second career, and having done it both ways, this one is so much better, even with the financial sacrifices.
I don't make nearly the money I made when I worked in real estate, but it's
worth every dime I've exchanged to be with my daughter.
How many products are in your line?
We have about 35 products in the line. Lavender Cabernet is one of our newest additions. (See soap pictured.) We're located in the heart of the Oregon wine country surrounded by vineyards. Lavender and grapes grow in the same soils and conditions here as they do in Southern France. This inspired me to try and combine lavender and Oregon wine into a fragrance which is now trademarked as one of my signature fragrances. It has turned out to be quite popular.
Because the line is fairly deep, it’s hard to say which are the best sellers. We have consistent sellers, but individual stores have unique customer bases and that's what determines the types of products they like to buy most. Clothing stores purchase different products than home and garden stores. I create everything, but thank goodness no longer have to make it all.
What makes your products stand out from the crowd?
The hook for our products is that they are natural, and people trust the integrity of the products and their ingredients. They have experienced first hand the benefits of real lavender essential oil versus just a fragrance oil for example. Our lotions and butters are extremely effective at moisturizing which is important to a large part of the population. It’s the testimonies and letters from clients who have benefited from using our products that keeps me going. It’s nice to know we’re helping improve someone’s quality of life, even in a small way.
Who helps make your business successful?
Part of the mission of my company is to support other moms, so for the most part I employ
mothers in order to help them have the flexibility needed to raise a family and work at the same time. I currently have 8 women working on my team part-time. In addition,
I work with a graphics artist, accountant, legal advisor and sales people.
How do you market your products?
We market our products through sales reps, our website, trade shows and select local shows. Although most of our business is wholesale, I like to do a few different retail shows to test-market products and get feedback first hand.
What are the biggest challenges and how do you overcome them?
Patience with pacing the growth of the business in order to keep my priorities (mainly family) in line. I’ve had to make sure the business grows at a manageable, steady pace so that I can juggle all the things I need to as a single mom, home owner, business owner, etc.
What are your best tips for Indie business success?
First of all, don’t expect quick returns financially. People told me when I started to give it at least a year. Then after a year, I would hear that it takes a minimum of two years. And then after two years they would say
... well, you get the picture.
Examine your reasons for wanting to be in business. If you’re starting a
beauty business because you like beauty products, it’s not much insurance for success. Better reasons
are because you are an entrepreneur at heart, are self-motivated, have good time management skills, etc. You need to have some real staying power and determination. I wouldn’t suggest
starting or buying an existing business unless you are passionate enough and believe in it enough to put in the hard work and stay the course. As I used to tell salespeople I interviewed for a real estate
career, “Don’t go into real estate because you like houses."
What business book have you enjoyed that has helped you in business, and why?
The most recent book I’ve been reading is “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. It’s been a validation for me on persistence and not giving up. Sometimes it’s tempting to try something and if it doesn’t work at first, to toss it out and try something different when what is needed may be just a slight adjustment. Sometimes it’s the smaller things that can make a difference.
What are you doing when you're not working?
Not working??? Can’t remember what that’s like! I have coached volleyball for the past five years, but gave it up this year because of business growth. I do manage to make a few trips to Lake Tahoe and San Francisco to see my daughters now and then.
Why do you love being Indie?
The shared ideas and inspiration, resources available, and contacts I’ve made.
This is Indie Candy, so if you were a
type of candy, what would
you be and why?
A lemon drop. Partly because of the “when life gives you lemons make lemonade” thing, but mostly because it reminds me of a lemon drop martini. Yum!
What are your annual gross revenues?
I strive for a solid 20% increase a year. This year we are going to exceed that which is challenging my “steady and manageable growth," concept, but I’m confident we’ll get through the current growing pains.
Editor's
Note: Neither time nor space permits me to detail much about
Marilyn's experiences as she tended to her husband during his long illness.
I had the privilege a few years ago to spend numerous hours with Marilyn,
listening intently to her experiences. Rarely in my life have I observed a
woman up close who through hardship wore grace and dignity like a sparkling
crown.
You can read a bit of Marilyn and Troy's story at this link. Also, Marilyn is at work on a book about what she learned about the sanctity of life during her time with Troy. Visit her site to learn more about that. Grab up some of Marilyn's products, including a line of Chocolate Lavender and some of the new Lavender Cabernet at her website.
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.
