The Indie Experience
November 26, 2007
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 8, Issue 51
To subscribe, click here
Enjoy My Holiday Gift Guide!
-- Sponsor --
Check out my 2007 Holiday Gift Guide!
1. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
2. New At the Blog: Two new video posts, plus sucking it up for your
business
3. Today On Indie Business Radio: Indie Members Chat It
Up About Life and Business
4. Indie Candy: Kristie McNamara :: Body Botanicals |
Morrison, Colorado
Indie Beauty Ritual: Vanilla Warming Oil
1. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
Welcome Renewing Members!
Harmonious Essentials | Elizabeth Kryszan | Ohio
* Bath and body products.
Harmony Soapworks | Diana Thompson | Washington
* Harmony SoapWorks is a family owned business located in a small beach
community on Washington's Long Beach Peninsula. We make our soap "from
scratch" using only the best ingredients and we have been doing this since
1997. We create our formulas with your skin in mind-after all, it is all that
you have between you and the tough world. Your satisfaction is important to us.
Wholesale and private label.
Soap Impressions | Diana Thompson | Washington
* Our stamps for handcrafted soaps let you add your own personal,
professional touch. Use ready-made designs and letters, or commission a custom
stamp of a logo, name, phrase or design. Your creations will look as great as
they smell and cleanse. Go ahead... make an impression!
Plum Hill Pure Body Essentials | Jeanne Kissman | Idaho
* We create a wide variety of Sugar Body Scrubs, Peppermint Foot Scrubs,
Bath Salts, Lip Balms, Body Butters and Linen Sprays. Plum Hill products are
Made in Idaho and Plum Hill products are all natural and contain no
preservatives.
Birch Hill Happenings | Alan and Penny Keay | Minnesota
* We provide 100% Pure Therapeutic essential oil for use in aromatherapy.
We have developed our own BHH Massage Oil blend for use by massage therapists.
Several essential oil synergy blends are available for a wide range of health
concerns and massage applications. Free consultations provided. Unscented
personal care products are available for personalize scenting.
PhytoAromatics | Melissa Holowaty | Canada
* PhytoAromatics specializes in ingredients and handcrafted products for
the Canadian Spa and Gift industries. For clients who produce their own
products, we offer consistent quality ingredients and packaging and reliable
scientific consultation. For our retail customers, we offer customized
formulation and design and can provide amazing private label products to
strengthen your business.
Welcome New Members!
Pure Gifts & Cosmetics | Brenda Kahn |
Delaware
* Pure Gifts and Cosmetics offers handmade gift baskets and sets featuring
lotions, shower gel, bath milk, whipped body butter and more. We also offer
fully customizable scents and gift baskets at affordable prices.
Mikamy Meadows LLC | Amy Mattingly | Ohio
* Unique. Clean. Green. We've taken the best nature has to offer and
customized it to bring you unique and natural personal care products for the
whole family. Our product line includes face and body care, home cleaning and
fragrance products, and natural soy candles. Good for you! Good for the earth!
Lavender Acres, Inc. | Gabrielle Graham | New
Mexico
* We grow lavender and other herbs and make lavender and other herbal
products for personal care and household use. These include but are not limited
to soaps, scrubs, salves, lotion, hand and body cream, lip balm, nail butter,
essential oil, bath oil, massage oil and wood polish and leather conditioners.
At Lavender Acres we are committed to providing our customers with the finest
products and customer service.
Clairvoyant Beauty | Alexandra Masterson | New
York
* Apprentice Indie
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: Posts of Interest to the Indie Community
Posts of special interest to the Indie Beauty community:
Video
Post #1: tour of Indie Headquarters
Video
Post #2: review of j.blossom products featuring the next generation of
Indie, my daughter!
Suck It Up Princess: my Indie Business Radio Show guest says you can go without in order to make your business better
... and this is just a sampling. Start at Indie Business Blog for more informative and entertaining tips that you won't find anywhere else on the Web!
3. Today on Indie Business Radio: Indie Members Chat It Up About Life and Business
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.
Today's Show:
Indies On Being Indie
Guest: Today,
we had an unexpected change of plans which resulted in me having some great
chats with Indie members about being Indie. Several members whose products are
featured in my 2007 Holiday Gift Guide, including Joanne Bassett of Joanne
Bassett Natural Perfume (pictured),were featured on a spur of the moment fun
show. The audio will be ready in a few days at
this link.
"I Love Indie Business Radio!"
"I have listened to all of your shows and I think they are terrific. I just wanted you to know that even though people can't always call in, we are out here listening, and your shows are so valuable. Your questions for the guests are right on. I am amazed at how well spoken they are. After listening to one of the shows focusing on the importance of email newsletters, I decided to send out my first one. I got an order within 2 hours, after not having one for several days! Also, I just started doing business with one of your sponsors as a result of listening to the show. Keep them coming! ~ Julie Ann Price, Beauty With A Cause
-- Sponsor --
4. Indie Candy: Kristie McNamara :: Body Botanicals
One
of the greatest things about being Indie is what happens when you take that leap
of faiths into the world of entrepreneurship and discover that there is so much
more to it than just making a living from you passion. New friendships, exciting
business opportunities and unexpected professional opportunities are just a few
of the perks that come your way. Now and then, you might throw a little romance
into the mix. And if you're like 33 year old Kristie McNamara of Body
Botanicals in Colorado, marriage and a couple of kids round things out
beautifully. Here is some of Kristie's story.
How did you start your business and what was the inspiration for it?
Body Botanicals was inspired by my love for Chemistry and Botany. I attended college at Michigan State University and received degrees in Organic chemistry and Botany. After graduation, I worked for the university in the plant research department. I also had a part time job at a health food store where I was enthralled with natural products, particularly the skin care products. I started experimenting with ingredients, formulating products and reading many books on making soap and other skin care products. One day at the health food store, I met a woman, Gail, who was allergic to parabens and desperately needed to find products that she could use. To my surprise, there were none on the shelves that didn't have parabens. So, I took her information and got to work.
I made products for Gail and she loved them. It clicked, I had a business idea where I could use my knowledge in chemistry and botany, help people and run a business using green business practices. Something else amazing happened too. Gail sensed that I had a lot of similar interests as her son who was a scientist in Alaska. She was right, we had similar views and likes and he was fun and interesting. We married a year later in 2000 and moved to Colorado. I continued researching and developing ingredients, formulas and green business practices. I also began marketing and selling products in various markets. Body Botanicals was incorporated in 2000, as soon as we moved to Colorado.
How do you manage motherhood and business?
I have 2 little girls. Abbi (pictured with me) is 4 and Lilia is almost 2. As most of you know, keeping up with parenting, business and life can be overwhelming. I do it by keeping the business very organized. Everything has a file folder, shelves are labeled and orderly, clutter is kept to a minimum, computer are systems kept simple and updated. I keep my paperwork and "book keeping" meticulously balanced.
I keep notes in log books, and I note everything. And I mean everything -- phone conversations, formula ideas, manufacturing and daily "to do" lists. My kids keep busy all day. I have a rolling caddy with drawers in my office with a large rug for them to play on. They spend hours each day coloring, cutting, taping, gluing, glittering, etc. Each drawer has different craft supplies and since they are in my office we can print craft projects and coloring pages and they can be supervised.
My kids help as well and they love being involved. They get things from the printer, count things for me, hand me jars/lids, etc. I also get help from other people, including my husband who is wonderful about taking the kids on an adventure when I need some time alone. I need a lot of time alone to make phone calls, meet with store managers and potential new clients, etc.
How many products do you have in your line?
We have about 40 products in our line. Our best seller is the Hand
and Body Cream because
it is a rich, nourishing cream without the toxic synthetic preservatives that are found in most
skin creams. The next best seller is the Calendula and comfrey healing balm because it helps such a variety
of skin conditions. It has helped conditions such as burns, rashes, wounds, scars, irritations and so on. It
is a very versatile product, one to have on hand all the time. The next best seller is our Antioxidant facial moisturizer
because it is a creamy moisturizer packed full of nutrients including anti-aging "antioxidants". Again, no toxic
preservatives here! We used to make all the products in our workshop until a few years ago. Our sales have grown
significantly and so we have hired 2 labs to help with production of certain products. We still manufacture
most of the products ourselves.
What's the "hook" for your products, as in what distinguishes your products from other products making similar claims?
There are several "hooks" for our products, depending on the customer. Some love that we are a green business producing green products from start to finish. Others are more impressed that the products are completely toxin free, meaning there are no synthetic fragrances or preservatives. Another hook is that we provide phenomenal personalized attention to every customer.
Who helps make your business successful?
To get my business going, I enlisted help from family. My father made product displays and I even taught my mother how to make soap, which she passionately did so for years! I've learned to delegate to those who have specialized skills. It has been essential to growth. One of my sisters is a computer technician and has provided me with much help over the years. My other sister graduated with a business degree and is now a sales rep for me. I work with a business coach as well as graphic designers and printers.
How do you market your products?
We market our website online and we sell in retail stores. The majority of our sales are wholesale to other
stores. Currently we are increasing our visibility to consumers and advertising our website. We are working on
search engine optimization, nice marketing ads and materials, etc.
What
business book has helped you lately?
There are a few books that have had a good influence on my business. One is "Soap & Cosmetic Labeling" by Marie Gale. (Click here for dM's book review and link to purchase.) It has great, specific, easy to follow information. Another is "Natural Organic Hair And Skin Care" by Aubrey Hampton. It's really good and detailed but to follow with great information on ingredients and formulating. It is a fascinating book that I have referred to over and over again, and expect to continue to.
What business tips can you offer to others wishing to start a business of their own?
Have a clear vision, product hook and to get really organized with the paperwork and legalities. If these things are organized and clear, you will be confident and focused.
What are your biggest challenges and how do you overcome them?
My biggest challenges have been figuring out what to delegate and to whom. It's easy to get stuck in the mindset of doing it all yourself.
What do you love most about what you do?
The best things about what I do is that I feel part of an important movement. The movement towards
sustainable, eco friendly business practices and products. Body Botanicals practices eco friendly business ethics in every aspect
from our packaging to the solar panels on our roof. We want to be a part of something even bigger. That bigger something being change towards more sustainable businesses, products, politics and world. We educate customers about why natural products
are better for their bodies and the planet, we offer them healthy products and we ultimately influence them to look at the bigger picture too.
What do you love about being Indie?
I love that the possibilities are in my hands and they are unlimited. I'm also a new member to Indie Beauty and I am LOVING it. There is so much knowledge and inspiration that comes with the site and newsletters.
What are you doing when you're not working?
When I am not working, I would normally be enjoying the outdoors with the family
as we like to garden, hike,
camp, go to music festivals, ski, etc. The past 1 1/2 years however have been a little unique. We have researched, designed
and built a completely eco-friendly home/office/workshop. This was a big undertaking, but quite rewarding. We followed
Built Green Colorado
standards and followed many recommendations from the EPA. We now have a beautiful, simple, contemporary place to live and run
the business. You can enjoy a construction slideshow here.
What is really interesting is all the information I gathered in my research. The construction industry is a lot like the cosmetic industry in that there are a lot of toxic materials out there that are used. There are also a lot of alternative building materials out there that are simpler, safer and less polluting. We found that these "greener" building materials in the long run end up costing almost the same as the toxic ones. It became a fascinating education about using safe, healthy products and supporting businesses that don't pollute the environment and instead care about their impact.
This is Indie Candy, so if you were a brand of candy, what would
you be and why?
I like things rich and undiluted, so pure dark chocolate from Dagoba hits the spot.
What are your annual gross revenues?
Our sales have increased every year since we started. Sometimes they have even doubled in a 12-month period! What was unique about this year is that our retail sales have climbed even more which means that our efforts to increase online sales have worked.
You can learn more about the great products offered by Kristie 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.
