The Indie Experience
April 7, 2008
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 9, Issue 13
To subscribe, click here
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1. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
2.
New At the Blog: Hit the "Sweet Spot" of Your
Business
3. This Week On Indie Business Radio:
Best PR Secrets From Pro Susan Harrow
4. Indie Candy: Clint Bradford ::
soytives.com, California
5. New At The Forum: I'm Overwhelmed! How Do I Get
Started?!!
Indie Beauty Ritual: Spring Fling Flower Blossoms Body Butter
1. Meet IBN's New & Renewing Members
Welcome Renewing Members!
Evan's Garden | Evan Johnson | Florida
* Member since November 2005; Using top-quality, natural
ingredients, Evan formulates and handcrafts skin care, mineral make-up,
perfumes, body care including dental, deodorant & hair, baby care, household
care, herbal apothecary and more.
Canterbury Cabin | Lorrie Beach | New York
* Member since April 2007; Handmade soaps and body care
products.
Angel Face Botanicals | Jessica Ress | California
* Member since April 2007; Angel Face Botanicals
Aromatherapeutic Bath and Beauty products are decadent & deliciously
indulgent. Purely handmade with love & natural ingredients, scented with
therapeutic grade essential oils, and naturally colored our products heal,
nurture and protect while pampering the senses. At Angel Face Botanicals we
strive to bring daily joy to our customers while honoring Nature’s Goodness.
Welcome New Members!
Tina's Trendy Treasures | Tina Bostic | Texas
* We offer a line of Hand-Poured Soy Candles, Soy Melts
Prmitive and Country Crafts.
Catamount Candle Company | Adrienne Siskind Berns |
Virginia
* Votive candles.
StaziO | Adrian Stazio | Pennsylvania
* Handcrafted as pure as possible body oils and powders.
Skin Candy | Melissa Roth | Pennsylvania
* Body lotions, butters, bath salts and bath melts.
Have it Yur-Way | Maxine Blanchette | Illionis
* Have it yur-way handmade soaps and toletries are made
with high grade natural ingredients that is non-toxic and environment friendly.
Our goal is to create excellence through our passion for establishing an
affordable all natural product to all. Here at Have It Yu-Way we create unique
products through what we call the Tender Love and care process. This means that
our products are hand-made and thoroughly checked to make sure you the customer
are satisfied with our natural products. No animal testing You can assure that
each product has just the right amount of each ingredient to form a product that
will give you the experience of a lifetime.
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: Informing and Entertaining the Indie Community
Here
are some current popular blog posts. Enjoy and feel free to make your opinion
known. And don't forget to leave your blog or website address so we can learn
more about you, your products and your services.
New Indie Business TV Segment: Hit the "Sweet Spot" of Your Business!
Save Time, Blog Fast:: a weekly blogging schedule gets the job done
Branding, Buzz and Business: how Thomas Edison used the media to "create" history
How to Hire a Family Helper: weigh in on how you find good help!
Want more great information to help you grow your business? Then click here to get my blog posts automatically delivered directly to you through our RSS feed. If you prefer email, provide your email address at the blog, upper right corner.
3. Today on Indie Business Radio: Girls' Guide to a Million-Dollar Business
Today's
Show: Using PR to Sell Yourself, Not Your SoulAuthor and PR experts Susan Harrow joins me to share her secrets for using the media to put you and your business in the best possible light -- without hocking your soul in the process!
To enjoy today's show, click here at 1:00pm EST!
Last week's show is now available! Author and business marketing expert Robert Gordman tells us that it's not enough to have "satisfied" customers, and how to hit the "sweet spot" of your business/ The show also features guest Indie co-host Michael Arsenault of Emily Skin Soothers. Enjoy Mike's Indie Feature here.
Stream or download all of the Indie Business Radio shows at this link.
-- Sponsor --
4. Indie Candy: Clint Bradford :: soytives.com :: California
Even though 51-year old Clint Bradford just launched soytives.com a month ago, he's already focused, gung ho and on a mission to create a business and a lifestyle he and his wife Karen can enjoy for a lifetime. Just a few days after joining IBN last month, Clint was on the weekly Group Coaching call. He was the first one to introduce himself, start asking questions and developing relationships. Not only is he friendly, but his enthusiasm is contagious. I predict a lot of non-soy candle converts spreading from Clint's home in Mira Loma and beyond. Here is some of his story. Oh, and if you're ever ready to give up on business and feeling flattened by the challenges of being Indie, call Clint. He'll pick you up, dust you off and when he's done, you'll be good as new. ... and just so you know, I'll be checking in with Clint regularly to let you know what he's learning and how he's creating soy candle converts the world over.
How did you start your business and what was the inspiration for it?
My wife,
Karen, and I are both photographers and she has a Masters Degree in public
relations, so we started a PR firm in 1989. Professionally, I have also been involved in commercial and amateur
radio communications for several years. Karen's taken up beading, which requires
a lot of patience and intricate work. I'm a different kind of person. Give me an
open flame and 10 pounds of
flammable material, and I'm more at ease.
After knowing I wanted to start another business and offer a natural product, I immediately thought about votive candles. Soytives as a brand name popped into my mind. I purchased the domain name and launched the website just last month.
What's your niche?
My niche is buyers wanting an intimate, personalized shopping experience. Instead of offering 400+ candle scents on web page after web page, I specialize in 4 scents: Caramel Apple Cider, Strawberries & Champagne, Coconut Lime Verbena and Warm Vanilla. I offer individual votives of 3-packs.
What's the "hook" for your products?
No soot. In fact, my new vanity toll free number is (877) 4-No-Soot (877-466-7668).
Taken literally, I give away a "WickDipper" "hook" to all my customers. You know when you blow out a candle (usually paraffin),
and all that smoke and soot is produced while the process of incomplete wick/wax combustion takes place? Well, that is what a
WickDipper eliminates. It has a little hook at the end, so that the user can extinguish a candle by bending the wick down into the molten
pool of wax, causing the flame to immediately and completely go out. Then you hook the wick and pull it straight up - so that it's doused
in wax and easy to re-light later.
I've been burning candles for decades the old way. But more and more studies regarding the detrimental health effects of soot and
particulate matter entering our lungs are being released - and the more soot we can eliminate from our environments, the better for our
lungs. And that's where the soy comes in. No soot.
Tell me more about soy? Isn't a candle a candle?
Without getting militant about it (grin): paraffin is a byproduct of the petroleum distillation process, and soy is, well, a byproduct of
a farmer's efforts with soil, sunlight, and water.
Soy burns cooler and longer than paraffin. And soy is demonstrably cleaner burning - with less particulates and soot production than
soy. I can still keep consumers happy with plenty of scent - but make it a more healthy product.
I was approached by the nation's largest candle lobbying organization - even BEFORE my store was up and running. They politely demanded
that I remove the anti-paraffin statements on my Web site. Wow...I didn't realize the toes I was stepping on - that is, until I looked
at that organization's major supporting members: Chevron, CITGO, Exxon...large corporations known for their petroleum and paraffin
production.
So I tightened up my research and citations and am proud of what I offer to my visitors as reference material for this "Soy vs.
Paraffin" debate.o
helps you make your business work?
How do you market your candles?
I placed a small display ad in the very local Jurupa Record. It hits my geographical region, and we'll see how that works
out (just hit last week for twelve weeks).
I have oversized post cards printed by VistaPrint, and will hand-address about 100 of them to acquaintances and friends.
VistaPrint also supplied the large magnetic car sign on my Ford Ranger. And business cards...
Street Fairs and the like intrigue me - and I will look into offering my wares at one of them this summer. I'll have an informative tri-fold brochure developed by then.
I also "market" the fact that none of my products' ingredients nor accessories are manufactured in China. And it takes more work to find
containers and such that are NOT made in China these days. But my conscience won't allow supporting that horrible regime. (I want to
offer my customers a "wick trimmer." A logical, economical choice would be a toenail trimmer. But every toenail trimmer I have found
under $5 retail is made in China. I may turn to France for a $3.95 alternative,
but I prefer good old Made in America if I can find it.)
I have gone a little overboard some might say, with organizations and associations that I support,
but each is, in my
mind, pertinent and appropriate to show my customers where I am coming from. One Percent for the Planet, Candle-Safety.org, BBB
Online, the Int'l Guild of Candle Artisans, American Soybean Association, the National Fire Protection Association, Creative
Commons. All these memberships
are worthwhile investments, in my humble opinion. You can see a list of all of
the organizations I joined here.
Who helps your business be successful?
My wife, even to the point of NOT complaining when there's a 50-pound box or two (well, or three) of soy wax flakes in the middle of the living room. And always ask their tax expert or CPA about the ramifications of running a home-based business. I am looking into forming an LLC here in California, even tough I am a sole proprietor.
How do you balance being a busy Indie with family and other important life obligations?
I have been happily married since 1989 to Karen. Our two boys (from Karen's previous marriage) are grown and married and out of our
house, but are both living nearby with their wives and families. Our eldest, Travis, and his wife, Traci, have given us the "grandparent"
experience with beautiful grandchildren. Our youngest, Owen, and his wife, Amber, are waiting a while for children. They're all good kids.
We have three outdoor cats, one semi-indoor cat who actually belongs to our neighbor (but likes us better), and some koi in a pond out
back. My wife has an Icelandic horse named Mjollnir. And I have a burro - whose name is (drum roll, please!) - Edward R. Burro.
For a family devoting part of their home to their business, I have a funny story to relate...but it's too lengthy for inclusion here. Send me an
email to get the
scoop.
What are some of the challenges you face, and how do you overcome them?
Getting organized, and handling the freedom (grin). Keeping ALL paperwork and receipts in a logical, systematic order somewhere is a challenge for me. Filing state tax returns on a quarterly basis is sobering.
What are you doing when you're not working?
I am an amateur radio buff. I am a liaison between NASA, amateur radio, and schools for setting up contacts between the schools and astronauts on the International Space Station. I also have a "traveling show" on communicating with amateur satellites that fly over most regions of the country.
What business tips can you offer to others wishing to start a business of their own?
Have a small, specialized catalog of products; an obvious-to-the-visitor love of what you are doing and 100% dedication to the customer, and you'll do well.
Make customer service a priority. I give prospects a variety of ways to learn about and contact me. While one of the first things I am doing as a start up is advertising in my local region, I am also going to get a toll free number so anyone anywhere can contact me. I will be "hitting" my local region with ads and marketing, this IS the Web - so I am acquiring a toll-free telephone number or anyone to use. You don't need to be there 24-hours a day, but post the hours you're available, and answer the phone during those hours. Offer email...fax ..U.S. mail address...for not only customer service inquiries, but also for orders - in case a prospective customer is "Internet shy." My online store has an option to "Print & Call" a shopping cart's contents: the customer doesn't have to give out credit card info on the 'Net at all if they don't want to.
Also, dM offers IBN members lots of benefits right here online.
I used business planning software to prepare my plan. Don't forget to include ALL costs in your equation to develop costs. Freight costs you pay for that 50-pound box of wax to be delivered to you need to be included. If you place an insert in every order with instructions, that color copy costs something. Underpaying yourself for your labor is common for new biz startups. Don't go broke not making sure you realize ALL your costs to produce your products.
And finally, although I have been with State Farm for 20+ years for my homeowners and vehicle and excess liability insurances (due to the koi pond and the horse and donkey), they don't offer specific
coverage for home-
based candle businesses. The Indie liability insurance program is a worthwhile investment. (I had a dream recently where a customer's residence in Alabama burned to the ground. No one was hurt, and my candles weren't the true cause of the disaster...but the only thing that survived the flames was a receipt for a candle sale from
Soytives.com...)
What do you love about being Indie?
Freedom, with responsibility. Also, being Indie is forcing me to become more organized. Being able to discuss situations with folks in the "same boat." I just experienced my first Group Coaching with dM last month. If you haven't participated in one, make sure you do in the future. That hour was full of pertinent information, and was professionally prepared for our benefit.
This is Indie Candy, so if you were a brand of candy, what would
you be and why?
I'd be a PayDay, with its nutty exterior and chewy, sweet center.
What are your annual gross revenues?
I have no clue. I'm aiming high though. Check back in about 6 months and I'll let you know.
5. New At The Forum: Help! I've Got Products, Now What?!!
New
At The Forum
Find answers, ask questions, and share your expertise with others on other hot topics of discussion, including:
Can you help this Indie, who says, "Help! I'm overwhelmed! How do I start by beauty business?!"
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.
