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More Members, More Groups, More Conversation!

February 15, 2009 – 1:54 pm

If the end of last week is any indication, then Indie Beauties are in for another exciting and fun-time this week! Friday night’s Indie Shopping TV was fabulous! Rachel Lane of Barcelona Bath & Body in Grapevine, Texas joined me in studio in person. Outfitted in her pretty hot pink blouse emblazoned with the unmistakable “Barcelona B” logo, Rachel lit up the set as she energetically displayed her color and scent coordinated sachets, 100% soy candles, handmade soaps (which she not only hand bevels, but also hand polishes!) and room sprays. You can enjoy the unedited video (and 36 other entertaining videos) here. The professionally edited version of Rachel’s show will be available in a few days.

Our newest Indie Beauty Network members include Margie Zable Fisher of WBO American Dream, a new program for women business owners that I told you about last month. Margie has loaded some new events to our Events Calendar so check that out, along with all of the other Events posted by members at our site.

Other new IBN members include Kismet Andrews of Bar Maids in Brush Prairie, Washington state, and Dedra Harvin of The Ivory Magnolia in Columbia South Carolina. I met Dedra in person last year at one of my Indies in the City events. You can watch the video at this link! Samantha Moore of Samantharoma in Summerville, South Carolina renewed her membership and also launched the Samantharoma Indie Brand Group. Be sure to join it to stay up to date on Samantha’s activities.

Bill Griffith in Lawrenceville, Georgia joined IBN and also set up the Bayousome Indie Brand Group so you can get the goods on all of the great bottles, jars and lids he carries.

Another new member is Denise Marks of Mold Market/Nouveau Designs where you can get 200+ plastic mold designs suitable for soap making, candle making and ceramic crafts. Julie Patton of Arizona Body Butter and in Tucson, Arizona renewed her membership too!

And last but not least, Donya Fahmy of Dropwise Essentials renewed her membership. Donya has been a member of IBN since July 2001!! Donya makes makes exceptional quality aromatherapy and all-natural bath and body products designed to nourish the body and feed the senses. We hand-craft an exquisite line of aromatherapy lotions, body oils, body washes, misters, lip balms, and soy candles that make you feel and smell great! Made with 100% pure essential oils. No synthetic or petroleum ingredients. Earth-friendly and cruelty-free.

By donnamaria | Posted in florida, in your state, north carolina, ohio | no comments         No Comments | What Do You Think?

New Health Insurance Referral Program and “Buy Local!” Launch Today!

February 11, 2009 – 9:59 pm

Today was an exciting and busy day!

First, along with Smedley Insurance Group, I launched a new health insurance referral program for members of the Indie Beauty Network. I hope members are able to save time, money and headaches with our new program! I think it’s a great complement to our existing products liability insurance program which has helped many hundreds of Indies obtain affordable products liability insurance.

Other interesting items include a new discussion based on a short audio clip summarizing what I call the “3 Pillars of Indie Business Success.”

Members are very busy at the site, connecting and collaborating. I love it!

IBN member Marcia Elston of Samara Botane created her Indie Brand Community designed to connect with people interested in learning more about true aromatic plant extracts and natural perfumery materials from around the world. Marcia has been a member of the Indie Beauty Network since February 2008 and she renewed her membership today! Also, longtime IBN member Jamila White, also known as the “E-Commerce Diva” also created her Indie Brand Community. Jamila is a talented business coach who helps small businesses be successful online. She’s also co-editor with me at the Bootstrap Babes Blog. Join Jamila’s E-Commerce Diva Community to find out about how you can take advantage of Jamila’s services.

With 118 Indie Brand Communities (and growing), our site is a happening place to connect with your favorite Indies nationwide.

Last but not least, I also launched the “Buy Local! Page to showcase IBN members with “brick and mortar” locations. Of course we all love connecting online, but it’s important to support local businesses with storefronts and this new page makes it easy for people at the site to find local places where they can walk into a store and buy member products and take the classes they offer!

By donnamaria | Posted in in your state, north carolina, ohio | no comments         No Comments | What Do You Think?

New Classes, Videos and Celebrations!

February 10, 2009 – 8:39 pm

Recently, at Indie Beauty!!

The edited video from live episode of Indie Shopping TV featuring Indie Beauty Network member Christine White-Stanton of Scandle Candle was added to our site.

I announced this Friday’s “Cocktails & Conversation” with Indie Beauty Network member Rachel Lane of Barcelona Bath & Body. (See graphic to left!) To join the live show and interactive chat, just click here on Friday night at 10:15pm EST! Indie Beauty Network member Lori Nova of the Nova Studio outside San Francisco, California added a ton of new classes including: Making Hydrosols, Coloring Soap With Confidence and Eco-Friendly Candle Making. Don’t you just wanna make some stuff!??

We added our 1,191st guest at the site. When Lisa Hayhust joined as our guest, she said this: “After watching the videos, I am very impressed with Indie Beauty. It seems like a great place to be a part of while trying to start a new business.” (That’s just exactly what it is too!!)

Indie Beauty Network member Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove announced her 3rd business birthday with a beautiful picture featuring some of her handmade melt & pour soap

Indie Zorica Denton of Zorica of Malibu renewed her Professional Indie Beauty Network Membership!!

Don’t miss the fun tomorrow! Head on over to Indie Beauty today and register. It’s free, it’s fun and you’ll connect with some fantastic people!

By donnamaria | Posted in in your state | no comments         No Comments | What Do You Think?

Tammy Brodbeck @ milk and cookeez

January 23, 2009 – 9:45 pm

Product Buzz: “Since I started hosting giveaways on my blog, my readership has more than doubled, so I’m hving more giveaways. Currently, you can win lime lip balm, vanilla orange zinger cookeez and a pink sugared cupcake sample just by following the instructions here.”

Business Buzz: “My best selling product are my sugar cookeez with rainbow sprinklz (pictured). I think people love them because they look and smell just like sugar cookies. a friend of mine who didn’t believe me actually took a nibble. He quickly became a believer.”

Life Buzz: “Earlier this week, my products were featured on Mix 100.7 in Tampa, Florida. Later in the day, I received a wholesale order from a wonderful woman, all while my Internet service was down and I was picking up my daughter from school. Busy, Busy, Busy. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Story Ideas: “I love being a mother and working from home. While it can be stressful, with housework and childcare, making the wonderful milk and cookeez bath products makes it so much fun. I have found the creative part of myself again through starting this business. This part of me has been ‘packed away’ while I raised my children and now it’s back. I can share tips and insights to help other mothers reinvent themselves as I have.”

Website: milk and cookeez

By donnamaria | Posted in brands: m to s, ohio | no comments         No Comments | What Do You Think?

E. Greene @ Sacred Glo

January 18, 2009 – 7:13 pm

Product Buzz: “I recently posed with my products at a photo shoot for a spread coming up in the February 2009 issue of Business Week Small Business Magazine. The photos were taken on the beach near my home. It was fun and I’m excited about the article coming out.”

Business Buzz: “I am enjoying building my business using social media. I am active on Twitter and Facebook and I blog regularly. Each of these outlets has resulted directly or indirectly in new sales.”

Life Buzz: “I am having a blast with my business. If someone had told me that entrepreneurship was this much fun, I would have launched Sacred Glo a long time ago. In addition to managing Sacred Glo, I am an avid quilter and I make most of my own clothes.”

Story Ideas: E. is currently transitioning from a job in the banking industry to managing Sacred Glo full-time. She can share insights into what it’s like to launch a business as a second career after age 40.

Website: Sacred Glo Lotion Candles

By donnamaria | Posted in brands: m to s, florida | Tagged | no comments         No Comments | What Do You Think?

Jennifer Kirkwood @ La Dolce Diva

November 8, 2008 – 12:44 am

Product Buzz: “We were recently awarded Style Bakery’s 2008 Editor’s Choice “On The Rise” Award”

Business Buzz: “La Dolce Diva recently went ‘International’ by shipping a large order to a spa in Beirut, Lebanon. We are also picking up numerous boutiques across the country who are excited to carry a fresh bath and body collection with a sophisticated, chic and playful twist on the Diva theme.”

Life Buzz: “I recently returned from a Diva Wine trip to Sonoma. My friends and I are busy trying to be amateur sommeliers in preparing menus to perfectly suit our new wine collection!”

Story Ideas: Jennifer is a risk taker. After her first horseback riding lesson, she fell in love with horses, sold her condo and moved back home with her mom so she could buy a horse. She can share insights into how taking life risks translates into success in business.

Website: La Dolce Diva

By donnamaria | Posted in brands: g to l, georgia | Tagged , , , , | no comments         No Comments | What Do You Think?

Jennifer Hardaway @ KLEAN Bath and Body

October 16, 2008 – 6:11 pm

Product Buzz: “We were recently named “Best Indie Bath Soak” in Indie FIXX’s Best In Bath and Body Contest.”

Business Buzz: “Although it seemed like the economy was finally hitting KLEAN, we were wrong! We have been pleasantly slammed with orders from both our wholesale customers and our retail ones. Right now, the “buzz” is in our manufacturing studio. It’s the joyful sound of us filling orders!”

Life Buzz: “I started my Fit Indie program by working out with a friend who is appearing on a nationally televised show on weight loss. If she wins, I win too. The prize is a trip for us to a spa in Mexico. I figure walking on a treadmill with her a few times a week is the least I can do!”

Story Ideas: Jennifer is a musician with a full-time job, and also runs KLEAN. She can talk about multi-preneurship and also about how she keeps orders coming in even in a tough economy.

Website: KLEAN Bath and Body

By donnamaria | Posted in brands: g to l, california | no comments         No Comments | What Do You Think?