Recap: Come Celebrate Lavender Conference 2024

This past weekend was an awesome purple haze! I delivered the keynote address at the 2nd Annual Come Celebrate Lavender Conference, a national gathering of novice and experienced lavender growers and artisans who not only grow lavender plants but also make products with all parts and extracts (lavender essential oil, lavender hydrosol, lavender buds, lavender…

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Spring to Life With Super Fresh Springtime Self Care

Time to toss the turtlenecks and wool hats—spring is in full swing! New life is bursting from all nooks of soil, from candy-colored blossoms creeping through the sidewalk cracks to gardens erupting with fanciful scents and shades. It’s a time of year that screams renewal, inviting you to sweep away your winter woes in favor…

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April 2024 Indie Business Book Club: The Long Game

As maker entrepreneurs, we often feel crazy amounts of pressure to make more stuff and check off boxes, often without considering the enduring significance and long-term impact of what we are creating. Sure, it’s great to have sales every day, but they really don’t matter unless they are tied to outcomes that make a long-term…

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Federal Court Says Corporate Transparency Act Is Unconstitutional

As we shared with you here, Congress recently passed the Corporate Transparency Act requiring small businesses to disclose personal information about their owners to the federal government. Earlier this month, the US District Court for the District of Alabama said the new law is unconstitutional on privacy grounds. The federal government has appealed the decision to the…

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Apply For The IBN Robin’s Roses Scholarship Q2 2024 Scholarship

The Indie Business Network was founded 20 years ago based on the transformative power of entrepreneurship. We believe it is time to replace traditional notions of entrepreneurship with the increasingly obvious reality that entrepreneurship is for everyone, and can be defined in different ways by different people with uniquely different lifestyle goals. You do not…

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I’m Speaking at the Come Celebrate Lavender Conference

Download Donna Maria’s conference Keynote Address handout printable or fillable. I am excited to share that I have accepted an invitation to present the keynote address at this year’s Come Celebrate Lavender Conference on March 21-24, 2024 in Wytheville, Virginia. The conference hosts invited me to share on the topic of achieving a joyful life,…

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Let Your Customers Be Your Guide with Robbin Turner of Violet Botanical Skincare – Indie Business Podcast Episode 99

Welcome to Episode 99 of the Indie Business Podcast! On this episode, you’ll meet Robbin Turner of Violet Botanical Skincare in Los Angeles, CA. One of the first things you might notice about the Violet Botanical brand is the gorgeous violet blue bottles in which each product is  carefully packaged. The bottles are not only beautiful,…

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March 2024 Indie Business Book Club: Worthy

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt or generally felt like you don’t have what it takes to truly achieve your highest dreams and aspirations, then our March 2024 Indie Business Book Club pick just may be the super catalyst you need right now. Authored by Jamie Kern Lima, co-founder with her husband of It Cosmetics,…

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Give a Gorgeous Floral Gift That Outlasts Traditional Bouquets

Everyone loves getting a beautiful bouquet of flowers spilling over with roses, tulips, and sunflowers. But the joy of fresh-cut blossoms lasts only a few days before they wind up in the trash. Instead of gifting flowers that will soon wilt and wither, how about a floral-inspired gift that’ll last for weeks? Forget fresh-cut stems…

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5 Ways a Podcast Can Help You Sell More Products

One of the questions most frequently asked questions I receive from entrepreneurs is how to more effectively market their products. One marketing tool I suggest because it works, almost without fail, is a podcast. If you are struggling to take your marketing efforts to a new level, it may be time to consider a podcast.…

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Get Kissably Soft Lips With These 9 Super-Silky Lip Balms

Punxsutawney Phil has made his declaration: spring’s coming early this year! With a swift debut of Spring Fever on the horizon—now’s the time to get your lips kissably smooth for the season of romance. Nuzzle up to this list of handmade lip balms, polishes, and oils and get ready to plant a big smooch on…

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9 Valentine’s Day Gifts to Sweeten Your Honey’s Day

The season of love is swiftly approaching—Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! This is the year you truly sweep your sweetie off their feet with a thoughtful gift to indulge their senses. From candles to room scents, love notes to all-day pampering, this list of handmade Valentine’s Day gifts show your partner, spouse, bestie,…

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