Jane Kern Brooks
Beau Savon
Beau Savon Soaps
Keith and Robert
Shambhala Body Gallery
Pennie Mills
Ladies Blend
Dennis & Kayla Fioravanti
Essential Wholesale
Essential Wholesale
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- Title: Boost Your Business With Podcasting
- Description: Actor, podcaster and all-around fun and interesting guy Tee Morris, co-author of "Poscasting For Dummies," joins me to discuss how to use podcasting to have fun, boost your business and promote your passion!
Indie Offers Tips and Insights For Going Strong Despite The Economy
Last week, I received in the mail a lovely surprise box of goodies from IBN member Susan Mann of Manor Hall Soap Company in Springfield, Massachusetts. Susan recently introduced a whole new slew of products. I tried some of them and they are great. More about that later.
What intrigued me most was that, while so many people are whining about the economy, Susan is introducing new products. It prompted me to invite her to share her secrets for expanding in tough economic times. Here's what she said.
Sign the Petition by Leaving A Comment Below!
Indies Oppose the FDA Globalization Act of 2008
Watch this video and then read the Petition below. Sign the Petition opposing the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 by leaving your name and comment in the comments section below! The petition is for everyone: consumers and the small businesses who make the products they love!
This video summarizes the Indie Beauty Network's position against the Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, the legislation that would put thousands of Indies out of business by forcing them to pay outrageous registration fees and comply with burdensome paperwork.
If passed, this law would drive consumers back to the days when they could only choose between a few huge, faceless, nameless big box stores and brands for their cosmetics and personal care products. And fewer consumer choices always leads to higher prices.
Tell Congress you want none of it by reading this Petition and then leaving your comment below as your signature to the Petition opposing the draft law. Please include your name, city and state with your comment/signature!!
Continue reading "Stop the FDA Globalization Act of 2008!!" »
- Title: Starting and Sustaining a Business in Tough Economic Times
- Description: Rieva Lesonsky, former editor of Entrepreneur Magazine and owner & CEO of SMB Connects, joins dM to discuss how to keep things going in a tough economy.
- Audio Link
Don't Be Discouraged If Everything Is Not Picture Perfect
Last week, Leesa Barnes, a guest on Indie Business Radio, posted suggestions at her blog to help readers produce video on a budget. She encouraged people not to be afraid of video and told them how to use an inexpensive Flip camera to create videos to post to blogs, websites, Myspace pages, etc.
Larry Lawfer, one of the commenters and the owner of Your Storys, a professional videography company, criticized Leesa. He said that, while a Flip camera is nice for "down low social media communications, using one for anything professional or corporate locks you into this low level presentation of your work."
Continue reading "Start Where You Are to Create Successful Video" »
Since launching the Indie Beauty Network in 2000, I have hosted conferences in New York and Washington, DC. I've been asked to host others, but my husband and I postponed extensive travel until our children were older and more self sufficient. After much prayer and deliberation, we have decided that the time has come to get out a little more.
To kick things off, we hosted our first Indies In The City gathering outside Washington, DC last week! Click on the picture to enjoy the video highlights!
Indies In The City will soon be combined with the Indie Business Breakfast, a jam-packed, 3 hour Indie Business Bonanza where I will unveil my signature Indie Business System and companion book, workbook and audio CDs. This is the system I have used to take a business from nothing to beyond my wildest dreams!
Websites mentioned in this post:
Freecycle
j.blossom
Shea Radiance
Zosimos Botanicals
Upcoming Indies In The City gatherings include Portland, Chicago, San Diego, Seattle, Raleigh/Durham, Atlanta, San Francisco and more. If you'd like to host Indies In The City, let me know in the comments section below.
And be sure to subscribe subscribe to Indie Business Blog so you don't miss out on future events in your area!
It's not every day that IBN members get the kind of national media attention they deserve, so when it happens, I'm all over it! This past Tuesday, I was all over longtime IBN member Dawn Fitch and her company Pooka Pure and Simple as they were featured on the CBS Evening News.
As you can see, Dawn was interviewed by CBS National Correspondent Byron Pitts about the growth of her company from $20,000 in annual revenues 7 years ago to nearly a half a million dollars in 2007.
How One Indie Took Her Dream Full Time
When I left my full-time job to launch the Indie Beauty Network in 2000, my exit plan was simple: exchange a career that paid well, but which no longer suited my lifestyle, for a career that allowed me to do what I love and enjoy my lifestyle. While my exit plan was pretty basic (and risky!), other people like Kristen Fraser Cotte and her husband Peter, had a smarter strategy.
As co-owners of The Grapeseed Company (TGC) in Santa Barbara, the couple planned Kristen's exit from full-time work as an educational diagnostician years in advance. Their planning and dedication paid off last week on June 12, when Kristen left her job to work TCG full-time.
I caught up with Kristen to find out a little about her exit plan and how things are going.
Indie Business Retirement Planning Without the Stress
Jeff Wuorio, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Retirement Planning," joins me to share his tips for retirement planning for small business owners.
- Title: Improve Your Sales With "Fresh" Customer Service
- Description: Michael D. Brown, author of "Fresh Customer Service," joins me to share how meeting challenges in life equipped him to excel in customer service, and how you can too!
- Audio Link
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