INDIE Business Cruise, slated for February 3-7, 2011, is the premier event for small and independent business owners to connect with like-minded, serious entrepreneurs to solidify business niches and processes, improve branding and influence strategies and, of course, increase sales. Our collaborative MasterMind discussions (details here) and peer interaction are unmatched, and we do it while almost completely detached from technological tools that often distract us from doing and being our best.
I am thrilled that small business leaders from all walks of life will be joining us and I will introduce you to them in the coming weeks. My first spotlight shines on Kayla Fioravanti, co-owner of Essential Wholesale, a supplier of naturally derived cosmetics bases and private label services. No matter how big or small your business, Kayla (pictured above with her children) and her team can help you grow it by taking some of the manufacturing pressure off of you so you can focus on your business rather than in it.
Kayla is married to her business partner, Dennis. They live in Portland, Oregon, where they maintain a 35,000 square foot FDA-registered and USDA Organic Certified manufacturing facility. At her popular blog, Kayla often shares heartwarming and uplifting stories from her personal life. She is known for her openness and honesty, and her easy, breezy style can take the edge off your most challenging day. Kayla is also an expert at cosmetics manufacturing processes, formulation, and ingredients, and her experiences have uniquely equipped her to offer sage advice to entrepreneurs from all walks of life. In a word, when it comes to both cosmetics and life, you can learn a lot from Kayla.
I'm also pleased to say that Essential Wholesale is one of my sponsors, and that, like so many other people, I consider Kayla to be not only a business colleague, but also a friend. When I asked her why she was making it a point to attend INDIE Cruise, here's what she said:
I decided to go on the Indie Cruise because I know that if Donna Maria is heading up an event it will be fun, informative, inspiring and educational. I love to learn and I love to share what I've learned. I'm confident that the Indie Cruise will be an opportunity to do both. Donna Maria is a wealth of knowledge, and I'm looking forward to being surrounded with people who are going places with their businesses. To top it all off we will be on a CRUISE ship!
(Thanks, Kayla!) Connect with Kayla on Twitter! Tweet #INDIECruise using the hash tag!
Watch the #INDIECruise video here.
We set sail on February 3, 2011, cruising from Miami to Key West, and then to Cozumel. There's a Miami Tweetup on the evening of February 2 at the beautiful Hyatt Summerfield Suites Miami Airport. (You don't have to go on the cruise to attend the Tweetup, but there may be a food and beverage fee for the Tweetup if you are not also cruising. I'm still negotiating that with the hotel, so stay tuned.)
There's plenty of room at the hotel and the cruise, and the rates for both are great. I can help you find a cabin-mate and/or hotel suite-mate if you'd like. Check out the itinerary and registration link here!
Grow your cosmetics business with the world's largest selection of naturally derived and organic cosmetics bases. Visit Essential Wholesale for more information, and tell them dM sent you!
Question: Won't you join us as we work together toward mutual success in 2011?
