While some people see selfies as meaningless self-indulgences designed to artificially boost one’s ego, entrepreneurs know different. We know that a picture that captures a business owner’s confidence, style, and authenticity can mean the difference between a scroll and a sale. That’s why our first class at Indie Business School is Introduction to Selfie Photography.…
According to the Specialty Food Association, sales of specialty foods jumped 9.8 percent between 2016 and 2018, climbing to $148.7 billion in 2018. Many researchers thank millennials for the surge in interest in artisanal foods, as they tend to be more selective about the brands they support. However, I see the interest expanding far beyond…
I am pleased to announce the November 2020 Indie Business Book Club pick: 90 Days to CEO: A Guide To Avoid Business Pitfalls And Unlock The Secrets Of Entrepreneurship by Rochelle Graham-Campbell. This book was selected for many reasons, among them that Rochelle was once a member of the Indie Business Network. If you’re not…
The use of colorful hues from the earth to beautify the body was first recorded by the ancient Egyptians, whose tombs were filled with makeup canisters and kits to help the dead remain lovely in the afterlife. They made their lips red by using carmine powder, which was crafted from the ground-up bodies of red…
Due to COVID-19, this year, Halloween means taking extra precautions to ensure our safety and the safety of the people with whom we are celebrating. Among other things, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are admonished to avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters, bag treats individually, celebrate outdoors, wash hands before handling…
While you have surely heard of food and wine pairings, you may not be as familiar with the amazing benefits of food and bath pairings. This article will put you out of your misery. Dive in as I share some of our members’ most delectable concoctions. You’ll crave the delicious scent combinations that make a…
If you’ve already heard the news and are ready to take a class, register here! One of the best parts about leading the Indie Business Network is that I am surrounded by gifted people who use their creative skills and talents to make products that improve people’s lives. For many IBN members, life becomes richer…
Growing a business requires boatloads of energy and stamina, so I launched Indie Business Fit Club to encourage our Indie Business Network members to remain as physically fit as possible through regular movement and exercise. To that end, I’m excited to announce our 5K-A-Day October Steps Challenge! Makers are generally physically active while they are…
Marketing a business on Instagram is fun, but since also requires a hefty amount of focus and dedication, we formed Indie Pods to support our members as they grow their brands using Instagram. Our Indie Pod members are incredibly dedicated entrepreneurs who have strategically selected Instagram as a means of connecting with their target audiences.…
For the September 2020 edition of the Indie Business Book Club, we read The Membership Economy by Robbie Kellman Baxter. According to the dust jacket, the book is designed to “show you how to turn ordinary customers into members for life.” If you’re not familiar with the Indie Business Book Club, you can click here for more…
I am pleased to announce the October 2020 Indie Business Book Club pick: Supermaker by Jaime Schmidt. This book was selected for obvious reasons — it’s designed to inspire Makers like you and like all of my Indie Business Network members. Another reason I selected this book is because it is authored by former IBN…
The Indie Business Network offers a valuable and transformative entrepreneurial experience. As its leader, I recognize that not everyone has the resources to access IBN’s array of entrepreneurial mentoring, coaching, and training services, especially when they are first starting out. To help offset the challenge for as many as possible, each quarter, we offer a…
According to a recent report in Global Market Insights, a market research and strategy consulting firm, the United States pet care industry ballooned to $95.8 Billion in 2019. While most of the growth came from pet food products, a respectable portion of the increase was due to personal pet care and accessories. Indie Business Network members…
Get Game-Changing Insights from Healthy Hair + Self-Care Experts The old ways of managing your hair probably are not working anymore. It’s a new day for women who are ready to kick outdated stereotypes to the curb and take control of the statement their hair makes about who they are and what they stand for.…
Artisan made bath bombs are more than just bath time treats. In fact, one of the most oddly satisfying things you can do on Instagram these days is to watch a beautifully manicured hand drop a perfectly shaped bath bomb into warm bath water, and be transfixed as the colorful swirling ooze fills the tub…
Indie Business Network members have great online businesses as you know, and they also have some great retail stores and studio locations. But you may not know that many of them also sell their products at local farmer’s markets nationwide. If you have never been to a local farmer’s market, you are missing out on…
There are six basic types of recurring revenue business models you should know about. Each has its own unique characteristics. I’m sure you can leverage at least one of these to generate endless repeat sales opportunities and create a fun and engaging community around your brand. This overview is required prerequisite reading for everyone who…
According to an article I read recently, sniffing pumpkin fragrance is so closely related to the pleasure we experience when biting into a pumpkin pie or sipping a pumpkin spiced drink, that our brains get a positive kick of dopamine (the brain’s “feel good” chemical) when we smell it. Whether or not that’s true, I’m…
Business partnerships inspire me, especially since I am in business with my husband of 20 years. There’s nothing quite as motivating as an enterprise built by “couplepreneurs” who love and support each other as they simultaneously serve and support their clients and customers, each other, and the household. As great as it sounds (and it…
For the August 2020 edition of the Indie Business Book Club, we read How to Get Sh*t Done by Erin Falconer. In promotional materials, this book is touted as the the first productivity book by a woman in a decade. (It was published in 2018.) The book calls on women to stop configuring the exhausting lives we…
“How do I generate repeat sales inside my Facebook group?” is a great question, and I hear it a lot. I think many Makers ask me this question because they know I have hosted Facebook Groups for over a decade. They also know how uncomfortable it can feel to behave in an overly sales-y way…