As entrepreneurs, we have many ideas, yet only a small fraction of them ever rise to the top and actually ship. I’ve had tons of ideas and many of them are on the cutting room floor … but not this one. This one shipped, and it will ship again. I am thrilled to announce that…
Recently, the very fabulous Cathy Allesandra, publisher of Today’s Innovative Woman Magazine and producer of the radio show of the same name, interviewed me on the topic of “How To Embrace Your Role as a Business Leader.” In my experience coaching and mentoring Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs for 14 years, I have noticed that most…
I want you to approach the 2014 holiday season armed with a blueprint for success that allows you to attract more buying customers so you can generate more sales. It’s nearly August, and this is the perfect time to shore up your online business systems so you are ready to maximize the holidays. My Indie…
I was not a high performing young student. It’s embarrassing to admit, especially since today, I insist that my children pursue high levels of achievement in elementary school. (Translated loosely, this means “as many A’s as you can get.”) When I was their age, I did well, but after sixth grade, I started getting B’s…
If you love all things handmade and you live in San Francisco, then you may have been at the Renegade Craft Fair over the weekend. If so, you would only have enjoyed yourself if you had been sure to stop by and meet some of our members there — in particular, the lovely ladies pictured…
This article is for all Makers and handmade entrepreneurs, but mainly for the newbies. One of the questions I get most often is: “How do I know my business will work?” The short answer is that you don’t know. No one knows. Entrepreneurship is about many things, and one of those things is risk. When…
Did you know that several of our members offer alternatives to mass market deodorant? In this post, I will share some of them with you, and let you know about my personal experience with Pure Pitz from our member, Lisa Wynn Salvatore over at Purely Lisa in Greenwich, Connecticut. I have never used anything other…
As you know, most of our members make handmade products or provide consulting services, ingredients, and supplies to people Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs. One of our newest members is a Texas-based attorney offering legal and business law services to small business owners and the people who lead them. Eraka Watson, Esq. (left), was recently featured…
Our member, Dawn Fitch of Pooka Pure & Simple, was interviewed this week by Sukanya Krishnan, news anchor at New York’s WPIX-TV (Channel 11), the flagship station of The CW Television Network, with an audience of over 10 million homes. Here is the interview (yes, there is a commercial at the beginning …) Enjoy the…
[NOTE: If you click the link for this post, you will be re-directed to the original source at DonnaMaria.com.] There are numerous ways that I consult with my Indie Business Network members. A monthly Access Q+A Coaching call is included with their annual membership and we have Success Calls at least once a month. You…
This week is so much fun! I am in my hometown of Washington, DC, for several days to enjoy time with my family and to set the stage for some exciting things coming up here at the Indie Business Network. You’ll be hearing a lot more details in the coming days, but for now, I…
Our member, Christine Laureano of Ba6 Botanicals in Hampton Bays, New York, is featured in Long Island Business Newsday this week for her new business strategy to use direct mail catalogs as a marketing tool. I am excited to see Christine create a niche publication that will reach her customers directly, providing them with colorful…
Did you have a nice holiday weekend? I got some much needed rest and enjoyed hanging out with my children. I fired up our charcoal grill and got busy. While my chicken and burgers were a big hit with the kids and our guests, my personal favorite dish was this Mango Fruit Salad With Honey…
Since last summer, I have been pleased to write a monthly column for Chris Brogan’s Owner Magazine. This month’s column marks my 10th for the online publication, and I’m excited to share it with you here because I think every Indie can relate. My July article is entitled Make Up Your Mindset, and it contains…
Our member, Sénica, in New Orleans, is being featured at the “Bring it to Wal-mart” showcase at Essence Music Festival this week! Benardett Jno Finn, Sénica’s founder and CEO, tells me that it’s a chance to share the Sénica story on a larger platform. If you are at Essence Music Festival on Sunday, July 6…
American manufacturing is not dead. It’s alive and well, and living here at the Indie Business Network. Need some proof? Today, we launched My Maker Box, an exclusive, hand-curated box of Handmade In America products. My Maker Box is a monthly subscription box For Makers, By Makers, and contains products created by Makers and Handmade…
If you have read this blog for a while, you know that I don’t spend a lot of time tooting my horn, or even IBN’s horn. I much prefer to toot IBN members’ horns, and I do that very well. But no matter how much or how little tooting I do, the truth is that…
One of the best ways for you to be inspired in your business is to learn from the insights and experiences of others. When you see someone else using a business to define success on her own terms, you can’t help but want to have a similar experience. Today’s featured Indie Business Network member says…
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking at International Natural Hair Meetup Day in Washington, DC. I had such a fun time learning more about how to manage natural hair, especially my daughter’s, and enjoyed meeting tons of Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs from the DC area. The nation’s capitol is my hometown, so I was…
One of the best ways for you to be inspired in your business is to learn from the insights and experiences of others. When you see someone else using a business to define success on their own terms, you can’t help but want to have a similar experience. Today’s featured Indie Business Network member uses…
I am thrilled to share that I am a guest on Andreea Ayers’s Launch Grow Joy Podcast! For those who don’t know, Andreea is the founder of Launch Grow Joy, a Colorado-based business that helps people launch and grow their product lines. Her podcast features successful entrepreneurs with a consumer product line and the marketing…