Check out the very cool, customized wine barrels our member, Kristin Fraser Cotte of The Grapeseed Company, is using to showcase her products in retail stores. As you might guess, Kristen’s products all contain grapeseed extracts. How perfect, considering Kristin lives in Santa Barbara where there is no shortage and grapes, seeds and other fun…
For the next several months, on Thursdays, as founder and CEO of the Indie Business Network, I will guide you on a walk down memory lane to celebrate our nearly fourteen years of service to handmade and creative beauty entrepreneurs worldwide. We start our journey with a look back nearly 20 years when I was…
We’re so excited to tell you about The Soapmasters, a new learning and empowerment event from longtime Indie Business Network member, La Shonda Tyree of Handmade Soap Coach in Paterson, New Jersey, and I have a coupon code for you to attend at a $50 discount!! Scroll to the bottom to get the details. I…
Recently, our member Michael Neustrom of Prairie Lavender Farm in Bennigton, Kansas, was interviewed on Coffee Time with Roger Nelson on KNCK Radio in Concordia, Kansas. Roger interviewed Michael about the benefits of lavender, including that you “Eat it, drink it and it just makes you smells good.” Here’s a picture of English lavender in…
Our member, Brenda Foster of Bubs and Scrubs in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, has earned two minority woman business certifications: National Women’s Business Enterprise Certification and National Minority Supplier Development Council! But before I get to that, I want to share a video Brenda made showing the love and care she puts into her products. In this…
Our member, Lela Barker of Bella Luccè and Lucky Break Consulting in Columbia, South Carolina, recently returned from a weeks-long trip to Uganda. She took her 15-year old daughter, Chloe, along for the ride. The purpose of the trip was to personally deliver financial aid, reading books and encouragement to children in an orphanage in…
You probably know that the Indie Business Network places a premium on empowering our members to find their voice through blogging. Over the years, we’ve hosted dozens of private and member events designed to show our members the power of blogging, and to equip them to do it right. Today, with the Indie Business Bloggers…
We are excited to see our members participate in Martha Stewart American Made, honoring makers for their creativity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurial spirit. If you’re a creative entrepreneur in the areas of food, craft, design, style, gardening, or technology, nominate yourself for a chance at $10,000 to further your business, plus a trip for two to…
We are pleased to share that our member, Erica Marie Wigley of Olney, Maryland, now has her products in three Whole Foods Markets in the Washington, DC area: Tenley Circle, Kentlands, and Rockville. In this photo, Erica show off her winning smile and her SoHo Chic Body Oil Elixir, “the perfect body oil for the…
Our member, Candy Sweeney of NaKee’ Natural Handcrafted Soap & Skincare in Jackson, Michigan is quite the planner. She’s already got many of the soaps for her fall line planned out. Take a look at the gorgeous shot of beautifully wrapped soaps. Cranberry Orange Spice, Pumpkin Gingerbread, Frankincense & Myrrh … Candy describes the look…
We are pleased to announce that the new Indie Business Network member badge for Etsy sellers is here! The idea for this badge came from our member, Etsy shop owner Shari Lewis of Blossom & Twig, in Vanceboro, North Carolina, who told us that she wanted a way to let her Etsy customers know that…
We are pleased to introduce our new Indie Assist, a native of Chicago, where he resides with his beloved pets. He is a seasoned “handmade aficionado,” making his own products and supporting local artists in his town. He “gets” makers and creative entrepreneurs, and we are thrilled that he is on our team. Here’s a…
As many of you know, we hosted the first episode of #HandmadeChat on Twitter on August 18, 2011. Over the years, we welcomed thousands of attendees from all walks of life, and covered dozens of topics with guests who graciously shared their time and expertise to help you be successful in your business. In total,…
We are always so thrilled to see our members grow their lives in ways that allow them to accommodate their business goals. A super example of building business around life is our member, Lori Nova Endres, founder of The Nova Studio outside San Francisco. Lori launched The Nova Studio in 2003 as a way to…
On Thursdays, Indie Business Network hosts #HandmadeChat, a Twitter talk show to educate, train and inspire creative and artisan entrepreneurs to become profitable business owners. While the show is aimed mainly at entrepreneurs who make and sell handmade consumer products, the topics and discussions can empower and encourage the growth of any small business. This…
Have you ever considered creating a private Facebook group so your customers, members, and/or clients can connect with you and each other more personally and efficiently? We have had a private group for our annual #IndieCruise for several years, and it works well to keep us connected between cruises and to welcome new cruise registrants.Now,…
On Thursday evenings at 8pm ET, Indie Business Network hosts #HandmadeChat, a Twitter talk show to educate, train and inspire creative and artisan entrepreneurs to become profitable business owners. While the show is aimed mainly at entrepreneurs who make and sell handmade consumer products, the topics and discussions can empower and encourage the growth of…
On Thursdays, Indie Business Network hosts #HandmadeChat, a Twitter talk show to educate, train and inspire creative and artisan entrepreneurs to become profitable business owners. While the show is aimed mainly at entrepreneurs who make and sell handmade consumer products, the topics and discussions can empower and encourage the growth of any small business. Our…
I am pleased to announce our June 2013 Indie Business Book Club pick: You Are A Brand, 2nd Edition: In Person and Online, How Smart People Brand Themselves For Business Success, by Catherine Kaputa. If you are a current Indie Business Network member, click here to join our exclusive private Facebook group where we read…
On Thursdays, Indie Business Network hosts #HandmadeChat, a Twitter talk show to educate, train and inspire creative and artisan entrepreneurs to become profitable business owners. While the show is aimed mainly at entrepreneurs who make and sell handmade consumer products, the topics and discussions can empower and encourage the growth of any small business. This…
Our member, Misty Rawls of Just Wanna Melt in Lexington, South Carolina, was selected to be featured in a UPS Store promotional video. Watch here as Misty shares how she relies on her local UPS Store, and what it means to have a business of her own.Misty took a break from her busy production schedule…