Donna Maria is an entrepreneur mentor, the founder and CEO of the Indie Business Network, and the host of the Indie Business Podcast and the Indie Business Retreat. She has been recognized as one of the most trusted voices for Makers and Creative Entrepreneurs. Her coaching and consulting enterprise trains thousands of new and evolving entrepreneurs every day.
Welcome to Episode 86 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today’s Indie Story introduces you to Christie Krasteva of CEVARI, in Charlotte, North Carolina. A self-described “nature girl,” Christie grew up surrounded by all types of entrepreneurs including farmers, auto body shop owners, construction engineers, charter boat owners, horticulturists and more. Having been exposed to entrepreneurship…
Summer is the time of year to kick down the doors and finally get outside to enjoy the sun. It’s the time of year for long walks or runs, bike rides, and beautiful hikes. Maybe you’re also ready to shake off quarantine and get back to the gym or yoga studio. ::raises hand:: Putting in…
There are so many things to love about summer…the food, the friends, and the music. Summer months are known for the biggest chart-topping jams that put a smile on our faces and a pep in our step. When it’s time to move and groove to the music, the right candle or scent is the perfect…
Summer is officially here! The sun has passed over the Tropic of Cancer, and it’s time to luxuriate through long summer evenings in this season of growth and change. The Summer Solstice debuts a new energy: refreshed, renewed, and ready for abundance! There’s no better way to celebrate this energizing time of year than with…
Lovers of rose and blush tones are in luck this month—the calendar mavens have declared June 23rd as National Pink Day! Plus, this year, it lands on a Wednesday, and any true pink fan knows what that means…”On Wednesdays, we wear pink!” We know that true pink fans don’t need to be told when to…
As the founder and leader of the Indie Business Network, one of the things of which I am most pleased and proud is that IBN serves people from all walks of life who make all kinds of products in all sort of different niches. Each of our members has more creativity in their pinky fingers…
Have you ever thought adding a membership component to your current business model? If you’re like most of our members, you probably have. But even if you haven’t I strongly urge you to seriously consider it. The membership business model has done more for me personally and professionally than I could have ever imagined. It…
Sunday, June 20th, marks a special date on the calendar for celebrating dads, grandpas, uncles, and other awesome dudes in your life. You handle the hugs. You plan the adventurous (or relaxing!) day. We’ll take care of the gifts that’ll score big points with your pops! Think it’s just another year of neckties and patterned…
Calling all lovers of literature! Book critics and bloggers are already buzzing about this summer’s most anticipated reads. Whether you’re jet-setting to a tropical oasis or staying in for an afternoon on the patio, a good book is an absolute must-have. Your imagination is ready to set sail for new worlds—and the right candle or…
Move over holidays: long, warm, and sunny evenings make summer the choice season for get-togethers! With the right essentials in place, setting up the perfect summer gathering doesn’t need to be stressful. Get ready to step into the new season—this style guide has everything you need to get your home ready for a summer to…
Who’s ready for SUMMER? Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to the year’s sunniest season. Celebrated on the final Monday of May, it’s a special day to commemorate our veterans and their utmost sacrifice for our nation’s freedom. With the change of seasons comes backyard BBQs, lazy days by the pool, and sun-splashed activities like swimming,…
Welcome to Episode 85 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today’s Indie Story introduces you to Christine Mineart of Sent Nudes, in Oakland, California. Shortly before the pandemic lockdowns, Christine and her friends decided to create a day centered around making their own perfumes and then visiting a local perfume museum. They ordered all of the…
The weather is warm and the ocean is a’sparkle—the summertime vibes are seriously activating our sense of wanderlust! If you have already claimed your spot on Indie Business Retreat 2022 in the Dominican Republic, you’ll be in paradise soon enough. (You can still register to join us!) But until then, if you are daydreaming about the…
The sun is shining, flowers are in bloom, and relaxed (and vaxed!) quarantine measures mean we’re raring to reconnect with old friends and our favorite family members. The siren call of the outdoors is thunderous! Fortunately, these Indies will help you with perfumes, eau de parfums, colognes, and other personal fragrances so you can emerge…
“Siri, what day is Mother’s Day?” If she told you Sunday, May 9th, she couldn’t be more wrong — because, as we all know, EVERY DAY is Mother’s Day! But the month of May does bring a special date on the calendar where we can shower mom, grandma, auntie, a BFF and all of our…
It’s almost Earth Day! It’s no secret that shoppers in 2021 are superfans of companies that give back. In fact, studies show that nearly three-quarters of Americans consider a brand’s charitable contributions when making a purchase. Consumers are clamoring to buy from brands that support the planet, but with our Indies, it’s more than a…
Welcome to Episode 84 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today’s Indie Story introduces you to Patty Liu of Free Flow Botanicals, in Santa Cruz, California. As an educated herbalist and product formulator, Patty believes in offering a product line that helps people tend to their bodies from the inside out. In addition to a line…
Reduce, reuse, recycle and upcycle! For many everyday citizens, “out of sight, out of mind” is good enough for discarded materials. But not for these magician-level makers! Our Indies are pros at transforming something old into something stunning and new! Not only are they experts at repurposing materials, but many of them give you the…
I am excited to announce the theme for Indie Business Retreat 2022: Road to Recurring Revenue. For those who don’t know, Indie Business Retreat is our signature retreat for Makers and Creative Entrepreneurs. On January 9, 2022, we’re heading to the beautiful Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic for a week of…
Join me on Thursday, April 15 at 6pm ET for a lively entrepreneurial discussion hosted by QCity Metro editor and publisher Glenn Burkins. During informative event, Glenn will interview me about my signature five phases of entrepreneurship: The Indie Method. The event is free, and you can register here. Join Glenn and I as we…
Welcome to Episode 83 of the Indie Business Podcast! Today’s Indie Story introduces you to Sara Jennetten of Blank Mason, in Park Ridge, Illinois. With a newly proposed lease in her hand, Sara literally started her business the month the pandemic hit. She made an impressively quick pivot to the Internet and has not looked…
