Happy Birthday to IBN’s Founder and Fearless Leader, Donna Maria!

The holidays are right around the corner, but there is even one more BIG reason to celebrate this week! Grab your dancing shoes—we here at Team indie are shouting out the loudest and brightest HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our wonderful friend, founder, and fearless leader, Donna Maria!  Donna Maria started Indie Business Network in 2000 with…

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10 Best Things About Artisan Made Products

A few short years ago, a candle was a candle, a bar of soap was a bar of soap, a necklace was a necklace, and a cookie was a cookie. There was little variety, and the products looked pretty much the same. Fortunately, those days are gone. Today, high quality consumer products are available from…

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January 2023 Indie Business Book Club: The Self-Employed Life

Our January 2023 Indie Business Book Club selection is The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies That Create Sustainable Success by Jeffrey Shaw. I have been self-employed for near a quarter of a century. Those of you who know me well will not be surprised at the selection of this book, which highlights and…

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Have Oodles of Fun With These Toy-Themed Candles and Bath Bombs

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s planning something at the North Pole just for you this year! He, the Mrs., and their band of merry elves are putting a new spin on their toy haul. Watch as puzzles, penguins, and superheroes combine with bath and body goodies. These toy-themed gifts spring out of…

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Stunning Stationery Gifts for People Who Love Paper 

From holiday cards to paper garlands, paper has always represented a special way to spread joy during the holiday season. So it’s no wonder these paper goods are at the tippity top of our shopping list this year! Thoughtful greeting cards, bespoke journals, and treasured scrapbooking accessories—we’re gaga for all things lining the stationery section!…

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Apply For IBN’s Q1 2023 Scholarship

The Indie Business Network was founded 20 years ago based on the transformative power of entrepreneurship. We believe it is time to replace traditional notions of entrepreneurship with the increasingly obvious reality that entrepreneurship is for everyone, and can be defined in different ways by different people with uniquely different lifestyle goals. You do not…

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The Holiday Candle Edit

Can you hear the sleigh bells ringing? ‘Tis the season for festive candles ready to make your living space merry and bright. Wrap your senses around fresh-cut Christmas trees, pops of candy-colored berries, and sugar-sweet cocoa. If you love holiday candle drops as much as we do, this is the list for you. So spruce…

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December 2022 Indie Business Book Club: The Richest Man In Babylon

Our December 2022 Indie Business Book Club selection is The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason. While it may seem like an odd choice for our book club, at nearly 100 years old, this book is regarded as a classic of personal financial advice. As entrepreneurs, how could we not take advantage of…

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These Food-Scented Candles Smell Almost Good Enough to Eat

When you imagine a lovely candle, you might think of floral or earth tones. But it’s Thanksgiving week, and that means we have only one thing on our minds: FOOD! We’re sniffing out a menu of unexpected scents—ones inspired by our favorite meals and sides, of course! We’re thankful for our Indies who know how…

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Prepare Your Pampering Kit for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

The holidays are coming full steam! That means fun and festivities—but it can also be a chaotic time of year. Scouring shelves for last-minute gifts. Non-stop sheets of warm cookies to pull from the oven. A revolving door of relatives and loved ones excited to catch up on your year. This time of year, it’s…

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Indie Business Network 2022 Holiday Gift Guide is Here!

As the founder of the Indie Business Network, nothing brings me greater joy than presenting you with this curated selection of artisan made products to make your holidays merry and bright. Our members are going all out to ensure you have wonderful local handmade goodness to share with your friends and loved ones this holiday…

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4 Phases for Creating Long-Term Business Success

The Indie Business Network has thrived for nearly a quarter of a century, and a lot of people ask me how that happened. The question is articulated in different ways, but here is how one person put it recently on social media: “You have been so consistent with IBN, and I don’t see that very…

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Book-Inspired Candles For An Enchanting Fall Reading Session

Booklovers know what it means when the sun dips lower and evenings frost over: shorter days mean longer books! Grab that chunky knit throw! Pull on those fuzzy socks! Sink into that roomy and oversized armchair. It’s time to bury your nose in intriguing murder mysteries, classic lit, and best-selling paperbacks—with the flicker of a…

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Treat Yourself to a Self-Care Haul That’s Sweeter Than Candy

Trick or Treat! It’s nearly time to load up those Halloween baskets with chocolates and candies. But who says your sweets need to be of the teeth-rotting variety? This year, treat yourself to candles, wax melts, and skincare goodies that look and smell like your favorite trick-or-treat indulgences! At first sniff, these delicacies seem like…

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November 2022 Indie Business Book Club: Marketing: A Love Story

Our November 2022 Indie Business Book Club selection is Marketing: A Love Story: How to Matter to Your Customers by Bernadette Jiwa. The book is under 100 pages and can be read in an afternoon. It’s mainly about how to position your ideas to resonate with your target customers in ways that influence them more…

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