I have been invited to join a panel of judges that will help select a new owner for the Gratitude Soapery in Kansas City. I am so honored to be invited, and to be in some pretty high-falutin’ company too. The other judges are the very wonderful David Fisher of About.com, and also two of…
As I shared a few days ago, the first My Maker Box shipped last week, and the unboxing videos are pouring in. If you missed that post, you can get it and watch some of the videos at this link. Today, I am excited to share a close-up look at all of the handmade products…
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…
[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…
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…
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…
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…
Here’s a great chance for us to meet while I’m in DC this weekend! I’m delighted to announce that I am speaking at the International Hair Meetup Day outside my hometown of Washington, DC. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a link to buy your tickets to the event, and to enter to…
Several years ago, I got an idea to create a documentary of sorts to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurial MAKERS nationwide. I sent my husband business partner out to gather B-roll and photographs of members who were making waves in their local communities. Here is the result. As you can see, it’s a kind of…
If I didn’t have to deliver the keynote at this weekend’s Tennessee Soap and Candle Gathering in Nashville, I would probably be at Unique LA with hundreds of Makers from around the nation, including several of our Indie Business Network members. In this post, I’m going to let you know who they are so you…
This month, all across America, Indie Business Network members are heading into the spring season at the local farmer’s market. I just returned from opening day at the Matthews Community Farmer’s Market near Charlotte, North Carolina. It was pouring down rain, but on the bright side, nothing sold out, even though I didn’t arrive until…
Im excited to share that I will be traveling to Tennessee to deliver the keynote address at the Tennessee Soap and Candle Social on May 3-4th, 2013, at the Montgomery Bell State Park outside Nashville. Hosted by Rachel Turner of Music City Suds, the Tennessee Soap and Candle Social is an annual gathering of soapmakers…
Today, I’m pleased to share that the Indie Business Network is featured in the “Shop Talk” section of The Charlotte Observer. Along with me, our members Curtis Durham of Bath Nation and Jennifer Devlin of Celtic Complexion and their products are also featured. My favorite thing about this article is that the journalist chose to…
Iam excited to announce #MakerMonday, a new way for the world to experience the local and handmade products from members of the Indie Business Network. For those who don’t know, our members hail from all 50 states and Canada (and a few other countries), and#MakerMonday is our newest fun way to help them spread the…
I am saddened to report the passing of one of IBN’s members, Holly Beatie of High Octave Healing in Truckee, California. Holly had been a member of IBN since April 2009, making herbal products to help people live better lives. Holly’s products were sold online and at local artisan markets near her home near Lake…
Connection Day Atlanta was so incredible that we had to do it again! As you know, Connection Day will be hosted in multiple cities in 2014. We kicked things of in Atlanta last month. Our next Connection Day is set for Friday, April 24, 2014, at the newly opened Indie Business Studio in South Charlotte,…
Ine am pleased to share that I have accepted an invitation to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Tennessee Soap and Candle Social on May 3-4, 2014, at Montgomery Bell State Park in Burns, Tennessee, near Nashville. You may recall that I was a speaker at the event last year. Hosted by Rachel Turner…