One of the best ways to be inspired to make yourself and your business the best they can be is to learn from the success of others. That’s why we love to spotlight our members here at the blog. Today, you’ll meet Valerie Rice, founder of Piper Tate in San Francisco, California. This collage features Valerie and her husband and business partner, Bill, and some of their lovely products.
Valerie has been a member of the Indie Business Network since 2011. I asked her to share a little about her life and the Piper Tate line of products. Here's a little of what she said:
Q1 TELL US ABOUT PIPER TATE
My husband, Bill, used to be a chef, and I was a costume designer who styled everything from Barbie dolls to Luther Vandross. We longed to combine our passions, and dreamed about creating a business with family in mind. We tapped our culinary and design skills and began stirring up organic, botanically infused body products for babies and their parents. That's how Piper Tate was born.
Today, we make have three lines: Piper Tate, Baby Tate, and a gift line. Our Baby Tate line is growing fastest with new online and retail stockists coming on board every week. Our sales rep helps us to bring in new retailers. You can also buy our products at several online baby focused niche boutiques. Drop shipping arrangements work really well for our line.
Q2 WHAT ARE YOUR BEST SELLING PRODUCTS?
Definitely the Baby Tate Ultimate Gift Set: Orange Blossom & Honey Body Lotion, Soothing Bum Balm, Calming Chamomile Shampoo & Body Wash, and Milk & Honey Lavender Soap. It's all handmade in small batches with ingredients like organic jojoba oil, vitamin E and organic shea butter. Here are some products from the Baby Tate line.
Q3 WHAT SORTS OF THINGS DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING?
I love cruising the streets of San Francisco. There are so many funky, artful nooks and crannies, and every time I explore, I discover new places to go and things to see and do. I love checking out boutiques and local niche shops to see what they have to offer. The colors, aromas and textures always inspire me.
Q4 WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE INDIE BUSINESS NETWORK?
Where do I start, there are some many things. It's an unsurpassed resource, and the private Facebook group helps me get to the bottom of so many issues in my business. I love the Success Calls and just how the organization supports creative entrepreneurs and handmade artisans. There's nothing like it and I enjoy being a part of such a useful network.
You can learn more about Indie Business Network membership and the benefits we offer (including affordable product liability insurance, coaching, and mentoring) at this link.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PIPER TATE
