It’s always exciting to launch a new website, isn’t it? Everything is fresh and new. Rather than the “new car smell,” you can sense the “new website smell” coming right through your screen, right? We smelled it last week when our member, Mary Beth Worzella of Mbeze in Wausau, Wisconsin, launched a gorgeous new site…
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Welcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this tenth episode, you will meet Valerie Reed of Valana Minerals in San Diego, California. Valerie is a college sociology professor by trade, and she also works her business, which she founded in 2007. She loves both teaching and mineral makeup, and has found a…
Yesterday, our member Christine Laureano over at Ba6 Botanicals in Hampton Bays, New York, hosted a holiday open house. (No, it’s not too early.) Here is Christine showcasing her beautiful Ba6 Botanicals handmade products. Along with Makers throughout the area, other IBN members participated at this exclusive event, at Christine’s invitation. Judging from the pictures,…
One of the many awesome things about entrepreneurship is that amazing things happen every day, many of them not specifically planned for. When our member Christine White of Scandle Candle in Addision, Texas, joined IBN back in January 2008, who would have known that her products would be sold in spas around the world? Check…
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Elissa has changed the name of her business to Bonblissity. The title, text, and links in this post have been updated in recognition of this change. Welcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this ninth episode, you will meet Elissa Choi of BonBlissity in San Pedro, California. Elissa and her husband work…
We love celebrating the success of our members! Success always leads to more success, so we shout it from the rooftops every chance we get. Today, we’ve got a big one, and right here in the Indie Business Network’s adopted home state! Here’s the quick back story. Maggie Ghanem was tired of turning away smaller…
Do you struggle to produce an online newsletter to connect with your customers and build your list? Have you heard a billion times that you need an email newsletter, and you even know where to go to get one, and you even subscribe to newsletters so you know what they look like, and you still…
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Welcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this eighth episode, you will meet Kathy Dannel Vitcak of The Blissful Dog in Pinewood, Minnesota. Kathy has built an empire from her home, which is located nearly an hour from the closest town: population: 10,000. Her success is a testament to the power of…
Have you ever approached a YouTube vlogger to collaborate on a project to promote your products? You might after you read this post. One of our members, Jennifer Waller at Celtic Complexion in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a great case study on how you can create a collaboration with a YouTube vlogger that results in…
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While Emma’s Friends has closed, I invite you to be inspired by the amazing story of how Lynn built her business to honor her very special daughter. Welcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this seventh episode, I introduce you to Lynn Elko of Emma’s Friends Soaps and Lotions in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.…
October is my favorite month of the year. The fireplaces light up and thoughts turn to warm coffee, toasty blankets and a good book by the hearth. We’ve got all that and more in store for you with this month’s My Maker Box. Did you miss out? Not to worry, I’ll tell you how not…
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Welcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this sixth episode, I introduce you to Samantha Irwin of Standard Wax in Chandler, Arizona. Samantha and her business partner, Andrew King, met each other “by accident” at work, they did their first craft show “by accident,” they got their first wholesale customer “by accident,”…
The idea of starting a business to do what you love all day long is romantic and appealing. The trouble with it is that it’s not realistic, especially in today’s world where everyone has a business and the Internet is filled with people who are trying to get your customers’ attention. When you start your…
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Welcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this fifth episode, I introduce you to Samantha Dickey of Dirty Beauty Skincare in Woodstock, Georgia. Here is how Samantha describes her handmade products: “Hand-poured and developed by a farmer’s nerdy lipstick-lovin’ granddaughter.” You should be able to tell from that description that Samantha is…
As the leader of the Indie Business Network, I have the privilege of witnessing the birth of a lot of new businesses. Frequently, new Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs find IBN because they need product liability insurance. After they join, they discover that the coaching and mentoring included with the membership are even more valuable than…
Last week, I introduced you to Andrea Hence Evans, Esq., one of our speakers for #IndieCruise Mastermind 2015. Today, I am pleased to introduce you to Kismet Andrews, another successful creative entrepreneur whom you will hear from, and dine with, on #IndieCruise Mastermind 2015. Kismet launched Bar Maids in 2001, and joined IBN in 2009.…
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Welcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this fourth episode, I introduce you to Stacia Guzzo of The Handcrafted Honey Bee and Tehachabee Farm in Tehachapi, California. Stacia and I discuss how she manages her two Maker businesses as a wife and the mother of two young children, and how she became…
Everywhere we look these days, we see stories about the state of American manufacturing. Some say it’s dead. Some say it’s dying. Some say it’s alive and well. None of the stories account for the growth in the number of people making products with their hands and selling them to the public as a business…
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Welcome to Season 1 of the Indie Business Podcast! In this third episode, I introduce you to Darren and Carrie Seibert of Soap Commander in Cherokee, Alabama, and we discuss how they manage their business while raising and home schooling seven (yes, 7) children. Being married to an unexpected entrepreneur is not always easy. You…
In case you missed the video, the September My Maker Box was filled with goodies to celebrate the start of the Fall season. From organic herbal tea and an autographed copy of an awesome business book, to a handmade tea wallet (the first I’d ever seen anywhere), so many handmade goodies for our Maker friends…
I am pleased to introduce you to Andrea Hence Evans, Esq., one of the illustrious speakers you will meet and get to know personally on #IndieCruise Mastermind 2015. Andrea launched The Law Firm of Andrea Hence Evans in 2007 after serving for several years years as an attorney at the United States Patent & Trademark…