We scoured the Web this week to bring you some American Made Goodness from our members nationwide. Bursts of color, a bit of bling, some honey sweetness, a billionaire celebrity and more — all in the mix. It gives me such great pleasure to tell you about the love and beauty IBN members are adding…
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:51 — 32.8MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | RSS
Once you know you make a good handmade product, how do you know what to do next? According to Alana Rivera, you hone your skills before “jumping over the edge.” Alana started her handmade bath + body company, Etta and Billie in San Francisco, while she still had a traditional job. Today, not only has…
I found this video while hanging out on Vimeo the other day. I noticed it because one of our members is featured. It’s a very inspiring looking at what Jen Serena, a Burbank, California-based photographer, is doing to encourage and highlight local independent business owners in her area. Can you spot the IBN member? If…
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:33 — 16.1MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | RSS
I launched my podcast in 2005 as the Lifestyle CEO Show. I later changed the name to Indie Business Podcast, and ultimately hosted a weekly show over 300 times between 2005 and 2012. As technology progressed from the Dark Ages, I switched my podcast from the now defunct Global Talk Radio to Blog Talk Radio.…
We are thrilled to announce our members who are finalists in the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made contest! You can vote for your favorites starting TODAY, and every day, through October 13. The 2014 Award Winners and Audience Choice Winners will be announced on October 17. The Martha Stewart American Made program celebrates all things…
Autumn is finally here, and with it, the September My Maker Box is making its way across the country as we speak. Featuring a dizzying array of handmade goodies and resources for Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs, My Maker Box is THE subscription box for creative entrepreneurs who want to enjoy other locally made products and…
I hope you all had a wonderful week! For me here in Charlotte, it was a huge relief just to enjoy temperatures below 90°F. We’ve had some scorchers here lately and the cooler temperatures are more than welcome. Fall is my favorite time of year, and I love the chill in the air. Speaking of…
Handmade is the New American Manufacturing Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs are redefining the meaning of “small” business, not only in America, but all around the world. American Manufacturing is alive and well, and it’s in the hands of Handmade Entrepreneurs in every city, large and small, in every state in this country. Donna Maria Coles…
In case you missed, it our August My Maker Box was a huge success. You can see some of the unboxing videos here, and click here check out all of the Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs whose products and services are featured in the August My Maker Box. Today, I’m excited to tell you about the…
I am always delighted and pleased when I see IBN members step into their greatness and press toward their goals. As you might imagine, that means I am delighted and pleased a lot! Today, I am delighted and pleased about the achievements of Kimberly Thigpen of The Bath Place in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Here…
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…
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…
Donna Maria meets with IBN members on a weekly basis for mentoring, coaching, and to answer their most pressing entrepreneurial and business and personal development questions in a live Q+A session. (If you are not a member, you can join here.) The more concise you are in your question, the more useful Donna Maria’s reply…
Our member, Dawn Fitch of Pooka Pure & Simple, was interviewed this week by Sukanya Krishnan, news anchor at New York’s WPIX-TV (Channel 11), the flagship station of The CW Television Network, with an audience of over 10 million homes. Here is the interview (yes, there is a commercial at the beginning …) Enjoy the…
[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…
This week is so much fun! I am in my hometown of Washington, DC, for several days to enjoy time with my family and to set the stage for some exciting things coming up here at the Indie Business Network. You’ll be hearing a lot more details in the coming days, but for now, I…
Our member, Christine Laureano of Ba6 Botanicals in Hampton Bays, New York, is featured in Long Island Business Newsday this week for her new business strategy to use direct mail catalogs as a marketing tool. I am excited to see Christine create a niche publication that will reach her customers directly, providing them with colorful…
Our member, Sénica, in New Orleans, is being featured at the “Bring it to Wal-mart” showcase at Essence Music Festival this week! Benardett Jno Finn, Sénica’s founder and CEO, tells me that it’s a chance to share the Sénica story on a larger platform. If you are at Essence Music Festival on Sunday, July 6…
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…
My Maker Box is offered on a first come, first served basis! Each month, we will open up opportunities to buy the box to people on our mailing list first. To be added to the mailing list so you can be the first to find out when the next box is available for purchase, complete…
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…