The Indie Business Experience
March 29, 2010
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 11, Issue 10
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1. "How To" Monday: How to Fit In Fitness,
and Still Get Stuff Done
2. Meet Our New and Renewing IBN Members
3. This Week's Indie
Business Radio Show: Melinda Emerson on
Launching Your Dream Business
4. Featured Article: Salah Al-ayube :: Xingu
Amazonia Natural Cosmetics :: California
5. Indie and Small Business Resources:
Encouragement, Inspiration and More!
6. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie: How Can I Help
You??!
Make It Yourself: Creamy Oats Citrus Scrub
1. "How To" Monday (Wednesday?!): How to Fit In Fitness, and Still Get Stuff Done
Last
week, the Journal of American Medicine reported that women must exercise at
least 60 minutes a day for maximum fitness, especially near middle age, and
especially to lose weight. You can watch a short video from an ABC News
broadcast here.
The information is especially timely for me because of the efforts I have been making recently to step up my fitness game. I shared some tips on how to fit in fitness and still get everything else done here.
But something I have not spoken much about is how it came to be that I'd like to lose about 100 pounds. And quite frankly, I'm not sure how much I want to share about that at this time. For now, I'll say that, for me, the issues are closely related to self esteem, and they are not new. They have built up over a long period of time.
I started this journey on March 1. As I come to the end of the month, I am seeing that the more I pursue fitness, the more powerful and capable I become.
The more I run (my chosen form of cardio exercise for now), the more endurance I have to push through discomfort and make my body do things I didn't know it was capable of doing.
It's the same in business. The more we do things we don't at first think we can do, the more capable we become of doing them. Sure, we make mistakes. Sometimes, we even fail. It takes endurance to push beyond business failures, and we all have them.
Stretching the boundaries of what my body can do lets me know that I can do the same thing when it comes to business. What an amazing benefit! To better my personal health so that I end each day with a renewed sense of confidence in my ability to serve my members, my family and my community.
I shared some tips in this post on how I have been managing to fit in fitness, family and business without slipping up too much. (LOL!) I'd love to learn from your thoughts and experiences too!
HOT This Week At Indie Business Blog:
1.
A Going Out of Business Success Story: that's right -- we can shut it
all down and still be successful!
2.
How Do You Handle Requests For Free Advice?: IBN members share where to
draw the line
3.
How to Fit In Fitness and Still Get Stuff Done: yes, you can!
4.
What Do You Make People Feel?: a revealing video that may change (for
the bettter) the way you do business
5.
Tips From the Trenches For Moms in Business: can you ever get enough of
these?
6.
I'm the New Mayor of the YMCA: yes siree, I am!!
Thanks for allowing me into your email boxes and have a great week!!
2. Meet IBN's New and Renewing IBN Members!!
Here
is a listing of the new and renewing IBN members! Website links are included
where appropriate. You can see an entire
official membership
directory at our flagship website. You can also meet members who are
active in our social networking site
here!
If it's time to renew your membership, click here! To join and start putting IBN to work for you today, click here!
Monave Mineral Cosmetics | Debbie Bilezikian | Maryland
IBN Member Since May 2003
At Monave, we are dedicated to providing fine quality natural cosmetics. We
supply raw cosmetic colorants to handcrafters of soaps and toiletries, as
well as bulk blended mineral cosmetics for those who can supply their own
packaging and labeling.
Bella Lucce | Lela Barker | South Carolina
IBN Member Since March 2005
Bella Luccè unlocks the secret to exquisite skin by sourcing
some of the most exotic ingredients on the planet: rhassoul clay mined
beneath the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, macadamia nut and passion fruit oils
cold-pressed in Hawaii, unrefined shea butter imported from Ghana and salts
collected from the Dead Sea in Israel. We've incorporated raw materials from
26 countries on 6 continents to create our decadent collection of innovative
products. We invite you to explore the philosophy behind Bella Luccè and
join us in a celebration of healthy, radiant, beautiful skin. Ciao!
Pooka Pure & Simple | Dawn Fitch | New Jersey
IBN Member Since April 2005
Pooka contains oils from different nuts and vegetables, which contain many
vitamins & minerals for your skin, I also use essential oils, which are the
oils extracted from flower petals, leaves, bark, twigs and any other plant
parts.
Mixed Greens | Molly Gray | Idaho
IBN Member Since March 2007
Quality handcrafted jewelry, bath products, and cards. Bath Brews by Mixed
Greens are made with natural ingredients including Shea Butter - extra
moisturizing for your skin with subtle scents light enough for everyone to
enjoy.
Kaylala, LLC | Heather Dodge | Maryland
IBN Member Since October 2008
Handcrafted, all-natural and organic skincare. Our products are
petrochemical, paraben, and fragrance oil free and utilize the healing power
of emu oil from our farm here in Maryland. We use local, sustainable
ingredients and package in recycled or recyclable containers with fun,
vintage style labeling.
Fran's Candle Creations | Francine Johnson | Maryland
We are manufacturers of 100% soy candles, soy lotions, massage candles,
lotion bars and other scented products for your home, office and car. We
sell retail as well as wholesale.
Catamount Candle | Adrienne Suskind | Virginia
IBN Member Since April 2008
Votive candles.
Glowlite Candles | Elizabeth Butcher | Arizona
IBN Member Since March 2009
Glowlite Candles is a wholesale only business/manufacturer offering unique
wax figurine candles to the gift/retail industry.
Pure Enchantment | Bill and Debbie Brink | Ohio
IBN Member Since July 2004
Pure Enchantment produces handcrafted natural soaps, and shea butters bars.
Princetta's Beauty Secrets | Princetta Jones | Nevada
IBN Member Since March 2008
Our all-natural beauty line is suitable for all skin types and contains the
highest quality pure essential oils, natural herbs, unrefined butters and
organic carrier oils. We do not use water, cheap fillers or synthetics that
could possibly damage skin in any of our mixtures. Our products are simply
pure and natural. Rejuvenate your skin the natural way!
Fran's Candle Creations |
Francine Johnson | Maryland
We are manufacturers of 100% soy candles, soy lotions, massage candles,
lotion bars and other scented products for your home, office and car. We
sell retail as well as wholesale.
Maitri Skin Care | Tracy Sanchez | Colorado
Maitri Skin Care is a small company focused on using the purest most
effective skin care ingredients that are derived in an ecologically friendly
way from plants. The face cream, lip balm, nurturing oils, and body butters
are made with great care in small batches from high quality
organic/pesticide free oils, nut butters, plant hydrosols, and pure
essential oils. Safe non-toxic food grade preservatives are used in the
creams to keep them stable for a finite period of time.
Crossing Cultures,
d/b/a Goddess Garden | Nova Covington-Halter | Colorado
Goddess Garden manufactures Natural and Organic Facial products for
wholesale and retail sale. Our customers include large Natural Grocers
around the country.
Florere, Inc. | Cynthia Gorman | California
Florere pronounced 'flow-rare' is a latin verb which means to 'bloom, or
flourish like a flower.' Our philosophy is simple: think of personal care
products as 'food' for your skin. The products you put on your skin should
be as wholesome as the products you put on your plate. We thank you for
using natural products.
Canopy Brand Group | Marc Sampogna | New York
Canopy is a boutique brand identity, package and web design agency,
specializing in the consumer packaged goods within the beauty, personal care
and lifestyle industry. We work with small, entrepreneurial companies who
are looking to create an impactful presence within their field, through
dynamic creative design. Our goal is be nimble in both thought and
execution, to provide our clients with the most efficient methods to grow
their business.
Grace & Pepper | Melanie Knight | California
Apprentice member.
3. This Week's Indie Business Radio Show: Melinda Emerson on 12 Months to Your Dream Business
<
--- Featured photo: This week's radio show guest, Melinda Emerson,
a/k/a Small Biz Lady
Ever have one of those week's where you can't get your newsletter out on time? It happened to me this week when our server went down for a significant period over the weekend. I was bummed, but then again, so glad that I'm smart enough to professionally record and edit my shows so that you can listen to them anytime, 24/7, on your own schedule!
Both of their books are available for easy purchase from Amazon (affiliate links) while you're there.
Next week's show features award winning marathoner Laura McClain! We'll be discussing how fitness in general, and running in particular, improve family, life and business!
Indie Business Radio airs live on Mondays at 1:00pm New York Time. There are two ways to join the live show:
Listen Only: Click here at 1:00pm New York Time and follow the instructions to choose your audio player.
Listen and Chat: Once you activate your audio player (above), you can join us for the accompanying live chat on Savorchat at 1:00pm New York Time. Just click the link, sign in using your Twitter or FaceBook account, and you can join us live!
-- Sponsor --
4. Featured Indie: Salah Al-ayube | Xingu Amazonia Natural Cosmetics | California
I love meeting people from all over the world, many from places I will probably never have a hope of visiting. Like, the Amazon Rain Forest. But maybe I don't need to go there because now that I know Salah, I can have virtual visits, plus use the cosmetics he makes with ingredients he sources himself from his homeland. Salah is the 50-year old owner of Xingu Amazonia Cosmetics. He is married with two grown children, and he is full of passion for the people of Brazil and the ingredients that are native to one of the most important places in the world.
dM: What was your inspiration to start your business?
Salah:
I was a software architect with NASA and Microsoft for years. I also
have a degree in biochemistry. I was planning to go to med school, but
changed my mind when some technology related opportunities came along.
One day, I was at a Farmer's Market where natural products were being
sold. I asked around about where I could learn and I was referred to IBN
member Lori Nova at The Nova Studio.My mother is from the Amazon and I am from a family of "travel healers." What I wanted to do was to learn how to make creams and lotions that incorporated herbs and spices from South America. Ninety percent of the raw materials in my products come from the Xingu area of the Amazon. Xingu means "place where God lives," in Mundurukus, the tribe where my mother is from and the dominant tribe in that area of Brazil.
dM:
What's your niche?
Salah: Our niche is the
fragrance-free, organic market. All of my raw ingredients are wild
harvested, meaning that tribal members collect the materials and take it to
a pressing mill to obtain the materials. Most of my customers are
estheticians and plastic surgeons, but people can buy retail from the
website as well.
dM: How do you market your products?
Salah: We just opened in December 2009. So far, most of my marketing has been word of mouth and me visiting the estheticians and plastic surgeons on my own. We've enjoyed a bit of publicity, including Salons Unlimited and the health and beauty guide for Contra Costa County where we are based.
dM: What's new and exciting with your business these days?
Salah: Some local wineries in my area of Napa, Ca, are interested in carrying my products in their gift shops. Many of them also want me to do some speaking engagements so that when their customers come in, I can educate them about plants that are native to the Amazon. Many Napa wineries actually have annual membership programs that treat their members to new tastings and other consistent natural products.
dM: How do you use social media in your business?
Salah: I have thought a lot about this. Getting on Twitter and FaceBook are on my list. I'm excited to see that dM and Indie Beauty Network trains us in this area. I'm coming!
I'm also excited that, after a bit of a battle, our trademark has finally been registered. Another company was opposing my applications and in December, I finally won.
dM: Who helps your business be successful?
Salah: My friends and family members are very supportive, although they did think I was nut to leave my job as an executive. In fact, my last position was at the vice presidential level. Also, my background as a software architect was to actually build businesses all over the world in the software arena. I just took what I learned in that field and transferred it here. I did a lot of testing and honed my plan. When I felt I had a consistent product that worked, I launched and was ready to go.
dM: What's your
some of your most popular products?
Salah: We have two really good selling products. The "flagship" products is the Post Hair Removal Lotion. Estheticians and plastic surgeons like it because it soothes irritated skin. One of the ingredients is Cupuacu Butter, which I prefer to shea butter because it absorbs water at a rate 200% times that of shea butter. This means that the water stays close to the skin for a longer period of time and is therefore able to hydrate the skin for a longer period of time. it also contains Copaiba Oil, which is a resin that was used by my ancestors to dress battle wounds.
The other most popular product is the Anti-Aging Cream. It also contains marine biopolymers which are good for tightening the skin.
dM: What are the best things about being a small and independent business owner?
Salah: I like that the only person who can fire me is me. That's nice! Because I'm a one-man-show, I don't have to deal with corporate politics.
My creams can't argue with me. I like that.
dM: How often do you travel to Brazil and what is a typical trip like?
Salah: I usually go there 4 times a year. I must go frequently because I need to oversee extraction of the materials. I need to be there to see the quality is maintained. I also go because the ingredients are seasonal and I like to get them fresh. I don't buy many of my ingredients from large companies. I get them t their native source so I nee to be there to make sure that everything is done correctly.
I love doing this because the native people would noramlly cut the trees down and use them for firewood or whatever. They know know that I will return periodically to help them harvest the fruits of the trees. This is good for the environment because it prevents unnecessary de-forestation. I also deal directly with the farmers and village people. When I buy a substance from them, I pay them directly and completely cut out the middle man. This supports their communities and their families.
Each time I return, the families I buy from have improved their quality of life. For example, when I return, a family that lived in a small hut last year will be living in a more secure home and maybe even have electricity. This allows me to make a meaningful contribution to my home land and to the environment locally and worldwide.
dM: How did you discover IBN, and what do you think of your membership?
Salah: I discovered it via Lori Nova at The Nova Studio. I was looking for insurance and other networking resources, and I'm so glad I did. I'm very impressed. Even though I became a member last year, I'm only now delving in to take advantage of the member benefits (like this feature, for example). Now that my business is officially off the ground, I'm having more time to become involved. The webinars and teleconferences dM offers are a major plus.
dM: What tips can you offer other small business owners to help them be successful?
Salah:
1. Invest your time before you invest your money. Research all of the
details. As you learn more and more at east stage, you will not waste your
money. Some people lease space, buy ads and buy equipment before they know
exactly what they want to do. This is always a mistake. Be sure that people
are really interested in your products before you invest a ton of money in
it.
2. Check your stamina. You really have to have the stamina to run a
business. Ask yourself whether you are healthy enough to start a new
business. I'm up at 2 or 3 in the morning doing research, discovering new
things, checking out my competitors, etc. I'm always working and you need to
have endurance to do this. You need drive and energy to make things work.
You've got to be on it all the time ore else the dream will never become a
reality. Of course you don't want to alienate everything else and become
obsessed. That just creates more problems. You need to find a balance.
3. Don't think in terms of farming out the work. You have to do it yourself
first. You could have someone do all of the "grunt" work for you, like
graphics, web design etc., and the business may still flop. If you can do it
yourself, do it yourself. But make sure you do this within reason. Turn it
over to someone else only after you know you can't do it yourself or you
would do a poor job at it. I think I've saved over $100,000 just by doing
most of everything myself to start my business.
dM: How has owning a business enhanced your life? Any regrets?
Salah: Into a single regret. it's been interesting. I'm still climbing my mountain. Eventually, I want to get some sales people. I speak well and I love talking about my products, but because I'm the chemist, I take things too personally. You need very thick skin to be in sales and I eventually want other people to do it for me. Sometimes, you have to eat sand for a while to get where you want to.
dM: What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a small business owners, and how did you overcome it?
Salah: The biggest challenge is getting people to know that you exist. I'm still trying to figure out how to overcome this. I don't wait for people to come to me. I call newspapers and magazines myself to get the word out. But this is a big challenge for me and I'm working on it.
dM: What are you doing when you're not working in your business?
Salah: I spend a lot of time with my family. When my kids are home from school, I'm with them. I try to diversify my life as much as possible. I like going out to dinner with my family. Since my business is based in my home, I like to get out of here as much as possible. I also like to walk my 120-pound and 130-pound Rottweilers.
5. Indie and Small Business Resources: Give 'N Take (and Then More Give!) @ Our Social Networking Site!
Here's a sampling of some of the fun photos, blogs posts and discussions being led by IBN members right now!
1. What does raising money and sales have in common?: Jim DeBetta has some things to consider!
2. How an e-book could be a key component of an effective online marketing strategy: Charlon Bobo delivers the goods
3. Cool, way cool: Funlayo Alabi and Lela Barker share photos from their African shea and soap adventure!
Exclusive Members Only Discussion (login required for these) (if you are an IBN member without access to this area, email me at donnamaria [at] indiebeautynetwork [dot] com and I will fix that)
1. PayPal vs. Google Checkout: which do you prefer?
2. FaceBook Fan Page vs. FaceBook Profile Page?: that is the question
3. Maine State Advocacy Group: Emily Caswell, our Maine State Advocacy Leader, has valuable news to share about the state of cosmetics regulation in Maine
6. About dM, the Chief Executive Indie: How Can I Help You??!
I would love to speak at your next women's group or conference gathering??
Donna Maria Coles Johnson, the Chief Executive Indie, helps small and independent businesses owners, combine smart sales and marketing strategies with integrated, branded digital media tools to create relationships, expand their sphere of influence and increase sales. Through her blogs and weekly radio show, dM delivers helpful and entertaining content that inspires, encourages and informs small business owners worldwide.
Known for her innovative yet friendly style, dM's expertise has been showcased in Entrepreneur, Global Cosmetics Industry, Working Mother, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, National Public Radio, ABC World News This Morning, WUSA-TV9 (CBS Washington, DC affiliate), Ebony and a host of other regional and national media outlets.
Whether the topic is integrating career and family, leadership, small business ownership or new technologies, dM has a life-changing presentation for you and your audience. Contact dM today at donnamaria @ indiebeautynetwork.com to discover how she can contribute to your unforgettable conference or gathering event.
If this issue of The Indie Experience has been useful to you, please feel free to hit the Forward key and share it with a friend!!
See you next week! In the meantime,
Enjoy your life, build your business and have your way!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Indie Experience Newsletter
www.IndieBusinessBlog.com
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2010 by IBN and Donna Maria. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized distribution or reproduction is prohibited. IBN does not necessarily endorse any product, event or ideology featured in this newsletter or on IBN's website. All information is provided on an "as is" basis and no express or implied warranties are given. Any use of the information contained in this newsletter or on IBN's web site, including recipes, is solely at your own risk. IBN and Donna Maria disclaim any liability in connection with the use of all recipes, products reviewed and other information. Except for sponsorships, this newsletter refuses compensation from companies to feature or mention their names or products. Opinions expressed in any Product Review are personally those of the reviewer and do not represent the views of IBN, Donna Maria (unless she is the reviewer) or any other person or company.
