IE Tip 10: MemoToMe.com: Be Reminded

Yes, you are one busy bee, juggling family, friends, work, a business. Register for a free service with Memo To Me, and you'll never have to miss important family occasions, work deadlines, and business meetings. Program events you need to be reminded of and when you need the reminder, and the service will sent reminders via your email. Upgrade to the platinum edition, and have reminders sent to your mobile phone or pager.

Craft Fairs, LawYours

LawYours: Connecting Startups and Law Firms: FREE event that connects law firms and entrepreneurs who are creating a start up and seeking venture capital funding. Located in Palo Alto, CA. May 10, 2007.

Got Craft?: Fun and unique event featuring a modern twist to the traditional craft fair. Located in Vancouver, Canda. May 12-13, 2007.

Maven Craft Fair: Craft fair featuring works of emerging indie artists and designers. Located in San Francisco, CA. May 12, 2007.

Cioccolatina: Handmade Natural Skin Care

Akua Wood founded Cioccolatina in November 2002 in response to her frustration in trying to find a natural range of toiletries to moisturize her skin, as well as to fulfill her need to work at home in order to look after her disabled daughter. Now, only 4 short years later, Cioccolatina has formed a cult following with her fine range of shea butter, olive oil, and other natural skin products. Akua shares her experiences in building Cioccolatina:

Typical Customer
“I have a diverse range of customers all over the world. The typical customer being 28 years of age and mainly female.”

Balancing Act
“Although I am self-employed, I work part-time. I do not have any full time job and have to balance my time as a “mother/wife/business woman”. As a parent, I work hard and long hours and have very little time for myself.”

Typical Akua Day
“Most of my working days start at 07:30 and finish at 22:00. This is mainly made up of responding to customers’ emails, packing/dispatching orders and answering telephone calls.”

Where to find Her Products
“Cioccolatina products are sold mainly via my website. Our retail shop in Sonning (Berkshire- UK) will soon be open to the buying public.”

Keeping in Touch with Customers
“As a business woman, I tend to follow the trend by generally reading specific magazines.”

Challenges in Building a Business
“The most challenging part was providing customers the right products which I have been able to achieve.”

“[Other challenges include changes in] market trends, problems to overcome with suppliers being late with deliveries or packages getting lost in the post. You need determination and pre-planning.”

Inspiration in the Mix
"Mixing up a cream with natural ingredients that my customers love to purchase and use."

Her Father, the Mentor
"My father who introduced me to the use of herbs at a very early age."

Words of Advice: Research and Spend Wisely
" Starting a business seem to be easy. The difficult bit is sustaining it. My advice for any one starting out will be to research on your target market and spend wisely by printing your own labels."
--------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Akua Wood
Cioccolatina

IE Tip 9: Linked In.com: Connect and Network

LinkedIn is an online network of more than 10 million professionals worldwide in 130 different industries. You can create a profile, post your resume, add contacts, connect with colleagues, and all that good stuff. But for indie entrepreneurs, you can also use this site as a free marketing tool by increasing the visibility of your business and enhancing connections with possible customers. Read this informative article on other ways to use LinkedIn.

IE Tip 8: IndieFinds.com: Designer Coop

Formed in response to big-box, mass retailers, Indie Finds is a designer-run cooperative that have teamed up to increase awareness of indie shops and boutiques. To be a member, you must have a website selling indie goods with a .com or .net URL, and be able to provide your own photos. As a member, you are free to participate in any ad opportunities. This is a great and low-cost way to increase your brand exposure and awareness both online and offline.

Help Girls Rock Out

The Willie Mae Rock Camp is a non-profit New York City summer day camp that serves girls 8-18 years old by offering them a chance to learn how to play musical instruments, write songs perform, and “rock out” in a supportive artistic environment. The Camp is currently holding an online auction to raise funds to raise scholarship funds for future camp rockers.




Do some good and satisfy your shopping itch by bidding on some really cool items like this Hot Balloon Ride for Two or this awesome Alise Marie dress. And if you really want to make me happy, send this Hampton Weekend Getaway my way.

IE Tip 7: Another Girl At Play: Where Work and Play Coincide

On those times when you begin to doubt yourself, head over to Another Girl At Play and be inspired by 25 artists who have made their creative dreams real. Read the experiences, stories, and insights of women who have become successful creative entrepreneurs.