Started by a shrink and a stylist, Retail Therapy provides the latest in “feel good” apparel & accessories.  Their motto “take care of yourself, take care of the world” inspires us all to be organic, recycled, and earth-friendly in our products.

My twins have these tees and we just planted the hangtags in the garden.  I am so excited to see the flowers grow!

A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR COOL TEE SHIRTS…
• Tees made of organic cotton, recycled polyester & naturally occurring rayon
•  Tees made of 100% organic cotton
• Even our RT logo tag is organic cotton!
• “Feel good” shirts with positive messages
• Silk screened with non-toxic water based inks
• Prewashed so they are super soft & won’t shrink
• Individually rubbed with rocks to get that funky worn look
• Hang tags made of 100% post-consumer waste & embedded with flower seeds
• When tags are planted, wildflowers will grow… really, we’re not kidding!
• Hang tag string made from handmade recycled paper & tinted with vegetable dyes
• We donate a percentage of profits to charity
• Retail Therapy tees have already been seen on TV & are worn by celebs!

Popularity: 58% [?]

Summer Mojito Cocktails
Guest post by Author and Cookbook Writer Sally Sampson

Warehouse to Your House.
I am anything but a drinker but if I were ever to become one, this would certainly be my summer drink.
Best described as sparkling mint limeade with rum, this classic Cuban cocktail is crying out for interpretation- although I have to admit some versions are way too whacky for my taste. Mine has more lime and mint than the standard fare. It’s a flavor combination I particularly love and I have an endless supply of mint growing by the side of my house.

For a non-alcoholic mojito, simply omit the rum.

¼- ½ cup sugar
¾ cup boiling water
1 bunch fresh mint sprigs
3 limes, thinly sliced, cut into wedges or thin slices
12 ounces fresh lime juice
9 ounces light rum

Ice Cubes
Seltzer

To make a simple syrup: Place the sugar and water in a small heatproof glass pan and stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.

Place the mint leaves and lime slices in a large pitcher and muddle (slightly mash with the straight end of a wooden spoon) together.

Add the lime juice, cooled simple syrup and rum and mix well.

Fill tall glasses with ice cubes and divide the mixture evenly between the six glasses. Fill to the top with seltzer or club soda.

Serves 6

Popularity: 15% [?]

I just got around to downloading the photos from our trip to see my mom 2 weeks ago…..hey with twins you do what you can!  Anyhow, I was struck by this photo of them running fearlessly into the HUGE freezing ocean.  While my mom and I were chasing after them, all I could think about was my own fear of them getting swept out to sea. In the moment, I couldn’t see, or feel, their excitement and experience their fearlessness and desire to explore the unknown. In retrospect, I feel like a moment in time was lost for me, but at the same time, this has opened my eyes and reminded me of how fearlessness to step into an unknown situation is such a gift.

So I have been thinking about fearlessness all week since seeing the photo of my twins in the ocean.  Deepak Chopra says there are no coincidences so I take that to heart!  Everything happens for a reason – which leads me to this story.
A friend of a friend called a week ago and asked if we’d be open to housing and feeding a 17-year-old French girl named Marion, in exchange for some babysitting for two weeks.   She wants to experience America and work on her English – which I must say is quite impressive for an 11th grader.  Her father has given me strict instructions to ONLY speak to her in English – I speak fluent French.  Anyhow, Marion arrived last night, tired after a long flight, but cheerful and adorable all the same.  I was amazed at her confidence and ability to be relaxed with total strangers in a new country.  She appeared to be fearless and I admired that in her. She saw an opportunity and jumped on it.
As I offered her a late dinner and we started talking, I was reminded of my own similar experience at 16.   I was bored with my High School and I think my mom knew she needed to save me from myself – or perhaps what might be waiting for me around the corner - or that is my interpretation at least.  During the summer following 10th grade, my mom asked if I wanted to go study in France for my junior year.  She had explored some options and through some friends had found a family for me to stay with in the small town of Carcassonne in southern France.  I immediately accepted and found myself on a plane to Paris on my 16th birthday.  I had studied French for years but really couldn’t put a sentence together.   Here I was, suddenly living with a strange family and trying to communicate while my nose was buried in a dictionary.  I ended up loving my new family and my life there. I had a real transformation from a naive child, into a young woman who had a purpose in life.
Before leaving for France I had never done anything in my life that I considered to be fearless. This moment changed my life forever.  While I wasn’t aware of the fearlessness at the time, because I was terrified, I came to understand later on what the significance of just getting on the plane meant.   I felt very lonely for the first few months as I really couldn’t communicate with anyone.  Being essentially alone really forced me to look my fear in the face and decide that I was bigger. I wanted to succeed for the first time in my life and was prepared to do what ever it took to get there.  This was my first entrepreneurial moment and I didn’t even realize it.
I have often drawn on the strengths that I discovered in myself while living in France.    I know that when I want to make something happen that I just have to acknowledge the fear and accept it.  Once you do that you are unstoppable.
Are you ready to be fearless?
I want you to think about your fears this week.
Write them down, acknowledge them, and accept them as part of your process.

What is holding you back from moving forward?

• Are you procrastinating? Cleaning your desk again?
• Are you afraid to share your idea?
• Are you afraid to take the first step?
• What would happen if you just did it?
• Are you wondering where the money will come from?
• Are you afraid to call a buyer?
• Are you afraid to pitch an editor?
• Are you afraid to be famous?
• Are you afraid to need help?

These are all natural fears, but fears that can stop you from realizing your dreams and living the life you want to live.
Be fearless this week and take a bold step forward.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Have a product-based company?
A “guide” to working with reps

Guest post by Romy Taormina
Nausea Relief Chief/Co-Founder, Psi Bands

What is a rep?

Broker rep. Sales rep. Showroom rep. They go by different names, but their job is the same. They represent your product and the goal is for them to help you get new accounts.

Why would you want/need one?

• Because they might be able to help you get in front of a buyer when you might not have been able to do so on your own.
• They should be familiar with the retailer that you are seeking so they can educate you on what to expect when working with this retailer (their margins, their promo allowances, sales projections, etc.).
• It gives you a sales person. It cuts down the amount of your travel, so it saves you time (and, hopefully, if they are local to the reatiler, it will save on travel expenses).
• It cuts down the amount of communications, because the rep will be handling a bulk of it on your behalf. The more accounts this rep handles on your behalf, the greater economies of scale reached – for you and your rep.

How do I find one?

• Word of mouth
• Through a tradeshow
• Call up and ask a fellow entrepreneur who is in the same category as yours and ask her for a recommendation
• Through your existing retailers
  

What if the rep won’t rep you

If you find a rep that won’t represent you, make sure you understand why. For example, perhaps they rep for Target but in a different category than the one that fits your product. Maybe they know someone who reps in your category at Target. It’s all about the best fit so everyone is maximizing their time.

Sometimes reps and retailers are resistant to working with companies that only have one product/product line. We have found this to be true in some cases, and in some of those cases we have overcome. So, keep plugging away.

Here are some questions that you could ask of the rep (choose those that are appropriate for your situation):

• What is your territory?
• Are you are considering representing me nationally? Can you give me some examples of other companies that you represent nationally?
• You have a wide range of retailers – drug, grocery, mass, catalog and online. Which categories/departments does your team specialize in?
• Where are most of your product lines?
• Do you have products in my category? If yes, which one(s)?
• Can you provide manufacturer references?
• Where are you located in relationship to the retailer headquarters?
• What are your payment terms (retainer, commission, travel expenses, etc.)

Before contacting a rep, make sure you are prepared

You may only have one shot with this rep (treat this as a special opportunity, just as you would the first time you meet with the retail buyer).

• Craft your sales pitch. How is your product unique? Who is your competition? How large is your market? You need to convince your sales rep-to-be that they should rep you.
• Can you fulfill large orders on time?
• How will you support retail sales – in and out of the store (i.e. what are your marketing plans)?

Popularity: 23% [?]

I have been thinking a lot this week how hard it can be to decide to move forward with a new plan of action. The ladies in my current 26-week Tele-seminar are all moving forward with new ideas and it got me thinking about myself and what I am doing to move forward these days since I am not actually designing anything new right now. What I came to realize is that I wanted new solutions - fresh ideas and a new plan.

I too can get stuck and not know what to do next, or how to improve sales, attract new customers, or just feel stale about how I am doing things. I LOVE new ideas and try to always be coming up with something or some new way to do things – but no one is perfect right?

When I first started my handbag line I didn’t have plan of action. I just had an idea and thought it’d be fun to try to make it. As I progressed and my line started to take off, I realized how important a plan is, as well as a support team to help you execute it. Since I didn’t know the first thing about anything to do with manufacturing, selling, promoting or how to build a website I relied on people I met along the way to give me some advice and tried it all myself. I am a big believer in trying it all yourself first so you understand what needs to be done so you can know how to instruct the person helping you do the task.
I realized last week, that with everything I have going on in my life with work, my 17 month old twins, classes I am taking and teaching, that I had sort of let the delegating fall by the wayside – actually off the cliff the truth be told.

I recently met a very interesting man through a mastermind group I go to once a month at Ketchup in West Hollywood. I love this group. I find sitting with other entrepreneurs is so invigorating and gets your creative juices flowing. Anyway – this guy has a company that does market intelligence research to help you determine the best approach for your brand. He states “Information is the key to the market knowledge and success”. I was so taken by his presentation (and the fact that he thought he could really help me get a competitive edge going with my handbag hanger) that I hired him to consult for my Simply Sarah Company. I am so excited by the prospect of all the new information and the ideas he is going to bring me I don’t know how I am going to wait the 4 weeks for the full report! By just taking this ONE step, I feel totally reinvigorated and have a brand new excitement towards my own products.

I feel like I have a new plan of action and am looking forward to implementing it.

* What is your plan of action?
* What can you change about they way you are doing things this week?
* How can you take the first step towards realizing your ideas?
* Can you get something down on paper this week?

Here are a few simple steps to get your new ideas in motion:

Once you are armed with this information you may feel inspired to get an action plan and turn that “big idea” into a real product!

1. Write a description of your idea
2. How did you come up with this idea?
3. What does it look like?
4. How does it work?
5. Does it solve a problem for people?
6. What are the benefits?
7. Do you have a name for it?
8. What makes it unique
9. Who will buy it?
10. Where will you market it?

I want to hear from you – are you inspired?

Popularity: 30% [?]

Article By Sarah Shaw | Entreprenette

I have been knee deep in my new 26-week Entreprenette course for the past few weeks and am so inspired by the projects these women are bringing to the world.  And to top this off, I feel like every time I open a magazine or the newspaper these days there’s an article about someone FINALLY taking the steps to launch their “big idea”.  I feel totally surrounded by innovation and creativity.
Do you get as excited as I do when you hear people talking about their ideas?   When I hear ideas, my mind starts to whirl, I start to visualize and get these amazing colorful pictures. I start to see the item in stores, magazines and even on people or in a house.  Sometimes I have to bite my tongue to keep from overwhelming them with my ideas about how they can get started and manufacture it, market it, package it, and get PR……..my mind just starts ticking and I want to teach them everything I know! I have a very photographic mind and when ideas start flowing I can “see” them very quickly  - it has been a very useful tool for me over the years – especially with designing my own line.

Did you know that during the great depression the ideas for the
Twinkie, Monopoly and the Photocopier were born?

What will this recession be remembered for?
What will be created today, tomorrow and the next day?
Will you be one of the innovators mentioned in greatness?
What are you waiting for?
This is the time to launch that idea you’ve been sitting on for years.
Don’t’ let someone else beat you to it.
Did you know:

• Inventors groups have doubled in size.
• Patent filings are going up each day for individuals, while going down for large corporations who are cutting back.
• Licensing companies phones are ringing off the hook.

I read this article in the LA Times about students from The Pratt  Institute in NY who were challenged to create their “big idea” for $1.  How can that be done you wonder? Well I wondered as well and was so impressed by their ingenuity and drive to create interesting products for $1 or less.
You can do it too!
Now is the time to get moving and create that prototype you’ve been dreaming about.
What are you waiting for?
Go ahead – take the $1 challenge.  What can you find, borrow, or get to make this happen?
Start at home – make a prototype with anything on hand.  Use clay, paper, wire, socks, bed sheets, whatever will be easiest for you.  Glue it, staple it, bake it.  Visit the hardware store for more unusual items needed.  Ask friends, a handyman, even your husband, dad, brother, mother, sister, wife or significant other for help if they‘re handy.
OK how does it look?
Let us know – we want to support you.

Popularity: 34% [?]

Posted by Sarah Shaw | Entreprenette | Simply Sarah

I am so excited! I was interviewed on the MS. CEO Radio show earlier this week.
If you want to learn how I launched my first handbag line and got tons of press for myself then tune in to Build it with Buzz.

Popularity: 45% [?]

Interview with Marty Stevens-Heebner  - Creator of Rebagz eco- chic handbags

Q: What is your name? Marty Stevens-Heebner

Q: Company name and website? I have three companies.
Rebagz Eco-Chic Handbags
Half the Sky Designs LLC
Altered Shoes

Q: We launched in: July 2007

Q: What is your business or what do you sell?
Rebagz™ Eco-Chic Handbags are made from colorful hand woven recycled juice packs and recycled rice sacks with vibrant graphics already printed on them.  We’re human-friendly as well as eco-friendly because all our bags are made under fair trade conditions.

Q: Who or what was the inspiration behind your company?
My interest in eco-design and fair working conditions dates back to my human rights work in Chiapas, Mexico amid the aftermath of the Zapatista rebellion. I was amazed by the inventiveness of the artisans in Chiapas, who lacked resources but more than made up for that with their originality and flare.

Q: How did you get started?
Prior to launching my handbag line, I had a small but successful business creating original handcrafted jewelry.  By the fall of 2006, I decided it was time to create an accessories line that would appeal to a broad market, and that’s when I decided to go into handbag design.

Q: How long before your business was profitable, or when is it projected to become profitable? Let’s just say the economic crisis affected our ability to be completely and consistently profitable.

Q: What significant obstacles (if any) have you faced & how did you overcome them?
The economic crisis!  That and time management.  We’re a small company and there are so many different hats I have to wear, especially with my book Altered Shoes coming out a few months ago.

Q: Do you ever feel like giving up at times? If so, what keeps you going?
What entrepreneur doesn’t get frustrated?  But I’ve always been a problem solver, and believe that there are always opportunities in any problem.  I also love what I do!

Q: What qualities (i.e., family support, discipline, time management) do you think are necessary for a women entrepreneur? All of the above!  I also think it’s important to be very people-friendly because things like customer service can make or break you.

Q: What is the one thing (book, website, coach, mentor, tool, blog, service, etc) that you value and can say has contributed to your success? My publicist Lisa Elia – LisaEliaPR.com and ClearPublicist.com – has been instrumental in getting the word out about us.  Thanks to her, we’ve been featured in dozens of magazines and newspapers.  Not only does this generate buzz, but it also helped us indirectly as well.  The most obvious example is that one small article in a trade publication was read by the person who then became our QVC liaison.

Press is vital!  And Lisa’s one of the best.  The great thing is she teaches you how to do it on your own through ClearPublicist.com!

Q: What was the worst advice someone gave you?
Being told I needed to be in showrooms all over the country.  It’s incredibly expensive to position yourself that way, and there’s no guarantee they’ll really make the effort to sell your product.  I’m very picky about what sales reps I’ll work with because you really need to make sure you’re working with people who have a strong work ethic and enjoy their work.  That’s the trick!

Q: What are your business or personal goals for the next year?
To vastly expand our internet presence, plus I’ll be launching my consulting business via ManufacturingTheRightWay.com.  I want to help entrepreneurs avoid the mistakes I made, so I can save them massive amounts of time and money in the manufacturing process.

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in business or thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship? Now’s a great time to do it!   The economy’s beginning to show signs of life again, and as people start spending again, you’ll be ready to take advantage.

Q: is there anything else you wish I had asked?
I’m just so flattered you asked in the first place!  Thanks very much for the opportunity.

I will add this: I think it’s becoming increasingly important to make sure that the people who make your product are doing so under fair and decent conditions.  Also the whole environmental movement seems to (finally!) be here to stay.  I hope that being eco-friendly and human-friendly becomes the norm rather than a niche in 10 years or so……….so why not just start off working that way?

Popularity: 49% [?]

This interview is with Merri Jill Finstrom, creator of HUTdogs - an easy-to-use website builder that is affordable and comes with excellent customer service - to which I can personally attest!

Q: What is your name? Merri Jill Finstrom

Q: Company name and website? HUTdogs, a division of Emjay Creative

Q: We launched in: 2004

Q: What is your business or what do you sell?
HUTdogs offers 3 products right now, QuickSite a web builder, QuickSqueeze, a squeeze page maker and BYOL (bring your own laptop) workshops.

Q: Who or what was the inspiration behind your company?
HUTdogs stems from a graphic design business, Emjay Creative, that I started about 11 years ago. With Emjay Creative, we provide strategic design solutions for a variety of clients, marketing collateral, newsletters, annual reports, sophisticated web sites and direct mail.  Over the years a lot of people have asked if we could create a web site or internet solution for under $500. So we came up with HUTdogs. Our main goal with HUTdogs is to provide affordable on-line tools and solutions that are easy for us to deliver (everything is in a system or group delivered) and provide the quality of service and tool that we use for our higher end web client but scaled down a bit to meet the demand for affordability (under $500).

Q: How did you get started?
I worked in the marketing department for the American Red Cross as their creative services manager for 10 years. During that time I did a bit of freelancing and got a taste for being my own boss. I then took a part time job and cut in pay for a hospital and asked if I could work from home 30 hours a week. They said yes! This allowed me the time and flexibility to take on a couple clients and build my business. Word of mouth spread fast and within 2 years, I went out on my own, keeping the hospital and the Red Cross as clients. They were valued networks as well and still give me referrals and work to this day!

Q: How long before your business was profitable, or when is it projected to become profitable? My income tripled once I took the risk to leave my job. I had enough clients lined up who like working with me so it was easy. I’ve never looked back. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. I know that I have much more job security in my own business and can make more money than any job can offer.

Q: What significant obstacles (if any) have you faced & how did you overcome them? There are little obstacles everyday. But I know they come with the territory of having your own business and as you get seasoned you don’t take them personally, you just problem solve and move on.

Q: Do you ever feel like giving up at times? If so, what keeps you going? I never feel like giving up because I really love what I do. I’m blessed to be able to make money in a creative way. The thought of working in a 9-5 job with a boss and the office culture absolutely gives me a panic attack.

Q: What qualities (i.e., family support, discipline, time management) do you think are necessary for a women entrepreneur? Where do I begin? I talk to a lot of people who want to start a business. From my point of view, you either have what it takes or you don’t. Sounds brutal, but I meet so many people who sit on their ideas and never do them. You have to have a good attitude and think in a powerful positive way about everything. You have to be able to put yourself out there, keep talking about your ideas, and not get wrapped up in perfection… just do it and see what happens. Then adjust along the way. Keep trying new things.  Take some advice but in the end be strong enough to trust your own instincts. Yes, time management is important but that’s secondary. The best entrepreneurs I know are people who make quick decisions and constantly move forward.  This skill creates time management.

Q: What is the one thing (book, website, coach, mentor, tool, blog, service, etc) that you value and can say has contributed to your success? Other positive entrepreneurs. I love to talk to them, brainstorm with them and spin with ideas.

Q: What was the worst advice someone gave you? I can’t remember.

Q: What are your business or personal goals for the next year? I want everything in a solid automated system. We are building a club that I want to grow into something extraordinary. We find there is power in bringing people together to talk about modern concepts but in an old fashioned way.

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in business or thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship? JUST DO IT! Trust your instincts, make sure it is something you really love doing then ask for what you need. When I started my business, I asked for a flexible work situation. I asked for customers. I keep asking for what I need.  Be flexible. Know that things unfold in business that you may not have expected. Have an attitude of “experience is what you get, when you don’t get what you want.”

Q: is there anything else you wish I had asked?
Yes, How has motherhood made you a better entrepreneur?
Being a mom has made me more organized and a master at time management. Having my own business and a small child to care for is a balancing act but it has forced me to learn the art of being present in the moment….when I’m working, I focus, make faster decisions and move forward so that when I’m with my daughter, I can really focus on her and “be present” in our time together.  It also helps me stay creative in my work. Watching her discover new things that I’ve taken for granted gives me so much more perspective and this translates into everything I do in my business and creatively.

Popularity: 23% [?]

To purchase a Handy Hold All go to Simply Sarah.
Use coupon code MOMPRENETTE for FREE shipping.

1. Organize your handbags.
The Handy Hold All is the perfect solution to keeping your closet neat and your handbags looking like new!

2. Clean up your hubby’s baseball caps.
Are baseball caps scattered all around your house? Now you can put them all in one area. And the next time he asks where is favorite cap is you will actually know!

3. Coat Closet Boredom?
The next time guests walk in your front door and you offer to take their bag and coat, you will impress them with your super organized and cute coat closet!

4. Hang up your favorite scarves.
Keep your favorite scarves from getting wrinkled or lost by hanging them up on The Handy Hold All.

5. Dorm Room Disasters?
No more! Keeping small dorm rooms organized and cheery is always a challenge. Not any longer! Make sure to send one in your next care package!

6. Tight on Closet Space in the Guest Room?
Hang a Handy Hold All on the back of your guest door and slip some hangers through the loops and Voila! An instant closet!

7. Are Bulky Winter Jackets Taking Up Excess Space in Your Closet?
Solution, hang The Handy Hold All up in your attic, slip some hangers through the loops and add your winter jackets/coats. Now go shopping for some new spring/summer clothes to fill up all your new found closet space!

8. Too Many Necklaces? Too Little Time?
Let The Handy Hold All help you out! Collect all your necklaces around the house and hang them up. Problem Solved! Now get back to what you were doing!

9. Baby Bags and Packs Weighing You Down?
Pick a bright fun Handy Hold All that your baby will enjoy looking at and hang all your baby bags on back of your baby’s room door.

10. Gifts!!  Gifts!! Gifts!!
*Need a last minute hostess gift?
*Know a High School Grad going to College and need the perfect Gift?
*In a bind because it’s your friend’s birthday and she already has everything?
*Still searching for that perfect anytime gift?

The Handy Hold All comes in a box with a over the door hook making it the perfect instant gift!

Popularity: 25% [?]