Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We are taking our Christmas holidays a little early this year. Need to devote more time to family, to entertaining, to crafting, to cooking, and to keeping traditions. Christmas is quickly approaching and there is so much to do...in so little time.

We'll be back during the first week of January '09 with more Featured Diva interviews, fabulous finds, indie shops to promote, and yes.....some very exciting news about that "secret project" we've been promising. So, stay tuned!

We will respond to all email inquiries when we return.

In the meantime, we hope that you will have a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year.

Our Christmas holidays begin right NOW. We're outta here...
Bye for now. See ya in January '09!:)

The Today Show

There was a quick segment about Holiday shopping on The Today Show this morning. Did you watch?

They were talking about how 80% of consumers say that the single biggest motivator for shopping online (during the Holiday season) is FREE SHIPPING.

If you are an e-tailer who is looking to bring in more sales during the Christmas rush, then free shipping is obviously something to consider offering at your shop. Who knows. You just might hear a few extra "cha-chings" before the year is out!:)

Friday Favorite Things ~ from Etsy!

To end the week, we simply MUST show you some of our new "favorite things" from over on the Etsy site. After exploring through the Always Amy shop, we found these two absolutely adorable "Christmasy" pieces. Check 'em out...

We're crazy about these nickel-free, Snowflake White Winter Stud Post Earrings - Jack Frost's Handiwork. What cuties they are! Perfect for wearing at Christmas parties, New Year's Eve parties, or any occasion during the winter months.



Oh, and look at these bright green Holiday Decoration - Dangly Dangle Christmas Ornament Earrings. We are totally smitten. What a fabulous find! They are so fun and flirty....a great way to "get noticed" in the crowd. A must-have for any Diva....



Always Amy is shipping out EVERY DAY from now until December 20th. So, hurry on over right now and start shopping for Christmas. She offers tons and tons of great items that would make wonderful stocking stuffers!

Tah Da!

We needed to give our blog banner and buttons a bit of a makeover. We wanted to create a look and color theme that would fit better with our "DIVA" movement. More pink (Diva's love pink), a hint of blue, and a little sprinkle of black here and there.

Well......tah da! Check out the new colors/look. It's not a "major" change but it is enough to make our blog a bit more pleasing to the eye and more "Diva-Ish" (our favorite word...lol.).

While you're here, be sure to grab our new "DIVA" button to place on your own blog or website. You can find our button further below, in the left sidebar. Help spread the word about DDIB. We'd love ya for it.:) Plus, in return we'd be glad to place a text link to your site here on our blog.

Check ya later!

How Many Hours?

As a business owner, it isn't always easy to keep a regular working schedule. Actually, it's almost impossible to put a time limit on the work and say "okay, it's time to turn off the pc, put away the supplies, and call it a day." Bet you can relate to this, right?

On a normal work day, how many hours do you devote to your indie business? Let us know. Check out our new poll over in the left sidebar and cast your vote!

Helping to promote YOUR indie business!

Have a press release you'd like to share? Have an announcement, a special event, or a huge sale day coming up? Let us know. We'd love to share the details and spread the word here on our blog. It would help drive more traffic to your shop and bring more potential customers your way.

*Please keep in mind that not all submissions will appear on our blog. We reserve the right to refuse a submission – in particular those that we deem as inappropriate, disrespectful, or spam.

Let us help promote your independent (indie) business. We're here from Monday-Friday and are looking forward to hearing from you. Check ya later!

Featured Diva Interview ~ with Nicole from Cottonwood Herbals

*A Note From DDIB: We love Cottonwood Herbals. The shop is amazing! It's hard to decide which product we want most. It's a toss up between the Peppermint Sugar Scrub and the Almond Soap. Being the spoiled gals that we are...we'll take both. LOL.

Nicole strives to create products that are top quality. She is to be admired for her work and for "Changing The World...One Lather At A Time!" Read the interview to learn more about her...(and be sure to take note of the name that belongs to her English Bulldog. So cute! LOL.)

INTRODUCING OUR FEATURED DIVA....
Name: Nicole
Shop: Cottonwood Herbals
Shop url: www.cottonwoodherbals.etsy.com

Tell us a little about yourself:

I'm a mother to two children ages 17 years old and 7 years old..oh, and to an English bulldog named Diva. After many years of working sometimes 2 jobs and being a single mother, I met the love of my life. I'm finally able to do something I love. I always had the belief that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. And it's true!!

Give us a description of your business and the items that you offer:

My company offers handmade cold process soaps, herbal salves, lipbalms, luscious bath scrubs and more. I only use the best ingredients I can find, organic whenever possible. The whole idea of my shop is to offer products that are wonderful and not filled with chemicals. To offer a happy medium for a customer who is looking for a healthier alternative, who wants to learn about nature and herbs.



What are your bestsellers? Your specialty? Most popular items?

My best sellers are my Lavender Castile soap and my Calendula soap, which has organic calendula petals in it...yeah, it's beautiful and refreshing. The bath scrubs are incredibly popular as well. I offer these in many scents including letting the customer choose the scent. These are custom made for the customer. Fresh, moisturizing and gentle on the skin.

Are your items targeted toward a specific age group?

My items are for everyone! Gentle soaps and healing herbal salves that everyone can and should use. Skin is the largest organ in our bodies - we need to respect that and be careful what goes on it.

What inspired you to start your own indie business?

I had been making my soaps, cleaners and own laundry soap for years due to my daughter having severe eczema. I did not want to use steroid creams on her and decided I would try going back to nature first. Get rid of the chemicals and see what happens. It worked and after losing my job last year during the mortage melt down mess, my husband asked me what I wanted to do. That was easy - I said I wanted to help people stop bathing in chemicals. There had to be an alternative and one that wasn't all patchouli and hippies. I mean, hey, I like designer clothes and bags as much as the next girl - but that doesn't mean I have to harm my body for beauty. That's where I come in.

As an independent business woman, what keeps you motivated?

As a woman with children, I believe in living my life as a way for them to learn. It's a lot of hard work and being incredibly organized. We go on "weed walks" to learn about plants, we garden to learn how to grow our own food. I love learning...and helping others. Motivation? I love nature, the plants, the flowers and with every article that comes out saying how one of the products we all use that was previously thought safe is now deemed "possibly harmful" it makes me want to take the safety of my health into my own hands. Soap is a pretty simple yet incredibly important step to take on the journey to living a better and healthier lifestyle.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement thus far?

Starting a company with my own money. Taking the risk to believe in my own dreams.

What has been your biggest challenge as a business woman?

The hardest part has been learning the different software programs that are used for book keeping, inventory and more.

What do you believe makes a business successful?

I'm selling a product I use and believe in. No hype...just great products. I'm not some slick salesman. I'm just a woman who wants to make products you can feel safe about using.



Do you have any specific goals/plans for the future?

We will be expanding in a couple of weeks and really concentrating on our wholesale side of things. I'd like to be in grocery and health food stores. Affordable luxury so to speak. As I say...I'm out to Change the World...One Lather at a Time!

Do you have any words of encouragement or advice for women out there who may be considering starting their own business on Etsy?

Test your products and know them inside and out! If you love the product you are selling - it's easy. Customers can tell!

Be organized from day 1!! Believe in yourself and success will come.

Tell us the best way to relax after a busy day of work..

Lock the bathroom door, throw on some music and take a nice, long bath - using Cottonwood Herbals products of course.

While growing up, who was your role model? Who impressed and inspired you most?

I've always liked women who did things on their own terms...Audrey Hepburn, Ani DiFranco...heck, even Cinderella went after her dream.

Give us three (3) words that best describe YOU:

loyal

persevering

hardworking

Give us one (1) word that best describes your business:

positive

What is your favorite quote, line or saying?

Amor Vincit Omnia (love conquers all)

The Soap Seduction

Hey Divas! Have you shopped at The Soap Seduction yet? If not, then we definitely urge you to check out their site. They offer feminine, luxurious, appealing products. Something for every Diva! If you like to indulge, then this is the place for you.

Since we loooooove "foodie" scents, we are especially smitten with these amazing Sweet & Savory soaps. Lemon Oatmeal Crisp, Strawberry Shortcake, and Cinnabun. Mmmmmm.....



And let's not overlook these decadent Soap Bon Bons. They come individually wrapped in colorful foil and are packaged in a box of four. You get Chocolate Coconut, Peanut Butter Cup, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Crème Brulee. Ooooooh, drool!:)




They've got a bunch of new stuff over there too. Just in time for the Christmas season. New lip butters, gift sets, and soaps!

If you plan to do some Christmas shopping, they've got great stocking stuffers available. But be sure to order by December 15th to guarantee delivery by December 24th! International shoppers can visit The Soap Seduction ~ on Etsy. (pssst....and to make things even better....they offer a free gift with every purchase!)

Sooooo Dog-Gone Cute!

On this chilly Tuesday, we thought it would be fitting to show you this adorable 2-in-1 Reversible Dog Coat from Annie's Sweatshop. Made with Malden Mills Polartec Polarfleece (a recycled fiber technology) and with recycled plastic, this hoodie is eco-friendly and will look super-cool on your hound! There is a lime green color on one side of the coat and on the other there is a lovely blueberry tone. Your pooch will look stylish, warm, and comfy sporting this new look during the winter months. It is completely adjustable, has a removable pop-pom on the hood, and is machine-washable. Custom sizes and colors and also available!



Soooooooo dog-gone cute! Hurry on over to Annie's Sweatshop and get one today!

On This Cyber Monday....Shop Indie!

The crowds. The pushing. The shoving. The stampedes. The rage. The injuries. Ugh! Black Friday. It just doesn't make any sense.

After listening to some of the Black Friday horror stories on the radio and watching the coverage on practically every news channel, we were left shaking our heads. Why would anyone want to risk their life just to save a few dollars? Why would anyone want to be a part of this FRENZY year after year?

As you can probably tell, we want no part of it. The same goes for "last minute" Christmas shopping. We prefer to shop early (like September and October) to avoid the hustle and bustle of the season. The department stores are practically empty during the autumn months. That means that there is waaaaay less stress involved. This makes for a more pleasant, satisfying, smooth, (and yes, much safer) shopping experience. For smaller items, such as stocking stuffers and novelties, we like to wait until Cyber Monday. We purchase from a variety of independent businesses on the web and take advantage of any SUPER sales and discounts along the way. The searching, the finding.....oh, it's great fun!

On this Cyber Monday, we would like to share a little advice: Shop Online....Shop Indie! Need we say more? It is soooo worth it. There are gazillions of independent businesses on the web, offering fabulous items. Soaps, candles, jewelry, handbags, apparel....you name it, they've got it! Best of all, you can be sure that every item is handcrafted with plenty of TLC. Look around the web. You'll be surprised at how much you can get for your money. Show small business owners some love on this Cyber Monday and all during the Christmas season. Shop indie and support "Delightful Divas In Business"!

Happy December, happy Cyber Monday, and happy shopping! (p.s...We'd love to see some of your online "indie" finds for Christmas. Feel free to share them with us...)