Q: How long have you been making products? How did you get started?

Maria:

I grew up mixing DIY skincare recipes I found in my mom's and grandmother's magazines. It was my version of a science lab. Following my lifelong interest in holistic health, nutrition and the science of what we feed our bodies inside and out, I started formulating skincare products in early 2020. When I finally decided to go all in, it felt less like a leap and more like a natural next chapter.

I started by diving deeply into organic chemistry, ingredient research, and professional skincare formulation. The more I learned, the more convinced I became that there was a better way to formulate, one rooted in what nature already provides.

Q: What sets your products apart? How is your skincare brand unique?

Maria:

A few things set White Turtle Beauty apart, and they all connect back to the same philosophy: give your skin less of what it doesn't need, and more of what it does.

That philosophy came from personal experience. For years I chased every new ten-step routine, convinced that more products meant better skin. What I discovered was the opposite. My skin became increasingly reactive and overwhelmed by the constant layering, and the harsh ingredients that came with it. It never had time to adjust or rebalance. That realization shifted everything: what if skin needed less, not more? That question is at the heart of every White Turtle Beauty formula.

First, we formulate for the skin barrier, not for skin types. The barrier is the foundation of healthy skin regardless of whether your skin is dry, oily, normal or mature. When it's compromised, dry skin becomes fragile and reactive, normal skin loses its balance and mature skin stops responding to products altogether. We address the root cause of most skin imbalances, not just the symptoms.

Second, White Turtle Beauty formulas are entirely plant-based, and waterless. Removing water from a formula isn't about dismissing it; water is essential to skin health and to life. It's about concentration. When a formula doesn't rely on water as a base, every ingredient that remains must earn its place, and what you're applying is purposeful and far more potent per application. And because our formulas are plant-based, there is a deeper reason they work. Our skin has co-evolved with plant compounds for millennia. It recognizes them. They work with the skin's biology, not against it.

Third, most of our products are genuinely multifunctional, designed to work as an entire routine in a single step. That's not a shortcut. It's the result of deliberate formula design, where each ingredient carries real weight. Fewer ingredients means fewer potential irritants, a simpler ritual, and a much clearer sense of what's actually working.

Q: How do you sell your products? Wholesale? Retail? Physical locations?

Maria:

Presently, we sell exclusively through our online store, whiteturtlebeauty.com, which allows us to stay close to our customers and be very intentional about how the brand shows up. This year, we're looking forward to expanding into select retailers that align with our values around ingredient integrity, sustainability and education. Growth for growth's sake is not the goal.

Q: What do you enjoy most about the creative entrepreneurial process?

Maria:

Freedom, and I didn't fully appreciate it until I had it. The freedom to start from scratch when something isn't working, to scrap an idea without having to justify it to anyone and to change direction because your instincts tell you to. Freedom is permission to try new things all the time. In a corporate environment, that kind of flexibility simply doesn't exist.

There's also something deeply satisfying about building a brand that is completely aligned with my values, where every decision reflects what I actually believe in. That alignment is rare. It's one of the things that make indie brands so unique.

Q: What has been a challenge in your business? How do you overcome it?

Maria:

Being a solo founder is genuinely isolating in ways I didn't fully anticipate. You're wearing every hat: formulator, logistics coordinator, finance expert, customer service team, social media manager and many more. The mental load of holding all of it at once is real, and the hardest part isn't any single task. It's the constant context-switching, staying focused when everything feels equally urgent and resisting the pull of every new direction.

What's helped most is understanding that I didn't have to do it all alone. And that it was okay to ask for help.

Q: What advice would you give to people just starting out?

Maria:

Automate from day one. Build your email sequences when you have ten subscribers. Set up your shipping workflow when you're shipping once a week. Create a comprehensive FAQ document you can draw from every time a repeated question comes in. It feels like too much when your volume is small, but this is precisely where small brands choke when momentum hits. They get buried under tasks that could have been streamlined from the start, and end up making rushed decisions that take years to untangle.

Three things I wish someone had told me earlier.

• Be patient with yourself. You don't know everything, and you're not supposed to. Being persistent and focus on your north star: the reason you started your business in the first place. When things get confusing, let it guide you back to center.
• Put yourself first, especially if you're a solopreneur. Everything depends on you, which means your energy and clarity aren't luxuries but business strategies. Take the day off. Take the week off if you need to. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your brand is step back and look at it from 10,000 feet. It's far too easy to get buried in the wrong things when you're deep in the weeds.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help; doing so is wisdom, not weakness.

Q: What other Indies do you admire, and why?

Maria:

Two brands I return to often, and for the same core reason: they built something with genuine conviction and never chased scale for its own sake.

The first is Vintner's Daughter. Founder April Gargiulo walked away from the multi-step routine entirely, seeing it for what it had become: overwhelming, diluted, built more around consumption than results. What I admire most is the uncompromising commitment to ingredient and formula quality. Ten years in, she still has only three products. That kind of focus takes real discipline. And like us, her products are 100% plant based, with a shared belief that when a formula is made well enough, fewer products genuinely deliver more.

And then there's Inlight Beauty, founded by Dr. Mariano Spiezia, a medical doctor and clinical herbalist, and another 100% botanical brand. What resonates is the depth of formulation knowledge behind every product, and the same uncompromising commitment to ingredient integrity and process that we hold at White Turtle Beauty.

Q: What is your vision for the future of your business?

Maria:

I want White Turtle Beauty to be genuinely known for changing how people think about their skin. Not chasing a 10-step routine, not buying more, but understanding what their skin actually needs and trusting fewer, better products to deliver it.

In practical terms, I'd love to see sustainable, intentional growth into selected retail partners that share our values, and a community of customers who feel educated and empowered, not just sold to. What I don't want is growth that compromises formula integrity or the founder-led conviction that got us here.

I plan to stay independent, stay intentional and continue to enjoy success on my own terms.

Q: What resources do you recommend to other small business owners?

Maria:

I'm a podcast person. I absorb information better in audible format, and it fits more naturally into the rhythm of running a business solo. But one book I would genuinely put in every indie founder's hands is Company of One by Paul Jarvis. His central argument, that growth isn't always good and that being better rather than bigger is a complete and valid business strategy, is something I already felt intuitively about White Turtle Beauty. For anyone building intentionally, on their own terms, that reframe is quietly revolutionary.

Any AI tool that works for you, and I say this practically, not as a buzzword. I use Gemini and Claude for research and analysis tasks, like staying current with industry news, sorting data, recommending best apps for my Shopify store, deciding what to automate and how, summarizing articles and podcasts so I can absorb information faster without sacrificing depth. As a solo founder, one of the hardest things is keeping up with the volume of information relevant to running a small brand. AI compresses that time significantly.

What AI doesn't do is replace judgment, expertise, or the relationships that actually build a brand. Those still require you. But for everything that surrounds them, AI is the most useful tool I've added to my workflow. If you're a solopreneur and you're not using it yet, start small: summarize a podcast episode you don't have time to finish, research an ingredient, get a quick read on a trend. The time it returns to you is real.

Q: What's do you love most about the Indie Business Network?

Maria:

The community, genuinely. There's something specific about a network built for indie founders, people who understand building something independently, without the support of large investors or teams. Learning from the unique challenges of other Indie founders I encounter every day, and how they overcame them, is invaluable.

What sets IBN further apart is the direct access to Donna Maria herself. Being able to reach out in our Entrepreneur Member community and get a real response from the person who built the network is rare, and it matters, because most of the time it's group admins or other users who lead the conversations. It's the difference between a real community and just another group or membership.

Learn more about the Indie Business Network and our members!

Join us on Instagram to explore even more!

The post Indie Spotlight: Maria Piotrowski: White Turtle Beauty: Ontario, Canada appeared first on Indie Business Network®.

You've heard of an “overnight success,” right? If so, and you are at least 10 years old, you probably also know that there is no such thing. This is especially true in business. Since you had never heard of that new awesome skincare brand you just fell in love with, you may be tempted to think that it must be an overnight success. After all, you'd never heard of it before.

Well, rest assured, it didn't happen “overnight,” and it probably didn't happen over 365 nights. If it's anything worth buying twice, it happened gradually, then suddenly.

Of course, this is the hardest thing for entrepreneurs to accept and plan on. We want everything to happen quickly. The faster, the better. But that's not life, and it is certainly not business. We are going to explore that reality in this book, and we are going to work together to create plans to accept it and be successful anyway.

Here are some of the things we will learn as we read the book together:

• how “overnight” successes (or failures) are the result of persistent, compounding actions
• what “long obedience” is, and how to harness it for the benefit of you and your business
• what to do when “gradually” is happening too slowly for you, and how to enjoy the journey while you're on it  cathedral thinking—adopt a long-term perspective that changes your daily decisions and life trajectory
• and more!

Reading Plan

The reading plan progresses in our private Entrepreneur Member Facebook Group.

The graphic below displays our easy reading schedule.

About Mark Batterson 

Mark Batterson serves as the Lead Visionary of National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, DC. NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, the DC Dream Center, the Capital Turnaround, and Culture House as gathering places for the community and funding for church causes. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of 25 books.

Visit Mark's website.

Purchase Gradually Then Suddenly

Buy this and other Indie Business Book Club picks at IBN's Amazon shop.

Of course, you can also purchase the book at your favorite local book store or check it out of your local library.

Are you ready? Let's do it.

Join us!

If you're not familiar with the Indie Business Book Club, you can click here for more information.

If you're a member of the Indie Business Network, make sure to join us in our private Entrepreneur Members Facebook group to get started.

If you're not an IBN member, what are you waiting for? Join now and enjoy the book club and tons of other benefits to help you and your business become better every day.

The post April 2026 Indie Business Book Club: Gradually Then Suddenly by Mark Batterson  appeared first on Indie Business Network®.

Drawing on her experiences as an event host, the author takes us behind the scenes of gatherings of all kinds to reveal what to do to make them successful, and what not to do to avoid events that flop. From conferences and business meetings to courtrooms, flash-mob parties, and even an Arab-Israeli summer camp, we'll see how small, intentional shifts can transform ordinary interactions into meaningful, energizing experiences that help your customers choose your products over everyone else's.

Here are some of the things we will learn as we read the book together:

• How hosting in-person and virtual events are the roadmap to increased sales and customer loyalty
• Why including elements of community into your business strengthens customer relationships and deepens brand connection and loyalty
• What you can do to easily foster a genuine sense of belonging that supports your sales goals

Reading Plan

The reading plan progresses in our private Entrepreneur Member Facebook Group.

The graphic below displays our easy reading schedule.

About Priya Parker

Priya Parker is an author and the former executive host and producer of the New York Times podcast, Together Apart. She is an an advisor to leaders and organizations.

Visit Priya's website.

Purchase The Art of Gathering

Buy this and other Indie Business Book Club picks at IBN's Amazon shop.

Of course, you can also purchase the book at your favorite local book store or check it out of your local library.

Are you ready? Let's do it.

Join us!

If you're not familiar with the Indie Business Book Club, you can click here for more information.

If you're a member of the Indie Business Network, make sure to join us in our private Entrepreneur Members Facebook group to get started.

If you're not an IBN member, what are you waiting for? Join now and enjoy the book club and tons of other benefits to help you and your business become better every day.

The post March 2026 Indie Business Book Club: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker   appeared first on Indie Business Network®.

(Program Note: this episode was recorded in 2023. Hannah's business may be different now than it was at that time.)

Enjoy this lively conversation as Hannah's calm, magnetic energy and honest storytelling leave you inspired, energized, and ready to take meaningful next steps in your own entrepreneurial journey.

Sit back, relax and enjoy my interview with Hannah NOW!

Click the arrow to enjoy the Indie Business Podcast

Important entrepreneurial and content creation insights from Hannah

Let's unpack some of the most significant business and content creation insights Robbin and I discussed in this episode.

1. Streamline your product line

Hannah's passion for crafting led her to initially create a vast array of products when she launched her business. Seriously, she said, anything scented was fair game. However, she soon realized the challenges of maintaining a wide range of scents, sizes, and products. Gradually, she streamlined her offerings to just four staple soaps with occasional limited editions, along with six roll-on blends following the same pattern. Additionally, she introduced self-care sets featuring combinations of existing products that were already in her line. This meticulous pruning process spanned years but proved to be a strategic move for Hannah. Not only did it alleviate operational burdens, but it also simplified her marketing efforts and the overall leadership of her business. Smart move, Hannah!

Like I always share with my clients, I'd rather see you make lots of money successfully selling a few products than make a little money trying to sell “all the things.”

2. Test the waters to achieve success

In her early days of business, Hannah cast a wide net, eager to gauge the reception of her products by selling at lots of markets. Unsure of how her offerings would be received, she opted for quantity over quality. However, as both her business and personal brand evolved, Hannah became more discerning. As she gained a deeper understanding of her target audience, she became better at identifying the best market venues. Today, aside from carefully curated pop-ups aligned with her brand, the only market she sells at is St. Louis's largest market. This strategic shift ensures maximum return on investment, both financially and in terms of personal fulfillment. Hannah acknowledges that navigating the market landscape has been a journey of trial and error, a quintessential experience for any small business owner.

3. Create a business that works for YOUR life, on YOUR terms

Hannah pointed out the dual nature of entrepreneurship: challenging yet inherently enjoyable. It's a sentiment that deeply resonates with me. As Hannah points out, entrepreneurial enjoyment isn't automatic; it requires deliberate effort. For Hannah, the fun lies in the hands-on aspect of crafting her products and the joy of personal interactions at events. Whether it's the vibrant atmosphere of markets or the physical satisfaction she gets from the activity of setting up and breaking down her booth, she finds fulfillment in every step of the process. While it's undeniably hard work, she relishes the opportunity of creating a physical space that reflects her business's unique identity. For Hannah, infusing enjoyment into her work isn't just a perk—it's a priority.

Resources and Links Mentioned in this Episode

In this episode, Hannah and I mentioned the following resources.

1. Learn more about Ruministics
2. Follow Ruministics on Instagram
3. Aromatherapy certificate: American College of Healthcare Sciences
4. Learn about the benefits of the Indie Business Network – for American makers and artisan entrepreneurs

Binge Indie Business Podcast Episodes

If you want to binge listen to previous episodes, you can do that here.

Subscribe to Indie Business Podcast

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Rate Indie Business Podcast, Tell Your Friends and Comment

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The post Ruminate and Reflect with Hannah Hon of Ruministics – Indie Business Podcast Episode 100 appeared first on Indie Business Network®.

The 5 Types of Wealth reminds us of a powerful way to view life and business, not through a financial lens but through a wealth lens. While money is a definite part of that, true and lasting wealth comes via other areas of life. We will look at those areas in this book, and together, we will discover how our lives and businesses can be changed for the better by pursuing wealth in its broadest and most robust terms.

Here are some of the things we will learn as we read the book together:

• How to create physical wealth, without which the other forms of wealth don't really matter
• What financial wealth can teach us about “true” wealth
• Why social wealth is one of the golden keys to a happy and fulfilling life (and how your business can deliver that)!
• Who can be best positioned to enjoy time wealth, and what to do to get it
• The. importance of mental wealth, and how to maintain it as the leader of a great small business of your own

Reading Plan

The reading plan progresses in our private Entrepreneur Member Facebook Group.

The graphic below displays our easy reading schedule.

About Sahil Bloom

Sahil Bloom is an inspirational writer and content creator, captivating millions of people every week through his social insights and bi-weekly newsletter The Curiosity Chronicle.

The 5 Types of Wealth provides a groundbreaking framework to help you break free from the daily grind, discover true fulfillment, and build a life of infinite wealth. The book is a unique blend of strategies, tactics, and actionable insights, enabling readers to make real, positive changes and lead healthier, wealthier lives.

Sahil is also an entrepreneur and owner of SRB Holdings, a personal holding company, and the Managing Partner of SRB Ventures, a venture investment firm committed to investing in and accelerating the most compelling startups in the world.

Visit Sahil's website.

Purchase The 5 Types of Wealth

Buy this and other Indie Business Book Club picks at IBN's Amazon shop.

Of course, you can also purchase the book at your favorite local book store or check it out of your local library.

Are you ready? Let's do it.

Join us!

If you're not familiar with the Indie Business Book Club, you can click here for more information.

If you're a member of the Indie Business Network, make sure to join us in our private Entrepreneur Members Facebook group to get started.

If you're not an IBN member, what are you waiting for? Join now and enjoy the book club and tons of other benefits to help you and your business become better every day.

The post February 2026 Indie Business Book Club: The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom appeared first on Indie Business Network®.

About Allison

Q: Tell us a little bit about your business.

Allison says:

At Resonance, fragrance is not just something you wear. It's something you experience. My work bridges natural perfumery with mindful ritual, inviting people to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and tend to their inner landscape in simple, practical ways.

In addition to ready-to-wear perfumes and hydrosols, Resonance Perfumery offers custom fragrance experiences, where scent is used as a personal and intuitive tool for reflection, balance, and self-connection. The business is rooted in integrity, craftsmanship, and the belief that something made with care and intention can offer real support in everyday life.

Q: Why are you a good candidate for the Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship?

Allison says:

I am a good candidate for the IBN membership scholarship because I am deeply committed to building a business that allows me to stand on my own in all aspects: financially, creatively, and personally, and even while I am still learning and growing.

I am actively running my business, creating my products by hand, showing up for my customers, and steadily preparing for expansion. At the same time, I am honest about the fact that this path can feel isolating, and that having guidance and mentorship at this stage would make a meaningful difference as I make business decisions and build my confidence as a business leader.

My work is rooted in care, intention, and the belief that something handmade and thoughtfully created can people feel more supported in their lives. That belief feels closely aligned with the heart of Robin’s story and the mission of Indie Business Network, especially the idea that women deserve the tools and support to provide for themselves and their families through their own skills.

I am coachable, open, and willing to do the work even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain. I don’t take opportunities like this lightly. If awarded this scholarship, I would approach it with humility, gratitude, and a deep commitment to applying what I learn.

At this point in my journey, IBN’s support would not just help me grow a business. It would help me grow into a more grounded, confident leader of the work I feel called to do.

Q: How will the IBN's Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship help you be more successful in your business?

Allison says:

I am in a season of growth that feels both exciting and tender. I know the quality and heart behind what I create, but I also recognize that I don’t have to figure everything out alone. What I need most right now is practical guidance and support to help me move forward with clarity and confidence.

I would greatly benefit from help with marketing and messaging, especially learning how to clearly and consistently communicate the value of my work beyond my immediate community. I often feel that I am holding something meaningful in my hands, yet still learning how to share it in a way that truly reaches people.

I am also seeking support around wholesale expansion and understanding how to approach aligned retailers, structure wholesale relationships, and grow responsibly without losing the integrity of my craft. Social media is another area where I could use direction and reassurance. I show up with sincerity, but I know I could be more strategic and effective with the right mentorship.

More than tactics alone, I am looking for connection to a community and coaching environment where I can ask questions honestly, receive guidance without judgment, and grow alongside other women who are navigating similar challenges. IBN feels like a place where both my business and I would be supported.

Q: How can we connect with you and your brand online?

Allison says:

IBN: We've got all that for you, and more. Welcome Allison!

Apply for IBN's Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship

The Indie Business Network offers a valuable and transformative entrepreneurial experience to artisans and small business owners nationwide. We recognize that not everyone has the resources to access our suite of entrepreneurial mentoring, coaching, and training services, especially when they are first starting out. To help offset the challenge for as many as possible, each quarter, we offer a scholarship for a year of membership and private one-on-one email coaching with our founder and CEO, Donna Maria.

At the Indie Business Network, we believe that every woman can provide for herself and her children because she can sell something she made with her own hands. If you have started your business, but lack the resources needed to grow, you can get information on how to apply for next quarter's Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship Award at this link.

The post Meet Allison Deglomine: Indie Business Network 1Q 2026 Robin’s Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship Recipient appeared first on Indie Business Network®.

As always, our priority is engaging with and serving IBN members. We do that in several ways. Here are a few 2025 highlights.

The Community Economy

Our members make and sell small-batch products, so they get to focus on a niche audience that believes in their brand, passion and purpose. Our Community Economy training helped members learn how to replace relying on social media algorithms with strategic community building designed to produce more sales opportunities by focusing on the few instead of the masses. The training helped members:

• Define a theme, idea, or cause that complements their unique brand and attracts their unique target audience;
• Lay the groundwork for a thriving community that appeals to your target audience, so they join, engage, and tell their friends;
• Position the brand owner as an expert and leader of their unique brand community so they can enjoy endless organic sales opportunities without needing social media or any other rented land to secure the growth of their business

It was powerful, and for those who implement it — transformative! Here are some of the live training participants. We also offered it virtually!

The Community Economy training is currently available exclusively to IBN members.

Featured Members

We are so proud of the way this blog and our social media feeds showcase the creative products our members offer.

This year, the Indie Business Network Blog showcased our members, along with links to purchase their amazing products and services.

Here are a few of the most popular articles:

• Introducing Vivian Jamison and Shannon Kindred, some of our Robin's Roses Entrepreneur Scholarship recipients
• Beach Ready Beauty: a curated collection of IBN member products to help you elevate your summertime self care ritual
• Features on live and virtual classes and workshops hosted by our members
• Holiday Gift Guides for things like home fragrance, men's products, and color cosmetics

Binge all of our Featured Member blog posts here. Go shopping while you're at at — I guarantee it won't take long to find that perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.

Indie Business Network Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship Program

IBN's Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship Program is named in honor of my dearest friend who is the main inspiration for the launch of the Indie Business Network. You can read some of the story here.

Robin's Roses awards quarterly scholarships to American Maker Entrepreneurs who might not otherwise be in a position to take advantage of the valuable and transformative experience IBN offers. The scholarship includes a year of membership and mentorship, along with private group coaching and one-on-one email coaching with our founder, Donna Maria. The graphic below showcases our 2025 scholarship recipients. Meet them and learn more about their businesses at these links:

Meet Pearl Harris of Beach Body Butter
Meet Vivian Jamison of Xpressive Mocha and Shanon Kindred of Toushea Skincare

If you or someone you know is interested in exploring scholarship opportunities, click here to learn more about how to apply for our quarterly scholarship opportunity.

Member Training (42 episodes)

We continue to provide our members with live weekly coaching, with curated experts to help our members be successful in their personal and professional lives. During these live-streamed virtual events, which are available for replay 24/7, members get real-time answers to the toughest issues faced in business right now.

Among other amazing people, our guests this year included life coaches, marketing specialists, Shopify experts and so much more. We have so much in store for 2026 including some in-person events and podcast surprises!!

Indie Business Book Club

One thing I know for sure is that nothing keeps the entrepreneurial mind in the success zone like books on business and personal development. This year, we read 12 of them. Topics of discussion and learning ranged from embracing doing hard things, creating a membership business model, annual goal planning, crafting an irresistible brand story, living and working with AI, creating a thriving aromatherapy business, avoiding the “stupid tax,” in business and more. Here are the books we read, with links to more detailed information:

Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals

Show Your Work: Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

The Membership Economy: Find Your Super Users, Master the Forever Transaction, and Build Recurring Revenue 

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us 

Superfans: The Easy Way to Stand Out, Grow Your Tribe, and Build a Successful Business

Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI

The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy: Your Essential Oil & Entrepreneurship Guide

Teaching Creative Workshops In Person and Online

The Road Less Stupid

Buy these and other Indie Business Book Club picks at IBN's Amazon shop.

Indie Business Network 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Our 2025 Holiday Gift Guide featured member products and editorial content to uplift, inform and inspire you.

For each product, you'll find a lovely picture of the featured product, with a direct link to where you can easily and quickly drop it into your shopping basket.

Check out the 2025 Indie Business Network Holiday Gift Guide categories: our Skin + Hair Care, Color Cosmetics, Fragrance, Men's Gifts, Home Fragrance, Bath + Body, Home, and Classes + Workshops.

_______________________________

In Closing …

“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much …” – Helen Keller

This simple truth captures the essence of what we experienced throughout 2025. Entrepreneurship can feel isolating at times, especially when challenges arise and progress feels incremental. But when we come together in community, our individual efforts compound into something powerful.

The Indie Business Network exists to make that collective strength possible. By connecting entrepreneurs across the country, we’ve created space to think more clearly, solve problems more effectively, and celebrate progress that might otherwise go unnoticed. Together, we’ve shared knowledge, supported one another through uncertainty, and built momentum that no one could have created alone.

As we step into a new year, we do so knowing that our greatest advantage isn’t scale or speed. It’s connection.

As we continue to move forward together, there’s no limit to what we can build.

Happy New Year!

This year has been fantastic, but some things still remain undone. it is my personal commitment and intention to give focus to those things so IBN can serve our members even better in 2026 and beyond.

Thank you IBN members for the honor and privilege of serving you, and for sharing your experiences with your friends and community members and talking IBN up within your various spheres of influence.

As great as this year has been, the next one will be even better, and we can't wait to share with you all of the exciting new things to come in 2026.

Indie Business Network members, I love you, and I love serving you!

Here's to a great new year and the achievement of all of your wildest entrepreneurial dreams and goals. I am so proud of every one of you!

By the way, if you are not a member, you are denying yourself lots of entrepreneurial goodness! But it's not too late. You can click here to learn about our member benefits, and join today at this link so you don't miss out on anything else!!

Bring on 2026! We are so ready over here at the Indie Business Network!

The post Indie Business Network: 2025 Year In Review appeared first on Indie Business Network®.

Designing how I live based on the outcomes I want produces far better results than taking things as they come and hoping I like the outcome. My annual reminder to avoid relying on hope and positivity is the book we will read together in January..

The book is called Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals, and it can be a game-changer for you if you read and apply its principles. Join me?!!

What you'll learn …

In addition to enjoying a fresh and affirming entrepreneurial perspective, here are some of the things you'll learn by reading this book with us:

• Avoid letting your past setbacks to limit your future success
• Why we get stuck in situations we don't like, and how to avoid it in the future
• How to become the leader who leads the way instead of the business owner who gets in the way
• … and so much more!

Reading Plan

The reading plan progresses in our private Entrepreneur Member Facebook Group.

The graphic below displays our easy reading schedule.

Michael Hyatt is the founder and chairman of Full Focus. He has scaled multiple companies over the years, including a $250M publishing company with 700+ employees and his own business coaching company that has grown over 60% year over year for the past four years. Under his leadership, Full Focus Company (formerly Michael Hyatt & Co.) has been featured in the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for three years in a row. He’s also the author of several New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling books, including Platform, Living Forward, Your Best Year Ever, Free to Focus, and The Vision-Driven Leader. He lives near Nashville with his wife of 40-plus years, with whom he shares five daughters, and a growing number of grandchildren.

Follow Michael Hyatt on Instagram.

Purchase Your Best Year Ever

Buy this and other Indie Business Book Club picks at IBN's Amazon shop.

The book is available on Audible, via Amazon, which is how I'll be reading it.

Of course, you can also purchase the book at your favorite local book store or check it out of your local library.

Are you ready? Let's do it.

Join us!

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Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared our Skin + Hair Care, Color Cosmetics, Fragrance, Men's Gifts, Home Fragrance, Bath + Body, and Home editions, each filled with handcrafted treasures to inspire thoughtful holiday gifting. Now, we’re shifting the focus to experiences that spark creativity, build confidence, and encourage personal growth. Start your holiday shopping today and gift a class or workshop that offers learning, connection, and value long after the season ends.

Events by Rachel Beyer Artist Apothecary (Oregon)

Maker: Rachel Beyer

Rachel Beyer is the heart and hands behind this collection of handcrafted goods and the artwork that frames them. Her journey with plants and creating began in her own backyard and community garden, where she personally cultivates the herbs that inspire and fill the products she makes for you. Rachel offers curated classes in her Portland studio.

Check them out Now!

Events by STRŌB Apothecary (Maryland)

Maker: Olivia MacMillan

STRŌB Apothecary is a community-centered herbal wellness shop and apothecary located in Crofton, Maryland. Founded in love, they've created a welcoming sanctuary where herbalism, spirituality, and wellness come together in the spirit of collective care. Strob offers curated classes in their Maryland studio.

Check them out Now!

ECourse by Henna Sooq (Maryland)

Maker: Khadija Dawn Carryl

Henna Sooq's professional henna hair dyeing and Ayurvedic hair care certification eCourse is a great way to learn to professionally color all hair textures and types naturally using henna hair color and treat clients hair with Ayurvedic infused masks and treatments. The certification program is self-guided with live virtual trainings and includes lifetime support. You'll receive all the tools, henna color and hair care products you'll need for success.

Check it out Now!

The Ultimate IBN Holiday Gift Guide 2025: Classes + Workshops Edition is here! Gift experiences that inspire creativity, learning, and growth — all led by talented indie experts. A meaningful gift that lasts beyond the holidays. #IBNHolidayGuide #ShopIndie #GiftAnExperienceClick To Tweet

The Workshop Blueprint – Go Beyond the Studio by Olive My Skin (Connecticut)

Maker: Laura Luther

Based on her actual work creating and leading workshops that go beyond the studio and craft fair environment, Laura of Olive My Skin's The Workshop Blueprint course is a method for teaching that bridges the gap between an idea and practice, ensuring that your students are well-prepared to apply their skills in real-world settings.

Check it ou Now!

Parties by Blank Mason Candle Bar (Illinois)

Maker: Sara Jennetten

Plan Your Perfect Party and celebrate everything from bridal and baby showers to Girl's Night Out with a custom candle or perfume experience. This fabulous event is deal for birthdays, showers, corporate events, and more. Parties are hosted at Blank Mason's beautiful studio located just outside Chicago.

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“Make Your Own” Scrubz Party by Scrubz Body (New York)

Maker: Roberta Perry

Whether a birthday party, lady’s night, bridal or baby shower, graduation celebration, Girl Scouts Troop activity, walk-in class, or another occasion, there is nothing quite like a “Make Your Own” Scrubz Party.” No muss, no fuss! Leave all the headache, popcorn, planning stress, and party mess to Scrubz. What scent will you create?

Buy Now!

Aromatherapy Certification Course by Ology Essentials  (Tennessee)

Maker: Kayla Fioravanti

Students will complete case study assignments, write a research paper, gain hands on blending experience, and above all learn about the art and science of aromatherapy. At the end of the course, when you pass the final exam, you will become a certified aromatherapist! The aromatherapy course at Ology Essentials is approved by The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists (NAHA).

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Body + Mind Detox by DeRosa Media (New Jersey)

Maker: Donna DeRosa

Imagine a Life Where You Feel Lighter, Clearer, and Absolutely Thriving … What if you could release excess weight, declutter your mind, and create an atmosphere that helps you build the life of your dreams – all without feeling deprived, overwhelmed, or hungry? Yes, it’s possible. And you can achieve all of this by embracing a Mediterranean lifestyle.

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The post Ultimate IBN Holiday Gift Guide 2025: Classes + Workshops Edition appeared first on Indie Business Network®.