Startup Princess Kingdom News * November 30

The Startup Princess Kingdom is expanding…in fact it’s time for a remodel of our Castle to make room for all of our new Royalty! We’re pleased to introduce you to several *new* Startup Princesses whom have shared their startup princess fairytales with us and joined the “Kingdom of Women Entrepreneurs.” Please enjoy getting to know them by reading their inspiring profiles filled with great insight and advice. (Note: many, many more Startup Princesses are preparing for their debut!)

• Amee Janus, Melina J
• Briana Grant, Balanced Steps
• DeBorah Beatty, Consulting. She’s also a new Fairy Godmother!
• Fatma Zaidi, LoveRawFood
• GP Stone, Fish Creek House
• Heather Allard * The Mogul Mom, She’s also a new Fairy Godmother!
• Laurie Tester, Lulu and Daisy
• Lori Harris, Mary Jane’s Shoes
• Jamie Dadant, Circle of Sentiments (this is a new company for Jamie/a new profile page, formerly her company was Crafty Babies)
• Jenifer Schabes, In The Pink Designs. She’s also a new Fairy Godmother!
• Jory Des Jardins, BlogHer
• Karen Burns Working Girl
• Kristen Fischer, Writer/Editor
• Liz Pabon, The Branding Maven
• Margaret Howe, Fashion Mash
• Michal Chesal, Baby K’tan
• Sarah Jane Wright, Sarah Jane Studios
• Shannon Davis, Beyond Motherhood
• Sarah Van Bentum, VANCHI * Our first Austrailian member!
• Shelly Kennedy, Drooz Studio

Startup Princess Celebrations:
Startup Princess Rachelle Knight of Biblio Pages writes, We got our books from China! (Thanks to a connection made at our recent conference,) Startup Princess Barbara Vineyard put my journal in Wasatch Woman Magazine as a ‘Wasatch Wonder’. My books are now in Kings English Bookshop, Sam Wellers Zion Bookstore, the Airport Gift Stores and Dog-eared Books in Afton, Wy.

Fairy Godmother Laura West writes, Just wanted to take a moment and update you with some exciting happenings at the Center for Joyful Business! We are just unveailing a new & improved version our website and its full of exciting new features! I’m always amazed at the quick rate of evolution in our businesses and the website is the first to show it. You can check it out at www.JoyfulBusiness.com One of our new features is a Free Report when you sign up for the Joyful Business ezine and we are offering Joyful Business Products – by popular demand!

Want to be featured next week? Please email us your great news!

What’s your great news? Do you know of any great resources, tips, grants or contests? Please SHARE your Magic Wand Tips with us!

How to Manufacture a New Product Overseas

Our Fabulous Fairy Godmother Heather Allard is Founder of Swaddleaze and 2 Virtues and is now a consultant for women entrepreneurs at The Mogul Mom.

Are you completely overwhelmed by the thought of finding an overseas manufacturer?

I was too and that’s why I initially had my product, Swaddleaze, manufactured here in the United States, a decision that cost me thousands and thousands of dollars and nearly sunk my business in the first year.After searching through a gigantic apparel manufacturers directory, I found a mill that specialized in children’s apparel. They quoted me a “cut and sew” price that seemed fair and I contracted them to produce my first run of Swaddleaze.

What I didn’t realize was that I then had to source all the materials for my product and have the goods shipped to the manufacturer before they could begin production. I spent hours researching U.S. companies that made textiles, zippers, packaging, labels and more.I then purchased thousands of dollars of fabric, zippers, Velcro, interior labels, hangtags, packaging, inserts and price stickers and had everything trucked down south. The shipping cost was sometimes more than the cost of materials! My credit cards were practically melting and I had just begun this venture.When the manufacturer had finally finished the production run and had shipped the goods to me, each piece ended up costing $15.85! I had no idea how I would ever turn a profit at this rate. After selling through this initial run and almost going under, I made the decision to find an overseas manufacturer, no matter how daunting that task was.It took me about six months and a ton of “Googling” before I found an overseas manufacturer that was perfect for my needs. So how do you go about finding a manufacturer overseas that’s right for your business?

Here are the steps that will make that process faster, easier and less scary for you.

1. Before contacting overseas manufacturers, take the time to familiarize yourself with the terminology with this indispensable dictionary of trade, shipping and export terms at ExportBureau.com. This will help you feel confident when speaking to foreign manufacturers and will let them know that you’ve done your research. Some of the most common terms are:

Lead time this is the time between placing an order with a manufacturer and when the order is delivered.

Minimums how many pieces of a particular item you have to order. Usually, the more you order, the more affordable the price is.

Terms this usually means how and when the manufacturer will be paid (T/T, wire transfer, net 30 days, etc).

T/T this means that you wire transfer half the amount of the order before the manufacturer begins work and the other half at completion. The manufacturer will give their wiring instructions.

2. Ask around if you know other women who make products, ask them who their manufacturer is and then contact that company about pricing. Be sure to mention who referred you, as this will often get you a speedier reply. (If any of you are looking for a great apparel manufacturer, I’d be happy to refer you to mine. Contact me for more information.)

3. Use Alibaba.com, a global trade website that puts products, suppliers and buyers in touch with each other. Some Chinese suppliers are labeled “Gold Suppliers” which distinguishes them as premium, reputable suppliers. They are required to meet stringent criteria before becoming a Gold Supplier and are usually a safe bet. Once you’ve found a handful of manufacturers, contact them for pricing, terms, lead time and minimums. If possible, look for a manufacturer that will provide you with a complete package (also called FOB package). This means that the manufacturer will source all materials, produce the goods, package the goods, pack the goods, ship the goods and arrange for customs clearance and receipt of goods here in the U.S. and finally, have the goods trucked to you or your fulfillment center.

4. Compare pricing and service and then request samples. If there are any safety guidelines for your product, you must provide the manufacturer with those guidelines/criteria. Most overseas manufacturers are not familiar with US safety regulations set forth by the CPSC. Refer to CPSC.gov for more information. If you’re unsure about your product safety requirements, you can email a CPSC employee and they will assist you.

5. Once you’ve reviewed all samples and compared pricing, choose the manufacturer that’s right for your product or business and begin the production process.

Then, breathe a big sigh of relief because YOU DID IT!If you follow these steps, you’ll find out the same thing I did that manufacturing overseas isn’t so scary or overwhelming after all. It’s an exciting step that can often be the beginning of big success for you and your company.

Trademark Tips for Your Business

The following post is a summary of the notes I took at our recent Networking Tea Party in Provo, Utah. Fairy Godmother, Kim Scoville an Attorney locally does trademark work for startups very affordably, $150 plus the cost of filing which is $325. If you would like to get in touch with Kim, please contact us, she doesn’t have a website. Kim used to manage over 3500 marks for NuSkin International and has assisted startups with their trademarks for the past 10 years.

You’ve created an idea. It’s unique, creative…it needs to be protected

Ways you can protect yourself legally:
1. Trademarks (the first thing that comes up is usually protecting your company name)
2. Copyrights
3. Patents
4. Trade Secrets

Just because your business name is available for the state, it doesn’t mean that your trademark is available!!!!! It is NOT availability from a legal perspective, only a license to do business.

Trademark attorney will search on trademark search databases to help you determine if your name has been used in other states and is already trademarked elsewhere for a similar industry. If the name is similar but isn’t in the same industry as you, then it can co-exist

Ideas are free, Conflicts are NOT free…so be wise as you move forward with selecting your name and considerations.

How do you select a good trademark?? There are 4 different types of “Names”

1. Generic Names such as “Build a Bear”

2. Descriptive Names such as “Nutrigrain”

3. Suggestive Names such as “Enfamil” (infant meal)

4. Arbitrary Names such as “Yahoo” “Saturn” “Apple”

Generic and descriptive marks are difficult to protect because they contain words that competitors are free to use. Eventually though, you can build recognition in your brand name, include creative elements in the appearance of the mark and then you can earn legal protection. Suggestive and arbitrary marks are easier to protect because they are unrelated (or not obviously related) to the product, or the terminology in the trade. Therefore they are distinctive. Suggestive and arbitrary marks give you the broadest protection when they are unlike anything else in your industry, because it is less likely that you will run into conflict.

You have to spell out what you intend to do with the trademark when you apply for it

Trademark Application: www.uspto.gov

Once on the USPTO site, go to the trademark side, search there for your name/intended name…great resource for searching before you go to an attorney to register. You don’t have to register, but she recommends that you do…because you have national rights, it may be in your best interest to do so and prevent legal conflict.

“TM”=means that you intend to use it, you can start using it without filing and until you have received official confirmation

When the trademark officially registers you are allowed to use “R”

Internationally you need to file it in every country you need to go, you need to file there BEFORE you start doing business there to be protected

Copyrights protect the way you choose they way you express your idea, it has to be tangible, embodied in music, paper, fabric, etc.

Copyright lasts the life of the author plus 70 years. If the work is owned by a corporation, 95 years after publication or 120 years after creation whichever expires first.

If it is nationally filed with a copyright and the Library of Congress keeps record of it and costs $35

Poor man’s copyright
Your copyrights begin when you create something. One way to prove the date when you first created a copyrightable work is to mail a copy of it to yourself in an envelope. Make sure the postmark is clear, and then never open it. It can be opened in court if a dispute arises. This is reasonably good proof for a court that you created it when you said you did.

It is always a good idea to mark you copyright on your work so that others know it is copyrighted work. You do this with a © followed by the date (calendar year) of first creation and the name or initials of the owner (your name or your company name). If the work was created on one date, but later updated or enhanced, you can put two dates separated by a comma. If there is room on the back or on the packaging, you can restate your copyright in more detail by listing your contact information (in case someone wants to get permission from you to use your work) and include the statement “all rights reserved.” The word Copyrights refer to a bundle of rights including the right to display, perform and copy. This is the reason for the statement “all rights reserved.”

Patent protects new, useful, and non-obvious products

Trade Secrets, who you know, what your secret formula are, your customers, etc. you need to protect with your employees, other companies, etc. HAVE THEM SIGN AN NDA.

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR QUESTIONS FOR KIM HERE…

You Know Your Career Title, Do You Know Your “Role”?

After spending four days with my husband’s family this weekend I was reminded of the roles we “play” and have come to expect when we’re together. Besides the kids, we have the Gamer, the Baker, the Cleaner, the Babysitter, the Techie, the Comedian, the Scholar, the Jogger, the Career Advisor, and the Newly Weds.

I’m the Decorator. I’m not really sure how I officially “received” this role, but on our first Christmas at my in-laws I created a centerpiece (3 tall skinny glass vases filled with water 3/4 the way with red cranberries floating on top and the head of a white rose resting on the cranberries) and ever since, it’s been my family role to decorate things. It isn’t anything I ever prepare for or think about, it just happens. This weekend I found myself I hanging 15 paintings and creating a display of Russian trip souvenirs on a bookshelf. While I was arranging and hammering, I noted my father-in-law’s way of enrolling me into the projects, “Kelly, I’m so glad you’re here, I really need your expertise…I just don’t know what to do with these paintings or this collection…” of course, I was flattered and delighted to help and somewhere in the back of my mind I thought, yes! this is my “role” in this family, it makes me feel loved, appreciated and respected. And then again when we left his home he took the time to again tell me how my contribution made such an impact to his new home and he was already enjoying it (and made me think about what I could do on our next visit).

When we have more than one person in a company we start to naturally take “roles” outside of our titles. Have you considered what your “role” is at work? How did you “receive it? Does your “role” make you feel appreciated or respected? If you don’t love your role, see how you can shake things up and create a new role for yourself. Perhaps you’re the “Birthday Queen” and always have a stash of great, funny cards to have the staff sign and deliver to the birthday girl or boy or perhaps you’re known as “The Negotiator” or maybe you’re the one everyone relies on for a good chat on a hard day, dub yourself the official “Good Listener.”

Today’s Magic Wand: Whatever role you choose, make sure you’re proactive about creating the role or at least be aware of it, don’t let a role choose you. If you’re “the Boss,” then actively decide what kind of boss you’re going to be. And think about how you can empower those around you to fulfill their roles well and to feel loved and appreciated while they carry them out, be sure to take note of the “Birthday Queen” who initiates the card signing and builds the community at your company.

Note: if you’re flying solo at your startup then think about what roles you take on besides “owner” and how they make you feel…what do your clients expect from you and what do you expect from yourself? Hopefully you’ve chosen roles that help you move forward in every possible way instead of being “The Nag.”

Please share your thoughts about this topic…what’s your role now? What do you wish it was and what can you do to “make it happen”? 

Startup Princess Kingdom News * November 23

Here’s a couple of exciting updates from Royalty in the Startup Princess Kingdom: 

*New* Startup Princess Karen W. Pool of Utah writes: The best news is that my website: www.karenwpool.com is up and running. I have a bi-monthly newsletter with life creation and writing tips that people can sign up to receive. My books, Transformational Thinking, Celebrating Women’s Voices, and Designing Your Life Vision, are available to be purchased on my website. These books are fun, easy to read, full of great questions and activities, and make great Christmas gifts.

Fairy Godmother Laura West of Georgia writes: I am very happy to announce the first episode of the Joyful Business Podcast. The first podcast features Fairy Godmother Christine Closer of Conscious Business Circle. I am really enjoying connecting and interviewing some of the most talented and joyful entrepreneurs in business. Each interview is full of nuggets of wisdom about how being joyful and mindful in your business brings you the success you deserve. You’ll find tips, stories, and real life ideas for keeping the joy, passion and creativity alive. Please join us every two weeks in Cafe Entrepreneur for a new interview.

Do YOU have exciting news to share? Please email us and we’ll feature you next week!

How to Start a Gratitude Journal

Next Thursday we’ll be back on schedule with Featured Interviews, with Startup Princess Jory Des Jardins, Co-Founder of Blogher

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

For about 12 years I’ve kept a Gratitude Journal (inspired by one of my all-time favorite books, Simple Abundance) to reflect all of the reasons I have to feel joy and celebrate. It’s been a blessing on difficult days to return to these pages and see how rich and full my life has been all these years. The format I follow is simple, I date the entry and then write 5 things I am grateful for on 1 line each.

Here’s my entry for today

1. Recognizing God’s love and hand in my life

2. Early mornings when our 3 young children climb in our bed for family snuggle time

3. Joyful opportunities here at Startup Princess to build a Kingdom of women entrepreneurs who genuinely desire to support one another in life balance and business success

4. Blessings of strong health and abundant energy to serve others

5. Optimistic and bright future ahead!

Today’s Magic Wand: Start a Gratitude Journal

Please share your top 5 things you’re grateful for today! 

How to Create a Media Kit that Gets You Publicity

Fairy Godmother Margie Zable-Fisher writes more awesome strategy for Startup Princesses wanting a bit more PR! Enjoy!In order to effectively conduct a publicity campaign, you must have a Media Kit. If you are a book author or can provide product samples, you will need both a print and online version of your Media Kit. Other business owners and professionals generally will only need an online Media Kit.

Here are four essential elements of a Media Kit:

Company Fact Sheet

This information is usually one or two pages. A fact sheet contains the basics:

• Description of company, when you were founded, company history

• Description of key products and services

• Listing of special achievements / awards

• Listing of key personnel with contact information

• Listing of company headquarters address and contact information (Web site, etc.)

• Listing of financial information, including revenue• Number of employees and listing of all locations

Company Backgrounder

Depending on the other press materials, this information can include in-depth industry information (especially for a new or rapidly changing industry), or more information on the company or its principals.

Biographies

Biographies provide the media with additional information about key personnel. The CEO/President and other principals should have biographies.This information can be in text or bullet form and should be no more than one page. A comprehensive bio includes:

• Name, title, list of responsibilities

• Previous jobs or businesses

• Education, awards

• Professional affiliations

• Community involvement

• Personal information (optional)

• Anything of interest that might make this person stand out to the media (for instance, the fact that an attorney specializing in stockbroker misconduct was a former financial advisor)

Press Releases A press release gives important information to the media. It usually features an “angle” that the media would be interested in covering – a new product, extreme business growth, new business, new medical study findings, etc.

Want to see actual examples of each Media Kit item?Get the free “Media Kit” Chapter of the Do-It-Yourself Public Relations Kit, which includes actual examples and formats for each item to include in a Media Kit, at http://zfpr.com/public_relations_kit.htm

Copyright 2007 Margie Zable FisherMargie Zable Fisher is president of Zable Fisher Public Relations, the leader in small business public relations. She publishes the ‘PRactical P.R.’ weekly ezine with thousands of subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start your business through low-cost and free public relations and publicity techniques, get your FREE tips now at http://www.zfpr.com.

Recap of the “Trademark” Startup Princess Tea Party, Nov. 15th

Last Thursday 35 Startup Princesses gathered to network and receive Fairy Godmother wisdom from Kim Scoville, an Attorney in Provo, Utah specializing in trademarks and copyrights. Kim previously managed over 3500 marks for NuSkin and has worked with startup companies for 10 years. She taught us how to select a strong company and product name that will be more likely accepted with a national trademark. A full post about this topic will be featured next week. Here’s Startup Princess Rachelle Knight of Biblio Pages, Fairy Godmother (and speaker) Kim Scoville, Attorney, Startup Princess Linda Nelson , Real Estate Agent.

We also set aside 1 hour for small group networking and fun interactive activities where Royalty could get to know one another better and see how to expand their “Network Kingdom.”

In addition to networking, our events also feature “show and tell” tables where members like *new* Startup Princess Jen Davidson of SnoDaisy can show off their latest products, in her case, a stylish snowboard for women!Startup Princesses also brainstormed in small groups on how to grant each other’s pressing business wishes…Here’s Janet Healey (just got her patent for ‘Presto Puppet Playhouse’, Lauri Buhler ‘Goosh Worm Games’, Terri Smith “Dream in Development”-the title we give women who are working on their startup dreams, and Jan Gray of Okkatots.

And, the “Tea Party” is a signature feature of our events…we try to always have something delicious and healthy to share. This time, we even have a recipe to share! New Startup Princess VP of Business Development, Leslie Smoot made this yummy salad:

Spinach Chicken Pasta

1 12oz pkg egg noodles, cooked and chilled

4 breasts of chicken, cooked and shredded

1 bundle of fresh spinach

1/c carmelized almonds (1/4 c almonds, 2T sugar and heat through over medium until melted and slightly brown)

Dressing:

1/4 c sesame seeds

1/4 c chopped parsley

1/3 c red wine vinegar

1/3 c soy sauce

3/4 c cold press almond or sunflower oil

3 T sugar

1/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/2 green onion chopped

splash of Mongolian fire oil (optional)

Directions: Pour 3/4 of the dressing over pasta and chicken and let marinate several hours or overnight and then before serving: add remaining dressing, spinach and almonds

Enjoy!

If you’d like to come to a Startup Princess event in YOUR area, please comment here or email us and if we can create enough interest and you’ll help us promote it, we’ll organize one in 2008!

Make a Wish, Make it Happen!

Update: 10 Hour Work Week Still Working for Me

Since a few people have asked me…yes, I’m still doing the 10 hour work week and loving it. Besides Blogworld in Vegas for a day, I’ve been pretty good about sticking to my goal. I appreciate (so does my family) the daily challenge of increasing my productivity and maximizing my time.

Yes, I was on vacation last week and so the temptation to work was lower, but that normally would not have stopped me from working…I would have usually still put in a couple hours a day before/after Disneyland (and yes, I WAS tempted, however, I was good, I checked email fast and got off). I have to admit that it was a very nice 5 days. But there was a consequence because I didn’t know about the trip until the last minute and didn’t have pre-scheduled posts ready, our site wasn’t thriving here, I’m afraid and RSS traffic decreased slightly. However, what DID work well was the Startup Princess team back here in Utah. Leslie Smoot, our new VP of Business Development was in charge of the Startup Princess event and Laurie Ann Thomas our admin support at the UVSC SBDC ran the show while I was gone and I literally got back at 2 am and showed up to the event at 10 am…it was a beautiful thing!! Having a team is essential!!
I spent my 10 hours last week at Startup Princess Networking Tea Party 2 hours, Editing our conference DVD for 4 hours (nearly done!), daily emails, updating finances, planning and strategizing for Startup Princess 2008.

Today’s Magic Wand: When you go on vacation, really GO on vacation…don’t check your email more than 1x a day and I challenge you to take Thanksgiving completely off!

Should Startup Princess Have a Video Podcast or an Audio Podcast?

In 2008 we’re considering adding an audio or video podcast, there’s pros and cons of both…since this show will be for YOU, please tell us what you think!

Please Click Here to take a quick survey

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