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Be Fearless with You Finances: Meet the Speakers Carrie and Denise
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Denise and Carrie will be joining us as the speakers at Sunday’s CRAVEchat “Be Fearless With Your Finances.” Learn more about where they come from and what they will be sharing on Sunday!
Denise Marinacci of Flaunt! Inc. says:
Why does Flaunt! focus on QuickBooks and women? Simply because almost half of all small businesses in the US are owned by women and they need help.
Flaunt! teaches women business owners, like you, who may not like QuickBooks to fall in love with what it can do for your business. For example, track your vendors to take available discounts; find the top selling products and add more to the mix; know your bank balance before you write that next check.
If you’re struggling in your business join me at the CraveChat on February 21st from 2 – 4 pm. In 2010 you too can become a
Business Wonder Women….Smart, Savvy, and Successful!
Carrie Middlemiss of Bella Cupcake Couture says:
I’m very excited to participate on the panel of speakers at the upcoming CRAVE Chat. The theme of the event is “Fearless with your Finances”.
This is a very familiar topic for me as a business owner and from my previous career working for a bank for almost 18 years. I started with the bank right out of high school and worked my way up in the financial industry. From a Teller to Account Representative selling mutual funds to a Marketing Coordinator and finally as a VP Division Marketing Manager. During my role at the bank I managed budgets up to 4 million+ and executed over 1,000 events.
Now after a layoff, I’ve turned a “Pink Slip into Pink Frosting”. I created a unique product for cupcakes; Bella Cupcake Couture a chic textile-inspired cupcake wrapper. Our wrappers hide the crinkly, translucent cupcake liner they are baked in and add a touch of elegance to any special event.
Having my own business now, I quickly learned to do more with less. Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way:
Marketing and PR: I started my company, Bella Cupcake Couture last March 2009 and have had some amazing press including the Seattle Times, Gourmet News, Kitchenware News and my all time favorite being selected as a Martha Stewart “Doer of the Week”. Many people have asked how I’ve done it? I often respond with “We have been very lucky” but in many cases it is a simple belief that “People reach out to people who reach out”. I heard this once from a wonderful speaker at a seminar and have made it my mantra. If I feel someone may be interested in my product or story I simply pick up the phone or shoot off an email. I don’t always get a response but feel it is worth a try.
Website and Social Media: It is important to have an inviting and easy to use website. It is the first introduction to your brand. And it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are several stylish and affordable options with web designer templates. Another way to create a buzz and drive traffic to your site is interacting with your audience. I have found the use of Facebook, Blogging and Twitter a great (and very fun) way to communicate updates and have conversations directly with people who enjoy your product (and cupcakes).
Photography: A majority of my customers find my product online. Therefore, I knew the importance of making an impact with my photos. I didn’t know if I could afford a good photographer so my husband ended up surprising me with my own counter top photo studio in a box. It included all the lighting, mini tri-pod, etc. I learned how to set up the lighting, created elegant and simple displays and learned few tips on how to use photoshop and voilà… I became my own photographer. I can now set up my own photo shoots when ever I need to. I still need professional photos now and then and it has always been well worth the investment.
Things I wish I had known about starting a business:
- It’s not always easy.
- You can’t do it all on your own and it is good to know your weaknesses. For example, learning to do my own Quickbooks (and understanding it) and knowing when it is the right time to call your accountant.
- It is true that sometimes you have to spend money to make money….it is just finding the “right” things that will increase brand awareness and (best of all) drive sales.
Hope to see you at the upcoming event. I look forward to answering more questions and sharing other tips I’ve learned along the way.
One Response to “Be Fearless with You Finances: Meet the Speakers Carrie and Denise”
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brandy Says:
I heart CRAVE Seattle! I enjoy the platform it created for women to share & connect. Being a new business owner, I am inspired by my fellow entrepreneurs.