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Check out this great segment featuring our CRAVE Phoenix leader Shawna introducing CRAVE to the world:
Connect. Inspire. Succeed.
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CRAVE Phoenix on TV
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011Tic Toc What Are You Waiting For?
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
time's a tickin' / fail fast
Fail Fast-
It may sound like strange business advice, but I’ve invested a lot of money and years to learn this valuable lesson – so trust me.
If it seems harsh to propose failing fast, imagine the alternative of failing slowly – with the small heart attacks that never end year after year. Dare to fail fast.
Isn’t it true that everything we learn and know in life come from trial and error? From learning to walk, to starting a business, we fail in order to master. Sure, you should read all the “how to” business books and give thought to the business plan, but it will still be like learning how to swim by reading a book. It’s just not enough.
There’s been really fast (Wow Cookies-weekend) and really slow (Pike Place Market cafe-15 years) business failures in my life. My shelf life for ideas is now six months maximum. Whether I’m starting something new, or a project inside a current business, I get in, prototype, get it out there. Is it going to fly or not? The faster I know, the better.
I have no patience for perfectionists. When people tell me they are working on a business idea but waiting for the perfect time, location, or partner, my experience is that they will never launch. I don’t live in that world. You can have a Facebook page, twitter handle, and business card up today. You can design your book cover and put it out for comment before you even write the book. You can prototype a product/service and pretend you are in business before you actually take the real leaps. You can’t know what will happen (and I hope you succeed), but at the very worst your failure will be fast and you can take that idea back to the drawing board or simply pursue the next.
My two highest profit businesses as of today, were at one time certified failures. They later got reinvented, rethought, even “flipped” in an entirely new direction. They were fast failures of great value.
If you want to read more about the above businesses (and how I eventually made them work), check out my new book CRAVING SUCCESS.
CRAVE on TV!
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011CRAVE made the news! Watch this special segment all about the power of women entrepreneurs, straight off the heels of the CRAVE Denver guide launch!
What’s The Bravest Thing You’ve Ever Done?
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Continuing our monthly theme of risk taking in life and business we would like to share with you this great post from Chris Guillebeau:
The Bravest Thing – I asked this question last week and was flooded with hundreds of great responses. Here are many of them, with links to the people who were brave enough to share.
ferolea: Quiting my job go around the world was easy. Coming back… that’s the bravest I’ve been.
avalonmel: Agreed to teach uni computer science course to 130+ students when I was 22… and afraid of public speaking.
TylerLClark: I moved halfway across the country for an unpaid internship. At the end, they offered me a job. Glad I took the risk!
opheliaswebb: Called off my wedding. And killed a spider in the shower. Equally terrifying.
“My belief about fear and courage is that all of us are scared of all kinds of things, so the wrong approach is to pretend to be fearless. Instead, acknowledge your fears, but proceed anyway” (Chris Guillebeau).
Read more here and get started with taking your own life changing risks!
Image by NickNguyen
EcoLavish Fashion Show Nov.11
Monday, November 8th, 2010
EcoLavish is Seattle’s only eco-friendly fashion show and is back for the 3rd year! This annual event features up-and-coming and established eco-conscious fashion designers from around the Pacific Northwest. The designer line-up includes Cameron Levin Couture, Revival Ink, Vian Hunter, based in Madison Valley, and Twice Blushed, located in Ballard, and jewelry designers: FlutterBudget, Sucree Jewelry, and Word Wise Jewelry.
EcoLavish has graciously offered an exclusive $5 off admission discount to CRAVE, use code ‘CRAVE10′ at checkout. EcoLavish is the last of the annual fashion shows in Seattle until 2011. You won’t want to miss out on this awesome event! Eco-swag bags will be complimentary for the first 50 guests.
Purchase your tickets here.
Pertinent Details:
What: Seattle’s Only Eco-Friendly Fashion Show
When: November 11, 2010 7:00 PM
Where: Herban Feast SODO Park 3200 First Ave S. Seattle, WA 98134
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*written by Mollie Ruiz-Hopper
This Thursday: Get Hitched Give Hope
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
We all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so why not end this great month of awareness and hope with a swanky party that benefits breast cancer patients. Seattle’s premier bridal giving event is upon us, Get Hitched Give Hope. Join other brides in this lavish event, Seattle’s top wedding professionals invite you to exhibit their services and products. All to help make your special day that much more memorable. Join fellow CRAVE Entrepreness Barbie Hull of Barbie Hull Photography for an unforgettable evening! There will also be a silent auction, raffle and exciting live auction with so many great items up for grabs! Everything from pre-wedding prep, to day-of services, even items for moms and dads.
So don’t miss out on this wonderful evening of fun and giving, tickets are going fast! To learn more about this event and snag your tickets click here.
Pertinent Details:
When: Thursday October 28, 2010
Where: The Four Season’s Hotel Seattle
Why: To help grant wishes to stage 4 breast cancer patients
Is branding BS or does it help you hit the bullseye? Lively event October 19th!
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
What the heck is “branding” anyway? Well, it’s definitely not just your logo, that’s for sure! Is brand all smoke and mirrors or actually the path to more profits? And how can businesses with strapped budgets hope to build such buzzworthy brands? Come out and join this no-holds barred interview and dynamic discussion about branding, customer connections and what it really takes to build buzz for your business, yourself or your cause.
Author Maria Ross, a CRAVE gal who just published Branding Basics for Small Business: How to Create an Irresistible Brand on Any Budget (2010, Norlights Press) and Seattle’s favorite interviewer and bon vivant Warren Etheredge of The Warren Report are teaming up on October 19 for a great Seattle event. Part author interview, cocktail hour, lively debate, and gossip-fest on branding do’s and don’ts, Branding: BS or Bullseye? hits Seattle on October 19th, 2010.
“We wanted to strip branding ‘naked’ and elaborate on some themes from the book, “ says Maria, founder and chief strategist of Red Slice, a branding consultancy who’s done business with everyone from solopreneurs to Microsoft. “People are tired of the hype and just want the straight scoop on what brand is, how it impacts their bottom line and how to know if they are doing it right…or veering way off course.”
Maria’s book has received praise and kudos from marketing experts and best-selling authors, including Midwest Book Review and marketingsherpa.com. And CRAVE is featured as a branding case study to boot!
Whether you are launching, refreshing, evolving or clarifying a brand, this event is not to be missed! They’ll talk through case studies, as well as dissect some fabulous (and not so fabulous) branding moves from the big guys that we can apply to our own small businesses. Ask your questions, get top-notch advice and gain valuable insight into branding that will boost your biz.
BizTechDay Seattle 2010 – Saturday September 18
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
Surround yourself with the smartest entrepreneurs and leaders in Seattle.
Join 200 entrepreneurs in Seattle Bell Harbor International Conference Center on September, 18 2010 and experience the convergence of the most impactful business ideas, the most powerful business network and the most innovative technologies.
You will be immersed in what’s-next business strategies and technology tools for building brands and profits while making a difference in the world.
Not only is the speaker lineup phenomenal, the attendees are going to be amazing too. You’ll be interacting with local entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, press, investors and government agencies. Get involved. Engage with the smartest people in the community.
Come see the best of the best in technology demos hand picked by the BizTechDay crew. Get up to speed on the latest technology tools that will make a difference to your business.
Pertinent Details:
Register here
When: September, 18 2010
Conference – 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
After Party – 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Pier 66, 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121
CRAVE Apprentice Meetup
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010Apprenticeship Opportunity 2010/2011
For school credit and/or experience
- Are you a savvy girl about town with a passion for small business and community?
- Are you looking for a fun apprenticeship in fashion, beauty, retail and/or publishing?
- Are you looking for a fun, fast-paced apprenticeship in fashion, public relations and event planning? CRAVE Seattle is currently accepting applications for the 2010-2011 apprenticeship program.
We are holding apprentice interviews this Thursday! This will be very informal event to meet some new faces. We are hoping you can come hang out with us and learn more about CRAVE and how to get involved!
Pertinent Details:
When: Thursday, September 16th from 7-8:30pm
Where: Coffee Drop Café located at 5001 25th Ave. NE. Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98105.
*Located just past the University Village on 25th Ave. (Located in the Northcut Landing Plaza).
About CRAVE Seattle:
CRAVE Seattle innovatively connects small business owners with the customers they crave. We fuel entrepreneurial communities with know-how and fresh ideas – from business consulting to shopping fairs to new media. The CRAVE company knows what it takes to thrive in the modern marketplace.
CRAVE Seattle hosts monthly Business Chats, Seasonal Shopping Parties and Quarterly Business Symposiums focused on women-owned small businesses. CRAVE also publishes CRAVE Seattle guidebooks which highlight over 150 of the best women- owned businesses throughout the city.
Please RSVP:
email sydney@craveparty.com with any questions and to receive more info about this opportunity!