I Buy Entrepreneur

Well, do you??

Fresh Hair Color

Fresh Hair Color, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

As you know, I've been submerged in launching our new company, the new home for women entrepreneurs, Collective-E. And if you don't know about launching a website, they can take longer than expected. Especially when you are launching 3 other websites for clients at the
same time.

So, as if personal reputation wasn't enough, I declared that I would not cut or color my hair until the website launched. And let me tell you, that is hard. Every time I PMS, I crave getting my haircut. And I get strange urgings to jog, but I jog anyway, but these cravings are like, in the evening, I can't do anything else but run and feel my heart pounding.

Back to haircuts. So we've been on the verge of launching Collective-E for several weeks now, furiously emailing directions to each other while driving to respective holiday destinations. So come Xmas, I was in Columbus, OH, home of my husbands family, and destination of my Ohio hair cuttery, WTS, a salon run by two rock star men. My man, Glen, is also a bouncer, and an amazing hair stylist. So I couldn't resist sneaking away to him during one of four family Christmases.

Result? Blond on top, and Mocha #5 mixed with a little of #6 I think on the bottom. Doesn't it look like animal fur? He straight ironed it, and I haven't been able to get it quite that straight since.

But I share this with you now, because since I cheated, and cut and colored before the launch, I couldn't share it with you until the site launched...So...it has launched!!! Ans here is my refreshed haircut! Go visit www.collective-e.com and tell me if you think that it was
worth the wait...

Cannot Wait for Collective-E Meeeting

Because it's at a spa. A spa! How enjoyable will this be? Collective-E members are having our first Collective Social, where we will hear what everybody does, learn more about what everybody needs, and tap into the collective energy that women entrepreneurs produce when they are in a room together. And what better a room that at AmorePacific Spa, who is graciously letting us use the space for the meeting! Not only that, but Melissa of AmorePacific is packaging little skin care gifts as giveaways at our holiday party on December 2nd (you are totally invited, see details here), and may also supply a door prize give-away. Um...I think I will rig the drawing pool? ;)

I've been wanting to get a facial, a desire which has turned into a need, because David just announced, after staring at a new PMS zit on my forehead, that he's so glad I get zits, as it shows that I am still young. I think he can buy me a facial now, right? ;)

New Business Venture for Me :: Collective-E

Everyone:

This is an adaption of an update I created for people who I know on email, and here it is now for those of you who I know via online outlets, including FashionMista Comments, and even those who don't comment, but silently keep up with how this designer quit her day job to make her dream job a reality. And let me tell you - this is a reality that has taken on its own life based on listening to the needs of and support from others.

Now that I'm back from a beautiful lifetime union, I am back in the saddle, quickly getting back into client projects, as well building that of my own new project with two other partners, set to launch Sept. 24th, called Collective-E. Some of you know about it already, some of you are coming to the launch party, and I hope more of you will be coming to the launch party and will check out our website when we officially unveil it. But mainly, I wanted you to hear about this new venture from me personally.

A few months ago, two women and I got together in order to grow an experience we shared together in a Ladies Who Launch incubator here in NYC. These two women are Sabina Ptacin, co-founder of Red Branch PR, and Beth Schoenfeldt, co-founder of Ladies Who Launch and the incubator series. We recognized, and thrived from (hello...I quit my day job to expand Katie James to include website design!) the power of a group of women and the resulting sharing of ideas, vision and strength.

Sabina, Beth and I wanted to continue pumping business strategies, online tips, PR leads and whatever else crossed our paths, to everyone we knew, which culminated in the forming of www.collective-e.com, a world-wide collective of women entrepreneurs with tools to leverage this community to exponentially increase resources, opportunities and support. As businesses owners, we recognized four key elements to creating and maintaining a successful business: business strategy, online strategy, solid PR and business branding, and Community. We are experienced in each of these areas and are working with experts in these and more areas in order to nurture ideas and build brands.

Our launch party is Sept. 24th from 7-9pm here in New York, at the woman-centered shared office work space, In Good Company (it's beautiful, btw). I'd love to see you if you can come! I know it's a little short notice, but that's ok, because we will be having other parties, events and workshops. Some of them may be member-only, but maybe you'll be a member by then. ;) To get details about the launch party, go to www.collective-e.com. You can even freely participate in a "live" gift bag we are doing, that is kind of like trick-or-treat! We've started a newsletter of free PR Leads that will soon be member only, so sign up for some great leads, tips, opportunities and future offers at www.collective-e.com.

Thanks as always, and maybe I'll see you on the 24th! Space is limited, so if you can only come for a bit, that's ok! David will be there as the bartender/photographer/supporter.

xoxo,
Katie

ps: This new venture is in addition to Katie James, LLC and all of the projects that spiral out of that!