On this week’s episode of Boutique Cafe, Daria announces our very first Corporate Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson’s Aveeno Baby products. Together with Aveeno Baby and the MommyCast & Friends Family Channel we are making podcast history!! We invite you to click on the Aveeno Baby banner at the top of Boutique Cafe to learn more about their products (and to show just how active our community is!). Thanks so much for your support!

Our featured interview is with Momprenuer and online fabric store owner, Yvonne of Bunte Fabrics. Yvonne shares her love of fabric, notions, patterns and Euro design - along with her excitement in being a woman entrepreneur.

** GIVEAWAY: We invite you to check out www.buntefabrics.com and leave a comment in the shownotes this week. Please mention the name of your favorite fabric that Bunte carries, for a chance to win 1 yard of Laurena Poplin Blue fabric by Hilco!! Deadline: April 13, 2008 @ Midnight. A magnificent prize!

Are you a long time listener of Boutique Cafe? Perhaps you’ve advertised your momprenuer business or boutique on our website, or journeyed to our Boutique Cafe Girls Getaway Conference last year? Do you just HAVE to listen to each and every show? Do you long to be featured on the site? Whatever your interaction with Boutique Cafe we’d love to hear from you!

What do you love? How have we changed your podcasting experience? Have any of our shows inspired you with new ideas for your home and business? Are your children wearing boutique handmade clothing now? Are you blogging along with our Fashion Forward Challenges, or trying out products we recommend on the Daily Dish? Please let us know.

Here’s how to get involved… simply send in a Testimonial about your own personal experience with Boutique Cafe over the past three years. We’ll be sharing your messages and feedback on our site so other Moms like you can see exactly what Boutique Cafe has to offer.

Please send your testimonial directly, with subject “Fan Feedback” email us by clicking here. (*please include your name and url so we can link to you and give you credit for participating).

We thank you so very much for taking a moment out to share your thoughts and feelings about Boutique Cafe with us. Your participation is what makes this show and website so worthwhile. Once we have several testimonials we’ll make a page available for everyone to view and enjoy.

Here’s a great little gaget for all our momprenuers out there today, it’s a wireless keyboard and mouse from Rocketfish and is available for under $100 at Best Buy. “Why wireless?” you may ask, and my answer would be flexibility and convenience (something us work at home moms really can enjoy).

I tested the Rocketfish wireless keyboard and mouse at home. The first thing that impressed me was that it connected right away to my Mac, without needing ANY software disks to get started. I love that! And for those who use a PC, it’s also PC compatible too.

The next thing I adore was the sleek design and the extra space you will discover on your desktop without all those pesky wires. Why do you need to be attached to the computer? This allows you the option to spread out (in fact it works at a distance of 60′ - NICE). This savvy device comes Bluetooth-enabled, so it’s a cinch to transfer your favorite digital photos and MP3’s between your computer and Bluetooth products.

The Rocketfish combo comes in black, silver or red so you can customize your look for your specific office space. The laser mouse offer 4 way scrolling and ergonomic rubber supports for comfort and quality function. You’ll discover the wonder of wireless as your Rocketfish combo acts as a hub for you, making those file transfers a breeze. Lose the Wires, Keep the Performance, with Rocketfish you can do that and more. Oh and did I mention that it comes with batteries so its raring to go? That’s something the mommy in me really appreciates! - Daria

In this week’s show Daria dishes about some exceptional Boutique Launches (including: The Smocking Showcase with their Enchanted Easter, WisteriaLane’s Block Party, Lil Peas Hap-PEA Easter, and the 2nd Annual JM Modie Awards).

Also on the show, how to get involved with our BC Spring Gift Guide coming soon (email daria@boutiquecafe.com for details). Discussion in our Boutique Cafe Facebook Group about “Business Goals for The New Year” and responses from our cool members. Feel welcome to share your own business goals for 2008 in our shownotes as well, we’d love to support you in your endeavors.

2008 marks a new chapter in the life of Boutique Cafe. Our goal is to involve our listenership even further in producing great content and building a strong BC community. We have quite an interesting demographic of listeners including momprenuers, designers, SAHMs, working women, dads with great taste in podcasts and much much more!

If you have show suggestions, comments or would be interested in guest writing articles for Boutique Cafe in 2008 we welcome your input.

Announcement!! ** We will soon be hosting Boutique Cafe videocasts, and invite you to tape a quick segment for inclusion in our shows and email it to me at daria@boutiquecafe.com (inclusion in our shows isn’t guaranteed and will be based on the discretion of BC staff). Perhaps you’re a great seamstress and would like to share a quick tip, or maybe you’re a mom with a great idea to get your kids to sleep at night. We’re thrilled to include YOU this year in Boutique Cafe’s videopodcasts, and feel that this will bond our community further as we get to know each other even better! More on this will be coming soon so keep listening (AND WATCHING).

Happy New Year to all of our Boutique Cafe readers and listeners! Now that 2008 is finally here we’re excited to kick off the New Year with a bang and offer a special Banner Ad offer to our fellow designers, shop owners and group members. Buy two weeks of advertising on Boutique Cafe before (January 3rd) and receive 1 week free. This offer is good on any of our BC ad spaces including the sidebar, market or mini market options.

Click here to use our Ad Uploading Form >>, choose two weeks and the ad size you prefer, then once you attach your banner and information pay for your two week ad slot via Paypal. Your additional week will be added at time of purchase.

We look forward to promoting your business in 2008, and are grateful each day to be supporting Momprenuers and their talents on Boutique Cafe.

(**Once our spaces are filled we will not take more banners, first come first served, sorry no rain checks)

Ever wanted to write a press release for your company but didn’t know where to start? Looking to pitch your idea but don’t have any “real news”? Or do you aspire to win an industry award but haven’t the slightest clue how to begin? Whether you’re new to the art of public relations or an old pro, PR Cafe’s Definitive Guide to PR is a must-have resource for any business owner.

Sure, I’ve written press releases before but I was at a loss as to how I could best utilize the power of PR to grow our company. I don’t have much faith in (or a budget for) advertising, so what other options exist? Let me tell you, after browsing PR Cafe’s Definitive Guide to PR a whole new world has opened before my eyes. The Guide includes all three of PR Cafe’s guides: Fresh PR Press Release Pack, Fresh PR Strategy Pack, and Fresh PR Awards, Product Reviews, and Speaking Pack. And when they say “pack” them mean pack! We’re talking 72 pages of detailed, informative, easy-to-read and easy-to-implement ideas to turn your business into a million-dollar-plus business all by harnessing the power of PR.

When I said I had only browsed the Guide, don’t think it meant that’s all I’m planning to do. You can’t just browse this baby. I’ve only made it partway through the first section (Press Release Pack) because literally everything I’ve read is something I can implement into my own business. If the rest of the Guide is as quality as this first section it’s going to take me a while to get through it all as I’ll be reading every single word! I can’t wait to get to the section on creating the killer pitch for those hard-to-pitch editors! Read the rest of this entry »