If you’ve clicked around a bit, you’ve noticed that Vianza is brand new.

Not only do we have a spiffy new look for the blog (which we explained last week), we also have a MUCH simpler signup process. And we’ve taken all of our alpha feedback and improved the platform to make your merchandise sourcing and wholesale order workflow run smoother.

Take a tour.

That’s right -- Vianza’s wholesale e-commerce platform brings indie designers of home décor, gift accessory & fashion products together with their buyers to reduce the overhead cost of their order transactions. Many of you spend up to 20-40% of your work every week sourcing merchandise and managing orders using insufficient tools and costly business processes. Yikes!

Now, Vianza members can source, sell and service all wholesale transactions with greater ease and efficiency using a service that brings everything together.

Best yet - you get a 30 day free trial when you sign up as a seller (always free for buyers) and we’ll even help you add your wholesale catalog to the site!

Click here to join our private network of sellers and buyers using Vianza’s wholesale e-commerce system.

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Well hello there!

If you’re reading this in a feed reader or via email,click right on over so you can see (and admire) our new design!

This week we got a fresh new look (along with fresh new features for users, but we’ll talk more about that next week) and a beautiful new blog (and a Twitter and Facebook facelift).

What’s that mean for you?

For starters, check out that sidebar!

You can find posts in a plethora of new ways - by author, by category, and by date.

And lookee there! Fresh new categories like For Retailers and Marketing your Indie Biz, full of the exact advice you want!

We also rounded up our very posts in the Featured post area, so you can get the very best without searching and searching!

The best part of the new blog redesign is that cute little 'Sign up' button. See it?

Pop in your email and you’ll get the very best of the blog compiled into a sweet weekly email. We know you don’t always have time to drop by every day (and we do research and create 5 new posts a week!), so we’ll send you the week’s best.

What do you think?

Let us know in the comments!

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Dear you, (yes you - reader, designer, retailer, dreamer)

Thank you for making our first year delightful, surprising, and educational. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, telling your stories and inspiring us to create what you need.

Thank you for sharing your struggles with us on the phone, in long emails, and in short + sweet tweets.

We hope that even while in closed alpha, Vianza has brought you ease of selling, clarity of communication, and the information you need to have a profitable, fabulous 2012.

We can’t wait to see what 2012 brings to your business, the community, and the designers + retailers already using Vianza.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mita and the Vianza team

PS. We just can’t resist sharing some some last-minute wrapping ideas::

●        Free printable tags from How About Orange

●        Fun StarWars Snowflake templates

●        Monogram gift tags

●        Typographic gift wrap

PPS. Wanna bring your offline relationships with suppliers, wholesalers and retailers online? Toss the PDFs, emails + faxes and use Vianza to manage every aspect of it, by clicking “request an invitation” here.

Image from Vianza user, Luminology

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Hey there, it’s Tara, Crafter of Community and Flight Attendant for the new pilot program.

I know you have questions.

You’ve clicked around the site, you’ve read some of the pages, and now you’re pondering: how would Vianza fit in your business?

And if you did want to use it, would it take a long time? Or be quick?

The truth is, you have these questions because we haven’t answered them. 

While we’re in closed alpha, you can’t SEE the platform, you can’t poke around, kick the tires.

This is intentional, because we wanted to get out into the world, meet our people, and start getting feedback before we even knew what questions you’d have, before we knew everything we’d be (and in what order we’d become that).

When we were ready for you (designers, wholesalers, retailers), we created a pilot program and then we started quietly bringing people aboard. If you’ve requested an invite, you’ve probably heard from me about it.

If you haven’t requested an invite, this is the first you’re hearing about it.

It’s been a quiet process because the pilot program is all about helping you and your business and your relationships (well, just the business relationships) come onto the platform.

We lead you through a step-by-step process,  answer all your questions, help you meet the right suppliers or small-batch artisans to make your work (or, if you’re a retailer, we reach out to the kind of designers you want to carry)...we even talk to you on the phone, if that’s the way you want to chat about your questions, concerns or feedback.

But now the pilot program is winding down (or coming in for a landing) and we want to give every last person who wants on, a chance to come aboard.

If you want one-on-one help integrating Vianza into your business (and you’re a designer with at least 2 wholesale accounts or a retailer), you have until November 30th to join the pilot program. Joining = designers have their catalog published and retailers have their accounts activated

To come aboard, just click Request an Invite on our home page.

Why you might want to join:

● Pilot-eers get free access for 6 months (that means no membership fee!)
● Measuring results - we take a snapshot of your biz (via a short questionnaire) when you come in, then we’ll follow-up at the end of your 6 months with a report on what’s changed (I’m betting your time spent on ADMINISTRIVIA goes WAY down).
● One-on-one help via email or phone to join the site and get settled with minimal hassle
● Free templates and support for inviting in your business relationships (suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, everyone!)
● Free catalog and linesheets uploading (you fill in a spreadsheet and we do all the work of getting it online)
● Help finding suppliers, small batch producers, and partners (if that’s what you need)
● Once you are setup, we ensure you’ve leveraged the features and functions most valuable for your business

All that comes to a $600 value. But you’ll get it for free, so you can free yourself up from running the business and start managing the business. In exchange, we only ask for your feedback on how we can improve Vianza to meet your business needs.

Here at Vianza we know a lot about how to source, sell , scale and run a sustainable business and we can’t wait to share that with you.

Sound like something you need? Come aboard by clicking Request an Invite on our home page.

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I'm delighted to have a full weekend pass to CCE to give away.

The winner is:

Shannon Henry of Polymath Design Lab

To get your pass, email tara.swiger@vianza.com and she'll arrange a time to meet you the first morning!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

If you'd like to be the first to know about future giveaways, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
 

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(Read to the bottom to enter a contest to win a weekend pass to Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs)

Are you a creative business in or near San Fransisco?

Would you like to spend a weekend surrounded by other designers, creatives and smarties?

We (Tara and I) are super excited to be attending the Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs, August 5-7 in San Francisco. 

I'm going to be speaking on a panel about taking your business to the next level (with Christine and Evan of Yellow Owl Workshop, Brandon Levey and Jenny Hart) and we're hosting lunch on Saturday, where we have some really phenomenal gifts to give away. (Hint: these are not your standard stickers + notebooks. We're talking organic cotton, handwoven....and gorgeous. You gotta come to see what they are!)

If you want to attend, we have great news for you: we have ONE weekend pass (value:$265 ) to give away. 

Entering is simple: Comment below or tweet a link to the contest (here's a short one: http://bit.ly/ccepass). Be sure to include @vianza in your tweet, so we see your entry!"

We'll choose one winner on July 22nd.

Please: only enter if you know you can make it August 5-7! We want to make sure the winner gets good use out of the pass! 

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Designers, are you gleefully adding collections & linesheets to your wholesale catalog?

Retailers, are you delightedly flipping through the catalogs, stocking your shops with the best design-led work?

If not, it’s time to request an invitation.

Here’s how:
 

Already dancing with your alpha invite?

You might find these How-To videos helpful.

And remember, if you ever have any questions, ask ‘em in the comments!

Photo Credit :: Copyright All rights reserved by SilvaAzniv

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We want YOU (and your smarts)!

We're looking for mentors, thought leaders and smarties, across every category to share your knowledge with the community via the new Profitista program.

What is it exactly?

The Profitista Program is our experiment in sharing knowledge across the community.
In return for sharing your knowledge, Vianza will be spreading the news of YOU on the blog, in the newsletters and other PR programs.

You’ll also have the inside scoop as the Profitista Advisory Board that will help prioritize features/functions for the Vianza platform.

As a mentor, you have a few ways of sharing your (vast!) knowledge with the community:

● Write a monthly column for the Vianza blog.
● Participate in live Q+A sessions with the community.
● Create guides for new Vianza-users. For example, if you are a tradeshow pro, you can co-author a guide on how new designers should decide on participating in tradeshows or how to be prepared for their first tradeshow.

Your commitment can be whatever you'd like it to be. I know you're busy running a successful business and my vision for this program is that each mentor will spend only 1-2 hours a month adding value to the community.

If you’re aching to put your hard-won insight to use, comment below or send us an email: hello@vianza.com and we’ll get back to you with the details.

Know someone who would be the perfect Profitista? Send us her name/email and we’ll contact her!

Photo Credit :: All rights reserved by Dr Cullen 

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Are you an independent retailer, boutique or specialty store?

Are you tired of shlepping through the trade show floor trying to remember the stuff you want to buy or keeping file folders of designers/producers printed catalogs?

Yeah, we thought so.

That's why we're sending YOU an invitation to join Vianza

On Vianza, you can discover (and buy from) designers + small-batch producers 24 hours a day, without printing, faxing or emailing anything. No matter where in the world they are....
Our catalogs include all the info you want to know (how long it will take to fill the order, or what is the minimum opening order or what is the country of origin etc.......you get the drift).

To be one of the first retailers inside Vianza, request an invitation.

(be extra-sure to include info about your shop so we can invite ya!)

Image: Some rights reserved by nimboo

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I'm excited to announce the winners of our Indie ArtiCensus giveaway!

How the winners were determined

Everyone who completed the Census was entered into a numbered database and I used the Random Number Generator to generate a list of numbers that won.  I then assigned prizes based on when their numbers came up (first five: toolbox, next three: planners, etc).

The winners are.....

For Alex Franzen's Self-Promotional Toolbox:

1. Brittany of The Home Ground (@thehomeground)
2. Stacey of Nisse.Works (@nisseworks)
3. Denise of My Pretty Clothing (@My_Pretty_SB)
4. Kristine of KadyEllebee (@kdlb)
    

Winners of Mayi Carles' Life is Messy Planner

1. Shannon of PolyMath Design Lab (@spiralshannon)
2. Helen of Numsi Designs (@numsi)
3. Andrea of Embellishment Cafe (@annaline_39)
    

Winners of Tara Gentile's 52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion

1. Kate of DragonFlyFibers (@dragonflyfibers)
2. Amy of Antemortem Arts (@amysnotdeadyet)
    

And the winner of the Grand Prize: Danielle LaPorte's Fire Starter Session:

Dryden of Designated Dryden (@designatedryden)

Congratulations to all the winners!

I'll be emailing you today with your prizes, so watch your inbox.

And whether you're a winner or not, I hope you'll click through to see the sites of your fellow designers.

• taraswiger's blog
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Welcome to Let's Chat, the weekly conversation spot, where everyone is invited to join in: share your insights, frustrations or brilliant solutions in the comments.

Today's the last day to take the Indie ArtiCensus and be entered to win one of the great prizes!

Have you taken it yet? If so, what did you think?

If not, what are you waiting for?
It closes TODAY at midnight PST.

Take it here!

Image: All rights reserved by fujiellena

• mitapatnaik's blog
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Just 5 days left to fill out the Indie ArtiCensus and win one of the fabulous prizes!

I'm sure you're already craving them, but just in case you aren't completely familiar with all of them, today we're going to share a bit more about each prize (and how it will totally rock your business):

Alexandra Franzen's Self-Promotion Toolbox

From Promotional Wordsmith (and our own dear Featured Writer + Interview Wrangler), Alex Franzen, this Toolbox is chock full o' everything you need to spread the word on your fabulousness.
It includes:

• 35 Ways To Get Your Foot in the %#$!& Door
• 10 Lifescripts for Entrepreneurs
• 10 Self-Promotion Notions
• 17 Coaches, Gurus, Goddesses & Lifesavers
• 33 Web Haunts & Digital Tools
• 6 Info-Products That'll Rock Your Socks
• 12 Resume DO's & DON'Ts
• Manifesto Cheat Sheet (Bigger & Badder)
• 10 Mantras You Need To Memorize
• Forcibly Expand Your Network: A Game!
• ...& The Worst-Case Scenario Exercise

In short: 30 pages of soul-rocking self-promotion.

Mayi Carles' Life is Messy Planner.

Beautiful AND useful, this planner gets you on track while making you smile.

It includes:

• a weekly blog planner
• a weekly meal planner
• a weekly planner
• a monthly action planner
• a monthly blog planner
• a goal generator
• a resolution board + tracker  + with example guide
• a bullet proof your goals worksheet + with example guide
• a 2011 earning goals spreadsheet
• a 2011 investment spreadsheet
• a 2011 living expenses spreadsheet

Tara Gentile's 52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion

You know you should be blogging to spread the word of your designs...but you just don't know what to say?

Enter Tara Gentile, wise and gentle teacher, who will guide you through exploring your own passion, your creative business, and your relationship with the community around you.

And the Grand Prize: Danielle LaPorte's FireStarter Session

Light the fire in your business, with this crazyuseful digital experience (a book! worksheets! videos!).
I bought this book nearly a year ago and I still go back and reread sections or fill in worksheets when I need a dose of clarity.

There are 19 Sessions, about 13 videos + 22 worksheets

Some of the Sessions are:

• True Strengths + The Metrics of Ease
• Branding: Clarifying the Diamond of You
• Products + Services: Making Stuff That Feels Good to Make
• Money: More is More, Enough is Plenty
• Web Design + Traffic: Your Virtual Real-Estate
• Stamina + Losses
• Time + Fear Management
• Visioning: Authentic Dreaming
• Collaboration: Supporting Characters

Want it?

Just fill in the survey (shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes!) and make SURE you put your email in there.

If you really REALLY want it, tweet this link:  http://svy.mk/articensus and we'll add you to the metaphorical hat TWICE.

We'll announce winners here on the blog next Tuesday (along with a link to your site, if you include it in the survey) and we'll email you if you've won.

Fine Print

Each winner will win one prize. The drawing will be completely random, using a random number generator.
All prizes will be emailed on Tuesday, as a link (you'll click the link and then download), so make sure you provide a working email address.

Any questions on winning?

As 'em in the comments!

• taraswiger's blog
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Welcome to Let's Chat, our weekly conversation, where everyone is invited to join in: share your insights, frustrations or brilliant solutions in the comments.

This week, we're all about the survey.
Reading your responses (and choosing the fabulous prizes) is all I've been thinking about (well that, and the upcoming beta release that will enable buying).
-
So today, we'd love to hear what you think about the survey.

• Have you taken it yet? If not, get over there!
• Are you dying to tell us something that we didn't  already ask?
• Do you have any questions about the prizes? On Monday we're going to talk a little more about them, but we'd love to hear about your experiences with using them in your own business!

Share in the comments and we may quote you (with a link back to your site, of course) on Monday.

Image: All rights reserved by Lee Creighton

• mitapatnaik's blog
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To support our quest to become the BEST social marketplace on the 'net, we're inviting YOU to participate in the 2011 Independent Artisan Census — or Indie ArtiCensus.

Take the census right now, RIGHT HERE.  You've got until 12pm PST on April 22nd to complete the census.

The whole shebang shouldn’t take more 5 or 10 minutes, and to say THANK YOU for your time, you’ll be entered in a random drawing to win one of several super-sweet prizes. The big winner(s) will be notified on April 24th, and also announced here on the Vianza blog.

Intrigued? Whet your whistle by ogling a few of our ultra-sweet prizes:

One of FIVE: Self-Promotional Toolbox by Alexandra Franzen

One of THREE: Life is Messy Planners by Mayi Carles

One of TWO: 52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion by Tara Gentile

ONE fabulous Fire Starter Session by Danielle LaPorte

Want to score a prize, crazy-bad?

Tweet a link to our census for an extra chance to win (and be sure to include our Twitter handle — @Vianza — so we can spot your shout-out!). The shortlink is: http://svy.mk/articensus

Curious?

We'll be sharing the census results to everyone who takes the survey AND everyone on our newsletter list. If the survey's not for you, sign up for our newsletter to learn what we find!

Thanks in advance for your time — and deeply valuable insights!

~ The Vianza Team

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Have you requested an invitation yet?
If so, you've probably received an invitation and are ready to get started.

If you haven't and it's been at least a week since requesting it it's due to one of three reasons.

1. You aren't located in the United States or India.

Our goal is to facilitate relationships (and profits!) for suppliers, designers and retailers globally, but we're starting slow. Until we finish working out the kinks with customs and shipping, we are allowing countries in one by one.
To make sure we get to work on YOUR country, please request an invitation AND tell your friends to do the same. We're going in order of demand and right now the UK and Canada are at the top of the list.

2. You haven't included enough information about your business and/or you don't wholesale yet.

We're in alpha, which means we are still building this site and improving it every single week. It's important that  the very first users add their wholesale catalogs as soon as possible so we can find the kinks + fix them. For this reason, we're first inviting those who we can clearly see (based on the information they provided with their request) are ready to transfer their already-existing wholesale catalog to Vianza.

If you're not ready yet, that's ok!

Keep reading the blog to learn more about growing into wholesale and know that you'll be at the top of the list when we open to the public.

3. You are a retailer or service provider.

Right now (alpha, remember!) we're just open to designers and makers. In the next phase (beta!) we'll be inviting retailers and  service providers. Please request an invitation, so we know you want in and you'll be the first of your kind to be invited (this also means you are helping us building it, through your feedback!).

Thanks for your patience!

If you're still waiting on an invite, please join us at the blog, on Twitter and Facebook. We're always asking for feedback and we'd love to build the site to YOUR specifications.

If you've got your invitation, what are you waiting for?

(No really, we want to know how we can make it easier! Do you have questions? Need help uploading your catalog? Ask in the comments or at hello@vianza.com)

Image: Some rights reserved by marc falardeau

• taraswiger's blog
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Hello!

I wanted to take a little break from the scramble of launching + building to introduce you to Tara.

Tara's our hmmm...what to call her? Community Manager? Social(media)ite? Social Voice of Vianza?

We may not know what to call her, but you've already met her if you hang out with us on Twitter, Facebook or in the blog comments. She tweets, sends the newsletters, wrangles the blog posts and answers your questions (you can reach her anytime at hello@vianza.com).

She'll keep you connected to the newest Vianza goodness while keeping us connected to what you need and want.

Want to get to know her better?

• Tara makes her living (nearly 2 years!) handspinning eco-friendly yarn. Yes, yarn!

• Her passion for helping other crafters earn a living makes her a perfect fit for Vianza (you can read more of her business-y thoughts at Crafting a Business).

• Tara has a yarn-making alter ego, The Blonde Chicken. The name is a nod to a grandpa's nickname. The story is ridiculously cute.

• She has a pink streak in her hair. Her 11-year old brother wishes it blue. We have it on good authority she may make the change in time for his birthday this month.

• Most of her shoes and handknit shawls are pink, even though she insists BLUE is her favorite color

Now that you know us a little better (you can read more about me, Mita, here), we'd love to get to know YOU! Leave a comment with a weird fact (to get you started: what's your craziest-colored shoe?) or just to say hello.

Did you know we add new functionality every week? We are VERY close to sending out your invitations, so if you haven't already requested one, go do that here.

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