Buzz-A-Mom: Crissy Herron of Indie Biz Chicks

I really love getting to know more about successful women online entrepreneurs. This week I got to interview Crissy Herron, owner and founder of Indie Biz Chicks, which offers “business, marketing, and publicity info for women who’d rather work for themselves, than work for the man.”

Can you tell us about your background and family?

I’m a Michigan girl, born and raised. I moved to Alaska in my early 20s but am now back in Michigan. I learned a lot while I was there, and I miss it, but I’m also glad to be back home in the Midwest.

I was married for 10 years but am currently single. It’s an adjustment, but it has taught me a lot about myself! And I am very lucky to have the family that I have. I’m especially close to my mom, my sister and my two nephews. I know that no matter what, they’ll always love me and that’s a very nice feeling to have! It’s been really nice this past year to be home and be a real part of everyday life with them.

What are your offline hobbies and interests?

I like to read – I could literally spend hours in a book store! I like to go movies, especially in the middle of the day when no one else is there and you can have the whole theater to yourself. I’m a big fan of museums, whether it’s art or history or whatever. if it’s a museum, I want to go. And if a band that I like is playing in the area, I’ll probably be there!

What makes you so passionate about helping women start and grow their own businesses?

I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. (I did live in Alaska for about 7 years, but am now back in Michigan). Michigan as a whole has seen some very hard economic times, but I do think that Flint has been one of the hardest hit areas. We’ve had the highest unemployment rate in the nation for a very, very long time. I’ve seen a lot of businesses crumble and watched about half of my city’s population move away to find work elsewhere.

And the fact that a lot of women are stuck in bad relationships because of money issues. If a woman has the means to support herself, she is empowered and that can change her whole life.

Can you tell our readers about Indie Biz Chicks? Who is your target audience and how can Indie Biz Chicks empower them?

Indie Biz Chicks is aimed at women in their 20s and 30s who’d rather work for themselves, than work for the man! I think Indie Biz Chicks is empowering because it provides real life information people need to start and grow their own business. There is nothing overly fancy or technical. It’s stuff anyone can do… When someone starts their own business, they have the ability to generate
extra income.

That ‘extra income’ can mean different things to different people; it may mean earning enough to pay for a few ‘extras’ the day job doesn’t cover, or it may mean earning enough to quit the day job. Either way, earning that extra money is very empowering, and being able to earn money can really affect a woman’s self esteem. My goal is to help women realize just how much they are worth and what they bring to the table! And of course, I’d like to help them earn some money to put some food on that table, too!

Thanks for for a great interview, Crissy! Visit Crissy at Indie Biz Chicks or follow her on Twitter @indiebizchicks.