Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild2010 Annual Conference » Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild http://www.soapguild.org/blog Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:28:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Legislation Info, Social Media and Labeling! http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/05/legislation-info-social-media-and-labeling/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/05/legislation-info-social-media-and-labeling/#comments Sun, 02 May 2010 21:54:23 +0000 HSMG Pgms and Svcs http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=1990 Day 3 of the Conference was jammed packed once again!  We started out with Legislation & Compliance Panel by Moderator Donna Maria Coles Johnson.  Kayla Fiorvanti, Lela Barker, Lelly Bloom, Marie Gale, Debbie May, Anne-Marie Faiola, Robbert Tisserand, Jarell Klaver, and Leigh O’Donnell discussed various aspects of current and potential regulations.

Next we all learned How to Use Social Media Marketing to Solidify Your Niche, Atract New Customers and Increase Sales by Donna Maria Coles Johnson.

Teachers Meet

During lunch the soapmaking teachers shared their ideas and goals networking about their experiences.

Marie Gale

Marie Gale enlightened the day with Soap & Cosmetic Labeling Requirements.

Kevin Dunn being announced by Elaine Koronich

Kevin Dunn being announced by Elaine Koronich

Kevin Dunn then spoke on Trace Analysis and Debbie Chialtas wowed everyone with Artistic Techniques in Glycerine Soap Crafting.

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Robert Tisserand

Saturday, May 1, started out fantastic at the HSMG Soapmaking Conference in beautiful Denver Colorado.   The guru of essential oils opened the day with a presentation on The Safe & Effective Use of Essential Oils in Soap.  We learned much!

Kayla Fiorivanti

After a break with great snacks and visits to the exhibitors, presenters Kayla Fiorivanti, Essential Wholesale, spoke on YOU are the Secret Ingredient: Formulating Your Dream Business and Alison Covarrubias, Branding Your Products for Effective Marketing.

Annual Meeting

The Inverness fed everyone a great lunch over our Annual Meeting where the Board of Directors presented their hard work for the year.

Marie Gale, webmaster for the HSMG, then explained Getting the Most Out of the HSMG Website.

Marie Gale

In the afternoon you had a choice again between Alison and Kayla guiding us on ways to make our business profitable.

Soapy Sales:  The Secret to eCommerce Success presented by Jamila White and Debbie May presented Taking Your Business to the Next Level.

Saving the best for last is the much awaited Essential Wholesale – Wild West Party!  Need we say more!  Here are the photos!

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David Fisher-About.com and HSMG Social Media Director-Maria Gelnett

David Fisher had been making soap for about 5 years when he started a family and had some major surgery in 2004.  Re-evaluating life, he decided he would change some things and follow his dream of being a writer.

Simultaneosly, About.com awarded him the contract to write about soapmaking and candlemaking.  There are 750 guides to different topics in general however David’s specialty is soap and candles.  Many HSMG members were inspired by David’s writings about liquid, cold process and melt and pour soapmaking.

His topics are geared for a beginner audience so his goal is to help you to get started by giving the basics and keeping them up to date.  He constantly refreshes his writings as his experience and knowledge grows.  Good reason to visit the site often to get updates.  www.candleandsoap.about.com

David gets email questions from all over the world since soapmaking is indigenous to many countries.

We are honored to have David with us at the HSMG Denver Conference, and he is excited to meet, learn and network with HSMG speakers, Board of Directors and members.

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/05/about-com/feed/ 2 Networking Extravaganza http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/networking-extravaganza/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/networking-extravaganza/#comments Sat, 01 May 2010 02:28:10 +0000 HSMG Pgms and Svcs http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=1949 Seated randomly to enforce networking, 300 people enjoyed a healthy delicious lunch.  Post lunch our wonderful speakers continued with The Story of Pangea Organics by Joshua Onysko

Joshua Onysko

and The Nature of Chemistry with Cindy Jones.

Next we’ll enjoy a visit with all the wonderful exhibitors to get assistant to run our soap businesses.

A full day we all had choices of attending MP Crash Course with Debbie Chialtas, Ditch your Thermometer with Amy Kalinchuk, or Liquid Soapmaking with Anne Marie Faiola.

Soapylove, Debbie Chialtas

Not done yet Kelly Bloom talked about Master Batch Soap Techniques and Marla Bosworth

Marla Bosworth

shared New Opportunities for your MP Soap Business.

We finished the day off with a gala event by Wholesale Supples Plus complements of Debbie May.  What a great day!

Debbie May

The Central NY Soapmakers decided to relax and connect at the Fireside Lounge.  Just the best when everyone speaks your language.

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/networking-extravaganza/feed/ 0 Welcome Orientation http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/welcome-orientation/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/welcome-orientation/#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:52:04 +0000 HSMG Pgms and Svcs http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=1943 Leigh O’Donnell, President and Feliciai Favroth, Conference Chair welcomed a full auditorium of 303 attendees, our largest ever and gave appreciation and details of the Conference to all!

The room was filled with excitement and eagerness to learn and network.

Cheryl Peterson, Vendor Coordinator, acquired $17,000 in donated raffle prizes!  Many were purchasing tickets in hopes of winning the awesome prizes.

The Exhibitor area was buzzing with activity during the break time!

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/welcome-orientation/feed/ 0 Conference Registration Begins http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/conference-registration-begins/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/conference-registration-begins/#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:37:07 +0000 HSMG Pgms and Svcs http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=1939 The Handcrafted Soapmakers 2010 Conference is in session from April 30 through May 2, with early registration on the evening of April 29.

Every registration includes:

  • Access to all Speaker topics and sessions including the Experts Panel.
  • Access to all special events, parties and networking events.
  • All conference meals and breaks.
  • Registration pack to be mailed in March 2010.
  • Conference attendee pack.
  • All HSMG gifts and goodies
  • Industry goodie bag
  • All sponsored gifts and goodies
  • Access to the Exhibitor room
  • Entry to the Awards Dinner on May 2, 2010
  • Entry into at least one Raffle
  • Lots of networking time with other soapmakers and industry experts
  • Tons of fun and information!
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Barb and Vicki

Volunteer Barb Delossantos (Board of Directors Nominee) has set up the Soapers Showcase in the Inverness Hotel main lobby area.  Stop by and register your premier soaps in the competition between 4:00 pm Thursday and noon on Friday.  Voter ballots can be submitted at the showcase table starting at noon on Friday with a deadline of 6:00 pm on Saturday.  Please stop by and visit Barb and assistant Victoria Marsted and see the talent among us.

All competition soaps and display items, as well as Conference attendee donated soaps will be sent to the Sacred Heart House of Denver.  Sacred Heart House is a non profit organization that supports women and families with the opportunities to restart their lives with services of their in house stabilization program.  Sacred Heart House supports clients basic care needs to housing.  During their last fiscal year they supported 230 homeless individuals, 61 mothers with 118 children and 51 single women to assist in restarting their lives.

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Spa Lobby

Have you booked your spa treatment?  The Spa at The Inverness, where rich colors, tumbled stones, ambient light, and pure, gently flowing water all combine to usher you into a uniquely urban Denver, Colorado spa experience. Upon arrival, you will immediately begin to lose yourself in surroundings inspired by the simple beauty of the region’s natural elements.

Phone: 303.397.7808
Email: InvernessSpa@destinationhotels.com

You can also catch a fantastic meal in one of their five restaurants.  From Spanish-infused Colorado cuisine at Baca to contemporary English pub fare at the Spotted Dog.

Spotted Dog
]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/inverness-hotel-amenities-are-fantastic/feed/ 0 On site in Denver at the HSMG Conference http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/on-site-in-denver-at-the-hsmg-conference/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/on-site-in-denver-at-the-hsmg-conference/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:54:51 +0000 HSMG Pgms and Svcs http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=1913

Inverness Hotel

Board members and ground crew are buzzing around the beautiful Inverness Hotel.  The staff, food and rooms are excellent but the camaraderie amongst everyone is most profound.

Yes, it’s a soapmaker’s paradise!  (Wait until you see the goody bags!!)  Lots of details to accomplish before you get here, but we are working hard to bring you a stellar Conference.

VP Cathleen Timberlake

VP Cathleen Timberlake

Ground Crew

Get ready to learn a lot and have some fun while in your soap dream world.  It’s soooo great when someone actually gets your soapmaking jokes!

See you soon!

]]> http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/on-site-in-denver-at-the-hsmg-conference/feed/ 0 2010 Conference SOLD OUT!!! http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/2010-conference-sold-out/ http://www.soapguild.org/blog/2010/04/2010-conference-sold-out/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:01:59 +0000 HSMG Pgms and Svcs http://www.soapguild.org/blog/?p=1904 The 2010 HSMG Conference is fast approaching and soapmakers everywhere are packing bags and preparing to fly away to the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center. The hotel offers guests amenities including a full service spa, golf, and five different restaurant choices. Of course, that would be provided you could drag yourself away from the full schedule of activities at the conference. There will be speakers on all aspects of soapmaking from temperature to trace and on soapmelting from glycerin to marketing. The speakers include dignitaries, company presidents, professors, teachers and artists. The topics include everything from the vision to start your own company to the making, marketing and selling of your own products. In between are raffles, networking lunches, cocktail hours and an awards dinner to finish things off. If you have a ticket, see you in Denver! If not, register early next year because it sold out!

Check back often since Conference is just around the corner to see some real time highlights.

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