Thank Yous in Spades

The 16th Annual HSCG Conference has just wrapped up in Raleigh, North Carolina and we are fit to bursting to share all the details with you. While we catch our breath from the excitement of last week and recover from the travel back home, we would like to heartily thank the many individuals and companies …

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Welcome to Raleigh, it’s #soapconf13 time!

The Welcome banner has been hung with care, conference crew is here and we can’t wait to see you at the 2013 Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild Conference, starting Friday (officially, that is, with pre-conference half-day sessions and a welcome reception Thursday). Conference crew members have been landing over the past several days and are …

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Cosmetic Creators to Take Over Raleigh

With just over a week before soapmakers, cosmetic crafters, suppliers, and supporters flood into Raleigh, our thoughts turn to entertainment options in our host city (naturally). You may be too busy to step foot outside the hotel during the conference, but Raleigh is well worth exploring if you are staying in town a few extra …

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Tips for HSCG Conference Attendees

If this year’s conference is your first, have no fear. Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your first experience is a good one: Rest up prior to the conference. Trust us – you’ll thank us for this Sunday morning. We will keep your brain and body busy from sunup to sundown. You’ll …

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Ready, aim, TWEET!

Social media mavens and aspiring soaparazzi, get your cameras and typing fingers ready. The conference is always atwitter (pun unintentional, but we’re totally running with it) with great information. We want to reward you for sharing some of it and are running a social media contest at the upcoming Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild conference …

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Come on down to the Soapers Showcase!

When you hear “soapers showcase”, you may think, “sounds a bit like a category that didn’t make the cut for The Price Is Right”, but don’t be fooled. This is one opportunity you don’t want to miss. The Soapers Showcase is your annual chance to have a friendly competition with soapmakers worldwide. At this year’s …

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Join the Certified Crowd

Join the crowd and be certifiably awesome. At the 2012 HSCG conference in Portland, we awarded certifications to 35 soapmakers – some of whom achieved certification in more than one testing track and more than one level! The 2013 HSCG annual conference in Raleigh is fast approaching and once again, we will be offering certification …

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Last Call, Early Birds: Party Like It’s 2013

How many professional development seminars do you go to where participants are turning cartwheels in the aisles while networking in a fun, energy-filled evening? How many conferences have you attended with festivities capping off each day of classes? We are incredibly fortunate to run just such a conference and will have sponsored evening festivities every …

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Invest in Yourself

If you’re a soapmaker looking to invest in yourself and your business, you need to attend the 16th annual HSMG conference in Raleigh,NC, May 17-19. Why? We think member Janey Davies of Scrubology Soap, sums it up nicely: “This group is the best! The annual conferences are packed full of practical information, enabling us to …

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Introducing 2013 Conference Keynote….

We can’t think of a better way to kick off three days of total immersion into the art, craft, and business of the handcrafted soap and cosmetic world than with a keynote by a fellow small business owner with a fiery passion for moving your business from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!”. The …

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2013 Conference Speakers: Round 3!

February is a very special month round these parts, marking when we finally recover from the multitude of holidays, start our double-digit countdown to the Annual Conference, and hustle to take advantage of the last month of member discounts on conference registration.  (Psst…if you’ve been thinking about joining, the member rates more than cover the …

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It’s Scholarship Time!

Sharpen your pencils and tell us why you deserve a full ride to the 2013 HSMG Conference.  If you’ve been as eagerly counting down the days to next year’s conference as we have, but can’t afford it, we have some very good news. Photo by Flickr member -Weng-. Used under a Creative Commons License. Veracity …

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Seminar Spotlight

Are you joining us in Raleigh next May for the 2013 HSMG Annual Conference?  Extend your stay and amp up your conference experience with a half-day seminar.  This year, select from one of three in-depth seminars from three industry experts.  The seminar sessions will run from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on May 16, the …

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Even MORE 2013 Conference Speakers

Last month, we introduced some of the speakers who will be joining us in Raleigh next May for the 2013 annual conference. Let us tempt you with a few more of the 2013 conference speakers and their topics: From organic to gluten-free and everything in between, Gay Timmons of Oh Oh Organic will help you …

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Be an *early* early bird!

Our 16th annual HSMG conference will be held May 17-19, 2013, in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Attendees are in for 3 jam-packed days of networking, classes, parties, face time with suppliers and all the soap shop talk you can dish out.  If that’s not enough, arrive early for your choice of 1 of 3 half-day seminars …

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2013 Conference Speaker Sneak Peek

Are you joining us in Raleigh next May for the 16th annual HSMG Annual Conference? Let us tempt you with a sneak peek at some of the amazing speakers you will see at the 2013 conference: Discover the joys of working with pourable silicon to make your own, custom molds with Amanda Griffin of Lovin …

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Nearly Wordless Wednesday: Take a Bow!

Next week, we’ll introduce the new board (and believe us, we can’t wait!).  Until then, here’s one last look at the July 2011- June 2012 Board of Directors: And the tireless 2012 Conference Staff: This conference staff pulled off the biggest conference in HSMG’s history at The Red Lion on the River, a gorgeous venue …

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Are you certified?

Since the release of the very first basic certification exams at the 2008 Annual Conference, the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild has certified hundreds of soapmakers.  Today, you can apply for basic, advanced, and master certification, under either a cold process/hot process or melt and pour track.  All in all, you can achieve 6 different certifications. Why …

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Conference Highlights: Soapers’ Showcase

Another great conference has come and gone.  Did you miss out this year?  Check out recaps from around the web, including blog posts from Simply Eden, Alegna Soap (Day 2, Day 3), The Nova Studio (Day 2, Day 3),  Soap Much Love, SV. Soaps, David Fisher,  Simple Pleasures Handmade Soap, Monastery Creations, River Bar Soaps, Bramble …

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