Angel investors are a well-known concept in Silicon Valley, where their deep pockets help start up cash-strapped businesses. Have you ever heard, however, of the soap angel concept? Photo by Flickr member Paul Esson. Used under a Creative Commons License. Soapmakers are a generous bunch, as the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild has witnessed many …
We are so excited to bring you a new, improved Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild website. Watch the video below to learn more about the special requests feature and how to set up a brick and mortar location (whether temporary or permanent). If you have Windows Media Player, here’s a larger, higher quality version of the video …
Sure, you make soap, but do you ever stop and think about what a fundamentally life-saving device you’re producing? Next Monday, October 15, marks the 5th annual Global Handwashing Day. In celebration, we thought we’d share a few facts illustrating the power of a simple bar of soap. BAC graphic courtesy of NSF Scrub Club …
The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild is a trade association, but have you ever wondered exactly what it means to be part of the Guild? We thought Executive Director Leigh O’Donnell gave a pretty amazing definition in her final President’s Report at the 2012 HSMG Annual Meeting. Photo by Flickr member anyjazz65. Used under a Creative Commons …
Welcome to September. The days are slowly shortening, summer’s gradually winding down, and school is back in session, which makes this a perfect time to ponder continuing your education. You don’t have to stop learning just because your formal schooling has ended. In fact, many soapmakers don’t discover their passion until well after primary and …
July is a month of change in the Guild. A new board took office in July: some new, some continuing their 2 year terms, and some taking on new roles. We caught up with the board members to find out a little bit more about the women serving the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild this year. President …
The HSMG has issued the following Advocacy Position Statement, approved by the Board of Directors on July 14, 2011. The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild (HSMG) is a non-profit trade association for soapmakers, small businesses hand making soaps and the handmade soap making industry as a whole. Depending on the formulation and/or claims, handmade soaps can be …
Today, Reps. Schakowsky, Markey and Baldwin introduced The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011, H.R. 2359. Here is the press release issued by Rep. Schakowsky’s office: PRESS RELEASE The full text of the bill should be available Monday or Tuesday online. You can look for it here by searching the bill number, H.R. 2359. We have …
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On June 10th, I flew to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional staff from Representative Schakowsky, Markey and Baldwin’s offices. I was invited to meet with them as a follow up to ongoing meetings that have been conducted over the past year and to hear the changes that they are proposing to make as a …
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(L to R) Deborah May, HSMG President Leigh O’Donnell, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA), Feleciai Favroth, Marie Gale In our continuing efforts to work with Members of Congress to advance the interests of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild (HSMG), we would like to update you on the recent progress on the still evolving Safe Cosmetics Act …
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Continuing our efforts to reach out to Members of the 112th Congress, I traveled to Washington, DC during the week of March 7th with several of my colleagues. Over two days, we met with 16 Congressional Offices and 2 Senate Offices representing states across the country. Accompanied by Marie Gale (HSMG Past-President), Feleciai Favroth (HSMG …
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During the week of February 8th, I visited our nation’s capital for scheduled meetings with several Republican and Democratic lawmakers representing Districts from New York to California. I was joined by HSMG member and supporter, Debbie May of Wholesale Supplies Plus. Led by our Washington, D.C. advocates Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo, over the course …
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AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE HSMG DC ADVOCATES MARY ANNE WALSH & RICK LIMARDO: As Capitol Hill prepares to close the chapter on the 111th Congress and convene a new session this month, we want to take a moment to evaluate and provide an overview of the changes that The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild and its …
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The HSMG would like to wish everyone a very happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving! Safe travels to all!
Now almost two weeks after the November 2, 2010 election, some of the dust is starting to settle and we are beginning to see how the Congressional landscape is going to change. With Republicans winning more than 60 seats in the House of Representatives, the Democratic led House will move to the minority in January …
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As if you needed ONE MORE REASON to attend the 2011 Conference in Miami, Florida on May 18-20 at the Hilton Miami Downtown… We are proud to announce that the KEYNOTE SPEAKER will be Barbara Corcoran!! Barbara is the founder of The Corcoran Group and is most recognized as the weekly real estate contributor on NBC’s TODAY …
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The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild and Association of Artisan Businesses Reach an Acquisition Agreement Tuesday, August 31, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marrijane Jones (AAB) or Gayle Vrla (HSMG) AAB phone - 1-800-542-6183 HSMG phone – 1-866-900-7627 AAB Email: memberservices@artisanbusinesses.org HSMG Email: info@soapguild.org The Association of Artisan Businesses (AAB) and The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild (HSMG) …
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Donate Your Soap August 17, 2010 Do you have left over inventory or products that aren’t moving and are collecting valuable shelf space? Here’s your chance to donate some of that inventory to a worthy cause before year’s end. The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild has collaborated with this worthy cause in upstate New York. On September …
Central New York Soapmakers, (CNY Soapmakers), a Yahoo group of over 197 members held its 10th Annual Gathering in Syracuse, NY on July 31, 2010 at the lovely home of Samantha Kingsley. There were over 33 attendees who traveled as far away as Pennsylvania and Connecticut. There was even one visitor who traveled from Russia …
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Lisa M. Rodgers, founder of Cactus & Ivy and Kristin Fraser Cotte, founder of The Grapeseed Company are soapmakers extraordinaire that are making a difference through their joint website www.personalcaretruth.com. They founded personalcaretruth.com to deliver scientific based information on what’s in personal care products to YOU. Their definition of YOU? Lisa and Kristin have been …
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