The 2009-2010 Strategy and Planning Meeting of the HSMG Board of Directors went fantastic! What camaraderie and progressive ideas surfaced for the coming year with ready, willing and able bodied Directors. We worked hard with 19 hours of meetings in two days and it was well worth it. The HSMG is here for you, your [...]
Archive of posts filed under the General category.
Member Spotlight – Abbey’s Handcrafted Soaps
Soapmaking with a Cause – A Passionate Soapmaker’s Story We are all familiar with the New Orleans flood but Kay Rose and her daughter, Abbey, have taken it personally. Still rebuilding and tearing down many homes, Abbey’s mission group was there right after Katrina hit. Experience came from their mission team helping build houses in [...]
Congratulations Conference Scholarship Winners!
This year Stratus Insurance generously offered two full scholarships to the 2009 Annual Conference. I am pleased to announce our winners – Susan Houlihan of Alpenglow Skin Care and Holly Mulhaupt of Texas Natural Supply!
Virtual Soap Symposium!
Soap Artisan Friends of Etsy (SAFE) Team is a group of soapmaker and bath and body makers committed to the very best manufacturing practices. However, even the “old pros” have a hard time wading through FDA labeling regulations. The SAFE Team has invited the expert to Etsy’s first-ever Virtual Soap Symposium. Our very own, Marie [...]
Retail and E-Commerce Sales UP in January
The Department of Commerce recently released the January sales figures and reported that retail sales were up 1.1%. Also reporting for January was comScore, which reports E-Commerce statistics, who that online sales grew 2% in January. These are the first monthly increases in 6 months – despite dire predictions of lowered sales because of economic [...]
Free HSMG Soapmaking Journal
…for Non-Members and Soapmaking Teachers The HSMG mission: To promote the handcrafted soap industry To act as a center of communication among soapmakers To circulate information beneficial to soapmakers Interested in a free Journal full of great information on soapmaking and then some? Vendor discounts, passionate stories and great ideas are included in our Journal. [...]
Children’s Products – CPSIA
For those who don’t know, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is a bill that was designed to protect children from unsafe products. It was passed into law last year, effective February 10, 2009. Amongst other things, it required testing on all products to be sold to children. It has received a great deal [...]
Soapmaking – Making a Difference
Melinda Coss, soapmaker and teacher from France (www.makesoap.biz) has been involved in a project teaching soapmaking in South Africa. I just had to share this video! Marie Gale, President, HSMG
HSMG Membership Tops 1,000!
As of the 1st of January, 2009, the HSMG has over 1,000 members!!! What a way to start the New Year! As can be seen by the graph here, membership has been steadily increasing for a long time. I think this is a testament to the all the members who are spreading the word about [...]
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays from the Board of Directors at the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild! We all wish you and yours a wonderful Holiday season and a very Happy New Year!