Our country’s legislative system is complex and not easy to navigate, if you don’t have the proper guidance it is nearly impossible to make headway against the currents of bureaucracy.  The HSMG has hired Mary Anne Walsh and Rick Limardo to advocate for handcrafted soapmakers.  Mary Anne and Rick will be at the conference in Miami to answer questions and introduce themselves to the membership of the HSMG.  Since they were hired by the association in September of 2010 they have been working hard for us in Washington and they look forward to meeting some of our members in person.

Having your voice heard in Washington is expensive, costing approximately $9,000 per month.  The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild needs help from its members to continue this effort. We are relying on donations to our Advocacy Fund. You can help the HSMG by putting a Donate Now PayPal button on your website or blog. Email, Facebook, or Tweet the word…

Its very simple to add our advocacy button. Here’s how:

Add the following code snippet to either the html code on your website or past it in the html view of your blog.

In order to place the “Donate” on your website, update the code below by putting in (1) the URL that the person should return to when the transaction is complete and (2) the text on the return button (i.e. “Return to XYZ Website”). Then place the full code on your website where you want the button to display:

<div style=”height: 60px; width: 200px;”><form action=”https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr” method=”post”> <input type=”hidden” name=”cmd” value=”_s-xclick”> <input type=”hidden” name=”hosted_button_id” value=”S5H66GTAYTRDN”> <input type=”hidden” name=”return” value=”[(1)Put the return URL here]“> <input type=”hidden” name=”cbt” value=”[(2)Put the return button text here]“> <input type=”image” src=”http://www.soapguild.org/images/donate-button.gif” border=”0″ name=”submit” alt=”Make a donation to the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild’s Legislative Advocacy Fund.”> <img alt=”" border=”0″ src=”https://www.paypalobjects.com/WEBSCR-640-20110306-1/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif” width=”1″ height=”1″> </form> </div>

***         Values in bold must be contained  within quotation marks “  ”        ***

If you are adding the code into a WordPress blog:

As a post:

1. Create a New Post:

2. Switch to HTML view.

3. Paste the code

4. Change the return URL and Return text

To add to a sidebar:

1. Open the Appearance section (must be logged in as an administrator)

2 Select Editor

3. Select your Sidebar.php file (may be called some variation on this)

4. Paste code into sidebar

5. Change the return url and donation text

Adding the code to a website:

Decide which page(s) you would like to have the button appear on.  Paste the code into the appropriate place in the HTML code.

If you are using a content management system, such as Joomla or Drupal, paste the code into a new article or into an appropriate template for the theme that you are using.

Fund Use & Accountability

All donations made to the Advocacy Fund are used solely and only for advocacy activities. To ensure the utmost transparency and accountability, the Advocacy Fund will be audited monthly by the Board of Directors and reviewed quarterly by an external Certified Public Accountant (CPA). A full account of funds donated and financial expenses will be provided to any donor upon request.

Donor Listing

Donors may choose to be listed on our website (or not). Amounts of donations will not be disclosed.

Can you imagine how I felt when, with only 16 days left before the show, I found out that one of the soapmakers chosen to represent the HSMG in Orlando was unable to make the trip? WOW! What a rush, both figuratively and literally! With the busiest time of the year behind us and our end-of-year inventory extremely low, I wondered how we would get it all done. I took a deep breath and then did the first thing that came to mind; I booked two flights to Orlando and made a hotel reservation. Oh no! In all the excitement, we had completely forgotten to call our employers first to make sure we could get off work. Luckily, it all worked out.

Also on our side, was the fact that we had exhibited at our first tradeshow just a year before, but with one big difference – we were able to drive to that one. Now we had to think about shipping our products and a portable display, as well as brochures, business cards, order forms…oh, and did I mention we had very little product in our inventory? But, like everything else in life, if you put your mind to it you CAN do it! Working full-time besides our soap and candle business made it very difficult, but we spent every night and days off making soap, lotion, candles and a sampling of every other product we wanted to showcase at this event. (Thank goodness we were able to bypass the curing process of our soap since this was an order-taking event.) We also elicited the assistance of our daughter on her days off and we got it done!

I must say, this was one of the best experiences we have had since opening our business in 2002. As a team, Tom and I were forced to plan for this event with very short notice, work together even when we were exhausted (without getting on each others’ nerves), and make compromises in order to make use of what we had available (even using outdated 2010 wholesale brochures). Tip: Don’t date your brochures!! We placed an online order for a portable display and had it shipped directly to the show – seeing it for the first time when we were ready to set up. It was slightly nerve-wracking for me!

But the highlight of the entire trip was meeting Deb and Darrell from Big Fat Soap Company and Candy and Jody from Nakee’ Natural. There were a lot of emails between the three of us, but we had never met until the show. What a pleasurable experience it was. To be able to talk shop, laugh and share ideas with fellow soap makers for three consecutive days!! I think we all came away from this experience with more knowledge and, best of all, more friends. Thank you HSMG for this opportunity and for all that you do!

Tom and Julie Koenig

Kreative Kraftwerks

Orlando Show

They are having a blast and the reports are good!

As you may know, the HSMG was offered a booth at both the Orlando and Las Vegas Gift Shows in 2011run by Wholesale Crafts and the American Craft Retailers Expo.  We selected 3 soapmakers to participate with us and exhibit their wares for the Orlando show.  The Orlando, FL Show is currently running.

Members Julie Koenig kreativekraftwerks, Candy Sweeney Nakee’ Natural and Deb Richards Big Fat Soap Co give us their report:

This is an awesome show. Very well organized, staff are very accommodating. Very pleased with the wide array of handcrafted products. Buyer traffic was steady yesterday. We distributed many HSMG soap brochures with our booth number and websites listed on the back. Five orders were written from our booth today and we hopefully made more contacts for more sales tomorrow. Many, many pamphlets were handed out today. The Guild is invited back again next year.  Cold front going through Florida with lows in the 30s at night but it still beats the below zero temps in the Midwest which is where we are all from. Candy (Michigan) will be the referee today while the Packers (Julie) play the Bears (Deb). The Guild couldn’t have planned that any better! . We are so thankful to the Guild for this opportunity. Three strangers are now friends and have been sharing many business ideas, experiences, etc. We have realized we have much more than just soap in common!!

This is a wonderful opportunity for the selected members to exhibit products in a major gift show without taking on the booth fee themselves.

The scholarships will cover your Conference registration, 4 nights hotel stay at the Hilton Miami Downtown and $500 in cash for travel and other expenses. WOW!

Scholarships are based on need and contributions to the soapmaking community. To apply, applicants must fill out a questionnaire which includes an essay of between 500 and 1000 words explaining why they are in need of this assistance, contributions they have made to the soapmaking community and how it would benefit their business.

Can’t win if you don’t try!  If you feel this may apply to your situation, just apply before the deadline for submitting the application is February 15, 2011.

Download an application form here from the Members area of the HSMG Website:

Administration of the Scholarships goes like this:

The Scholarship Committee will receive all applications and review them for completeness. Once all applications have been received, they will be forwarded to the Selection Panel, who will make the final decision. The selection panel consists of: Leigh O’Donnell, HSMG President; Daryl Stafford, Stratus Insurance; and Sr. Cathleen Timberlake, HSMG Vice President.

Good luck and hope to see you at this fantastic Conference!

HSMG Programs and Services Keeps it Coming!  Another NEW Member Benefit!

Looking for a better merchant account solutions?

We are pleased to announce that the HSMG is now offering a discounted merchant services program to the membership.

This benefit is available to both Soapmaker and Vendor members.  There are low rates for credit card, debit card and check processing, no application fee and all the tools you will need to accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

GET STARTED WITH YOUR MERCHANT ACCOUNT TODAY!

The internet is the fastest growing opportunity for people to start a business and begin making money. This is your opportunity to be your own boss and dictate how much money you will make. There is no better time to start your business than right NOW!

Don’t wait any longer to begin processing payments online with this FAST and EASY process to set up your Immediate Merchant Account. It is as easy as filling out a form.

With your Credit Card Merchant Account you will receive:

• Immediate Online Setup
• Toll Free Phone Support 24/7
• Fast and Reliable transactions
• Full Online reporting
• Secured Transactions
• Satisfaction Guaranteed

This service is being provided by Ethos Payments, the rates are 1.64% Retail and 1.99% Internet.  For full details please login to the member area and go to Merchant Services.

Program Features

• No application fee.
• $4.95 monthly statement fee
• 24/7 customer service
• Free online reporting
• No batch fees
• No contracts
• No cancellation fees

Start saving today!

What? A fee free customizable web store at SoapGuildStores.com! Yes, it’s true!  A new fantastic member benefit!

Taken advantage of your new member benefit yet?  All members are eligible for a free webstore at SoapGuildStores.com. The store may be used to actually sell products and take orders or as a brochure site directing visitors to your main eCommerce site.

You will get a manual which is your resource guide to getting started and obtaining success in online sales.   Your Soap Guild Store will have these categories.The guide is your resource to getting started and obtaining success in online sales. If you have any questions that are not covered in this manual, please email us at administration@soapguild.org.

To obtain a store, you will need to email the following information to this address:  administration@soapguild.org

1. Your Name

2. Address, City, State, Zip

3. Your Email

4. Your Phone Number

5. Desired Store URL (www.soapguildstores.com/yoururl)

6. Desired Store Name

7. Desired Store Username

8. Desired Store Password (can be changed at a later time)

You will be notified by email that your store has been activated and is ready for use.  Just follow the easy manual to set up your FREE store! Wow!

I know Members won’t pass this up so I’ll say now, Congratulations on registering your store at SoapGuildStores.com!

October 5, 2010

Exhibit at the Orlando or Las Vegas Gift Shows

The HSMG will have a booth at both the Orlando and Las Vegas Gift Shows in 2011 and we will select 3 soapmakers participate with us and exhibit their wares. The shows are run by Wholesale Crafts and the American Craft Retailers Expo, they have generously waived the booth fees of $1,995 for both shows! The Orlando, FL Show is January 22-24, 2011 and the Las Vegas, NV Show is June 4-6, 2011. This is a wonderful opportunity to exhibit your products in a major gift show without taking on the booth fee yourself.

If you are interested in exhibiting at one of these shows, please read the details of the selection process and send in an application by October 31, 2010.

The HSMG is excited to schedule an Experts Panel with our very own Sister Cathleen Timberlake, VP, HSMG Board of Directors and Owner of Monastery Creations. She has been making Hot Process Soap for some time, running a successful business and has graciously scheduled some time for you to ask the questions you’ve always wondered about.

Mark your calendars for September 23, Thursday, at 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Central Standard Time. We think she is the best and welcome you to join in that day and time in our HSMG forum to get her expertise. Go to the section under HSMG Projects and Activities, then Experts Panel.  You’ll see a topic set up for Hot Process Soapmaking. Please feel free to pre-post some questions that Sister Cathleen will answer at that time.

Looking forward to it!  Thank you Sister Cathleen!

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 10, about 1,350 volunteers from over 50 businesses and other organizations in upstate New York will work on approximately 100 projects at local not-profit agencies, including partner agencies of United Way and others. Day of Caring is a yearly, community-wide volunteer event coordinated by United WayBroomeNew York. It was first held as a single day on September 11, 2002 to commemorate the volunteers and heroes who responded to the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City. More than 1,000 volunteers have participated each year it has been held.

As members of HSMG, we have been asked to donate any soap or toiletries that we can give as part of this day of volunteer service and support. ACHIEVE, based in Binghamton, NY (an organization serving the needs of intellectually challenged or impaired individuals) is in charge of collecting and assembling kits for Catholic Charities, in partnership with United Way.

Items donated will directly benefit those in need in of the very basics. Specifically, bar soap, body wash, hand soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, etc. will be put into personal care kits. Products can be non-gender specific, for men and women as well as children. There is no limit to how much you can donate. Their need is great; much of their money is spent on food, first and toiletries, second. As a donor, you will need to send the soap yourself, which ever shipping method you prefer (USPS Flat Rate is perfect) to:

Attn: Anne Marie Sieczkos, LMSW

ACHIEVE

125 Cutler Pond Road

Binghamton, NY 13905

Achieve Foundation Inc., a non-profit, established in 1993 has offered to supply charitable donation receipts for your business tax purposes. In addition, if you are in the immediate proximity (30 minutes or less) of Binghamton, NY they will make arrangements to pick up your donation from you. This can be done by contacting Anne Marie Sieczkos of Achieve at 607-231-5215.

Thanks for your interest and by giving your usable soap scraps or ends, you will help someone here in the U.S. in great need. Donation receipt deadline is September 3rd, 2010.

Contact Vanessa Cochran for any further questions at email@soapfarm.com.  Thanks to Delores Harris, HSMG Public Relations Director, and her volunteer Committee for their efforts.