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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Grow America: Compete for Cash

If you’re a US-based maker over the age of 18 (sorry to our international and teen members!) with a fantastic idea, check out Grow America’s latest competition, which opened this week.  With a few simple clicks, you could be in the running for their top prize of $20,000, to be awarded by the end of …

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Soaping Superstars: Beauty in Haiti

It all started with Google.  No, really. Marla Bosworth, CEO and Founder of Back Porch Soap Company, and Amanda Griffin, the brains behind Lovin’ Soap, both HSMG members and speakers at our 2013 conference, recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Haiti. There, they taught two dozen women from OFEDA (Organisation des Femmes Devouees en …

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December Savings

Our Black Friday promotion was so much fun we’re bringing it back for the WHOLE month of December.  YAY!  From December 1st to the 31st, get 25% off your purchase in the HSMG store. What is included in this deal? Books: From aromatherapy to basket weaving, we have a little bit of everything in the …

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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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SoapGuild.org: New Features!

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 …

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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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Soap + Mold: Happily Ever After

She’d been salivating over it for months (years, maybe?) and finally, it was here. No more odd-sized bars cut from shoe box molds.  No more fighting with freezer paper or struggling to precisely line makeshift molds.  She dove into the newly delivered box and unwrapped a brand-new silicone lined mold.  Admiring its fine, shiny, perfectly …

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Back to (Soap) School

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 …

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