2012 Conference Topics

Formulating Natural Creams and Lotions
Marla Bosworth

Learn to make your own creams and lotions in this information-packed demonstration session, during which Marla will share some of her favorite formulations. She will guide you through the formulation process and will discuss preservatives, challenge testing, packaging, labeling and marketing. You will learn how to take the guess work out of formulations. Say goodbye to greasy formulas, cream and lotion "separation anxiety" and worries that your product is not safely nor effectively preserved. Say hello to luxurious, highly marketable products!

Transparency and Meltability
in Hot Process Soap
Kevin Dunn

Why are some soaps transparent and others opaque? Why can some soaps be easily melted while others turn into a foamy mess when heated? These are the questions examined by Professor Dunn and his students this year. The properties of transparent and opaque soaps are examined under polarized light to determine what chemical phenomena are responsible for transparency. While many people associate transparency with melt-and-pour soaps, it is possible to formulate transparent soaps that don't easily melt, and meltable soaps that are not transparent. Both properties, however, depend on the choice of solvents (water, alcohol, glycerine, and propylene glycol) used in the formulation. Recommendations will be made for soap formulas that cater to different customer preferences.

Making CP Soap with Alternative Liquids
Ruth Esteves

Juice up your cold process soap! You always need some kind of liquid to dissolve the sodium hydroxide before making cold process soap, but it doesn't have to be water. Alternative liquids can bring natural colors, scents and unique qualities to your soap that water just can't. Dump the boring distilled water and get turned onto a variety of other interesting liquids including coffee, tea, juices, beer and wine!

Got Milk (Soap)?
Anne-Marie Faiola

The fundamentals of making milk soap In this Cold Process Soapmaking class, Anne-Marie will demonstrate how to work with Milks in cold process soapmaking. She will cover Goatsmilk, Buttermilk, Coconut Milk and more. In addition to hands-on demos, participants will leave with a handout with information discussed in class.

Pears Soap and the Art of Advertising
Catherine Failor

Catherine will introduce you to Thomas Barratt, chairman of Pears Soap and early pioneer of brand marketing. This talk will include slides of the art that earned Barratt the title "The Father of Modern Advertising." She will also discuss the importance of branding today and how advertisement can be an integral part of your efforts.

From Inspiration to Profit:
Business Planning & Math
Diane Humke

This presentation will help you understand what it takes to design a business that can make money and help you decide if having your own business is really for you. You will learn about making tough choices that are essential to transforming your business strategy into a competitive success, how to assess your resources, target your customers, and think about how to build something that can be sold in the end. You will learn about writing a business plan, the basics of financials, and be provided tools you can take with you to use at home.

Cold Process Advanced Swirling
Kathryn Hackney

Take your soap bars from boring to beautiful with eye-catching swirls! In this cold process presentation, Kathryn demonstrates in-the-pot and linear swirling techniques using multiple colors, a five pound wood log mold and the popular 18 bar Baltic Birch mold. With step-by-step guidance and inspiration you can add a fun and rewarding step to your soap process, while personalizing your product. Basic understanding of cold process soapmaking required.

The Art of Blending with Essential Oils
Jade Shutes

Blending essential oils effectively takes knowledge of individual essential oils, their note category, therapeutic expression, and at times, their chemistry. Throughout this lively and interactive talk we will explore the creative process behind blending. We will cover two basic approaches for successful dynamic blends. We will also spend a few moments discussing how to create seasonal blends to work with. Sample recipe ideas and essential oils will be shared.

The Art of Good Copy: How to Write
Package Copy, Brochures and Websites that Sell
Sarah Lovelady

(Note: This is two-part seminar.) Almost anyone can write, but what makes copy so good that people want to buy your soaps over anyone else's?

Part 1 - The Broad Brush

• Discover your unique selling proposition
• Identify your brand's personality
• Connect with your target customer
• Sell on emotion and justify with reason
• Understand the difference between features and benefits

Part 2 - The Nitty Gritty

• What makes a good headline
• Why a conversational tone is always better
• The most important word in marketing
• The keys to writing copy that's easy to read
• When to break grammatical rules
• The value of getting specific
• The power of testimonials

Creating Your Competitive Edge
Sharon Miller

Sure your product is superb - handmade with the best ingredients and love - but how do you differentiate it from the many other products out there, and make it stand out in the crowd? Learn how to build your competitive edge by identifying your products' benefits versus its features; zero in on your target market and, as we know customers shop with their eyes, determine if your packaging is the best "look" for your product. Attendees are encouraged to bring samples of their products to receive feedback.

Moisturize It! Lotion Candles and Lotion Bars
Debbie May

Lotion candles continue to enjoy consider popularity in the retail and massage markets. This demonstration class will give you the theory and confidence to make your own candles! Also included in the session is the demonstration and theory on lotion bars. This class will include several of Debbie May's favorite recipes!

Soapmaking, Seurat and Safaris
David Fisher

We all know that oils and lye make soap - and that using different oils in our recipes creates different qualities in our soaps. But what is it about those oils that makes our soap different? Using modern art, building blocks, and tales from an African Safari, this discussion will help you understand the oils behind your soap - and help you understand how to better formulate your own soap recipes.

Good Manufacturing Practices for Handcrafters
Marie Gale

Most guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices for soap and cosmetics are made with large companies and facilities in mind. This class will cover what GMP guidelines are and show you how to realistically apply them for small production in a home or shop, including how to document procedures, what procedures need to be documented and what standards need to be met. It is possible to maintain the same high professional standards that the big companies use, and you'll come away knowing how to do it!

Palm and Coconut Oil in Soapmakering
Bill Shay

Bill will go over the history of Palm Oil and Coconut Oil, what the uses and demands are and how that affects the market price. Bill will also cover some of the controversy surrounding sustainable palm oil and what's being done to comply with sustainability. He will also explain how oils compete in the world market today and how this affects the handcrafted soap maker.

Promoting Your Products as
"Handmade in the USA"
Joel D. Joseph

During the last 25 years, consumer preference for "Made in the USA" products has had its ups and downs -- and now we are in an upswing of consumer preference for American-made products. Find out how you can tailor your product to take advantage of the move to buying American, how you can differentiate your product from others, and how you can protect your intellectual property (your trademark and trade dress).

The Power of Your Voice and Social Media
Ann Evanston

This inspiring and power packed presentation will show you how to:

• Create an online presence that will help you make money
• Network with proven strategies for both on-line and in-person connections
• Bring prosperity to your business while meeting your own relationship needs
• Build strategies for long term VIRAL success online
• Build a voice that influence and attracts people to what you do
• Understand negative tactics that hurt your reputation

You do not want to miss this presentation!

The Secret of Great Product Photography

Sebastian Vido Vazquez

During this two-part session Sebastian will discuss how to get great professional quality product photos that can really show your clients the value of your product.

The first session will cover camera angles and how they affect your photo and lighting—the most important aspect to great photography is the lighting. You’ll get some suggestions on how to gain experience through experimentation and familiarity through the study of great photography.

The second session will cover the importance of choosing the right camera and lenses, white balance and composition. You do not have to purchase the most expensive equipment to get great photos but it is important to think about the “content” of the shoot.

Taking Advantage of Your Free Online Store

Free online stores are available for all HSMG members. In this presentation, the HSMG staff will go over how to set up and maintain your online store and provide suggestions on making it an effective promotional and sales tool for your business.

More coming soon!