The Handcrafted Soap Industry

The industry of handcrafted soap is growing and expanding; the number of handcrafted soapmakers has increased exponentially over the last 10 years and the support services for them, including vendors of all types, has become an industry unto its own. Growing with the expansion of the industry has been the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild.

A Trade Association for the Industry

The HSMG is a non-profit trade association. As such, it is our goal and job to assist those in the industry to expand their own endeavors and thereby expand the industry as a whole. When public awareness about handcrafted soap is increased, there are more sales. When more soap is purchased, the soapmakers do well, and purchase from the vendors. When the vendors have more business, they can get better prices from their suppliers. So the soapmakers can get better deals, and lower their costs. So they can offer more and better products to the consumers, which leads the consumers to purchase more soap ... and so the cycle goes.

The HSMG's mandate is: To promote the handcrafted soap industry; to act as a center of communication among soapmakers; and to circulate information beneficial to soapmakers.. By doing these things, the HSMG works to expand the handcrafted soap industry, to the benefit of all industry participants. If you are part of the handcrafted soap industry, we are here to help you.

Annual Conference

The HSMG Annual Conference is an excellent source of information about soapmaking, and a great place to network with other soapmaker and vendors. The Conference is open to both members and non-members.

Vendors

Vendor members of the HSMG provide all kinds of products and services for soapmakers. You can confidence purchasing from them as they all, by joining the HSMG, agree to abide by the Members' Code of Ethics. In fact, there is even a Complaint Process if there is ever a problem.

Resources

We strive to provide resources for soapmakers, to help them improve their craft. We have list of Recommended Books, which you can purchase from Amazon another bookseller of your choice and a compilation of Helpful Links. If you are looking for a local event, check our Calendar of Events.

General and Product Liability Insurance

In order to fill the need when many soapmakers were struggling to find reasonably-priced insurance, the HSMG added general and product liability to our membership benefits. It was a big move, but is has enabled many people to stay in business when they otherwise couldn't have.

Membership Funded

The HSMG is funded by solely by membership dues. Members, of course, get many personal benefits from their membership in the HSMG, but it's important to remember that the dues are the wherewithall for us To promote the handcrafted soap industry; to act as a center of communication among soapmakers; and to circulate information beneficial to soapmakers. - which is what it is all about.

If you aren't already a member, consider joining the HSMG!