Benefits for Private Labelers
Private Labelers who purchase handcrafted soap from one or more sources and then resell it under their own private label are the newest addition to the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild family.
The HSMG works for private labelers in several ways - first by supporting and protecting the handcrafted soap industry as a whole through education, legislative advocacy, insurance and more; second, by providing direct member benefits to private labelers that are geared toward assisting them in the business; and third, through the active promotion of partnerships between Private Label Members and Soapmaker Members for the formation mutually beneficial business arrangements.
A Private Label Membership is the in the name of the business and has an individual person connected to the membership as the owner. In addition, a "contact person" can be designated by the owner. If assigned, the contact person gets email and enews updates from HSMG instead of the owner. Both the owner and the contact person have unique log-ins to the HSMG Member Area.
For Your Business
General & Product Liability Insurance [US / Canada only]
Product and general liability is available to Private Label Members at a discounted group rate through Veracity Insurance Solutions. Call for a quote after joining at 888-568-0548.
Free Webstore at SoapGuildStores.com [Professional, Vendor and Private Label Members]
The HSMG has arranged for members to have a free webstore at www.soapguildstores.com. The store is fully customizable and may be used to actually sell products and take orders or as a brochure site directing visitors to your main eCommerce site.
Merchant Services [Professional, Vendor and Private Label Members]
Through ProPay, Inc. HSMG members located in the United States can sign up for merchant services at a remarkably low rate. ProPal provides merchant services allows you to take payments in-person, online, offline or over the phone and provides buttons that can easily integrated onto your website. You also get a FREE ProPay JAK™ to use to swipe cards directly on your phone.
UPS Discount [Professional, Vendor and Private Label Members]
HSCG has partnered with UPS to offer members discounts on shipping services through UPS. Members can get up to 32% off shipping! Even if you already have a UPS account, you can still participate in the program.
Discount on eCommerce Site [Professional only]
The HSMG has negotiated with Words In A Row to get HSMG members as special price (over 20% off normal rates) on setting up a fully-featured eCommerce Site. Words In A Row will customize an X-Cart shopping cart to your design and get it set up for you, including domain name registration and website hosting, if desired.
Office Depot Discounts [All Members]
HSMG has partnered with Power Purchasing, the group-buying experts, to provide a Business Savings Program that will bring you significant savings on products you use every day including up to 80% off on 300 most-preferred products, 3,000+ products at 15% off retail web pricing and 93,000 additional products discounted below retail. Free, next-day delivery on orders of $50 or more.
Discount on SoapMaker Software [All Members]
HSMG members receive a 10% discount on any version of SoapMaker Software. The Software, available for Microsoft Windows (7, Vista, XP or 2000), allows you to calculate lye and water for recipes using over 50 types of base oils, calculate costs per batch and bar using your ingredient costs, stores your recipes and organizes them by category, type, date and cost, provides inventory control and more.
Renaissance Online business Planning Classes [All Members]
The HSMG has partnered with the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center to offer members a tuition discount for Online Business Planning Classes. These classes can help you turn your ideas into concrete steps for starting or growing your business. The classes are co-sponsored by the SBA (Small Business Administration).
CraftMaster News [All Members]
The HSMG has partnered with CraftMaster News to bring you a 20% discount on this fantastic publication. Find craft shows, street fairs, festivals, county & state fairs, home & garden shows, music festivals & more!
Promotion & Marketing
Special Promotional Opportunities [All Members]
From time-to-time the HSMG is able to offers special opportunities to the membership. In the past these have included donations to goodie bags handed out at a large natural products expo and free space in an HSMG booth at wholesale trade shows. Note: These promotional opportunities may be limited to specific memberships, depending on their applicability.
Increased Professionalism
Use of the Member Logo
Qualified HSMG Members may used HSMG Member Logo on print, packaging and/or web materials to promote the fact they are a member of the HSMG, thereby increasing customer confidence.
Use of Why Handcrafted Soap Brochure [All Members]
The HSMG has developed and printed a high-quality brochure, Why Handcrafted Soap which explains the benefits of handcrafted soap and contains beautiful pictures. It is available to members for download for free or to purchase at a very nominal fee (about at cost). There is a space to add contact information and personalize the brochure.
On-going Soapmaker Education
Conference Registration Discount [All Members]
Every year the HSMG has an Annual Conference. It is 3 days, filled with classes and presentations on a wide array of topics pertinent to soapmaking (including actual soapmaking demonstrations and how-to's). Conference attendance is open to both members and non-members. Members receive a discount on the registration fee for themselves and up to three additional business associates. Vendor Tier 1 Members receive FREE conference registration for two of their staff to attend the conference (non-transferable).
Advanced Lye Calculator [All Members]
The Basic HSMG Lye Calculator is available for members and non-members in the \"Resources for Soapmakers\" section of the website. Within the \"Members Only\" section, an advanced lye calculator is available which allows the soapmaker to set more detailed information about his/her recipe and the specific oils used.
Journal Back Issues Library [All Members]
For many years the HSMG published The Handcrafted Soapmaker, the Journal of the HSMG. All the back issues are indexed and available to all members at any time. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips.
Soapmaking Community
Regular Association Updates via HSMG eNews [All Members]
eNews issues are sent by email to members to keep them up-to-date on news and activities of the HSMG, including legislation and other matters of interest.
Vendor Specials eNews [All Members]
The Vendor Specials eNews is sent out monthly and contains the current month's specials submitted by HSMG Vendor members.
Referral Program [All Members]
Members receive credits (called \"Golden Bubbles\") when they refer other soapmakers or vendors to join the HSMG. Golden Bubbles may be used toward membership dues, conference registration, advertising or HSMG merchandise. For Vendor Memberships, the Golden Soap Bubbles accrue in the name of the person designated as the owner of the company.
Directing the Organization
Right to Vote [All Members]
The HSMG Annual Membership Meeting is held during the Annual Conference every year. All members may attend (whether or not they are attending the conference) and all members have the right to vote on issues presented at the Annual Meeting (one vote may be cast by a Vendor Member, by the designated owner or representative at the meeting).
Right to Serve on a Committee [All Members]
All members have the right to volunteer and to serve on a Committee if they so choose.
