For Vendors and Suppliers
Vendors and suppliers are the cornerstones of the handcrafted soapmaking industry. Without our industry's vendors and suppliers, soapmakers would have a very hard time finding the supplies and materials they need to make and market handcrafted soap. Without soapmakers profitably making soap, the businesses of vendors and suppliers would dramatically change.
The HSMG works for vendors and suppliers in two ways - first by supporting and protecting the handcrafted soap industry as a whole through education, legislative advocacy, insurance and more; and second, by providing direct member benefits to vendors and suppliers that are geared toward helping them gain exposure to soapmakers.
A Vendor 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.
In order to better serve the diverse needs of the vendors and suppliers in the handcrafted soap industry, Vendor memberships are available in three tiers, each with different direct membership benefits and annual dues. This way the business can select the membership tier which is best suited to their business model.
For Your Business
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.
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.
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!
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).
On-Line Listings
"Where to Buy Supplies" Listing
The Where to Buy Supplies listing displays in the Soapmakers Section of the website and is allows soapmakers to locate Vendors by company name or product time. Listings include the company name, website, city-state-zip, and a brief description.
There is a \"More Info\" link which takes the visitor to a detail page displaying more information and contact information. All levels of Vendor membership may have a listing included. When displayed to non-members, those Vendors who offer a discount to HSMG members are marked with a star; when shown to logged-in members, the listings include the actual amount of the offered discount and the code to access it.
Vendor Logos (Banners)
All Vendor Members may submit Logos/Banners to be displayed with their listing on the Where to Buy Supplies pages. Logos/Banner sizes are dependent upon Vendor Tier and are displayed by Tier. To ensure equal exposure, the logos within each tier are shuffled and displayed in random order each time the page is shown.
Company Logo on the HSMG Website [Tier 1 only]
Tier 1 Vendor Members may submit a logo to be placed on home page of the HSMG Website.
Advertising, Marketing & Sponsorships
Ad Monthly Vendor Special eNews
Vendor Members may contribute ads and specials to be included in a monthly promotional email sent to all members.
Spotlight on the HSMG Blog
Each Vendor member will be spotlighted on the HSMG blog at least once during their membership term.
Branded Lye Calculator [Tier 1 only]
The HSMG offers a version of the basic Lye Calculator branded with the company's name, logo and colors which is accessible by a special link that can be used by their customers to access the branded lye calculator.
Conference Exhibitor Space Discount [Vendor Members]
HSMG Vendor members receive a discount on Exhibitor Space at the HSMG Conference. Tier 1 Vendor members receive a free exhibitor space at each conference.
Acknowledgment at Annual Conference [Tier 1 and Tier2 Vendor Members]
Tier 1 and Tier 2 Vendor members receive special acknowledgment at the Annual Conference (regardless of whether they are attending). Tier 2 members are acknowledged in the Conference Program Book, Tier 1 members are acknowledged in the Conference Program Book and also have a banner with their logo prominently displayed throughout the conference.
Personal Recognition at the Annual Conference [Tiers 1 & 2 only]
Vendor members are acknowledged at the Annual Conference. Tier 1 Vendor members have a logo banner prominently placed. Tier 2 Vendor members are acknowledged in the Conference Program Book.
Priority Conference Sponsorship Opportunities [Tiers 1 & 2 only]
Tier 1 & 2 Vendor members get priority in their selection of co-branded merchandise that they may sponsor at the Annual Conference. They also get priority selection for sponsorship of meals, breaks, speakers and special events. (Note: Sponsoring fees vary based on the item or event sponsored and priority selection is based on HSMG policies.)
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.
Education & Resources
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.
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.
Industry & 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
The senior managing body within the HSMG is the membership and the membership determines who should serve as President or sit on the Board of the Directors. The membership also approves major policies and activities of 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.
