Why Join the HSCG?

There are LOTS of reasons to join the HSCG. Anyone who makes handcrafted soap or cosmetics will find the benefit of membership more than outweighs the small annual cost.

• Protect yourself and your business with general and product liability insurance.
• Save time and money utilizing the discounts and special offers available to members.
• Improve your craft through training and classes.
• Advertise your business and promote your products.
• Participate in the management of the HSCG and support legislative advocacy with your dues.

Want to learn more? Scroll down to take a tour of some of the many benefits you can get from membership in the HSCG.

Save time and money

Your HSCG membership can provide you with savings on soap supplies, office supplies, outbound shipping, and an online webstore. You can easily cover your membership dues with the money you can save!

Protect Yourself

Having general and product liability insurance is the best way to protect yourself, your family and your assets in the event of something going horribly wrong. We never want to expect a problem, but we should always be prepared for the worst case. The insurance options offered by the HSCG through Veracity Insurance Solutions give you access to the most affordable insurance coverage available anywhere that is geared toward soap and cosmetic handcrafters.

Promote your business & increase sales

The HSCG offers a number of different ways to get your business out in front of consumers. With over 40,000 visitors per month, your listing in the Directory of Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters can provide great for your business and products. In addition, the Soap Gallery and the Cosmetic Gallery can showcase your products and the Store Locator provides website visitors with a way to find your products in brick-and-mortar locations in the US.

HSCG members regularly report getting valid, bonifide (and sometimes quite large!) sales from customers who found them on the HSCG website. It doesn't take very many extra, unexpected sales to cover the cost of your membership dues.

Improve your craft

Use the tools and options of the HSCG to help improve your craft. Get more skills to make handcrafted soap and cosmetics through classes, the HSCG conference and the HSCG How-To Library.

Up your professional "cred"

We all know that many consumers look at the packaging and smell the product as the main ways to decide if they are going to buy. But there are also those consumers who tend to dig a little deeper to make their decision to purchase. In those cases, having outside verification of your soapmaking skills through the HSCG Certification Program just may be the deciding factor. And, of course, the personal certainty that you have, indeed, put yourself to the test and passed doens't hurt your self-confidence any, either!

Participate in the organization
& support the industry

The HSCG is the only association or organization for soap and cosmetic handcrafters that is non-profit and registered with the IRS.

What does that mean? It means that every penny of your dues go toward operating the association and fulfilling the mission of the HSCG, which includes a portion of your dues funding federal legislative advocacy. While we do pay staff, not one dime goes as "profit" to any individual person or business.

We have very specific state and federal rules for ensuring fairness and equity and we make sure they are followed - not because we have to, but because it is the right way to run an organization such as this. We've even gone a step beyond, by incorporating Roberts Rules of Order into our bylaws and managment procedures to make doubly-sure that the association stays on track.

As a member, you have rights in the management of the organization. Your voice is heard. The Organization Bylaws describe your rights and responsibilities, as well as the responsibilities of all elected officers, the President, Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Executive Director.

Networking and Comradarie

The HSCG provides opportunities for networking and making new friends. Who doesn't need more people with whom they can talk shop and who don't roll their eyes when you start on the properties of different oils in soap or how to blend the perfect fragrance? Online, members can participate in the HSCG Members Only Facebook group. At the Annual Conference you get to spend days with like-minded people. And now, with Local Chapters HSCG members can start chapters in their local region or join with existing chapters and have the chance to get together with other people locally.