March/April 2013 in Review
“Life is so much more complicated these days what with all the new technology to keep up with,” my mother recently stated. And truth be known, she doesn’t keep up. Still, she was voicing what many of us feel from time to time, that learning new technology seems complicated and we wonder if it really saves time, money or effort.
In reading Cindy Noble’s article, Digital Library Essentials, in the March-April 2013 edition of the Saponifier, it’s easy to see that going digital can save time, money and effort. We have so many more resources at our fingertips now, and even digital books are also less expensive than traditional books, not to mention the fact that they won’t fill bookshelf after bookshelf in our homes! I remember not all that long ago having to make a point of going to the library to look things up that I wanted to know about. If I wanted to buy a book, I had to either make a trip to a bookstore or send for a catalog, pick out my books, and send the order form and check back in and then wait for a couple of weeks for the books to arrive. Yes, we are saving time and money when we use our technology efficiently. Incidentally, Cindy suggestions for books to help you along in your business are outstanding. If you haven’t read her article yet, you’ll want to.
Are you contemplating selling out of the country? Tamara Dourney’s, Understanding ISO Compliance is a must-read to help you get your business ready for new horizons and markets. Of course, in order to sell, we also need good product photos. You could hire a professional, and that isn’t a bad idea, but may be out of your current budget. Tamara’s, Product Photography Revisited will inspire you to improve your photography.
If you’re selling products, you need to know about POS. You don’t think you have one? You do! Quite simply, POS stands for, “point of sale,” and refers to the way you take funds from a customer, whether a cash box at the farmer’s market or a credit card. Of course, it’s credit cards that have us scratching our heads, wondering if we can afford to accept them or afford not to accept them and then which one to choose. It’s a difficult maze, for sure, but Beth Byrne will make it easier for you if you read, POS and the Chandler. She attempts to take some of the mystery out of determining which credit card company to use.
Should I Quit My Day Job? Not only the title of Melinda Coss’ article, but a common question for entrepreneurs, it is puzzling to many of us who seek to make our businesses a full-time venture. We can never be reminded enough of the importance of good, realistic planning in making a successful business. Be sure to read Melinda’s article and take her advice to heart.
We are living in a time where natural is the buzz word. If you offer natural products, your customers will be determining–with varying degrees of discernment, just how truthful your statements about your goods are. If you purchase natural products or ingredients yourself, you are asking the same thing. Helping you to do that is Tammy Lane in, Sifting Through the Hype.
If you’re a business owner, then you are likely thinking often about how you can get your margins up and your costs down. To give you some practical advice on increasing your margins without necessarily increasing your prices, Marla Bosworth gives us, Work Smarter, Not Harder–Are Your Margins High Enough?
Lest you think this issue is only about business, take a look at the fine articles that Katherine Forrest, Victoria Donaldson and Elizabeth Sockol provided for our reading pleasure. Katherine shares tips for making beeswax candles, while Victoria teaches us how to make a basic soap mold in just fifteen minutes. Elizabeth informs us about the common Safflower. How much do you know about it? If you’ve read the article, we think you know quite a bit.
Last but certainly not least, pour over the photos in our Readers Showcase Gallery. Every issues offers a feast for the eyes and inspiration from our subscribers. Thanks to Fisika, Nancy Reid of Nature’s Soap and Mountain Farm’s soap. If you’re looking for soap events, be sure to check out our Events page.
What? You’re not yet a subscriber? You can fix that! Just click on this link: https://saponifier.wufoo.com/forms/subscribe-or-renew/
Finally, if you have comments or questions, please feel free to comment here or to ask questions on our Twitter or Facebook pages. We’d love to hear from you.
http://www.facebook.com/Saponifier
http://flicker.com/groups/saponifier/
http://saponifier.com/?feed=rss2
It’s Scentsational!
Have you been too busy with after-holiday chores to sit down with your newest edition of the Saponifier? Well, do as I did. Pour yourself a nice cup of tea and sit down for a bit to rest and rejuvenate for 2013.
This issue (January/February 2013) is a particularly enjoyable one because it’s all about scent, and few topics interest soap and candle junkies as scent does. From the lovely cover photograph that sets the tone to Aaron Polczynski’s advice on selling more of your wonderful, scented creations in, Tips for Soap Sales at any Venue, to a cupcake tutorial (and don’t we love the smell of cupcakes?) authored by Loyce Henderson, you’ll be treated with a great read. Of course, since you’re this far in, you’d might as well also read, Tammy Lane’s, Holidays You’re Going to Love. It will help you plan ideas for producing and uniquely marketing all of those wonderful items you can give or sell this new year.
If you’re building a line of scents and are looking for advice, be sure to read, Creating a Scentsational Line by Beth Byrne. She interviewed Jo Lasky, who is a treasure trove for all things scent and most generously shared some of her knowledge with us!
If you’re a soap history buff, you’ll devour Melinda Coss’, Savoir Faire, where she describes the history of soapmaking in France, as well as explaining the current situation that soapmakers face there.
What scent could be more wonderful than the scent of herbs? If you’re hankering to begin an herb garden this year, let Wayne Gorman help in his article, Herb Gardening 101.
Isn’t this the perfect time for trying new formulations in body butters? Marla Bosworth treats us to formulas and instructions for, Winter Comfort: Slip Into Rich Cocoa and Vanilla Body Butters. Mmm. . . I can smell them already! This is also the best time of year, at least in my hemisphere, for enjoying candles. You’ll find Lyschel Bersch’s Testing for Wick Size in Candles to be informative and helpful.
When it comes to narrowing down a scent line, you’ll enjoy Victoria Donaldson’s survey of friends and family in, Because it Smells Good! Armed with the most popular scents of our 2012 Raves for Faves article, Victoria describes how various individuals decided upon their favorites and why.
Other than making all of the goodies, what could be a better way to spend a little time than reading about them?
Until next time, may your days be filled with bubbles and wax.
Beth Byrne for the Saponifier
New Issue in Review!
Have you devoured your November/December issue yet?
We at the Saponifier have done our best to bring you all of your favorites. From your favorite suppliers, scents and products, to recipes revisited and those for winter, you’ve likely enjoyed reading about them and perhaps have even tried some of the recipes. Were your favorites mentioned in Beth Byrne’s, Raves for Faves article? Have you sampled tried and true recipes from, Favorites Revisited: Saponifier’s Best-Loved Recipes, by Tamara Dourney, or, new recipes in, All-Time Winter Skin Favorites: Scrubs, Creams and Lotions, by Marla Bosworth?
We’re certain you enjoyed other helpful articles that will allow you to manufacture more efficiently and profitably, such as Victoria Donaldson’s, Personalizing for Small Orders. Or perhaps, you’re working up new formulas for scrubs of any kind, so you loved, Natural Exfoliants, by Erica Pence. What are your favorite exfoliants?
Are you looking for something new and exciting for candlemaking? If so, you’ve likely made plans to try Fire and Ice candles, by Erica Pence.
We’re sure you found exceptional business advice by Melinda Coss, in her new column, Savior Faire and Consistency–the Mother of Success, by Alexander Sherman. What did you find most helpful?
I found myself already thinking spring with Elizabeth Sockol’s, Wake Robin! Were you as fascinated as I was by the many uses for this lovely herb, as well as its history?
Let us know how you’ve enjoyed this issue and used the knowledge you’ve gained.
Until next time, may your days be filled with bubbles and wax.
Beth Byrne for the Saponifier
The Saponifier: September/October, 2012–Fun Projects for Everyone!
By now, you’ve probably read your entire issue of the Saponifier. So much useful information in just one issue!
Lara Fiorelli’s advice in, Captivating Holiday Party Decor, was welcome to many of us planning either home sales parties or even our own personal holiday decorating. I’m sure that many of us will be saving this article to use as a guide.
I found Aaron Polczynski’s article, Memory From the Suds, from the standpoint of an interested observer of the soap maker to be an interesting read, as well. We don’t usually get such a good description of how others view our work, so reading how Aaron feels about his father’s soapmaking was indeed a treat to read. How many of us could identify with Aaron’s father as he grew in skill and confidence!
If using natural colorants in soapmaking has been a desire of yours, I’m sure you devoured, Natural Colorants: Herbs, Botanicals and Clays, as Erica Pence details the various process of extracting color from herbs. You’ll find the accompanying chart very handy for future reference, as well.
Erica also gives us a candle lesson in, Yummy Candle Treats: Fun Food-Inspired Candles, which, I’m sure, is inspiring many for the upcoming gift giving season.
Do you like marshmallows? Make them with soap! Tamara Dourney tells us how in, Marshmallow Melt and Pour Soaps. What a fun project for the holiday season!
Last, but not least, Elizabeth Sokol tempts our imagination and desires with her herbal monograph, Cabbae Rose. You’ll be fascinated with its history and intrigued by its many uses. The ages old rose has captivated us from the beginning.
Go forth and make soap and candles!
Until next time, may your days be filled with bubbles and wax.
Beth Byrne
Four Ideas for Super Sales!
You’ve sold your lovely soaps (and/or candles and bath and body wares) to friends and family. Perhaps you’ve branched out to farmers markets and craft shows. You may, however, have found them incompatible with your schedule and personality, or you may simply want to expand your business. Undoubtedly, you’ve heard about wholesale, and many in our industry have created a thriving business doing just that. But, what else is there?
Thanks to the new, Sept/Oct. 2012, issue of the Saponifier, you have more sales avenues to consider, some of which you may have never given thought to before! Erica Pence explains the concept of direct sales, and further expounds upon the two types. If you’ve read her article, Configuring a Direct Sales Company, you now have a good idea and may even be in the preliminary stages of planning your own strategy. If not, well, get cracking!
Remember Tupperware? Pampered Chef? Start your own home party plan for your business after reading Beth Byrne’s interview with Becky Gentile and Lucia Felty, who share their structures for home parties. In the article, Tips for Super Sales With Home Parties, you’ll learn their secrets for creating a successful home party plan that will make your hostess feel like a queen, your guests ravenous for your products, and you, a happy seller. Have you been contemplating your own party plan? We’d love to hear about it.
Cindy Noble, in Safety in Numbers: Planning a Multi-Vendor Trunk Show, instructs us on sponsoring your own show, where you choose the vendors, the date and the location. With this concise, yet informative guide, you’ll be off and planning your holiday show! What is the date of your show?
If what you’ve been doing has become rather stale, or if expansion is on your mind, answers are right at your fingertips–and just in time for the holidays!
Until next time, may your days be filled with bubbles and wax.
Beth Byrne
Spinning Your Way to Prosperity
It’s gardening time in North America.
Spring trees and flowers are blooming and even in the coldest areas, perennials are popping up out of the ground. Have you ever thought about planting a soap garden?
Read, How Does Your Garden Grow? A Soapmaker’s Garden, by Beth Byrne, and then tell us what you’re growing or planning to grow in your soap garden.
In a completely unrelated topic, what do wars have to do with soap and candlemakers? Quite a bit, actually, if you sell them. Tamara Dourney explains in, Remembering the Post-War Era why and how the various war efforts affected the economy in the past, and speculates on the possibilities that may take place once the current war that the US is involved in is over. Prosperity or doom? While the outcome is yet to be determined, you can prepare and position yourself for either scenario.
On the formulator’s front. . . a natural preservative, how many of us wouldn’t want something all natural for our lotions and creams? Does one exist? Erica Pence gives us the low-down in her article, The Great Debate: Is There a Natural Preservative? Not surprisingly, the jury is largely still out regarding the new, natural preservatives, but we do get to read about some of them.
Denise Marks gets our wheels turning in, Spin for Success. In an entertaining way, she teaches us about business and life, helping us to overcome failures and obstacles while taking advantage of our good ideas. Be sure to read this one if you haven’t already.
Until next time, happy bubbles and wax as you spin your way through life!
Beth Byrne
Forecasting, Futurecasting and Measuring–it’s Your Business
Woot! It’s here. Did you check your email? The May/June edition of the Saponifier is ready for download.
With its emphasis on futurecasting, you’ll find this issue very informative as you learn to negotiate business. Tamara Dourney jumps right in with her article, An Introduction to Predictive Analytics: What is Futurecasting? She describes Predictive Analysis and all of the concepts and terminology involved. Embrace it and you’ll find yourself able to see where you are now, identify what your customer base wants, and how to provide it at lowest cost and in the least amount of time possible.
Marla Bosworth and Jennifer Kirkwood expand on the theme with their article, How to use Forecasting to Spot Trends and to Develop Products. Being small means being nimble, or the ability to watch for trends and to jump on products that meet those needs and wants. This is something that is extremely difficult for large companies to do, but not small ones. Stay ahead of the pack!
How do we find out just how well we’re doing? Well, besides the obvious measure of money in the bank account, each business should follow the advice that Alexander Sherman doles out in, Measuring Returns. Teaching us how to calculate ROE (Return One Equity) and ROA (Return on Investments), Alexander shows us that we can judge how efficiently our businesses are using the capital that we pour into them.
If one of the trends you spot is candlemaking, check out Beth Byrne’s, Book review: Candlemaking for Profit. This no-nonsense treatise written by famed candlemaker, Robert Aley, is a gem when it comes to starting a candlemaking business. You’ll want to find out why and how to get your copy. Actually, if you’re planning to start any handcrafted business, you’ll find value in this book.
Are you a technology maven? You’ll be sure to enjoy, Web 3.0, by Cindy Noble. Even if you aren’t among the tech savvy, you’ll enjoy learning about the new version of the internet–yes, there are versions!
Until next time, happy reading.
Beth Byrne
Oils, Summer, Candles and Capital
This educational issue of the Saponifier is so exciting. If you didn’t learn anything, then you must know everything!
We’ve all heard facts about soapmaking oils–coconut oil is drying, castor oil produces a hard soap, canola oil causes DOS. But, is it really true? Soapmaking Oils; Surprises Afoot, by Beth Byrne is an attempt to answer those questions. Most people, myself included, learned, believed and repeated what we believed we knew about oils without really testing things out. After hearing contradictory information, a single oil soap experiment was born. Thanks to over twenty soapmakers, we have access to the results of making many kinds soap with one oil and now know the truth. Is coconut oil drying? Read the article for yourself! You’ll also have access here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AssGxkRMh7TvdGc4ZmljdUlhV0J3REx2ZkF5cF9VS3c#gid=0
If you don’t see an oil listed and want to make a batch to test and add to our work, please contact me, beth@saponifier.com. I am seeking to add more oils.
Armed with your new information, try the formulas listed in Erica Pence’s, Natural Summer Formulary. You’ll find much more than soap ideas! Likewise, Cindy Noble’s, Summer Product Shape Up will be just the kickstart you need to think about warmth and sunshine. While you’re at it this summer, don’t forget to use Erica’s directions for making sand candles! Oh, and speaking of soap, what about scum? Tamara Dourney sheds the light on the “scum” claims of advertisers in, Soap Scum: A Real Problem or Bad PR.? Weren’t you glad you read that one?
Last but not least, our money guru, Alexander Sherman offers expert advice in his article, Raising Capital. What small business doesn’t need that kind of help? Tell us where you got your capital to start your business and/or to expand it.
Until next time,
Happy bubbles and wax!
Beth Byrne
How do You Prefer Your Education?
Education. Do you think of stuffy classrooms where you struggled to stay awake, or was your experience a positive one of engaging discussion and good test results? Do you prefer a formal or an informal mode of education? And why am I talking about education at all on the Saponifier blog?
If you hadn’t noticed, the new issue is all about education, in particular, educating ourselves about soapmaking, candlemaking, and related topics–herbs, chemistry, art and design, and so on. If we sell product, we can throw in accounting and marketing. Fortunately, we can continue educating ourselves, whether we physically go back to school, we learn online, or we learn informally through books and other research.
Tamara Dourney filled us in on some exciting methods of formal education, by way of online learning in her article, Open Source Scientist. If your opinion of this modern way of being educated is negative, think again. Many opportunities for study at recognized institutions are available, and they continue to evolve and develop, making it easier for artisans to increase their knowledge of subjects important to their crafts. Tamara also wrote about various potential career paths that are related to our crafts in, Career Day: Five Options for Continuing Education.
If you prefer doing your own research on a specific topic, Erica Pence’s, Natural Resources and her second article, Candle Resources, both filled with good books for learning soap and candle making, essential oils, herbs, botanicals and other body care products. Your knowledge base is sure to greatly increase by studying them.
If you find yourself wishing to take a class, be sure to read Marla Bosworth’s, 10 Tips for Selecting the Right Soap and Skincare Classes to Match Your Needs. Heeding her comments may mean the difference between a wonderful class you’ll think was worth every penny and one that was a waste of time and money.
In this issue, you’ll even find an educational herb monograph on the lovely Glacier Lily, more commonly called, Dog-Toothed Violet or Trout Lily in my neck of the woods. I had no idea of the food and medicinal uses for this early spring treasure!
Whether you are a staunch believer in conventional education and desire to pursue a degree or you are looking for something less formal, but no less educational, you’ll find ideas in the above articles. Tell us how YOU like to learn.
Until next time,
Happy bubbles & wax adventures.
Beth Byrne
Candles, Herbs, and Economics — Three Ideas for 2012
How is January coming along for you? Are you reaching for your 2012 goals? Taking steps to keep your resolutions?
If one of your resolutions was to add candles to your bath business, you no doubt found Erica Pence’s article of the same title very helpful. Just gather together the ingredients she lists and create away! Tell us if you’ve used Erica’s directions to be just the ticket to your first candle. Once you add candles to your line, tell us if they have boosted sales for you.
Were you as encouraged as I was to read, Planning for the Best When Experiencing the Worst, by Alexander Sherman? I found his advice regarding positioning our businesses to be front and center as the economy rebounds (however slowly) and his enthusiasm for the future to be quite contagious. I hope the same was true for you. What are you doing to be ready for the surge in sales?
For all of us budding herbalists, the herbal monographs are always informative. Even with more familiar herbs, I learn something new. Elizabeth Sockol’s, Spanish Dagger, better known to many of us as Yucca, is no exception. I never tire at learning more about the various uses for any herb, whether cosmetic, culinary, or medicinal. Yucca provides no shortage of uses, even though none of them are food-related. It is likely that some of our readers have used the root to extract the saponins. Have you?
Perhaps Ginger oil is your preference. Did you get any new ideas from Cindy Noble’s monograph? I confess to using it only for culinary and medicinal purposes, except for a drop in the bath of a sick person. We’d love to hear how you use Ginger.
Finally, be sure to check out the photos supplied by Jonathan Savoie and Madeline Novak of Old Factory Soap Company. They are truly inspirational!
Yours in the joys of bubbles and wax,
Beth
