Articles

“Crane berries”, the familiar berry accompaniment to holiday meals, are also one of the most versatile antibacterial herbs.

A new year marks an opportunity to take note of which aspects of your business worked in your favor and which you may need to adjust—including your own perspective and attitude. Here are a few tips to help you make the lens through which you view the world a little more positive—both for the good of your business, and your enjoyment as an entrepreneur.

The definition of branding is no longer limited to labels, logos and packaging; these are only subsets of a much larger category. Due to social media, and greater awareness in general, today’s savvy consumers want to buy from brands they trust. So, it’s important to give your customers a reason to know, like and trust your brand. We do that by brand storytelling.

Just like the seasons, things are bound to change and how you handle that change can determine the balance in your life. Here are some quick tips to create change on your own terms!

Many soap makers love plastic molds for their beautifully detailed designs and their economical price, but they can be tricky to use with cold process soap. Plastic molds come in a variety of designs that include molds for practically every holiday or event and molds that complement a wide variety of colors, fragrances and other soap making ingredients. Some of our favorite Milky Way® molds for this issue of Handmade include the Aloe Vera Soap Mold, Bee and Honeycomb Soap Mold, Lavender Guest Soap Mold and the Oatmeal Rounded Soap Mold. We have found three tricks that make for consistently molded soap bars in plastic molds. Pictured: Cold process soap with Crafter's Choice® Energy Fragrance Oil and Safflower Powder. Molded with Milky Way™ Henna Teardrop Soap Mold (MW 258)

The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant with edible fruit consisting of multiple berries that have come together and formed a single mass. It is the most economically significant plant in the Bromeliaceae family. Pineapples contribute to over 20% of the world production of tropical fruits and as a crop are second only to bananas as the most important harvested fruit. Both the root and fruit of the pineapple may be eaten or applied topically as an anti-inflammatory or as a proteolytic (exfoliating) agent. 

Selling soap at farmers' markets and similar events can be an effective and inexpensive way to build brand recognition in your community, engage with new audiences and give customers an opportunity to see, smell and experience your products in a way that online venues simply can’t accommodate. Selling handmade soap at a farmers' market or another popular event can mean plenty of foot traffic, but it also demands that you take extra steps to capture visitors’ attention and drive sales. Try these tips to help drive traffic to your booth and master how to sell at farmers' markets and other special events.

Debbie May, president of Wholesale Supplies Plus, takes us into her home to make this Vanilla Bourbon Mechanic Scrub recipe. She describes the Bourbon Vanilla scent, explains issues with foaming bath whip, talks about preservative name changes and shows the finished scrub being used. Grab a glass of wine, kick back, and enjoy the first video of our "Soapin' in Slippers" series.

We're talking Formulator Formulator - LIVE* with Debbie May! Learn how to make your own unique custom formulas with this revolutionary system! Fragrance Formula has been designed by a team of scientists to allow consumers to develop their own unique scents for soaps and cosmetics. Set yourself a part from your competition with your own blends. Debbie May, president of Wholesale Supplies Plus, gives an introduction on this NEW product, and shows you how to create custom fragrance blends. *This is a recording of a LIVE streams from 2017.

Learn how to make hair conditioner from scratch in this short video. This detangling hair conditioner is amazing! Marshmallow Root Powder is used for its believed hair-detangling properties and Argan Oil adds shine and moisture to hair. Your hair will love the high-end ingredients in this conditioner and your nose will love the beautiful Gooseberry Guava scent! Watch this video to learn more.

The cold process is not exactly cold. The oils are generally warmed to something higher than room temperature, and once the lye is added, the raw soap can become quite warm indeed. Of course, the term arises because, unlike the hot process, no additional heat is provided once the oils and lye are mixed. Despite the name, temperature plays a large role in cold-process soap, and we will explore that relationship in this article.

Time for a little spring cleaning? It may be that your business and marketing plan may have a few layers of dust on it as well. So break out your virtual feather duster and let's get to work!