business Archives - Soap Queen

Interview with Julie of Soaperie + Co.

October 30, 2018 Filed Under: Business Musings

In 2015, Julie with Soaperie + Co. left her job in finance to spend more time with her kids. She started exploring creative outlets and discovered a love for soapmaking. Now she makes and sells beautiful cold process soap, lotion bars, candles, and more. Learn more about how Julie got started, what inspires her, and her soapmaking tips.

Spring collection

How long have you been making soap and how did you get started?
I’ve been making soap for almost two years and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it! The very first soap I made was the Relaxing Lavender soap from Bramble Berry’s Natural Soap Kit for Beginners. It was such a great way to start creating handmade soap because the kit comes with everything you need. I remember checking in on the soap as it cured and after a couple of hours, I noticed a crack on the top of the soap. In hindsight, I realized that I was just too impatient and I didn’t let my lye water cool enough before I mixed it with the oils, so the soap got way too hot. I’ve learned a lot since then, but I think that soapmaking experience is still one of the most exciting!

Soaperie + Co. really got started as a second act in life after I’d spent more than 20 years in a more traditional career. In 2015, I left my job in finance to spend more time with my kids and to focus on enjoying a slower pace of life. That first year after I stopped working absolutely flew by because I was busy helping my older son apply for college. Eventually, he left home to start school and that’s when I knew I needed something to keep myself occupied. I’ve always loved fashion and interior design, so it wasn’t a surprise that I began to explore my creative side. To me, making artisan soap is the perfect blend of creative and analytical, just like me. I loved it instantly.

What inspires you to create?
Fashion, interior design, cooking, and nature. Right now, I’m watching the latest season of the Great British Baking Show. I’m mesmerized by the unique ingredient combinations that go into the contestants’ truly amazing creations. Soapmaking has a lot of similarities to the cooking/baking world and you tend to see a lot of the same trends. I like to use what I’ve seen for inspiration.

Blueberry Thyme soap

What advice would you give to makers just starting their businesses?
Be patient, take it slowly, and learn everything you possibly can from more experienced soapmakers. I’m not a patient person by nature and I really jumped into this business quickly. There have been times that I’ve definitely learned “on the job” and that kind of learning can be difficult. I wish I knew early on what I know now. I think if I’d been a little more patient, there would have been fewer growing pains.

One of the biggest mistakes I made was being afraid to say no. Whether it’s a wholesale order that just wasn’t profitable or a time-consuming project for a friend, it’s easy to feel obligated to do something that really isn’t a good use of your time. When you have the courage to say no, it’s a really powerful thing. It opens you up to have the time to pursue the things that you really want to do.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Cold process soap. There’s something so beautiful about the perceived simplicity, yet it really can keep you on your toes. It’s different every time you make it, even when you’re remaking something you’ve made before. The air humidity, the temperature of the ingredients, and the type of fragrance oil – it makes it impossible to control the outcome with exact precision. Learning to deal with unexpected problems is just part of the process!

Eucalyptus Mint soap

How did you come up with the name for your business?
Naming your business is so incredibly personal. At the end of the day, I wanted a name that would convey my sense of style…simple, sophisticated, feminine, and professional. I also wanted to make sure it reflected that it’s a soap business. Instead of just using the word soapery, I tweaked it a little and made it “Soaperie” to add some flair.

There’s a funny story about the name Soaperie + Co. Recently, it dawned on me that people may read it as “Soap Erie,” as in soap made in Erie, PA. Someone commented on an Instagram post that they would love to have a bar of my soap because they’re from Erie and they’re feeling homesick since they moved away. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that sadly, there is no connection to Erie. I still love the name of my business, but this was a good reminder about how important it is to really think through your business name before committing.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
It’s impossible to choose just one. The Copper Sparkle Mica and Gold Sparkle Mica are both so incredibly beautiful, so much fun to use, and really give your soap a glamorous feel. I love to use them as mica lines in between soap layers or mix them with sweet almond oil and create a sparkly design on the top of the finished soap.

There are also so many amazing Bramble Berry fragrance oils. I honestly couldn’t live without Cocoa Butter Cashmere, Autumn Fig Harvest, Rose Quartz, and Tobacco and Bay Leaf. If you haven’t tried them, you’re missing out!

Blackberry Sage soap

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I’m originally from California and I graduated from UCLA with a BS in Mathematics. I’m also a CPA. It’s probably not the typical resume of a soapmaker, but I have found that analytical and problem-solving skills can be very helpful in this business. No matter what your background is, I think you bring your own unique perspective to soapmaking. One of my favorite things to see on Instagram is a photo of a soap that’s different than anything I’ve seen before.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
Right now, I’m trying to learn everything I can about photography. When I first started posting photos of my soap on social media, it was a disaster. I even had a professional photographer leave a comment on one of my Instagram posts suggesting I contact her for help. I still have a long way to go, but thankfully my photos have improved since then. Someday, I would love to graduate from my iPhone to a good digital camera.

I also love spending time with my family, playing fantasy football, watching good movies, watching bad reality television, reading, enjoying great food, baking, and traveling.

Cucumber Garden soap

Have you ever experienced a soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Of course, there are so many fails that it’s difficult to choose just one. Once, I dropped my soap batter on the floor. I accidentally left my immersion blender sitting in the soap batter. I was using a plastic bucket for the first time (I had been using a glass container) and the blender was just too heavy for the container to support. When I let go, the entire bucket of soap spilled down the front of my cabinets and all over the floor! Luckily, I got it cleaned up quickly and no one was hurt.

If I learned anything from this fail, it’s just another reminder that soapmaking can be dangerous and it’s so important to be careful. Each time I introduce something new into the process, now I try to think ahead and assess the impact before a mistake happens.

If you were to give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
Right now, since it’s getting cooler and we all start struggling with dry skin, I would give them a Beeswax + Honey lotion bar. It’s made with beeswax, shea butter, and olive oil and it’s so incredibly moisturizing (and it smells great, too). They come in a small recyclable container that’s easy to throw in your purse and take with you on the go. One of my favorite stories about our lotion bars is from a customer who sells handmade knitted items. She likes to use our lotion bars on her hands before she starts knitting a project and says it makes the yarn smell so good. She’s even received feedback about the wonderful fragrance from her customers!

Beeswax + Honey lotion bars

What is your number one soapmaking tip?
Try soaping at room temperature. For the longest time, I wouldn’t even consider trying it and I would spend countless hours trying to get my oils and lye water to within 10 degrees of each other. At higher temperatures, this can be time consuming. Soaping at room temperature has worked out well for me because Austin is a pretty hot and humid part of the country, so most of the time all my oils are already liquid at room temperature. In the winter I do have to heat up some of the harder oils. For me, it really simplified my life and I don’t spend so much time worrying about timing everything so carefully!

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
Honestly, I love being a part of the soapmaking community and interacting with amazing customers. I’ve been so impressed by the incredible amount of support, guidance, and encouragement that I’ve experienced over the last few years. Artisan soap is a very saturated market, so I’m always pleasantly surprised by how many soapmakers are willing to share their techniques and help one another. I always encourage everyone to buy handmade items. You really help support a community of truly wonderful makers.

Artisan soaps

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Interview with Jayme of Salt & Shea

September 19, 2018 Filed Under: Business Musings

Growing up, Jayme of Salt & Shea wasn’t able to use store-bought soap. Because of her allergies, it would irritate her skin. That experience helps Jayme craft handmade products for those with sensitive skin. She uses natural ingredients and avoids harsh chemicals, which means she gets to enjoy her creations as well. Learn more about how Jayme got started, what inspires her, and her soapmaking tips.

How long have you been making soap and how did you get started?
I made my first batch of soap a little over four years ago. At the time, the idea to make soap was completely random and stemmed from one of those lounging on the couch with your mom, drinking wine, scrolling Pinterest, contemplating life moments. At the time I was 27 and unfulfilled with my current line of work. I was looking for a change and had no clue what I wanted to do other than “make stuff.” I possessed a love for baking and a passion for natural skincare and then… light bulb I had an idea…. “Mom, I am going to become an esthetician, help people with their skin, and make soap!” “Soap? Why soap? You don’t even use bar soap. You are allergic,” my mom responded. But the idea was planted and I was going for it. I spent the following few days obsessed with the idea. I googled everything soap and skincare related and stumbled upon Anne-Marie’s Soap Queen blog. I watched every video possible, read how-to blogs, and ordered a few soapmaking books from Amazon!

A few weeks later for my birthday, my mom gifted me a cold process soapmaking kit from Bramble Berry. I was so excited! I opened the box, started to work through the recipe, and made my first batch of soap. I was instantly hooked! The rest is history….

Custom birthday box

What advice would you give makers just starting their businesses?
Start small but plan big! Know your numbers and account for your time! Soapmaking as a hobby is completely different than running a sustainable business. Before you embark on selling soap or think about creating a handcrafted business, you need to have a solid plan and understanding of things like the real cost of goods (including your labor and overhead), production procedures and timelines, inventory control, waste management, branding and marketing, customer service, and the laws and regulations that pertain to you depending on where you live and conduct business. I recognize as makers we get excited, create, and want to share it with the world. However, taking the time to have a plan in place and a good understanding of the business side will help you stay on track, focused, and eventually profitable.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
S.O.A.P! I enjoy pouring balms, soy wax candles, and packaging gift boxes, but cold process soap is my favorite product to create. Each batch is unique and one of a kind. You can fully customize your recipe and do away with the use of toxic chemicals, parabens, fillers, and commercial skin-stripping additives. The best part is that you can tailor ingredients to satisfy the needs of different skin types, allergies, or client concerns.

Beautiful soap tops

What is your number one soapmaking tip?
Take the time to educate yourself about the soapmaking process! Do research, watch videos, and become a student of the craft. Understand the importance of lye safety, SAP values, and how to troubleshoot if and when your soapy creation doesn’t go as planned.

How did you come up with the name of your business?
Deciding on a business name is exciting, however, it can be a little daunting – especially in a saturated market. I exhausted multiple names, email domains, and label templates, but I was never fully satisfied with the business name I chose. A few months after I had a deadline to finalize a website purchase and branding collateral, but I couldn’t pull the trigger. I knew that my current business name was not in alignment with what I wanted to create. I wanted something fun and cheeky, eco-friendly, yet natural and feminine.

After a long day of esthetic class, I stopped by Michaels Craft Store looking for inspiration. Cruising down the middle aisles I stumbled upon alphabet letters. I pulled out tons of letters and started piecing words together in the middle of the store. I was currently soaping with a lot of shea butter and seeing the letters sparked an idea. After a few times of ring-around-the-letters and a lot of word play, Salt & Shea was born. I knew I had to create it!

What inspires you to create?
I find inspiration everywhere. My mind operates on a burning desire to make something. Most of the time I have moved onto a new idea before fully processing the last. My friends, family, and current clients always fuel my creative spark and really keep me going. I guess it comes back to the joy of creating something that someone else will find happiness in.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I enjoy almost everything Bramble Berry! My favorite products they offer are their natural colorants. They provide a large selection of plant-based powders, clays, and exfoliating additives. My favorite is the purple Brazilian clay. I have found it to be hard to source, so I love that I can get it from Bramble Berry when I place my normal orders. It provides a natural vibrant color and adds mild exfoliating properties to the soap. I love using it in our Lavender Lemongrass bar. It’s one of our top sellers.

Lavender Lemongrass soap

What is something unusual or unique about you?
I’m allergic to everything! I have Celiac disease and have suffered from extremely sensitive skin due to allergies and environmental elements my whole life. Growing up I was allergic to commercial bar soaps, body wash, bubble bath, and pretty much anything that smelled good. I never had the “ luxury” of taking a bath or trying that new lotion or body butter without sending my skin into a complete freak out. I believe my personal experience of navigating life in an “allergic” state puts me in a unique position to understand and show compassion for other people’s sensitivities.

What are some of your other interests and hobbies?
When I’m not creating for Salt & Shea, chances are I am fussing with another DIY “crafty” project. Most of the time you can find me in our garage working with wood, staining crates, and sanding old furniture. My love for wood has definitely influenced my brand and packaging, and it’s something I am really proud of. I also love walking my two dogs, Tyson and Dallas, baking gluten-free treats, and spending quality time with my boyfriend hiking outdoors.

Custom gift boxes

If you could give one product to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
That’s simple! It would definitely be our Zebra Balm (hydrating balm for dry skin). This hydrating balm is skin happiness in a tin! It’s a proven and true favorite among our clients, and it’s my personal favorite product. It’s carefully crafted with organic beeswax that we source locally and skin-loving oils to help hydrate and protect dry, dehydrated skin. I enjoy creating and gifting this balm so much because anyone can use it and everyone loves it! Not only does it smell divine, it leaves you feeling happy, healthy, and hydrated!

Zebra Balm

Have you ever experienced a soapy fail? What did you learn from it?
My biggest soapy fail involves 20 pounds of soap, a 5-gallon bucket, a stick blender that didn’t get to the bottom, and a huge mess. I normally soap 15 pounds at a time, so I figured 5 more wouldn’t hurt. I made my lye, portioned my oils, and added them to a 5-gallon bucket. I should’ve known I was in trouble before I started when the bucket on top of my workspace was almost my height. Ignoring the obvious, I grabbed a step stool, poured my lye, and went to town. Keeping with the theme of ignoring the obvious, I didn’t account for my stick blender being too short or producing enough powder to reach the bottom to fully emulsify and trace. In the time it took to grab a few buckets to portion out some of my batter, my essential oil blend started seizing. I quickly tried to whisk the batter enough to save and pour. The whole batch was literally a nightmare!

If I learned anything from this soapy fail, it would be to know the limitations of your current situation. I planned for a bigger bucket, but forgot about the rest of my equipment.

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
As a maker, I have a deep love and respect for the handcrafted process as a whole. I appreciate the opportunity to create and I am proud of what I make. What I love the most is the joy that fills my heart when my clients and new customers come back and tell me how much they loved Salt & Shea, the difference they see and feel on their skin, or how they felt when they gifted one of our boxes. To me, it’s so much more than making soap or creating body care, it’s about making someone feel good! It’s my favorite part of the whole process!

Pineapple Papaya soap

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Interview with Meagan of Avery Grey Soapery

February 19, 2018 Filed Under: Business Musings

Meagan of Avery Grey Soapery is known for both sophisticated and whimsical cold process designs. Her love of movies, books, and music often inspire her creations, leading to playful projects like Mad Hatter and Maleficent soaps. We love to see what she creates on her Instagram. Learn more about how Meagan got started making soap and what she learned along the way.

Meagan’s Siren soap. She was inspired by the original story of The Little Mermaid, written by Hans Christian Andersen.

How long have you been soaping and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for a little over 6 years now. I’ve had a love for handcrafted things ever since I can remember. I once made my grandparents sit and wait for me while I watched a man make moccasins completely by hand, start to finish, from leather that he tanned himself.

So, almost 10 years ago I found a tutorial on soap making in a book that my grandfather had. It was full of other hand crafting tutorials, but something about soap making interested me. I spent years researching because I was so intimidated at the thought of using lye! I wanted to have all the information I could possibly find before I made my first batch, and once I finally took the leap, I fell in love.

Coffee soap, made with freshly brewed coffee and coffee grounds.

What advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I would say to not be afraid of starting small or starting slow. You don’t have to come out of the gate with huge product lines and numerous scents. Have a vision of what you want your business to be in five years, in ten years. Think about your full potential. Keep your vision in mind and work towards it. Start with one product, don’t overwhelm yourself immediately.

Do your research on your products, get opinions from friends and family, and test everything. And remember, it’s ok to take a break! It’s easy to get a little burned out, especially after the holidays, so don’t be afraid to take time off every now and then to rest and regroup. You’ll be better for it, and your business will too.

Mad Hatter soap, fragranced with green tea and cucumber.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Soap is absolutely my favorite product to make. I enjoy bath bombs, body scrubs, and other products, but soap is my love. Every batch turns out different, even when I try to make them as similar as I can, it’s always a mystery. I’m always so excited to cut into a new loaf. What will the inside look like? Will it turn out like I planned, or maybe be something even better? It’s a fun surprise each time.

Georgia Peach soap, topped with leaf soap embeds.

What inspires you to create?
So many different things! Sometimes it comes from books or movies like my Mad Hatter and Maleficent soaps. I have a huge list of concepts waiting to be made that were inspired by some of my favorite book characters. I pull inspiration from photos, from sunsets, from music. I have so many photos saved because the colors in them make me want to recreate them in soap.

Music makes me want to make things. A friend and I were discussing our favorite music from high school, and it resulted in my 80’s Baby Soap! Sometimes I have no clear plan when I order a fragrance, but the first time I smell it I immediately know what I want to make and what it should look like. Recently I pulled from my heritage and let Mardi Gras inspire me, and Voodoo Woman and Mardi Gras soaps were created.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
I wrestled with a name for the longest time! Nothing I came up with sounded right, and nothing my friends and family came up with sounded right either. So, I finally decided to name it after my children. My husband and I could only agree on a first name for our oldest, and we ended up letting my mother choose his middle name, so he’s Hayden Avery. When our daughter came along we found ourselves in the exact same position, agreeing on a first name but not being able to come to a compromise on a middle name. So again, we let my mother choose, and we have Adeline Grey.

Using their names was a way for me to bring three generations into one. My mother is a huge supporter, so it felt right to use the names she chose for my kids to name my business. I do this for me, but I also do this for my children. To set an example for them so that they know they can accomplish what they put their mind to. And naming something so important after the most important people in my life seemed a perfect start.

Maleficent soap. Scented with an absinthe fragrance and topped with Aurora’s crown and Maleficent’s staff.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I absolutely adore the Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil. It’s a little sweet and floral without being overpowering. It’s one of those fragrances that makes you stop and smell it every time you pass it on the curing rack. My husband and son asked to keep the whole batch I made with it! I’m normally not a big fan of floral fragrances, but this one won me over as soon as I twisted the lid open.

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I am an extremely forgetful person. I have reminders, calendars, sticky notes, and notebooks to remind myself of everything I need to do. And yet, I can remember every book I have ever read, and the words to any song I’ve heard more than 5 or 6 times. I have to wait years to re-read a book so that I forget enough of the details to find it interesting again. I also read extremely fast, and my average number of books I read a year is about 250. And when it comes to music, my sister and my son like to play a game where they play songs they know and see if I know the words. I always win!

Lovely Lavender soap, topped with pink Himalayan salt.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
Well, you know I love reading and music. I also like to quilt, knit and paint. I’m a bit of a craft-a-holic, I pick up hobbies left and right! History is another interest. I love to learn, especially about other cultures and ancient civilizations. I love to travel, and I’ve been to almost 40 states and 4 other countries. Montana is my favorite place (besides home), and I hope to one day travel to Greece where I can combine my love of history with my love of travel.

What is your number one soaping tip?
Have a backup plan! Sometimes things happen, our batter thickens up more than we’d like, a fragrance accelerates, or a color morphs. Have a back up plan just in case so you can move seamlessly (more or less) from one plan to another. And don’t be disappointed when you don’t get to execute your original design. Sometimes a soapy design fail can be one of the most beautiful soaps you’ve ever made!

North Pole soap, created with Tussah silk.

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
I definitely have had a few horrible fails. For one of them, I had grand plans for a sea fragrance that I was madly in love with. I was going to have some complicated swirls, a textured top, oh! It was going to be gorgeous. Ha! The reality was that as soon as I added that divine fragrance I ended up with soap on a stick. Or several sticks really, as I had already separated my batter into 4 different colors. In the end I smooshed all four colors together in the bowl and crammed it into the mold. I’m pretty sure I could have won an “Ugliest Soap” contest with that one. But, I learned to always, always pay attention to the fragrance description and reviews. If I had, I could have had a successful, albeit plainer, soap.

Another fail I had was because of a fragrance. I had a customer request a custom loaf in unicorn colors. I grabbed a fragrance that I felt went with a unicorn theme and went to work. Well. It really helps to check and make sure your fragrance doesn’t discolor when you make a soap with pastel colors. After a few days the bars looked like I had made them with a camouflage theme. Definitely not the delicate unicorn colors I started with, haha!

Top left, clockwise: Rainbow, Tonka Bean Noir, Blackberry Magnolia, Plain Jane.

If you were to give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
If I could give one of my products to a stranger, I would probably choose one of my latest. Right now, I’d pick Voodoo Woman. The fragrance is one of my current favorites, and the colors are beautiful. It’s Mardi Gras, but a little dark and mysterious. I always think the last soap I make is my favorite. Then I make another and I think to myself, oh, this is definitely my favorite. So far, Voodoo Woman is holding out as a top favorite!

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love making people feel good, about themselves and just in general. Especially moms. I hope that when someone uses my products it brings them joy. That it helps them find a little peace in a day that may not have had any, or has had very little. I also love the complexity of creating new products. I have a notebook that is absolutely filled with recipes, ideas and concepts for one product or another. Putting together a concept from beginning to end, from the recipe, to the fragrance, to the colors and design is so much fun. And seeing it come to life is amazing. When someone loves something that I created, it makes me so happy!

Mustache soaps, created for a baby shower.

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Interview with by Ellie

December 19, 2017 Filed Under: Business Musings

Ellie of by Ellie is known for her beautiful and sophisticated cold process soap. She lives in Portugal where she works as an illustrator, designer, and motionographer. Her keen eye for design is apparent in everything she creates from soap to sugar scrubs. Learn more about Ellie in the interview below.

Ellie’s best-selling cold process soap, By the Sea.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for almost two years. It seems I started yesterday but at the same time, a countless amount of soaps ago. I have learned so much and am still learning.

I started to make soap actually because of my boyfriend. He has oily skin and was always bathing with a “sabão azul” (translated from Portuguese, it means “Blue Soap”). In Portugal, Blue Soap is a traditional soap mostly known for washing clothes by hand. My grandma and mother used to do it and are still doing it.

I didn’t understand anything about soaps at the time, however it seemed that Blue Soap was too harsh for the skin. A few weeks after, I discovered that the Blue Soap has a pH of 11! I was right. With that said, I wanted to buy a good soap for him and I started investigating online. After some days, instead of buying one, I made one myself because I came across Soap Queen’s blog! Since then, I have never stopped.

Left to right: Ellie sprinkling Moonlight Soap with gold mica, finished Moonlight Soap.

What advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
To make a soap exactly the same as you want it to be is quite an achievement. It can be hard and frustrating at the beginning and you’ll make some or many mistakes. But keep trying, next time it will be better. Failures are never just failures, they are lessons too.

For those who are starting their business: always plan ahead. Before starting my business, my boyfriend helped me to make an Excel page where I could note quantities, prices of materials, amount of time to make each batch, packaging prices, etc., to check if the soap I’ll be making was worth the investment. Starting a business is an investment and you’ll need to spend money to make money. Spend it wisely.

A collection of Ellie’s cold process soaps, including Dark Charcoal, Brown Vanilla, Turquoise Lavender, and Creamy Oatmeal.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
The answer is easy: cold process soap! My favorites to make are for my family with 80% olive oil as we have very dry and sensitive skin. For my mother, I scent with cinnamon fragrance oil, for me I use lavender and bergamot essential oil, and for my sister lemon essential oil. 🙂

What inspires you to create?
So many things…I don’t know where to start. It can be the texture of a tree, a combination of colors in a flower, a painting of Monet, fashion design…

My bestseller By the Sea was inspired by a cake. I have an another soap I called Grandma’s Lemon because of my grandma who always brings me fresh lemons from her fields on Sunday mornings. I love to put a little bit of a story in every soap I make!

Two versions of Ellie’s Grandma’s Lemon Soap.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
That was the most tricky part for me and it took weeks to figure it out. I wanted the name for my business to reflect the care and love I put into my work. My name Aurelie is French and it has a difficult pronunciation for everybody except for the French. I thought about a nickname and I came up with Ellie. By Ellie. I wanted it to express the “handmade” part of the process, so the logo turned out to be my handwriting.

Left to right: Sugar Scrubs, Sakura Blossom Soap

The photos of your products are gorgeous. What photography tips do you have for those wanting to improve their product photos?
Thank you! Photography is so important nowadays, especially if you sell online. I am still trying to figure out which style/type of photography I want. 🙂
I would advise beginners to take a workshop to understand the basics like product compositions, styling, and what you can accomplish with a certain lens. I will not lie, a good camera is essential. Daylight is always welcome and keep it simple.

One essential rule I think is important: keep your soap clean. That’s why we need soap essentially, to keep us clean. In a photography, the soap should express that.

Ellie photographing several batches of her cold process soap.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
There are quiet a few, but there is one that stands out: I absolutely love your Black Tea Fragrance Oil. I love the smokiness of it. Oh goodness I love it so much!

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I am a professional illustrator, designer and motionographer full time.

I illustrate school books and authors books (most of it for children). I work on special effects and video mapping for big events such as concerts and conventions. I love to create images and movement. Like my mother always said, “I am a forever unsatisfied person, I need to create always something new.”

Left to right: The Nymph Soap, White Swan Soap

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?

Soapmaking is at this moment my favorite hobby and business at the same time. My boyfriend is now living in Cape Town, South Africa. When I’m there with him (when I’m not in Portugal lol) I hike those beautiful mountains and do some climbing. I love to read and to play on my PlayStation. During Summer when I’m in Portugal I go diving. During the winter I go snowboarding. What can I say…I love to have fun!

Ellie’s beautiful Cœurs Dorés Soaps, made with shea butter, cocoa butter, and kaolin clay.

What is your number one soaping tip?
Avoid wastes: when you have leftover batter, put it into little molds. It can be for your personal use. You can give them to your friends and family – it will bring happiness! It’s always worth it. 🙂 You can put them together in a little bag and sell them at markets and fairs, or give them as samples!

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Yes of course, countless of them! My biggest failure was making this batch of 4Kg (about 8 pounds) of soap with expensive essential oil and I forgot to measure and add one oil to my formula. I realized it when my mold wasn’t filled up. I gave it to my mom for her to wash clothes. I remember I was so frustrated and upset. What did I learn? Never make soap when you are tired.

Left to right: Lovely Lavender Soap, Dark Charcoal Soap.

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
Cold process soap gives me the opportunity to create a skin-loving natural bar with luxurious and skin-loving ingredients, but I can also turn it into something beautiful. The colors, the shape, the texture, the ingredients are carefully chosen thinking on the relationship between design & function. That’s the beauty of it!

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Catching Up with Donovan Discovers

November 10, 2017 Filed Under: Business Musings

Photo by Stopped Down Studio

To say Donovan Smith has been busy the past four years is a bit of an understatement. The 14-year-old entrepreneur behind Donovan Discovers has been making soap, selling it, and donating a portion of the profits to help homeless people in Albuquerque, NM. He and his mother Casey used to be homeless, so when he started selling soap he made a promise to always give back to those in need. Read more about how he got started in this interview.

People have taken notice of Donovan’s generosity and incredible work ethic. He’s appeared on local TV stations, in newspapers, and even People magazine. This summer he got a call about another interview, but this one was a bit different than the others. Although he thought the interview was for a local TV station, it was actually for Returning the Favor with Mike Rowe. You can watch the full segment here.

Appearing on Returning the Favor
The creators of the show surprised Donovan and Casey with a store, a personal message from Russell Simmons, and a new car. Donovan and Casey were shocked when they found out – Casey even said they walked by the store a few times without realizing it.

“I was completely speechless,” Donovan said. “What you see on the show is an honest reaction. It was so amazing.”

[Read more…]

Ask Anne-Marie – Celebrity Soaper Edition

November 1, 2017 Filed Under: Business Musings, Tips & Tricks

As you can imagine, Bramble Berry CEO and Founder Anne-Marie gets a lot of questions. They’re about everything from owning a business to using natural colorants in soap. While she can’t answer them all, that won’t stop her from trying in the newest episode of Ask Anne-Marie. You can watch the first episode here and the second episode here.

This episode has a fun twist. The questions are from some of our favorite soapers – Bee of Sorcery Soap, Sarah of Spicy Pinecone, Kevin of Devinely Designed, and Lane of Mama Bass Handmade Soap. They ask Anne-Marie about her favorite fragrance, the biggest obstacle she faced scaling up her business, and the mentors who helped her along the way.

Bee of Sorcery Soap:
@0:47 – What soap do you use in the bath? What soap is in there right now?
@1:38 – What is the lowest water discount you use and why?
@2:28 – How long does it take to formulate a new fragrance oil?

Sarah of Spicy Pinecone:
@3:45 – What is the biggest obstacle you had to face when scaling up your business, and how did you overcome it?

Kevin of Devinely Designed:
@5:04 – Now that you have a very successful busy soap business, do you ever just make soap for fun anymore?
@5:52 – You are stranded on a gorgeous tropical island that happens to have a fully stocked soap shack, except it only has one fragrance or essential oil. What is it?

Lane of Mama Bass Handmade Soap:
@6:14 – Have you been creative and crafty since you were a little girl?
@7:00 – When you were first beginning soapmaking, did you have a mentor?
@8:16 – What is your absolute, most favorite fragrance you carry?
@8:53 – I’ve noticed you and I both have very spirited and mischievous little girls! What is your favorite way to entertain her when you’re trying to get things done? Is she crafty like you?

Have a question you’d like to ask Anne-Marie? Leave a comment below and she may answer it in the next edition.

Bramble Berry’s Creative Journey

September 6, 2017 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Bramble Berry has humble beginnings. Soapmaking has been a creative outlet for CEO and Founder Anne-Marie since she was 16. After an unsuccessful career as a correctional officer, she decided to turn that outlet into a business. Our first warehouse was only 400 square feet, and we sold melt and pour soap, five fragrances, and a few molds. We now sell thousands of products from our warehouse in Bellingham, WA.

As with many small businesses, our creative journey was by no means smooth. We had our fair share of debt, stress, and personal setbacks. What keeps us going is hard work, optimism, resilience, and passion for all things handmade. Our story is constantly evolving – the most recent chapter is our rebrand. In 2017, we updated our logo and changed our name from Bramble Berry Soapmaking Supplies to Bramble Berry Handcraft Provisions. In the future, we want to expand our line to include supplies for other DIY projects, like cheesemaking or home decor. Handcraft Provisions allows that flexibility as we continue to grow and change.

Throughout our journey, our goal has always been the same – we want to use what we’ve learned to help people. Whether you’re making soap for fun or running a small business, we promise to be your partner on your creative journey.

Make sure to share your creative journey using the tag #BrambleOn. We can’t wait to see all the things you accomplish. If you want to keep up with Anne-Marie’s personal journey, follow @ComeMakeWithMe on Twitter and Instagram.

Talking with Toushonta of Scentsational Soaps

June 19, 2017 Filed Under: Business Musings

Toushonta Hogan started her company, Scentsational Soaps, in 2007. Scentsational Soaps focuses on using natural ingredients to create soap, candles, body butter, scrubs, and more. Toushonta sells her products in a variety of ways, including online and wholesale. Recently, several Target stores in California started carrying Scentsational Soaps! Learn more about Toushonta and her creative journey in the interview below.

How long have you been soaping and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for 10 years and got started after receiving a wholesale order after trying my hand at melt and pour soap.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I would advise soapers who are just starting their business to get involved in conferences, meet-ups, and Facebook groups. They are both beneficial and an awesome way to meet other creatives and develop lifelong relationships.

Toushonta Hogan, the founder of Scensational Soaps, creating a batch of cold process soap.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
My favorite type of product to make is soap. It’s so therapeutic.

Beautiful baskets of Scentsational Soap products.

What inspires you to create?
So many things inspire me to create. The weather, my atmosphere, colors, people, etc. I enjoy looking at things from a creative perspective and transforming it into soap.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
My husband and I randomly wrote a few names down and Scentsational Soaps just stood out to us. It had a ring to it.

Oatmeal Soap, made with ground oats for exfoliation.

You can find your products in select Target stores. Tell us more about how this partnership happened, and what you’ve learned from it.
I received a flyer from a dear friend (and was tagged by a few others) that Target was looking for local vendors. I filled out the application and unbeknownst to me, it was due the very next day. Of course, I said to myself that I wish I had more time. I filled it out and uploaded a few pics. A week later, I received an email inviting me to present my product to a panel. I was excited, nervous and blown away as I felt that I was not ready. It’s these moments where we have self doubt and it can really deter you from fulfilling your true dream.

Scentsational Soaps on the shelf at Target.

I presented our products and waited two weeks for their decision. It was exactly two weeks from the date of presenting that we received another email. This time, it was to congratulate us, as they welcomed the opportunity to partner with them in fall 2016 to have our products on their shelves. I couldn’t believe it! I was elated!!! Months later, the learning curve began and it was fast but steady. I definitely learned to not doubt myself, stay ready, and position myself for every opportunity imaginable. Take a chance!

[Read more…]

Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild Conference 2017

May 8, 2017 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News, Business Musings

Last week was a whirlwind! The team and I attended the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild Conference in Las Vegas. The HSCG is a trade association that represents, supports, and defends the soap and cosmetic industry. Every year there is a conference in various cities across the U.S. where makers can network, attend classes, and listen to talks. Next year, the conference will take place in Atlanta – learn more here.

This year I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker. Amanda, Lily, and I arrived in Las Vegas Sunday afternoon and hit the ground running by immediately setting up the Bramble Berry table. Our “Waft + Found” station included 60 fragrance and essential oils so attendees could smell and find their new favorite. We also brought raw ingredients like cocoa and coffee butter to smell and touch. Shop the fragrances that were at the booth here. If you attended, which fragrance was your favorite?

Lily (left) and Amanda (right) working the Bramble Berry table on the first day of the conference.

While Amanda and Lily manned the booth Sunday, I was busy practicing my speech. The speech was bright and early on Monday morning. It focused on taking control of your life through positive thinking, self-care, goal setting, and purposeful planning. These concepts are abundant in my upcoming book, Live Your Best Day Ever. The book will be available for pre-sale very, very soon. If you’d like to be notified when it’s available, sign up for the Bramble Berry newsletter and you’ll be the first to know!

My talk focused on taking control of your life, resilience and setting goals.

Everybody in the audience received an advance copy of the new book. After the talk, I was able to sit down, sign books, chat, and take photos. I loved meeting you – thank you so much to everybody who took the time to stop by. Without a doubt, that’s the best part of soap conferences for me. It’s amazing to connect online, but being able to talk soap, business, and personal stories in person is energizing and soul-filling.

It was so wonderful to meet everybody at the conference! Thanks to everybody who waited in line to have their book sign.

Below are just a few of the amazing soapers I met. You guys are the best! I left the conference on Tuesday to return to the Bramble Berry offices and my family (which includes a sick kiddo – Jamisen is getting over a blocked salivary gland and it’s been a rough couple of weeks). I’m sorry if I did not get a chance to meet with you in person. Amanda and Lily stayed in Vegas for another night to talk soap and answer questions. It was their first conference, and they had a blast meeting you all.

Top Row: moonlitsoapworks, thesoapygnome, kentuckysoapsandsuch
Middle Row: naturologyproducts, spicypinecone, mokupua
Bottom Row: naturalsoapbyzakia, modernsoapmaking, wildpoppysoapco

In addition to receiving the Best Day Ever book, attendees had the opportunity to sign up for an email series to put the concepts in the book into practice. If you would like to join the series, click here. The series is one email a week and includes worksheets and exercises for positive thinking, creating a life mission statement, and planning purposeful goals. Don’t miss out – sign up now to start living your best day ever, every day.

Tips for Soaping in Small Spaces

March 31, 2017 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Soap supplies tend to add up fast. A few fragrances here, a few molds there – all of a sudden your kitchen is completely taken over. Storage is limited for many soapers, especially those just starting out. Luckily, the soapmaking community has fantastic advice for soaping in small spaces. We asked people to share their tips in a recent Facebook post and there were so many great responses. Check out some of the tips below.

Stack the supplies up, not out
Don’t I know this only too well! I try to go as vertical as possible in terms of shelving to store supplies and curing soap. -Vanessa

The counter/vanity/sink area in my master bathroom is my soaping area. Very small space, but I’m utilizing the high ceiling by installing wire shelving, wall mounted spice racks for EO/FOs and rolling Rubbermaid drawer sets for storage under the counter. It’ll do for a beginner! -Sarah

Soaping has totally taken over my former dining room. I have a six foot tall shelf where I keep most of my soaping things. To make better use of vertical space, I’ve added a pair of shoe racks (perforated bottoms so the soap can cure), and three small baker’s cooling racks. -Robin

[Read more…]

Are Markets Right for You?

March 3, 2017 Filed Under: Business Musings

Photo courtesy of Old Whaling Company. Photo by Leslie Ryan.

When you first start making soap, you’ll soon find you have more bars than you know what to do with. Many crafters give soap and other handmade products to friends and family. It’s pretty common for your loved ones to get hooked on those products and want more. Over time, people may ask about buying them. If that’s the case, selling your products is definitely something to consider. This post has more information on moving from hobby to business. Local farmers markets, fairs and events are a popular place to sell handmade products. But how do you know if that’s the right path for you?

Are markets right for you?
First things first, markets take time, money and effort.

Lauren with Single Barrel Soaps said it’s a lot of work to sell your products at a market. She’s been selling soap for about two years and does at least one market a month. Read our interview with her here. That work includes making the products from scratch, packing them up and transporting them to the event. Once you’re at the event, you need to set up your booth or table and sell products for several hours. At the end of the event, you have to take the display down, pack it up and transport it back. It’s a full day of talking soap and selling products.

Markets are also very social. April with Old Whaling Company said she talks about her products all day to multiple people. She started Old Whaling Company in 2012 and sells her products at the Charleston City Market every day of the week. People there are very curious about handmade soap.

“You have to be ready to answer a lot of questions,” she said.

Several of Old Whaling Company’s gorgeous market displays.

There are definite advantages to selling your products at markets. You have a direct line to customers. You can talk to them about your products, how you carefully chose each ingredient and why they feel so amazing on the skin. The products aren’t made in a factory by a large company; they’re personally crafted by the person standing in front of them. That’s one of the many advantages of handmade soap. Learn more advantages in this post.

“Selling at markets gives us a chance to get out there and meet our customers – to physically see their likes and dislikes and get feedback,” said Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm. She’s been selling soap since 2014 and does about 8 markets a year. “It also gives our customers a chance to touch and smell our product. We have a sign in our market tent that says ‘smells are free’ and most people that begin picking up and smelling a bar of soap will usually purchase it.”

If selling at markets sounds like the right path for you, the next step is getting started.

How do you get started?
Deciding where to sell your products requires quite a bit of research. Start scoping out markets, fairs and events in your area. Once you find one that interests you, go see it in person! Lauren with Single Barrel Soaps recommends looking at the booths there, talking to vendors, talking to the organizers and buying products. Take note of how busy the market is. She also recommends paying close attention to booths that sell handmade soap and cosmetics. If you find your products are similar, you may want to reconsider what to bring. That way you don’t step on any toes, and you also stand out from other vendors.

One of Single Barrel Soaps’ beautiful market displays.

April with Old Whaling Company said event fees are something else to research. If they’re expensive and you’re just starting out, you may want to find a different event. Once you have a few markets under your belt and a loyal customer base, you can re-examine the larger and more expensive events.

Once you decide on a market, the next step is figuring out what to bring. While you’re visiting the market, see if there’s a theme. Do you notice a lot of products with neon colors and fragrance, or do the products contain natural colors and essential oils? Is there a lot of soap, or are the vendors selling other products like lotion and scrubs? Don’t be afraid to take notes to help you remember. Tailoring your products to the shoppers can be really beneficial. For instance, when Lauren sold her products in Kentucky, the customers preferred fragrance oils. However, when she moved to Maryland, she found they preferred essential oils. She adjusted her product line to cater to those preferences.

There is also something to be said for trial and error. When Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm started going to events, she registered at local places and didn’t research each one.

“After that first show season we really started ‘vetting’ shows to see if it was a good fit for us,” she said. “If people from our target audience attended and there was significant attendance, we usually attend.”

Over time, Jamie learned that fall shows are better for them than spring or summer shows, so she focused on those. You may find the opposite once you have a few markets under your belt.

While you’re at the event, don’t be afraid to ask the shoppers plenty of questions. Do they prefer soap, or would they like to see bath bombs? What skin concerns do they have? What draws their eye? They can give you helpful tips so you know what to adjust or add for your next show. The more shows you do, the more you learn. That experience is extremely valuable and will help you be successful.

Tips for success
Shopping is a psychological process. People tend to buy with their emotions and rationalize the choices later. That means attitude is incredibly important. A big smile and positive answers to questions can go a long way. If the event isn’t going like you planned, try to put a positive spin on it. For instance, if people aren’t loving your products, you can say, “I’ve been getting great feedback on my products.” If the weather is too hot, rainy, etc., you can say, “It’s so awesome that people are here supporting small businesses even in this weather! I’m really thankful you’re here.” The positive answers really make a difference about how shoppers feel toward you and your products. Get more tips in this post.

Lauren likes to stand for the entire event because it’s more inviting.

“I love talking about soap and getting their opinions. I think that enthusiasm carries though,” she said. “If you wake up and you’re not in a good mood, put it aside.”

Little details like what you’re wearing can also help you be successful. A clean and comfortable outfit is ideal for events. If you’re not sure what to wear, ask yourself if you’re comfortable going to a casual dinner in your outfit. If not, consider other options. The Selling Success at Fairs and Public Markets post has more helpful tips. April recommends bringing snacks and tons of water with you as well. Staying full and hydrated will keep your attitude and energy up.

Hannah helping Old Whaling Company at the Charleston City Market. Notice the big smile and clean, comfortable outfit!

Passion and knowledge about your products is important as well. Make sure to highlight all the wonderful qualities of your handmade products and have answers ready when people ask about them. It’s also helpful to prepare answers for questions you may not feel comfortable answering. Some common topics include why handmade soap costs more than store bought bars, how you make your products, why they only use store bought soap, etc. This post has some common questions and suggested answers that still keep it positive.

It also helps to emphasize your niche. Learn how to find your niche here. When shoppers ask about your products, focus on what makes your products stand out. For instance, Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm makes moisturizing soap with milk from her own herd of Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Her display features plenty of goat milk branding. She is able to talk about the benefits of creamy goat milk soap, as well as the goats themselves.

Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm makes soap with milk from Nigerian Dwarf Goats.

What are other selling options if markets aren’t for you?
If selling at markets isn’t right for you, there are plenty of other options including selling online and in stores. The Where to Sell Products post has more information. Markets can be something you avoid altogether, or revisit at a later date. The most important thing is doing what’s right for you, your schedule and your business.

What are your tips for selling at markets? Check back later this month for a post on how to set up your display.

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How to Market & Label Handmade Face Masks

January 20, 2017 Filed Under: Business Musings

Thinking about creating and selling your own skin care products? Our clay mask recipes (Lavender, Sea Clay and Turmeric) are a great place to start. Don’t let the list of ingredients intimidate you, they are easy to make. Because the recipe has such a large water content, they can be quite cost effective to sell. When selling skin care, there are some important things to keep in mind, including labeling and claiming what the product can do.

Mask Cosmetic Claims vs. Medical Claims
Depending on what claims you make, the product is classified as a drug, cosmetic or soap by the FDA. If your product claims to treat or heal the body in any way, it is considered a drug and requires additional testing. For your product to be considered a cosmetic, it can only claim to beautify, promote attractiveness or alter ones appearance. The clay masks are considered a cosmetic by the FDA. But, if you make a claim that the masks cure, treat or heal the skin, they are considered a drug. Learn more about medical vs. drug claims here.

So, if you’re planning on adding a clay mask to your line…what can you say? Acceptable claims include saying the masks are moisturizing, conditioning, calming, skin-loving, beautifying, mattifying, or hydrating. You cannot advertise the masks as intended for certain skin conditions. For example, calling the mask a “Sea Clay Mask for Acne,” implies that it is intended to cure acne. Even if it has beneficial properties for acne-prone skin, the product was not tested to treat the skin by the FDA.

Medical and cosmetic claims can be a little confusing and frustrating. I’m sure you have seen plenty of people selling their products by making medical claims. Every small business owner must make the decision for themselves to adhere to the rules of the FDA or not. I always recommend to err on the side of caution to protect you and your business. It’s not worth the risk!

Labeling the Masks
Now, let’s talk labeling. For each recipe, we included free downloadable labels that can be printed on label paper and applied to the jars. These labels are great for gifting to friends or for personal use. But if you’re selling the masks, they need to be properly labeled with ingredients. To properly label your products, there are several rules to adhere to; click here to see the complete labeling guide by the FDA. It’s not the most interesting subject matter, but reviewing labeling rules and regulations is a must for small business owners.

Let’s take a look at the recipe for the Lavender Clay Mask, and go over how to properly label this product. The ingredients need to be listed in order of prominence in the recipe. The list of ingredients need to include the common name for the ingredient. Including the INCI name in parentheses is not required, but can be helpful for your customers. Learn more about INCI names and labeling here.

Lavender Clay Mask Recipe
21.4 oz. Distilled Water
1 oz. Argan Oil
1.3 oz. Avocado Oil
1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax
3.5 oz. Kaolin Clay
1 oz. Purple Brazilian Clay
2 mL Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
0.5 oz. Evening Primrose Extract
0.2 oz. Optiphen

The ingredient list would look like this:

Water (Aqua), Kaolin Clay (Kaolinite), Avocado Oil (Persea Gratissima), Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Montmorillonite, Kaolin, Mica, Emulsifying Wax NF, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Fractionated Coconut Oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride) Evening Primrose Oil (Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract), Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia)

The first few ingredients are straightforward. Water, kaolin clay, avocado oil and argan oil are listed along with their INCI names in parentheses. Including the INCI name in parentheses is optional. Then, we get to purple Brazilian clay, which is made up of several ingredients. The ingredients within the purple Brazilian Clay are listed, separated by commas.

Moving right along, we get to the Polawax Emulsifying Wax, which is a brand name and is protected by trade secret laws. The official INCI for that is “Emulsifying Wax NF.” BTMS-50 is made up of different ingredients, so the individual ingredients are listed. The same goes for the evening primrose extract and Optiphen. Lavender 40/42 essential oil does not contain multiple ingredients, so the INCI name goes into the parentheses.

All the ingredients can look intimidating to a customer. So it’s important to educate yourself about the ingredients in your products to address any questions or concerns. Choosing to not properly label the product in order to make it look “safer” or more appealing is not the answer. Being able to address the importance of preservatives (“This product would grow mold without it!”) or the importance of an emulsifier (“That’s what binds together the water and skin-loving oils”) gives your customers the ability to make informed decisions about the products they buy. It will also build trust in you as a maker, and in your company.

If you’re looking for more labeling information and resources, check out the blog posts below. In addition, take the time to thoroughly read the Cosmetic Labeling Guide. If you find it overwhelming and boring (I hear you!), take it piece by piece and read small sections everyday. Marie Gale is also a fantastic resource on labeling; I highly recommend perusing her blog and investing in her book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling.

NY NOW Trade Show 2016 Highlights + Trends

August 28, 2016 Filed Under: Business Musings

Earlier this week, I attended the NY NOW Gift and Housewares Show in New York. The show is huge – as in, miles and miles of vendors. I walked over 4 miles just inside the showroom floor area. Because of its size, it’s held at the Jacob Javits Center. It’s a massive building in Manhattan that features beautiful walls of windows. It hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, such as ComicCon, BroadwayCon and more.

NY NOW is an event where exhibitors create booths to showcase their products to buyers. There were hundreds of booths to see (see the full list here). Some of the booths were small businesses, while others were well established brands such as Jonathan Adler and Kate Spade. I went to the trade show with the mission to spot upcoming trends and gather inspiration. There were tons of amazing bath and beauty companies with incredibly beautiful products. The booths themselves were also pretty amazing – it takes a lot of work and creativity to get everything set up and looking good!

There were so many booths and brands that caught my eye. Nancy of Bayberry Naturals (shown below) started her company when she was pregnant. Like many of us, she looked at the ingredients on her bottles and wanted something simple and less synthetic for her growing family. She is proud of her labeling because it clearly states what it does not have in the formulations (sulfates, parabens, phthalates, etc). Nancy said that she would get tired of buying something that was supposedly healthy, and then finding one or two ingredients that didn’t meet her stamp of approval.

Bayberry Naturals was created out of the need for simple and natural bath and beauty products.

Blithe and Bonny was one of my favorite bath and body booths – and not just because David (shown below) was so down to earth, friendly and kind. I loved the story behind their name (inspired by a song in Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”). I found that their commitment to quality was reflected beautifully in their packaging, their formulations and their product line. He also was so smart when it came to packing the booth – see that crate he’s leaning on? Everything that goes into their booth can fit into that crate for easy packing, set up and take down. Genius!

David of Blithe and Bonny showcases his gorgeous bath and beauty products.

In addition to meeting business owners from around the country, I was happy to meet one of my favorite Seattle entrepreneurs, Moorea Seal (shown below). I got the chance to talk about her bold moves to get where she is in her business and her upcoming book, 52 Lists for Happiness (preorder it here!). I also caught up with Bellingham-based Flying Bird Botanicals (get some of their tea and thank me later) and Bellingham-based Bison Press (letterpress design company extraordinaire).

I love meeting other local entrepreneurs, so I was thrilled to meet Moorea Seal, who is based in Seattle.

Now, on to the trends! The big trends I saw this year were:

1) Metallic and Sacred Geometry: There were so many gorgeous examples of gold, bronze, silver and metallic in every single category – stationary, mugs, housewares, glassware, sheets, pillows, rugs, throws, scarves, jewelry. There was also a significant nod to geometric and symmetrical design. This was everywhere – on notebooks, socks, necklaces, USB drives, lights and office supplies. If you’d like to apply this trend to your bath and body products, think micas (like King’s Gold Mica and Pewter Silver Mica) dusted on top of soap or veins inside your soap. Or, on your packaging: a pop of metallic here and there, or metallic washi tape. Or, the metallic trend could apply to your fragrance choice. What does gold smell like to you? To me, a “gold” scent brings to mind Amber Fragrance Oil.

Left to right: Gorgeous gold jewelry (photo via zoecomings), card with gold foil lettering (photo via wildinkpress)

2) Neutrals and Texture: I’m not sure if it’s the chaos in the world that has driven this trend, but there were neutrals everywhere. Shades such as camel, taupe, gray, white, cream, ivory and blush dominated. In addition, there was gorgeous and sumptuous knitwear patterning everywhere (think Scandinavian sweaters and Mexican blankets). It was on letterpress cards, notebook covers, scarves, bedding, baby clothes, mugs and more. You can utilize the neutral trend in your bath and body products with color choices such activated charcoal and clays. If you jump on this trend soon enough, it lends itself well to simple (read: inexpensive) neutral packaging for your products.

Left to right: Lovely place setting (photo via lagallinamatta), embroidered alpaca star (photo via sefteliving)

3) Cutesy & Rainbow: While half of the show was embracing the calm in the midst of the storm, the other half was riding the wave in bright colors, patterning and rainbows. If it wasn’t adorable unicorns, it was rainbow walls of candles, crayons, adult coloring books, notebooks and more. There were also so many standout patterns done tastefully in tapestries, candle tins, bags, elaborate necklaces and jewelry. The way to embrace this trend as a bath and body manufacturer is with packaging and product designs in bright fun colors (might I suggest a Rainbow Sampler Pack?). Bright and happy fragrances (think Yuzu Fragrance Oil, Energy Fragrance Oil and Hello Sweet Thang Fragrance Oil) are another great way to jump on the trend.

Left to right: Adorable unicorn headbands and more (photo via brooklynowl), fun sticker patches (photo via thesearethings)

While in NYC, I didn’t skimp on my responsibilities to have the best time ever. I had champagne at The Plaza, brunch at Tavern on the Green and dinner at the vaunted Tao. I fit a lot in! I was so exhausted when I got home. I averaged between 6 and 8 miles a day of walking (the city is big and the taxis are expensive y’all) and not a lot of sleeping. I’m so thankful for my team for holding it all down while I was gone. They’ve got some rockin’ ideas for our upcoming Soap Queen TV shoot and this week was all prep and testing. I can hardly wait to show you what we have in store.

I had so much fun at the trade show, and hope I can go again (maybe next year!) What do you think of these trends? Do you follow trends when it comes to your projects, or do you prefer to just make what you like? I try to have a balance of both. =)

Is a Newsletter Right for You?

January 26, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

In a marketing world highly influenced by new and emerging social media, a newsletter may seem like an old-school advertising method. The view of newsletter as old-fashioned is not unsubstantiated; newsletters are considered by some as the oldest news media, with ties going all the way back to the Roman Empire! With the help of technology and the internet, newsletters continue to be an extremely effective way to communicate information. And while newsletters often get overlooked in the age of social media, their strengths are not to be excluded. As I’ve said before in the blog post, Why a Newsletter is a Must, a newsletter is one of the few marketing bodies of work that you actually own.

When marketing content is posted on social media, whether it be a status update on Facebook, or a photo of Instagram, we often consider this content to be ours. Facebook or Instagram could shut down tomorrow, or they could change their Terms of Service and all your content could be gone (or stuck behind a paywall). Therefore, a newsletter is a solid way to diversify your marketing strategy. Okay, okay…there is my argument on why newsletters are important. But…is a newsletter right for your business? I believe that a quality newsletter is an important marketing tool, but it is not for everybody. Consider these questions:

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