If you’re a soapmaker looking to invest in yourself and your business, you need to attend the 16th annual HSMG conference in Raleigh,NC, May 17-19. Why? We think member Janey Davies of Scrubology Soap, sums it up nicely: “This group is the best! The annual conferences are packed full of practical information, enabling us to be the best soapmakers we … Read More
Introducing 2013 Conference Keynote….
We can’t think of a better way to kick off three days of total immersion into the art, craft, and business of the handcrafted soap and cosmetic world than with a keynote by a fellow small business owner with a fiery passion for moving your business from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!”. The HSMG is proud to announce … Read More
2013 Conference Speakers: Round 3!
February is a very special month round these parts, marking when we finally recover from the multitude of holidays, start our double-digit countdown to the Annual Conference, and hustle to take advantage of the last month of member discounts on conference registration. (Psst…if you’ve been thinking about joining, the member rates more than cover the cost of basic membership.) We … Read More
Grow America: Compete for Cash
If you’re a US-based maker over the age of 18 (sorry to our international and teen members!) with a fantastic idea, check out Grow America’s latest competition, which opened this week. With a few simple clicks, you could be in the running for their top prize of $20,000, to be awarded by the end of February. Grow America is a … Read More
Soaping Superstars: Beauty in Haiti
It all started with Google. No, really. Marla Bosworth, CEO and Founder of Back Porch Soap Company, and Amanda Griffin, the brains behind Lovin’ Soap, both HSMG members and speakers at our 2013 conference, recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Haiti. There, they taught two dozen women from OFEDA (Organisation des Femmes Devouees en Action), a group formed after … Read More
December Savings
Our Black Friday promotion was so much fun we’re bringing it back for the WHOLE month of December. YAY! From December 1st to the 31st, get 25% off your purchase in the HSMG store. What is included in this deal? Books: From aromatherapy to basket weaving, we have a little bit of everything in the book section. Find books on … Read More
Seminar Spotlight
Are you joining us in Raleigh next May for the 2013 HSMG Annual Conference? Extend your stay and amp up your conference experience with a half-day seminar. This year, select from one of three in-depth seminars from three industry experts. The seminar sessions will run from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on May 16, the day before the conference officially … Read More
SoapGuild.org: New Features!
We are so excited to bring you a new, improved Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild website. Watch the video below to learn more about the special requests feature and how to set up a brick and mortar location (whether temporary or permanent). If you have Windows Media Player, here’s a larger, higher quality version of the video recording: HSMG new feature tour … Read More
2013 Conference Speaker Sneak Peek
Are you joining us in Raleigh next May for the 16th annual HSMG Annual Conference? Let us tempt you with a sneak peek at some of the amazing speakers you will see at the 2013 conference: Discover the joys of working with pourable silicon to make your own, custom molds with Amanda Griffin of Lovin Soap in her session: Make … Read More
Soap + Mold: Happily Ever After
She’d been salivating over it for months (years, maybe?) and finally, it was here. No more odd-sized bars cut from shoe box molds. No more fighting with freezer paper or struggling to precisely line makeshift molds. She dove into the newly delivered box and unwrapped a brand-new silicone lined mold. Admiring its fine, shiny, perfectly square edges, panic set in… … Read More