As a small business owner, you’ve probably heard of NAICS codes before but may not know what they are, what they’re for, or how to find out which one is right for your business. Here’s a quick overview of what you need to know! // What is a NAICS code? // A NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) … Read More
Protect Your Ass(ets): Why your website needs Terms & Conditions
Nowadays, more and more business owners are primarily conducting their business online. In this digital age, why wouldn’t you? It costs less than a brick and mortar storefront, it allows access to a larger customer base, and gives you the convenience of working from anywhere. What a lot of biz owners don’t realize though, is that there are actually certain … Read More
5 Business Lessons to Learn From Taylor Swift
Whether you’re totally fed up with seeing her face and hearing her music everywhere, or are a diehard fan, you can’t deny that T.Swift is a marketing genius. You may not think that, as a professional entertainer, her tactics bear any relevance in your own life and business, but you’d be wrong. Being a big-time celebrity today doesn’t just … Read More
7 Tips for Writing Stellar Product Descriptions
When shopping online, the last thing that you want to see is a product description that tells you absolutely nothing about the item itself other than what you can plainly see in the picture. I kid you not, I once saw a beautiful piece of pottery on Etsy that was super detailed with color and a mosaic-esque design with the description … Read More
Have You Got The Merch?
Did you know the Guild has a store? Yup, it’s not just at conferences where you can get your fix of HSCG goods. The HSCG online store carries general educational material as well as select HSCG-branded items. Order as much or as little as you like for one flat shipping rate (and pssst, you can get a 25% discount on … Read More
Pumpkin Season Waits For no Man
Pumpkin-inspired food, drinks, and decor have hit the store. In fact, it’s easy to stumble over just about any pumpkin-inspired thing you can think of aside, perhaps, from the actual squash (which aren’t quite in season yet for many of us). And the all-things-pumpkin craze can only signal one thing: the inevitable build up to the Q4 holiday craze and … Read More
If You Start Me Up, I’ll Never Stop
That’s what we’re hoping, at least. Do you make the most bodacious bath bombs? Perhaps you’ve perfected a body butter? Or maybe your soap swirls are ready for prime time. If you’ve been thinking about moving beyond a cosmetic-crafting hobby into a business, we have a little something to help start you up. Introducing the Business Start-Up Toolkit, accessible from … Read More
Quick Tips: How to Make it Big
The handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry is one talented bunch and the collective wisdom from the scores of intrepid entrepreneurs and budding business owners is truly astounding. However, it’s easy to miss out on that business savvy when you’re just getting started and aren’t part of any industry groups, pages, or forums. And that’s where the Guild comes in. 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
Business Planning in the New Year
Whether it’s bright and balmy or blisteringly brisk, January is a great time to plan for the year. A mad rush of holidays has ended, affording small business owners a chance to stop, catch their breath, and reset for the coming year. Photo by Flickr member Sally Mahoney. Used under a Creative Commons License. How was your 2012? What product … Read More