The Welcome banner has been hung with care, conference crew is here and we can’t wait to see you at the 2013 Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild Conference, starting Friday (officially, that is, with pre-conference half-day sessions and a welcome reception Thursday). Conference crew members have been landing over the past several days and are deep into preparations for the … Read More
Cosmetic Creators to Take Over Raleigh
With just over a week before soapmakers, cosmetic crafters, suppliers, and supporters flood into Raleigh, our thoughts turn to entertainment options in our host city (naturally). You may be too busy to step foot outside the hotel during the conference, but Raleigh is well worth exploring if you are staying in town a few extra days. We have a few … Read More
Tips for HSCG Conference Attendees
If this year’s conference is your first, have no fear. Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your first experience is a good one: Rest up prior to the conference. Trust us – you’ll thank us for this Sunday morning. We will keep your brain and body busy from sunup to sundown. You’ll want extra energy to enjoy … Read More
Ready, aim, TWEET!
Social media mavens and aspiring soaparazzi, get your cameras and typing fingers ready. The conference is always atwitter (pun unintentional, but we’re totally running with it) with great information. We want to reward you for sharing some of it and are running a social media contest at the upcoming Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild conference in Raleigh to do just … Read More
Come on down to the Soapers Showcase!
When you hear “soapers showcase”, you may think, “sounds a bit like a category that didn’t make the cut for The Price Is Right”, but don’t be fooled. This is one opportunity you don’t want to miss. The Soapers Showcase is your annual chance to have a friendly competition with soapmakers worldwide. At this year’s Annual Conference in Raleigh, enter … Read More
Join the Certified Crowd
Join the crowd and be certifiably awesome. At the 2012 HSCG conference in Portland, we awarded certifications to 35 soapmakers – some of whom achieved certification in more than one testing track and more than one level! The 2013 HSCG annual conference in Raleigh is fast approaching and once again, we will be offering certification exams. Currently, we have two … Read More
Last Call, Early Birds: Party Like It’s 2013
How many professional development seminars do you go to where participants are turning cartwheels in the aisles while networking in a fun, energy-filled evening? How many conferences have you attended with festivities capping off each day of classes? We are incredibly fortunate to run just such a conference and will have sponsored evening festivities every night of this year’s HSMG … Read More
Invest in Yourself
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