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Handmade Beauty Connection
June 18, 2001

A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630
June 18, 2001
Vol. 2, Issue 24

This Week's Sponsor: ---> Auroma

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1. HBN Update: Welcome New HBN Members!!
2. HBN Member Success Spotlight: Kate's Soap
3. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: win an assortment of products (lotion, bath gel, body oil, etc.), courtesy of Fioravanti Custom Products
4. Donna Maria's Workshops & "Create The Life You Love" Audio Tapes
5. Create The Life You Love Business Tip: Making A Way Out of No Way
6. Handmade Beauty Product Recipe: Vanilla Butter Balm

1. HBN Update: Welcome New HBN Members & Members On The Move!

~ Welcome New HBN Members!!

Bramble Berry | Anne-Marie Faiola | Washington
* tested fragrances, colorants, molds, unscented toiletries bases

Soaps and Scents | Lynette Vail | California
* Fine Art Soap Molds and handmade soaps; private label available

Learn more about our new members by visiting their Web sites through HBN's Online Member Directory.

HBN Members On The Move!!

~ HBN member Charlon Bobo has been asked to address the meeting of Beauty Industry West on June 19. Charlon will speak on the benefits of handmade toiletries, especially soap, and how they enhance the experience of retailers and consumers. Charlon is the owner of the Utopian Garden Soap Company. We wish Charlon the best as her presentation will benefit not only her business, but the handmade toiletries industry as a whole!

~ HBN's Member Update this week will feature updates on a new federal government program to crack down on bogus online health-related product claims, domain name issues that could affect your ability to reserve the name(s) you want, and new state laws to collect online sales taxes. HBN members be sure to check your email boxes later this week for this information!!

2. HBN Member Success Spotlight: Kate's Soap

This week's Success Spotlight shines on Kate Krival of Kate's Soap in St. Petersburg, Florida. Kate's Soap manufactures handmade soaps and other body care products, which are sold at their flagship Florida store, natural markets, gift shops, and alternative health practitioners' offices.

To learn more about Kate's Soap and the other HBN members profiled in our Success Spotlights, click here.

Member Success Spotlights are one of the many benefits of HBN membership. To learn more about Success Spotlights and how you can start putting HBN to work for your business today, click here.

3. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: Last week's winner was Michelle Rotherham of Montrose, California. Michelle won an assortment of products (lotion, bath gel, body oil, etc.), courtesy of Fioravanti Custom Products!!

Last Week's Question: I am real, though lots of people in various industries don't want you to know it. I am attributed to the proliferation of chemicals throughout our environment. I result from exposure to such things as detergents, household cleaners, perfumes, plastics, polishes and automobile emissions. Once I attack, I don't let go, causing malaise, dizziness, memory loss, nausea and anything else that makes you miserable. What am I?

Last Week's Answer: multiple chemical sensitivity

This Week's Question: When essential oil of ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) is produced, it is often distilled in "fractions". Each fraction has a different name and produces a different quality oil with different chemical constituents. To win this week, provide the name of the fraction which is the most prized and valuable.

Be the first to correctly answer this week's question and win a bar of Bees Knees handmade soap made by HBN member Caerlon Gardens Luxury Soaps!! Caerlon and other HBN members' successful business are profiled on our Member Success Spotlight page here.

Before submitting your entry, please read contest rules. While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner will be notified by email and their name posted at the link above.

4. Donna Maria's Workshops & "Create The Life You Love" Audio Tapes

My next aromatherapy workshop will be held at the Smile Herb Shop in College Park, Maryland. For registration details, call Smile at (301) 474-8791.

June 30, 2001 – Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions
12:00 to 2:00pm includes ½ hour Q&A and book signing

Building on the Introduction To Aromatherapy workshop, we apply the knowledge of essential oils to make moisturizers from scratch using natural ingredients to soothe and nourish the skin. We cover basic skin type analysis so students can select the oils most appropriate for their skin. Includes demonstration of cream- making process, and creation of an original recipe suitable for most skin types. Students leave with their personal aromatherapy cream blend. An informative handout with an extensive reading list is included.

Create The Life You Love Audio Tapes Now Available:

~ Legal & Regulatory Challenges Facing The Handmade Toiletries Industry Today: Applying Yesterday's Laws To Today's Marketplace

~ Planning NOT To Fail: Preparing A Business Plan That Positions You For Success

For details on how to order these exclusive tape, click here.

5. Create The Life You Love Business Tip

Making A Way Out Of No Way
by Donna Maria

In his book "Up From Slavery," Booker T. Washington describes his burning desire to learn as a small boy growing up in the racially segregated south. He wanted to go to the schoolhouse where the other African American children took classes, but could not because he was expected to work in the furnace for much of the day. Eventually, he was allowed to attend school, but only if he worked in the furnace from 6:00 to 9:00am, and after school for another 2 hours. This presented a problem because it meant little Booker T. was always late for school. His solution was to turn the furnace clock back 1/2 hour every morning so he could leave at 8:30 while everyone else thought it was 9:00. Of course, his scheme was eventually uncovered, but it nevertheless demonstrates that when there is a will, there is a way. And as small business owners, we all must become adept at making a way out of now way!

There is a variety of resources all around you that can be used to increase brand awareness of your small business. Going it alone can be tough, but partnering with other companies can save you time and money, while also facilitating the promotion of your business. Here are some suggestions:

1. Split magazine advertising space with another business. This can be done effectively, especially if you take the time to create an ad that is attractive. Resist the temptation to cram too much information into a small space and make sure the business you advertise with complements, not competes, with yours.

2. If you accept ads on your Web site, swap banner ads with another business.

3. Split a trade show exhibit booth or craft show table. This will not only save you money, but you can also take turns watching the table so each of you gets a break without having to invest the funds to bring an assistant to the show.

4. Trade your talent for goods or services. There are of course times when only cash will do, but there are also times where you have something that another small business needs, and vice versa. Trade your excellent writing skills for a new logo. Swap some of your exquisite facial cream for professional advice on essential oils and how to use them. The possibilities are literally endless here.

5. Swap ads with another business in your online newsletter. This will give each of you access to the other's subscriber base and maximize your reach into the market you both serve. You may not wish to do this with a business that competes directly with yours, but if you are a soapmaker and a colleague is a chandler, why not promote each other's ventures as a way to increase brand awareness and perhaps sales?

6. Become an expert in a particular area, and then begin marketing yourself as such. In this way, you can start to
contract your services as a speaker at industry conferences, gatherings and other outlets. Many HBN members use their speaking engagements as a way to increase sales of their products. If you are an experienced speaker in the handmade toiletries and/or aromatherapy industries, your HBN membership entitles you to a listing at HBN's Speaker Bureau. To find out more, click here.

Like little Booker T., we must not allow the obstacles of maintaining a small business to thwart our efforts. Instead,
we must plan for the challenges so that we can find way over, under, through and/or around them. There is an
endless variety of "creative" (and honest!) ways around the various challenges that face all of us as determined small
business owners. Use the resources available to you ... your industry colleagues are often the most accessible ones.

Find them and explore ways to partner yourselves to success!

6. Handmade Beauty Product Recipe: Vanilla Butter Balm

Here's a great recipe that's easy to make and delicious to use. I like to massage it ... guess where? On my swollen belly, of course, but it's also come in handy on my breasts and the back of my husband's legs, which get dry and flaky even in the steamiest and most humid temperatures.

Ingredients

1 ounce jojoba oil
1 ounce cocoa butter
.03 ounces beeswax
2 drops vanilla absolute (optional; some like to omit if pregnant)

Blending Procedure (mercifully simple!)

Step 1. Put everything except the vanilla absolute in a double boiler and melt together. Remove from heat and stir
well to ensure the mix of oil and butter. Allow to cool about 15 minutes.

Step 2. Add the vanilla absolute. Stir again to incorporate.

Step 3. Allow the mixture to cool for at least an hour, during which time Vanilla Butter Balm will solidify into a
fantastically soothing buttery type balm. Yummy! I sometimes add a few drops of sweet orange essential oil because the combination of vanilla, orange and chocolate-y cocoa butter is good enough to eat! This balm also makes a delicious sensual massage rub. I hope the baby's enjoying it!

By the way, it's a GIRL!!

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Donna Maria, Editor-In-Chief, DonnaMaria@HandmadeBeauty.com
Jenn Givler, Associate Editor, Jenn@HandmadeBeauty.com
The Handmade Beauty Connection
The Handmade Beauty Network | www.HandmadeBeauty.com

Visit the newly designed www.DonnaMaria.com!!