Handmade Beauty Connection
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network 1. IBN Member Update: Welcome New & Renewing IBN Members! Handmade Beauty Recipe of the Week: Orange
Geranium French Clay Body Mask
April
10,
2006
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 7, Issue 14
To subscribe, click here
2. Lifestyle CEO Report: Amy Robinson and I Discuss The Direct Sales
Business Model!!
3. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: win something wonderful!
4. Feature Article: Handmade Beauty Going To The Dogs!
5. Handmade Beauty Product Review: Island Comfort Hand Cream
6. Announcing IBN Live!
1. IBN Member Update: Welcome New & Renewing IBN Members!
Welcome
Renewing Members!
Willow
Way | Ron Jonas | Indiana
* Manufacturers and designers of Custom Soap Making Equipment for the Handcrafted Soapmaking Industry since 1996. We design and make full production systems from a few hundred bars a week to thousands. We make Cutters, Molds, Pot Tippers, Oil Heaters, Liquid Soap Heaters, M&P heaters, Bath Bomb Presses, Soap Stampers, Pot Whippers, Extruders, and more. We supply Scales, Hoists, Stick Blenders, Dollies, Drying Systems, Band Heaters and everything to do with Soap & Body Care. We are constantly adding to our inventory and Web site. Don't forget we offer consultation and design advice, much of this is free when you purchase our equipment.
Naikid,
Inc. | Melissa Naval | New Jersey
* Naikid soap is a fusion of natural and essential elements. Handmade
from scratch in small batches. No unnecessary ingredients. No bad stuff.
Just a naked bar of soap.
Welcome New Members!
Buddah
Blends | Renee Duval | Oregon
* Budddha Blends embraces the philosophy of bringing beauty and grace to the process of personal refinement. Every bath, spa and transformational product is hand blended with utmost integrity. The liquids and solids used in production are infused with symbol codes to enhance the quality of every formula. The results are essentially different than mass produced products on store and spa shelves.
IBN Members On The Move!
Maggie Hanus, owner of A Wild Soap Bar will be featured on Great Day Houston on Tuesday April 11. The show airs at 9:00 am CST and you can watch the show live online.
Learn more about our members and their exciting activities by visiting their Web sites through IBN's Online Member Directory, now with 4 ways to search: (1) by state/country; (2) by member business name; (3) by keyword search; or (4) using our new alphabetical listings.
2. Lifestyle CEO Report: Amy Robinson and I Talk About The Direct Selling Business Model!
\Life.Style CEO\n. A person who owns and manages a business, not
solely for financial gain, but also to enjoy the personal rewards of
entrepreneurship, independence, flexibility and fun.
Amy Robinson of the Direct Selling Association joins me today
to talk about the booming direct sales and home party business market!
Direct sales is one of the most profitable ways to market a business in
today's economic climate. It's fun, its easy to duplicate and it can set
your product sales on fire! Enjoy this show to see how direct sales might be
a good business model for you, or if you are already using a direct sales
model, how it can be made even better!
Join us LIVE at 1:00pm EST at Global
Talk Radio.com. Just click on "Listen Live" at the home page
to join us!
Mark Your Calendar For These Upcoming Lifestyle CEO Internet Radio Shows:
April 17: Jim McCaffrey of Sand Hill Advisors, joins me to talk about how important it is for small business owners to transition from merely "running" a business to actually "growing" a business. If you're struggling with the "no-man's land" between hobby and business, and are wondering what you really have to do to move to a full blown business, this is the show for you.
May 1: Cathy Townsend, Senior Business
Development Coach at Peter Montoya and graduate of CoachU, one of the
premier coach training programs in the world, will join me to discuss the
benefits of hiring a business coach to help you grow your business. What is
a business coach and how can one help you? How much do they cost? How do you
choose one? Last Week's Question:
Studies
have shown that an increase in consumption of foods containing this chemical
helps to lower blood pressure, particularly when combined with a decrease in
salt intake. I met a man yesterday who is in the process of patenting a
cream containing this chemical, and who is also involved in testing to
satisfy the FDA's drug approval requirements so his cream can be marketed
nationwide as a drug to treat high blood pressure. How cool is that? To win
this week, state the name of the chemical. Be the first to answer and win something delicious!
Please read the contest rules here
before submitting your entry. Put "TRIVIA CONTEST ANSWER" in the
subject line or your answer will not be considered. While time does not
permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner's name will be
announced in the next newsletter!
3. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question:
still no answer from last week!
4. Feature Article: Handmade Beauty
Going To The Dogs!
The Indie Beauty Network is all about
“Sasha started having allergic outbreaks when she was about three years old,” says Kyla, “and I searched high and low for the right foods, treats and natural grooming products that would be good for her.”
Since Sasha was very sensitive to chemicals, Kyla started using natural house cleaners, anything to try and eliminate chemicals in Sasha’s life. “I also looked for natural dog shampoos, but they always had at least one chemical in them.” she says.
Potions and
Sprays
That led Kyla, who’s based in Pittsburgh, PA, to try making them herself. So she started reading, learned about aromatherapy and today is a certified aromatherapist and she’s used what she learns to create “Aromutt-therapy” offering organic dog grooming products that are not only 100 percent natural, but organic as well. With Sasha, Kyla had her in-house “guinea pig” to try out her potions. “The oils had wonderful smells and healing abilities,” she says. “I tried remedies for common canine ailments, including motion sickness from travel, and oils to help produce a shiny coat and reduce hair loss.”
Kyla says her best sellers are the Aromutt-therapy sprays. The No More
Itch, that combines essential oils and organic aloe vera is number one she says. Followed closely by
Peppermint Breath, for “doggie-breath” and Chill Spray, used to calm your dog during training sessions or anytime.
Each spray is 4 ounces for $11.00.
Other products include hemp shampoo bars with no chemical or artificial fragrances and beds for your dog, that are made from organic buckwheat hulls.
If you can't decide what to get, or think you mutt needs all of it, you can
get the Pampered Pup Kit ($28), containing No More
Itch and Peppermint
Breath Sprays, two essential oil blends and a organic hemp shampoo bar.
Daily Business
Kyla started her business in 2003 with $6,000 capital.
She's just now gotten things to
the point where she needs to “make the leap” to pay herself a salary and
continue
company expansion. She works part-time as a waitress to help supplement her income and is her only employee.
One of
Kyla's ongoing struggles that
certainly will resonate with many IBN members is getting through the day making products, doing customer
service,
accounting and other paper work, and at the same time trying to grow
the business
“The other hard thing is a lot of times I feel like I’m flying blind and wonder if I’m making the right decisions,” says Kyla. “There is no one there to tell me ‘yes, you should do this or that.’ You really are on your own!”
At the same time, she’s thrilled every time customers tell her how much her products have helped their dogs. “That’s why I started this business and why I continue to do what I do - to help other dogs suffering from allergies and sensitive skin.”
Spotting The Future
Kyla has big plans for her company. Already her Spot Organics products are available in many high end pet stores across the country, but she feels her target consumers are at Whole Food Markets and other health food stores.
She says 80 percent of her sales are wholesale and only about 20 percent of her sales are through her website. She recently got a shot in the arm when she signed international distribution agreements in Japan and the
United Kingdom. She really can say that “at Spot Organics we sell our organic grooming products all over the world!”
So her business plan, along with moving out of her home office this summer, includes getting larger accounts in the natural products area. “We really have never marketed the company, just survived mostly through word of mouth,” she says. “Future plans include creating a major marketing plan in the near future.”
“I’m also talking with an investor, but I am very hesitant to give up any part of my company because I’ve put so much hard work into it. It’s very hard to give up control!” says Kyla.
The Belief Potion
“It takes a long time to create a profitable business and you have to see it
through,” says Kyla. “if you believe and work hard, YOU CAN achieve your
goals.”
Kyla says she’d tell anyone just getting started “don’t give up!”
Like many other IBN members, Kyla thanks dM for all her support. “I love all
the opportunities that she brings to my company and all the resources she
shares to help my business grow.”
You can get all the
goodies you and your pooch need to stay pampered and poofed at Spot
Organics.
5. Handmade Beauty Product Review: Island Comfort Hand Cream
Island
Comfort Hand Cream
1.33 oz. | 7.95
Island lover that I am, I just love the name of this cream! But that's not the only great thing about it. The label is fun and colorful. Alright, I hear you -- the label is not as important as what's in the product. Well, you won't get any argument from me there. Still the fact of the matter is that a good quality product is made better and more fun to use when the label is great too. This one beckons your hands to open it and have a sniff inside. Very nice. Now for the good stuff!
There's not a lot of stuff in this product, but what's here is good quality, sweet smelling and very effective for dry skin. I've been using it all week, but Saturday, I couldn't keep my hands out of it. While warming up some delicious Three Cheese Bread to make up some warm tuna fish sandwiches, I burned the back of my hand on one of the stove lights. OUCH! My tin of Island Comfort Cream was on a nearby counter so I grabbed it and slathered it on. No blistering and no pain. Just a slight scar on my hand. How convenient is that?
Afterward, my daughter confiscated it and it's been in her little purse ever since so I've had to request permission to use it several times. I managed to get a bit away from her to dab on my son's diaper rash yesterday. (Can't wait until the potty training is done!)
Family owned and operated, Island Comfort makes their Island Comfort cream with simple effective ingredients: sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, beewax, Vitamin E, aloe vera extract and a light essential oil blend that is pleasant and just the least bit tingly from the peppermint oil.
You can get some of your own Island Comfort cream, and buy a beautiful display for your retail store, at the Island Comfort.
6. Announcing IBN Live!
You
asked for it! You got it!
I am pleased to announce IBN Live!, the new monthly live business teleconference exclusively for IBN members! IBN Live! will take place on the last Friday of each month from 2:00pm to 3:00pm EST. IBN Live! will cover the hot handmade beauty topics of the day! We'll discuss product liability insurance issues, any new legislative or legal issues affecting member businesses, upcoming trade shows, your ideas for new member benefits and opportunities, news about your company that you'd like posted at IBN's newsletter, media opportunities, etc. -- plus I'll answer your questions about how you can take advantage of IBN member benefits that you might not know about or just haven't had a chance to explore. IBN Live! transcripts will be made available in downloadable format for IBN members in our Members Only area.
The call-in details for our first call, which will take place on the last Friday of April (April 28 this month) from 2:00pm to 3:00pm EST will be made available to IBN members next week at this link. All calls will be on the last Friday of the month and will be from 2:00pm to 3:00pm EST so you can mark your calendars now!
Other Member Benefits!
Don't forget our quality professional product photography services at a fraction of the price? At IBN of course! Our photography services are offered to IBN members only at deeply discounted rates -- only $20 for an individual product on a sleek white background with perfect lighting and true color to highlight the best attributes of your product. All copyright rights are transferred. Discounts and packages are available for multiples and groups shots. Work with props and colored backgrounds is available. Some restrictions may apply. To see samples and request a quote, click here.
Best & Success!!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Handmade Beauty Connection
The Indie Beauty Network | www.handmadebeauty.com
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2006 by The Indie Beauty Network (IBN) and Donna Maria. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized distribution or reproduction is prohibited. IBN does not necessarily endorse any product, event or ideology featured in The Handmade Beauty Connection (HBC) or on IBN's website. All information is provided on an "as is" basis and no express or implied warranties are given. Any use of the information contained in the HBC or on IBN's web site, including recipes, is solely at your own risk. IBN and Donna Maria disclaim any liability in connection with the use of all recipes, products reviewed and other information. Except for sponsorships, HBC refuses compensation from companies to feature or mention their names or products. Opinions expressed in any Product Review are personally those of the reviewer and do not represent the views of IBN, Donna Maria (unless she is the reviewer) or any other person or company.
