H ED A CRAFT ND IL D S OA PM AKERS GU SoapMaker 2010-01 HANDCRAFTED The Journal of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild The Media Is You: How Soapmakers Use Branded Media To Clean Up In Sales! by Donna Maria Coles Johnson, Esq. Do you see anything missing from the title of this article? Did you notice that the word, “social” does not appear? While all the rage today is about “social media” and “social networking,” many people are missing the most powerful point of all. While socializing is integral to all business success, creating branded media is even more important because it leads to the social interaction that makes a business successful. The Media Is You! People want to hear from you! They want to know your thoughts about anything that has to do with your products. Ingredients, health trends, beauty ideas, well-being, small business, manufacturing processes, soapmaking oils, cosmetics preservatives – whatever it is, you can cover it with your own branded media, and you can do it at least as well as just about any mainstream print magazine on the planet! In This Issue The Media is You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cover From the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside cover Beware of Internet Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Welcome New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Top 10 Essential Oils for CP Soap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2010 Annual Meeting & Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Soapmaker Certification Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Quarterly Soapmakers' Luncheons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 In Memory of Trina Wallace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Branded media increases the value of your company because intellectual property makes your business more valuable and gives you leverage to create new business opportunities. It’s also search engine candy. Unique content increases the visibility and value of your brand. It shows customers you care about them and are committed to enhancing their lives, not just getting your hands on their credit card numbers. Branded media also creates social opportunities that almost always lead to increased sales. By sharing information that people cannot get elsewhere, you create special niches for you and your products. These niches can be leveraged as people return time and again to learn about your ideas and connect with like-minded people who also value your contributions. To do this effectively requires focus and the disciplined and consistent execution of a strategic plan. This article provides tips to help you do that. I’ve included case studies of soapmakers who successfully use branded media to reach out to their customers and increase sales. It’s About Influence To be successful in business, you must spread the word about your products in ways that influence people to buy them. Strategically placed traditional print advertising does this, but another way to influence people to buy your products is to connect with them first-hand (continued on page 9) Contact Us Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. P.O. Box 5103 Portland, OR 97208-5103 Toll Free: (866) 900-SOAP (866) 900-7627 Direct: (503) 283-7758 Fax: (503) 286-0236 E-mail: [email protected] Board of Directors: Leigh O'Donnell, President [email protected] Sr. Cathleen Timberlake, Vice-President [email protected] Delores Harris, Secretary [email protected] Feleciai Favroth, Treasurer [email protected] Elaine Koronich [email protected] Maria Gelnett [email protected] Gillian DeConto [email protected] Links Public Website www.soapguild.org Members Only Website www.soapguild.org/login.php Renew Membership www.soapguild.org/renew HSMG Blog www.soapguild.org/blog Member Forum www.soapguild.org/forum HSMG Store www.soapguild.org/store Journal Advertising www.soapguild.org/journal.php [email protected] The Handcrafted SoapMaker is a publication of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild, Inc. published for the HSMG membership. Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved. Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. From the President Sailors often use the terms "tempest" or "squall" to describe sudden, violent storms at sea. These brief disturbances cause the ocean to become filled with large and unpredictable waves, making it difficult for a small craft to navigate for a short time. As I write this the HSMG is about to execute the largest Annual Conference in its history, the 2010 Conference in Denver, Colorado. As you can imagine, behind the scenes we have a "tempest" of our own as we prepare. There are so many details that go into an event of this size and most of them are done in the thirty days prior to arrival. Many people are behind the scenes, doing their parts to make the conference successful. In the middle of the squall is our new Conference Chair, Feleciai Favroth. Feleciai is doing a fantastic job, especially since her first conference is also the largest conference we've ever had. I know many of you are also feeling the stress of having a lot on your plates at the moment. We, as handcrafted soapmakers, tend to be busiest in the Spring and the Fall. I have been watching the status updates from my fellow soapmakers on Facebook. Some of the updates I've seen: making soap for Spring/Summer shows, growing herbs, gardening, kidding season on goat farms, ordering supplies, redesigning packaging, redesigning shop — the list goes on and on. Couple that with all of our other obligations, family, community, household... How do we do it? It's easy to sit way down in the water and watch those waves towering over us and it's certainly easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. One way to overcome and ride out the storm is to take each wave individually and try not to focus on ALL of them. Focus first on the biggest one or the one that's about to break on your head, get that one out of the way and move on. Remember, there may some waves that you just shouldn't be riding at this time. Perhaps you're being asked to volunteer for something else on top of your other obligations — don't be afraid to say "no"! Possibly you can remove a few items from your very full plate. Pretty soon you'll find that you're not struggling to stay afloat any more you're surfing and riding those waves into dry land. It starts to become such an amazing feeling, once you start to cross items off your to-do list. It's empowering, giving you energy to carry on and get the rest of your tasks done. Use that power to keep going and you'll make it to the shore before you know it. Once you reach dry land, look around and take a deep breath. Enjoy yourself and relax, you've definitely earned it! Don't stay too long, soon it's time to grab that board and get back out there. Surfs up Big Kahuna, time to hang ten once again! Leigh O'Donnell, President Beware of Internet Fraud How to Detect Fraudulent Orders If you've checked your email recently, you've probably been contacted by a scammer. Typically, you see scams in the form of phishing, "you've won the lottery", Nigerian scams asking for help with getting money out of the country, chain letters, work-athome schemes and mystery shopper offers. Most fairly educated internet users know these as scams and just delete them. But what about when it's a potential sale of your products? Getting the sale, especially a big sale, is a good thing. However, any sale, especially a big sale, that ends up unpaid is disheartening and damaging to your business. Making sure that every sale is valid and not fraudulent is important to your bottom line and the survival of your business. Signs of a Fraudulent Order There are certain warning flags that indicate an actual or potential order is fraudulent. Keep watch for the following signs. Vague "feeler" email: Often a potential scammer will first send a vague email to feel you out. The email may come from a free email account (gmail, yahoo or hotmail). Typically it asks for pricing or if you accept certain credit cards but does not mention the products or quantities they are interested in. They often, but not always, ask if you ship to a foreign country. Rush delivery: Many fraudulent orders come with the proviso that the order be shipped overnight, by Global Express mail or air freight. Not surprising if they are using a stolen credit card — they have to get it shipped out before the card is reported! Large quantity of high priced items: Fraudulent orders placed through eCommerce shopping carts are often for an unusually high quantity of one item, particularly a higher priced item. For example, 10 identical gift baskets or 25 of one type of soap. If you get the order and think, "What in the world are they going to do with that?", then you should check into it further before shipping the order. by Marie Gale Different shipping and billing name or address: There are plenty of valid reasons for there to be a different billing and shipping name or address, but it can also indicate a fraudulent order. If the order is for a gift basket ordered and paid for by Bill Smith and going to Martha Smith with a "Happy Birthday, Mom" card, that's logical and probably not fraudulent. However, if the order is placed by one person, the credit card is in the name of a different person and it's being shipped to Saudi Arabia, then you'd better check it out. Billing address and phone don't match: If the area code for the phone number is in one state and the billing address is in a different state, that can be a red flag. Phone number not provided or isn't good: If the customer doesn't provide a phone number, that's a bad sign. If you try to call the customer to verify any information and the phone number is bad, that's also a major warning flag. Credit card AVS doesn't match: When you process the credit card (if the order gets that far), the address and/or zip code doesn't match, that's a sign that there might be something wrong. Check hasn't been received or isn't cleared: "The check is in the mail" is sufficient warning to hold the shipment until the check is received AND clears through your bank. Payment by Bankwire: If a customer, particularly an international customer, wants to make payment by bankwire, it may be an attempt to get your banking information. On the other hand, a bankwire is the best way to receive funds if the order is questionable. Never give out your regular checking or savings account number. Instead, open up a separate account with the minimum amount and receive the bank transfer to that account. (continued on page 16) 1 Welcome New Members! Nada Al Wabel The Smalley Soap Garden Sandra Alexander Amy Allahdadi Raven & Hare Karen Allard The Greatest Soap Handcrafted From The Heart To Nourish The Soul A diverse selection of pure, handmade and natural soaps, bath and body products for self-indulgence or wonderful gifts. www.latheredup.com Mary Allen Soap Solutions Kim Archuleta Kim's Soap Box Jennifer Bahney SavonClaire Soaps Kathy Ball Craig Banker Surf City Soaps Angel Banks The Body Kraze Kathleen Barnard Barbara Berry The Pampered Goat Birgit Biehl Simply Birgit M a k e Yo u r D R E A M S Come TRUE! . . . S o l u t i o n s Ta i l o r e d F o r Yo u Beginner, Intermediate or Professional... Soap Making Kits Starting at $210 Custom Professional Systems Accessories and More! Ever y t h ing Fo r th e Handcrafted Body Care Industr y Visit Us Today at www.SoapEquipment.com or Call... 765-886-4640 972-620-1108 12873 W.E. Oler Road Hagerstown, IN 47346 2 Top 10 Essential Oils for CP Soap Not too long ago, I began to realize that there are some essential oils that are crucial to me for Cold Process Soap Making. Even though I occasionally use oils that are not on this list, without these oils I would be hard pressed to make amazing soap at an affordable price. The reasons that I use/choose these oils time and time again are: • The scent carries through very well, • They are reasonably priced • Many of them blend well with each other to create a wide variety of scents. Top 10 Essential Oil List There are hundreds of essential oils available on the market, most of which can be used in soap. Here's my Top 10 Essential Oil List: 1. Lavender (.7 oz) 2. 5-Fold Sweet Orange (.5 oz) 3. Petitgrain ( .5 oz) 4. Lemon (.9 oz) 5. Litsea Cubeba (.5 oz) 6. Spearmint (.5 oz) 7. Lime (.9 oz) 8. Peppermint (.5 oz) 9. Rosemary (.5 oz) 10. Anise (use .5 oz) The amount listed by the name is the recommended amount per pound of oil/fat in your soap batch. We'll talk about how to calculate the amount to use in a moment. by Lori Nova Combinations One of the great things about this set of essential oils, is that they can be combined together to create literally hundreds of possiblities! My favorite COMBINATIONS with these ten Essential Oils are: • Lemon & Litsea Cubeba • Lavender & Litsea Cubeba • Lavender & Any Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Lime, etc.) • Lavender & Any Mint • Lavender & Rosemary • Rosemary & Lemon • Rosemary & Spearmint • Lime & Spearmint (aka "Mojito") • Anise & Lavender • Anise & Sweet Orange • Petitgrain & Sweet Orange • Peppermint & Lemon • Peppermint & Spearmint (aka "Doublemint") Calculating the Amount to Use If you are using only one essential oil, the recommended amount to use per pound of oil/ fat is listed in the Top 10 list. If you are blending the essential oils, take the number of pounds of oil/fat in your recipe and divide by the number of essential oils being used. Use the result and multiply it by the recommended amount for each essential oil. Remember - these are guidelines for CP Soap and only a place to start. After making your first batch, you can adjust the amounts until you find exactly the scent you are looking for. • Lori Nova is a member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild and has been a speaker at past HSMG Conferences. She owns and operates the Nova Studio, in Point Richmond, California, home of the Original 2-Day Soapmaking Boot Camp and a variety of classes on making all types of soaps and bath/body products. For more info, see Lori's blog at thenovastudio.blogspot.com or her website at www.thenovastudio.com. 3 Welcome New Members! Janet Bitner Grandma's Home Brewed Soap Carol-Ann Blakeway Ripplemead Handcrafted Soaps Kristen Bowen Patricia Bowen Kimberly Brinkworth Country Comforts LLC Melissa Burgess Cheeky Maiden Soap Co Jan Burhans Grafton Mountain Soap Works Edmond Burks Suzzanne Marie Bushaw Western Bee Company Beth Byrne Soap and Garden Dana Callahan Rose Carbajal Theresa Carrington You and Me Soaps Gayle Cary A Little Something Wicked LLC Michelle Chew Painted Sky Soap Samantha Clark SUDS Handmade Soap Co David Clark Saturday Night Bath Soap Co. Elise Clark Saturday Night Bath Soap Co. Pam Clark Clark Creations LLC Andrea Cochran D'AndiCraft Jennifer Combs Paloma Bath & Body Shelley Conklin Bella Shell Linda Connelly Dingledairy Deann Crain Enchanting Charms Bath N Body Kara Crowley Natalia Cruz-Pineda enJabonArte Deborah Dana Vegan Soap Kitchen Janey Davies Scrubology Soap Co Sharon DeRigo BCakes LLC Shannon DeVaul Sweet Teagan's 4 2010 Annual Meeting & Election The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild 2010 Annual Meeting will be held during the 2010 Conference at the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center in Denver, Colorado on May 1st (Saturday) over lunch. All members, whether or not registered for the conference, are welcome to attend and participate. There is no charge to attend the Annual meeting — it is a right of every member to attend if they want. The complete agenda of the 2010 Annual Meeting is available in the Members Only Website.1 Elections — Board of Directors The current terms for Sr. Cathleen Timberlake, Elaine Koronich and Gillian DeConto will expire on June 30, 2010 so there will be an election to fill those seats. The 2010 Nominating Committee has nominated Sr. Cathleen Timberlake (for relection), Barb DeLosSantos and Donna Pixton-Hacker as candidates. The full report of the Nominating Committee is available online in the Member Area Website2. Proposed Bylaw Revisions The Policies, Procedures and Bylaws Committee has suggested three revisions to the HSMG Bylaws: 1) Addition of membership category of "Retired"; 2) Making the appointment of a Parliamentarian optional (rather than required); 3) Correction of when members must be notified of election results. The full text of the proposed revisions is available in the Member Area Website3. The Bylaws may only be amended if passed by two-thirds (2/3) of those voting. Elections — Nominating Committee In addition to nominating candidates for the Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee is responsible for nominating candidates for the next year's Nominating Committee. This year Elaine Koronich, Kelly Bloom, LaShonda Tyree, Jackie Thompson and Marie Gale have been nominiated as candidates for the 2011 Nominating Committee (which needs three members). Additional nominations will be taken from the floor at the meeting. Other Business If a recommendation for a member to be awarded Honorary Lifetime Member status has been received, it is presented to the membership and voted on at the Annual Meeting. Details on Honorary Lifetime Membership are included in the HSMG Bylaws, available online. Any member may bring business before the Annual Meeting. To add something to the agenda, inform the HSMG Secretary by email at [email protected]. Matters may also be heard from the floor during the "New Business" portion of the meeting. 1 www.soapguild.org/member/annual-meeting-2010.php (login required) 2 www.soapguild.org/docs/member/2010-NomComReport.pdf 3 www.soapguild.org/docs/member/2010-ProposedBylawRevisions.pdf Soapmaker Certification Update Over the past three years, the HSMG has been developing and gradually implementing the Soapmaker Certification Program. The General Plan was approved at the 2007 Annual Meeting. The Guild undertook this activity to encourage and promote the highest professional standards among HSMG members. The Program also presents criteria by which members can measure their soap making knowledge and skill, creates a centralized repository for industry-standard information and resources, and provides a communication venue for members to share their expertise. The Certification Program benefits the handcrafted soap making industry as a whole by establishing an industry-wide standard of excellence in soap making. Achieving these certifications will benefit the member as it demonstrates dedication to professional standards and builds credibility with customers. The exams are offered only to members of the HSMG and are entirely voluntary. There are two testing tracks: Cold Process/Hot Process (CP/HP) and Melt and Pour (MP). Each track has three levels of testing: Basic, Advanced, and Master. The details of the different levels and topics to be covered at each level are covered in the General Plan of the Certification Committee.1 Advanced Soapmaker The Advanced Soapmaker Certification was unveiled at the 2009 Conference and so far 14 soapmakers have been certified at the Advanced Level for either CP/HP or MP soapmaking. Like the Basic Soapmaker Certification, the Advanced Certification Levels have a written examination consisting of 20 questions covering soapmaking skills, terminology, safety, labeling and good manufacturing practices. In addition, the soapmaker must make and submit a recipe and bar of soap based on specific oils and guidelines for evaluation. The soap and recipe are graded on number of factors. If the soapmaker receives a grade of 85% or better on both the written exam and the soap/ recipe evaluation, the soapmaker passes the Advanced Certification Level. A soapmaker must be certifed at the Basic Level before seeking Advanced Level Certification. Master Soapmaker Certification Master Soapmaker Certification Program will be unveiled at the 2010 Conference. The Master Soapmaker Exam consists of four parts: Part 1: To assess the soapmaker’s skill in handcrafted soapmaking processes by submitting soap samples and documents in accordance with exam Basic Soapmaker criteria. Appropriate samples will be required from First released at the 2008 Conference, the each process. initial level of Certification is Basic Soapmaker Part 2: To assess the soapmaker’s knowledge of (CP/HP or MP), covering soapmaking skills, termisoapmaking raw materials, chemistry, formulation, nology, safety, labeling and good manufacturing practices at a basic level. The examination consists and creative techniques by completing short essays of 20 multiple choice questions covering the topic on a selected group of topics for each process. areas. Passing grade is 85% (17 out of 20 questions Part 3: To assess the soapmaker’s application correctly answered). So far nearly 100 soapmakers of soapmaking skill and knowledge by proposing have passed either the MP or CP/HP Basic Soapa research project that expands handcrafted soapmaker Exam. making best practices; then conducts research and reports the results in a formal paper. 1 www.soapguild.org/docs/member/CertificationProgram.pdf 5 Welcome New Members! Camille Dean Beth DeAntonio Erin Denham Khaled Diab Earth Goodness LTD Charity Doornbos Christina Dudley Capricorn Soap Company Laura Durkee Artemisia Herbals Dawn Eckhardt Marcy Felicito Earthtones Holistic Products & Services LLC Thess Fenner Fern & Berry David Fisher Christiane Fortin La Savonnerie Christiane Fortin Selena Franklin Soap By Selena Melissa Fremin Rhonda Frye Jane Frye Certification (continued from page 6) Part 4: To assess the soapmaker’s awareness of the larger picture of soap and soapmaking beyond handcrafted soap by writing a report on a topic related to commercial soapmaking/soapmakers, markets, regulations, etc. This exam will be administered by a Master Certification Judges Panel. Each part is scored according to a point system, and all parts must be passed in order to become certified as a Master Soapmaker. It is anticipated that candidates could take 1 to 2 years to complete this certification. Certification Exam Availability It is the HSMG's intention to make all the examinations available to all members, regardless of their location or ability to travel. There are several ways to take the exams. The Basic and Advanced Certification Examinations are available at the HSMG Annual Conference every year and may also be taken in your local area under the supervision of a proctor. Master Level testing details will be posted after they are released at the 2010 Conference. Full details on how to make arrangements to take a Certification Examination are available in the Members Only Website2. 2 www.soapguild.org/member/certification-overview.php (login required) 6 Quarterly Soapmakers' Luncheons San Diego, CA — For over two years now, HSMG Member Kerri Mixon has been hosting quarterly free Soapmakers' Luncheons in San Diego, California. Held on the 3rd Sunday of January, April, July and October, these luncheons are intended to introduce handmade natural soap to the public, to motivate soapmakers, and to serve as a network for anyone interested in handmade natural soap. The general agenda for each meeting includes attendee introductions, beginning and advanced soap making techniques, and coupons and gifts. In addition, there are guest speakers on a variety of topics. For example, at the April 2010 meeting, Karen Moore of Cibaria Soap Supply will discuss the various carrier and base oils to make soap, and Terra Williams, an Internet Business Consultant, will be speaking about soap branding and marketing strategies. At every meeting, HSMG membership brochures are available for those interested in joining the HSMG. To provide information about the luncheon, Kerri created a webpage on her website1 and sends out beautiful 4-color postcards to promote the events. Kerri Mixon is the owner of Pallas Athene Soap and Certified-Lye and the driving force behind the Natural Soap Directory. She is a Patron Member of the HSMG, has been a member since 2003 and frequently attends and/or volunteers at the HSMG Annual Conference. Kerri's Soapmakers' Luncheons provide excellent promotion of handcrafted soap and the HSMG and give soapmakers an opportunity to "talk soap" for an afternoon. Well done, Kerri! 1www.pallasathenesoap.com/luncheon.html On-Line Marketing Make Your Website Sell! www.Search-Engine-Friendly.com Talk to an Expert Free Initial Consultation Call Now! (541) 572-2569 7 Welcome New Members! In Memory of Carrie Garvin Trina Wallace 1957 - 2010 Under the Willow Becky Gentile Locust Groves Tina Gilbert LusciousBubbles Gene Goldring Maryellen Grebin Sandollar Soy and Spa Amy Greco La Dolce Vita Soap Sydney Green Farmer Jane Soap Brenda Greuel The Conscious Bath Company Eileen Hackett Lezli Hall Heart for Country Jennifer Hardaway Klean Bath & Body Christine Hardeman Christine's Handmade Soap Diane Hartwick Anna Mabel Soap & Candle Co Rachel Hawkins Poop Soap, LLC Kristy Hebert Flambeaux Candle Company LLC Ashleigh Heidelberg Ashleigh's Essence LLC Anne Herrington Golden Soaps and Lotions Jennifer Hickman On March 28, 2010, Trina Wallace, soapmaker, owner (with her husband, Bill) of SnowdriftFarm.com, and long-time supporter and member of the HSMG, passed away after a long battle with ovarian cancer. In the 1990's, Trina and Bill launched SnowdriftFarm.com, providing ingredients, packaging and sage advice to soapmakers and those making handcrafted cosmetics. In the years since, SnowdriftFarm.com has become an important supplier to our industry. An early member of the HSMG, Trina shared her knowledge with others as a speaker at several HSMG Annual Conferences and was an avid supporter of the handcrafted soap industry. Trina was an extraordinary woman who was as passionate about soapmaking and handcrafted cosmetics as she was for life. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. SnowdriftFarm.com will continue under the able guidance and expertise of Bill Wallace and Trina's niece, Robyn Ann Yewell. Kittredge Candles Carole Hinds Nicole Holzaepfel Get your labeling right the first time! Woodapples Essentials LLC Andee Howard Brian Huffman Gudonya Soap and Spa LLC Mary Humphrey Annie's Goat Hill Ann Jagger Greywinds Limited Fred Johnson The Soap Creek Company Cindy Jones 2nd Edition Soap & Cosmetic Labeling How to Follow THE RULES AND REGS Explained in Plain English by Marie Gale Sagescript Institute, LLC Carol Jones-Rodgers Farah Jumshyd Fenja Inc Sevi Kay Smiling Leaf LLC Mary Kearns Herban Lifestyle LLC 8 $24.95 Free Shipping! (Wholesale pricing also available - see website for details) Getting the labeling right isn't very complicated... but it is very detailed. Whether you’re an old hand or a newcomer to the business of soap and cosmetics, you’ll find the information presented in this book clear and easy to understand. Soap & Cosmetic Labeling is an excellent, plain English guide through the maze of labeling regulations from many different agencies and a definite must for any soapmakers reference library. The 2nd Edition includes more examples and pictures and a completely new additional chapter dealing with soap labeling options, clarifying and debunking some common myths and misconceptions. Order your copy today! www.ForSoapmakers.com/book The Media is You (continued from page 1) yourself. Today, this is not only easy; it’s also fun. Branded Media Delivers Influence Elissa Klaver, founder and owner of Salus in Manitou Springs, Colorado, says that she regularly earns new customers after connecting with them personally online at her branded FaceBook Page. “Once they put a face to the company, and have their pre-buying questions answered, they are easily converted into customers,” Elisa says. DIY Public Relations and Advertising Some soapmakers use branded media in such systematic ways that they virtually eliminate all public relations and/or advertising expenses. Anne-Marie Faiola at Brambleberry, a Bellingham, Washington, supplier of soapmaking supplies, attributes her company’s double-digit growth in 2008 to use of branded media. “Instead of print advertising, we use our blog1, SoapQueen. TV2 and other branded media outlets to connect with customers and increase sales.” Some companies that never used much print advertising in the first place also see the value of this strategy. Lori Beach at Canterbury Cabin3 in New York says that a single wholesale account generated through her branded FaceBook page4 resulted in a 15% increase in sales in two months. Susan Svec of Susan’s Soap and More in Scurry, Texas, enjoys increased sales from her blog. Regular blogging drives traffic to her website and keeps customers updated on new products, which she says translates into sales. Not only can effective use of branded media replace or supplement traditional advertising, it can also minimize or even replace traditional public relations services. Susan Svec says, “Beauty (continued on page 10) 1 http://soap-queen.blogspot.com 2 http://www.youtube.com/user/soapqueentv 3 http://www.canterburycabin.com 4 http://bit.ly/bkecPU Turn Face Time Into Sales Elissa Klaver at Salus offers 3 ideas for turning her Twitter1 and FaceBook2 connections into sales: Use FaceBook to ask other soapmakers about themselves and their businesses. Your FaceBook updates are accessible by your friends and the other soapmakers's friends. As these conversations occur, and others see them, more people find out about you and what you do. This leads not only to new soapmaking friendships, but also naturally, to new customers as well. Reply to people who ask questions about you and your products. For example, if someone on Twitter asks you a question, your answer will obviously help the person who asked, but your reply will also expose hundreds or even thousands of people (depending on the collective number of followers you both have) to your products. Use interesting captions for your FaceBook status updates and Tweets. For example, instead of “XYZ soap is on sale today,” try something fun and informative. For example, “Learn how we make our luxurious Organic Artisan Soaps,” with a link to your blog or website where people can find more information. 1http://twitter.com/salus 2 http://bit.ly/cr9mC9 Home of the Original 2-Day Soapmaking Boot Camp People travel from all over to take our popular 2-day Soap Intensive, which includes 3 classes taught by Lori Nova: Cold Process 101 (all the basics & more); CP 201: Intermediate Design techniques like Swirling & Layering, Hot Process Crock Pot Soap, & Big Batch CP Soap with David Critchfield. We also offer private lessons & phone consulting. Located in historic Point Richmond, CA (near San Francisco). www.TheNovaStudio.co m 510 -234-57 00 9 Welcome New Members! Diana Keefe Skinplicity Susan Kennedy Swampfires, Inc Amber Keown Three Acre Ranch Soaps Shiela Keyes Millie Khatri Caravanserai Donna Kilgour Janice King Felton Farms Soap Company Amanda Konieczny Veve's Handmade Vicki Korpa Mountaintop Handmade Creations, LLC Denise Kowal Robert Kuivenhoven Farmington Soap Works Keith Larkin Barbara Larson Ann Larson Lujos Robert Laskowski Second Nature Aromatics Maureen Leverich Natural Treasures, LLC Lisa Lewis Cackleberry Apiary The Media is You (continued from page 9) bloggers have found me through my blog, and review my products as a result,” says Susan. “I dabble with Twitter, YouTube and Flickr,” says Susan, “But my blog and online newsletter produce tangible results.” Mary Humphrey of Annie’s Goat Hill Hand Crafted Goat Milk Soap5 in Leesburg, Ohio, publishes at least one newsletter a month. “My last newsletter generated sales from six customers within three hours of publication,” she says. “The more communication, the better,” says Mary. “My blog generated 30% of my sales in 2009,” she continues. “Customers who buy products at retail stores find me on FaceBook, and they bring their friends along.” Mary uses Twitter6, though she has not traced as many sales from that site. Mary says that combined use of different outlets produces a “domino effect” that keeps things flowing in the right direction. (continued on page 12) 5 http://www.anniesgoathill.com 6 http://twitter.com/anniesgoathill Megan Lisica Tea Tree Soap Company Lynda Louka Sacred Earth Soaps & Sundries Guillermo Martinez Lechuga International Bio-Genesis Hal Mayes Alabu Inc Dorian McCarron Snuggle Up Soap Company Jeannette Mille High Country Crafts Laura Miller Inspired Soap Works Limited Jeannette Miller High Country Crafts Erin Mitmoen Homemade Indulgence Yvonne Moore Adonai Roi Annointing Oils, LLC Briana Moore Nest, LLC Systems Are Critical Avoid the temptation to simply show up now and then, when you feel like it, at your FaceBook Page, blog or Twitter. Instead, create a publication schedule. (The media is you, remember!!?) For example, every Monday morning between 9:00 and 10:00, I host “Indie Business Roll Call” at the Indie Business FaceBook Fan Page1 . The goal is to encourage small business owners to inspire and encourage each other as they show up for weekly roll call, just like first responders do. If someone is overwhelmed or ill, encourage them. If someone has exciting news to share, celebrate with them. I encourage everyone to leave their Fan Page link so people can check them out. I see accountants meeting people who need their services, and I see people’s fan bases growing because they meet each other during roll call. I repeat the roll call week after week, on the same day at the same time. It’s part of my system so I don’t have to think about it. I just do it. I also host FaceBook Fridays, where we discuss how to maximize FaceBook as a marketing tool, and Work-Out Wednesdays, where we share our fitness challenges and successes. Think about a topic that your customers are keenly interested in. Then create a routine way to use branded media to connect with them around that topic. The possibilities are endless! Susan Ng Naturally Susan's LLC 10 1 http://facebook.com/indiebusinessfans Welcome New Members! Kathleen Notaro Little Egg Harbor Soap Jay Morrow Leslie Mueller Mary Novak Paul Olivier Carrie Olivier Meida Ollivierra Meida's Gourmet Aromatics Joan Orr Shadow Seven Ranch LLS Julia Otto South Hampton Soap Co LLC Darla Packwood Richard Pang Kudos Design Ltd Christine Papke The Media Is You (continued from page 12) Delores Harris of Daisy May Natural Soap7 in Brooklyn, New York, says that customers who buy her soaps at Park Slope Farmer’s Market in Brooklyn say that they read her Tweets8 and posts at her blog9 to learn when she’ll be at the market. Delores says that her Twitter account also led to an invitation to teach soapmaking classes at The Learning Annex in New York. Your Message, Your Media These examples show that producing your own media works. Forget the word “social,” and just consider the media aspect of things. Mary’s online newsletter functions just like a magazine. It is published regularly and contains information about Mary, her farm and the products she makes and sells there. Neither Martha Stewart nor Hearst Publications are involved, but that doesn’t matter. It’s branded content that reaches people who are interested in what she has to offer. Nourish Bath and Body Melanie Paradise A Fragrant Paradise Ana Parker Ampour Judy Patrick 7 http://www.daisymaynaturalsoap.com 8 http://twitter.com/DaisySoapGirl 9 http://daisymaynaturalsoap.blogspot.com Your Source for Organic Beeswax We offer certified organic beeswax and many other soap making supplies, including oils, butters, essential oils, natural additives, and more. Call today for a free catalog! Look for your free beeswax sample in the 2010 HSMG conference packet! Soap Making • Candle Making Aromatherapy Supplies Family Owned & Operated Since Eugene, Oregon () - www.GloryBeeFoods.com 12 The Media is You (continued from page 12) Anne-Marie’s videos are like television shows. They’re not on Discovery Channel or NBC, but who cares? They’re media she creates, owns and controls, and it reaches her customers in a personal way. Elisa, Susan, Delores and Lori also enjoy new business opportunities as a result of using branded content on their blogs, on Twitter and on FaceBook. You Can Do This!! Now that you’ve seen some examples of how other soapmakers use branded media to positively influence people about their products, it’s your turn! This 5-step action plan will get you started: Step 1: Describe what’s great about your products. This will take some time --- don’t short change yourself by rushing. Descriptions like “smells good,” or “works well” are no good here. Dig deep into the heart of your products and record what makes them unique. Step 2: Describe your perfect customers. This may require more than one description if you have different lines of products. Separate each line and describe the people who are perfectly suited to buy it. In one of my radio show interviews10, author David Meerman Scott calls these people “buyer personas.” Whatever you call them, describe them so you know exactly what types of people you are trying to reach with your ideas. Step 3: Listen. This is vital. Once you know what’s great about your products, and who is best suited to buy them, go where they are and listen. This may be on Twitter, or it may be at a mom’s online forum. Choose three locations to start, and just listen to what is being said. What are their main life concerns? What are their likes and dislikes? What matters to them? What problems do they have that you can solve? After you listen, and not before, share your ideas, thoughts, questions and solutions naturally. Don’t be pushy or sales-y. This will turn everyone (continued on page 14) 10 http://bit.ly/bnBaUj Botanical specialist, Herbal Teas, Bulk Herbs, for all your cooking, personal experiments, arts and crafts for pleasure or just to appreciate the natural scents. We also offer a great choice of oils, fragrances, clays, containers etc.. www.dermakreme.com - www.aromesbeaute.com 370 Rue du Moulin, Kingsbury Qc. Canada J0B 1X0 819-826-3535 1-800-668-4534 13 Welcome New Members! Susan Penner Greenfield Soap Co Patricia Pennington Kathyrn Peterson Anna Mabel Soap & Candle Co. Tamarra Piccolo Ceder Creek Soaps Cheryl Pitts-Williamson Pitts Inc Dana Pleshe Holly Port Lotion Bar Cafe Adrienne Powell Holistic Creations Rebecca Present-Thomas Soap Loft Creations Carol Pryor Mimi's Soaps Katherine Quinones Anderik Candles Maryellen Race Whiskey City Soap Company Sarah Radonich Mock Pink Designs Diane Ravens Appalachian Bee Farm Alicia Reaves Kellie Reid Kellies Kreationz Nancy Reinhard LaviShea LLC James Renda Soap-On-A-Rope.com Heidi Ritter Sunset Pines LLC Beth Robinson Castle Company Sr. Hope Rodenborn Monastery Creations Melissa Rosenheck Concord Soap Company, LLC Laurie Rossa Woodstock Soap Co Michele Rosta Funky Chunks LLC Arthur Sanchez Natures Art Siddharth Sanganeria Lakshmi International, LLC Liana Schade Susan Schier Laura Schier Cathy Schotte Thousand Hills Bath Company 14 The Media Is You (continued from page 14) Donna Maria Coles Johnson is an attorney, award-winning homebased business advocate, and the host and producer of Indie Business Radio and Indie Business TV. She is one of HSMG’s first members and a popular presenter and keynote speaker at HSMG conferences. Donna Maria is the author of “Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions” and the founder and CEO of the Indie Beauty Network. She hosts #BeautyChat on Twitter and blogs at http:// www.indiebusinessblog.com. Her signature “The Media Is You” program is fast becoming a trusted training resource for small business owners. off. Always go into this with the idea that you have something to offer that will enhance people’s lives. Be authentic and transparent. Do not be brash, and definitely do not enter the conversation with a sense of entitlement. Step 4. Systematize. In addition to participating in conversations generated by others, start some yourself using your own branded media outlets. Your FaceBook Page and your blog are the best places to start. Write a weekly article about an essenA native of Washington, DC, Donna tial oil you use in your products. A Maria lives temporarily in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and their two weekly video could answer questions children. posed by your customers. (Don’t use a customer’s name without permission.) Host a weekly radio show, as I do at Indie Business Radio11. With systems, you don’t have to wonder what to do next. This produces built-in efficiencies that are very valuable for your business. Step 5. Share. Like any good publisher, share content over and over again. All major magazines do this with “best of issues,” which are repeats of popular articles from years past. Remember, the media is you! For example, if you publish and Tweet a popular blog post this week, re-post it on Twitter next month to generate even more comments. Cut and paste an especially interesting blog post onto a favorite social networking site. You'll be astounded at how many new people will find it even years later. Get Your Media Mindset On! With a little planning and a new “media mindset,” you will find yourself creating content that inspires and entertains your customers throughout the year. They will thank you by helping you spread the word and by logging into your shopping cart so they can bring some of the fun home to enjoy firsthand. Do you have questions about how to be your own best media outlet? I’ve answered tons of them in “The Media Is You” category at my blog12. Feel free to add your comments and post your questions there so we can continue to learn and grow together! 11 http://indiebusinessradio.com 12 http://www.indiebusinessblog.com 15 Welcome New Members! Janine Shea Chez Shea Natural Products LLC Margot Shea Shea Design Gary Simmons Cold Creek Farm Juanita Slagerman Morning's Mist Country Store Jessica Slawa Soap After Dark Paula Smith Rhonda Smith Two Chicks Soaps & Wicks Phyllis Smith The Maine Soapsmith Sabrina Smith Integrated Spa Richard Spina Beverly Farms Soapwerks, LLC William Stedcke Soap Maker Carolyn Steele Hedge Wizards Carol Steinhauser Blueberry Fields LLC Albertje Stewart Logcabin Bath Products Caitlin Stricker-Chapman The Snake River Soap Company Barbara Stull Sunflower Valley Designs Beware (continued from page 1) Desperate attempt to get the tracking number: If customer pushes for the order to be shipped by a particular shipper and then seems way too desperate to get the tracking number, it could be a fraudulent order. Sometimes scammers use the actual billing and shipping address for a stolen credit card and then try to use the tracking number to get the package re-routed. I had my first case of this several months ago (luckily the order hadn't shipped when the request came in). Basic Fraud Prevention There are some good business practices that will prevent most fraudulent orders and make sure you get paid in a timely fashion. Get full information from your customer: Make sure that when you take an order through your shopping cart or over the phone that you get full information from the customer, including billing and shipping address, email, phone, and payment information. If you are talking to the customer on the phone, note the caller ID if possible and see if the name/number match what the customer is telling you. Don't ship until the check clears: As a general precaution, any orders paid by check should be held until the check clears and the funds are in your bank account. A valid customer with a valid order will understand if you won't ship until the payment clears. Any "bank checks" (a check written by the bank on behalf of a customer) should be held until cleared as well. Sophisticated scammers have counterfeited bank checks, which can sometimes even get paid by the supposedly issuing bank. It may not be until later, when an audit is performed that the counterfeit check is found — at which time they would probably come to you to get the funds back. (continued on page 17) 16 Beware (continued from page 16) If you are concerned that a bank check (or other check) might be counterfeit or fraudulent, you can call the bank on which it is drawn to verify that the account exists. Although the bank is unlikely to tell you if there is enough money in the account to cover it, but you can always ask. With some diligent searching on the internet, you can find the phone number even for international banks. Remember the time zone differences1 when calling, and call during regular business hours. Get the Card Verification Number: The card verification number is a 3 or 4 digit number on the back of the card that is not imprinted on the magnetic strip. Since most fraudulent orders are from stolen credit card numbers (not the actual card) requesting the card verification number can reduce fraud. Most online shopping carts can be set to require the verification number and most credit card processing systems use it to verify the order. 1http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/search.html 30%#) Remember, however, that you are not allowed to store the verification number. If you do take the verification number as part of the order, be sure to remove the information from your online database in order to comply with credit card security protocols. Check the credit card AVS: Credit card processors check the street number and zip code to see if they match what is on file for the credit card (AVS = Address Verification System). If payment is by credit card, check the AVS to make sure it matches. If you receive payments through an on-line gateway, make sure the AVS is checked when the credit card is processed and that you can access the information. Generally, if it looks otherwise okay, then it's a judgment call; if there are other red flags, don't ship the order until the validity of the payment is verified. Some online merchants won't ship any order if the address doesn't match; others will ship anyway. If you use an on-line credit card processing gateway, you may (continued on page 18) LYE Suppliers ! ,4 ) % 3 3 ) . # % for the Handcrafted Soap Maker Potassium Hydroxide (Liquid & Flakes) Sodium Hydroxide (Beads) Available to soap makers in convenient UPS and freight approved containers. Up to 24 lb shipped without Hazmat fees. (800) 323-3040 www.BoyerCorporation.com PO Box 10 LaGrange, IL 60525 VISA and MasterCard accepted The Quality Name in Chemical Specialties for 95 Years 17 Welcome New Members! Barbara Stull Sunflower Valley Designs Jennifer Sulligan Little Batch Botanicals Kathrin Sunde Gronn Sape Mae Swindal Maezies Handcrafted Soaps Rachel Sylvester Blue Moon Elise Carina Tan Kayasoap & Bodycare Lysandra Taylor Darcy's Botanicals, LLC Tanya Thomas New Directions Aromatics Inc Tami Thornton Beehive Soap and Body Care LLC Kimberley Tobojka Scentral Mass Soaps Ronette Torres SoapDiggs Gina Treece Gina's Goat Milk Soap Alyssa Truckenbrod Kristy Truesdale Botanicals From Above Grace Ubiera SF Shine Jeanine Van Voorhees Hummingbird Soap Works Elaine Vechorik Sturgis Soap Factory LLC Coleen Veraldo Sudsations Mary Vernier Mary's Green & Clean Handcrafted Soap Grace Vitale Truly Namaste Lisa Volta Volta Soap Susan Vrazel Nancy Walker Lauri Walters Superior Body Products Jessica Walton Body Eclectic Skin Care Jingjing Wang Deborah Ward Natures Garden Supplies Victoria Ward The Third Daughter MicroSoapery Michele Wassell Sassy Soapworks 18 Beware (continued from page 17) have the option to automatically reject any payment where the AVS doesn't match. Whether or not you automatically decline credit card payment when the AVS doesn't match is a judgement call - it could possibly reject a few valid orders. Check for declined credit card payments: If the order is through your shopping cart and was declined several times before finally going through, it could indicate that the person tried multiple credit cards. In this economy, that could just mean that their cards are maxed out, but it could be a scammer trying multiple stolen credit cards until one finally goes through. Require large international orders be paid in advance by bank wire: If you do get a large international order that you think is valid, still make sure that the payment comes in. International checks take a long time to clear; using a wire (to a safe account, not your main account!) is faster and more secure. A valid international customer will understand and be willing to work with you. Only ship to the billing address on international orders: For international orders, if you decide to ship them, only ship to the billing address unless you have a good reason to do otherwise. Advanced Fraud Protection There are also some more advanced ways to check out an order. If an order has one or more of the above warning signs, then it's a good idea to dig as deeply as possible until you are comfortable with shipping the order out. There are quite a few tools available to you to research the validity of the customer and order. Reverse phone and address check: Reverse lookups2 check an address or phone number and tells who is connected to it. If the information matches, that's a good sign. If it's not listed, it gives you additional information, but don't rely on a reverse lookup alone. The information in the databases can be 1 to 18 months old and some data is just not included at all. (The author's address, for example, was not listed in several of the databases, although she's lived there for 10 years.) Call the credit card issuer: Call the credit card issuer to see if the information from the order matches the information they have on account. They typically say "yes" or "no" (but won't give out any other information). Occasionally a credit card payment will be approved, but if you call you'll find out it's a stolen credit card that hasn't entered the system yet. To get the name and phone number for the issuing bank, call your credit card merchant service and ask them (they can look it up based on the first 6 digits of the credit card number) or call the credit card issuer directly.3 Google everything! You can Google the person's name, address, phone number, business name and email address. You'd be surprised and what you might get! If the person is a known scammer, others may have reported it. You also might find something that makes you feel the order IS valid. 2www.whitepages.com, www.411.com www.phonenumber.com 3 American Express 1-800-528-5200; Discover Card 1-800-347-2000; Visa/MasterCard 1-800-228-1122 (continued on page 19) Beware (continued from page 18) If you discover the person is a Real Estate Agent, then it might make sense that they are ordering 10 gift baskets. Use Google Maps4 Google Maps is the next best thing to being there. Look up the billing and shipping address to see if it's reasonable for a person to travel that distance to receive their order. Use the satellite image or street views to see if the addresses look like what they should be. If the shipping address is a place of business, does the building look like it's a business? If the shipping address is in a port town, does the location look like it may be a shipping company? I once got a questionable order, and checked it on Google maps. The order was for a large quantity of identical items (who needs 25 foot creams?). Google maps showed the address to be a suite in an office building in a "bad" section of a large city, and the name of the company indicated it was an export company. A subsequent phone call and email were not returned, and when the order was not shipped the customer didn't seem to care. Look up the email address: Email addresses can be useful to help determine if an order is legitimate. A scammer tends to avoid email addresses that can be easily linked to them (so they can remain untraceable). Most fraudulent orders come from free email address providers like hotmail, yahoo, gmail, or aol, but they are also used by millions of people who place valid orders online. An email address from an ISP (internet service provider) like optonline, Comcast, Road Runner, or Verizon usually is attached to an actual account, making it more difficult to create an untraceable account. If the email address is a government (.gov) or military (.mil) one, they are much more difficult to fake. Business emails are usually as legitimate as the business is. For unfamiliar email address types, you can copy the end of the email address and paste it in your browser to see what shows up. For example, if the email address is [email protected], copying and pasting “ElectronicCommerce101.com” into your browser will show you the website attached to the email. If it appears to be a valid website, you know that the email is coming from someone associated with this website. If nothing else, in the event there is any problem you could contact 4 maps.google.com (continued on page 20) 19 Welcome New Members! Valerie Watson Jack and Jill Scrub Mary Weeks Belle Journee Diana Wegh Canyon Spirit Soapworks Tracey Weir Gretchen Wetzel Filthy Farmgirl Alana Wike Jason Wilhelm Rope Soap Donald Wilson Wilson's Soap Co Glenda Wilson Calliebuck Soap Company Cynthia Witt Angela Wood Cayman Scents Ltd Beware (continued from page 19) the company that owns the website to track down who placed the order. IP Address Check: The IP address is the address of the server that the customer is using to connect to your website. If your shopping cart collects IP addresses, check them!5 If the IP address is in Nigeria, and they want the order delivered to an address in Miami, the order should be checked out more carefully. Keep in mind that sophisticated thieves can Second Bloom Inc. Ann Wooledge spoof IP addresses to make Wingsets them appear local and that Kay Worden the IP addresses for some Annie's Herb Basket internet service providers Dana Yates Syd & Mimi's show the location of their primary server (which may be in a different location than the person connecting through that service provider). For example, the author's IP address tracked back to a different (but nearby) city to the actual billing address. Deborah Wood Customer Service In any business, customer services is a major factor in your success. It's important to find the right balance between servicing your potential customers and still not getting sucked into time-wasting exchanges concerning potentially fraudulent orders. When you get a "feeler email" you have to decide if and how you are going to respond. With some experience (and seeing the commonality between certain requests) you'll probably be able to identify the scam requests and will feel comfortable deleting them. However, if you are unsure, replying with your international shipment policies and making payment 5 www.ipchecking.com; www.geobytes.com/ipLocator.htm www.whatismyip.com/tools/ip-address-lookup.asp. 20 options very clear will usually deter a scammer from continuing, while still providing a real customer with the information he needs. They are looking for the easy mark, and if you obviously don't fill the criteria, they'll move on. If you get a questionable order, you can always call the person and talk to them in person. Inability to reach the customer on the phone or a disconnected phone number tells you the order shouldn't be processed. However, if it IS a valid order, the customer may be impressed with the high level of customer service, giving you a more dedicated customer who is likely to reorder in the future. Protect your business Small fraudulent orders, if they get past all your fraud checks, can be upsetting and annoying, but aren't likely to collapse your business in the long run. On the other hand, a large fraudulent order can be potentially devastating to a small business. Getting the proverbial "big order" is exciting and will boost your business into a whole new level. On the flip side, a big order that isn't paid for could potentially put you OUT of business. If you are contacted about a large order, particularly an international one, get all the customer information and while you are working out the details of the order, check it every which way from Sunday using every advanced fraud detection tool you have. Get a written contract spelling out exactly what is expected of each party. If you have reservations about it, consider getting a deposit up front. Not only does that commit the customer, it gives you funds to work with. Even if you require payment in full before the product is shipped, carefully consider whether you should make a lot of product or invest money for personnel, ingredients or equipment just to fulfill one order. Be realistic about your orders and capability. Even if an order is big and valid, if it doesn't fall within your vision of your business, think carefully about changing your vision to fit the order. Remember, this is YOUR business. You have the right to decide not to take an order if you want. Always protect your vision and your business! A special Thank You! to the 2010 Conference Sponsors! Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. PO Box 5103 Portland, OR 97208-5103 Diamond Sponsor www.essentialwholesale.com OilsbyNatureInc. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT #3540
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