Top Five Tips for Starting A Successful Bath & Beauty Business

Recently I was asked for tips on how to start a bath and body business with limited income. Sometimes starting out on a limited income can be a blessing. Having limited income will force you to watch your spending, and to only spend on what is necessary.

Also, don't quit your day job. I recommend my clients to stay with their day job until their bath and beauty business is up and running before "jumping ship."

Top Five Tips for Starting A Successful Bath & Beauty Business

1. Avoid funding your business with credit cards.

2. Write your business plan. It does take time and effort, but you need to know your target market, marketing plan of action, SWAT analysis, pricing, and five year plan.

3. Gather a focus group of people you consider your target market. Choose people who you respect (not necessarily friends or family) and who will give you their honest feedback, even if it is negative. Be open and willing to listen to them. Meet with them at milestones in your business to get feedback on potential packaging, products, etc. Compile a list of detailed questions to give them for feedback on products. This way you get your valuable questions answered with information you can use instead of simple feedback such as "I liked it."

4. What makes you/will make you different from your competition? This is very important. It is going to be your selling point and it is going to be why your customers are going to buy from you versus your competitor.

5. Become your customer. Take away all you know about your company and approach it as someone who has just been introduced to it. Would you be drawn to your image, you products, your website? Step back and take a look at your products and company like this on a regular basis.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for starting your own bath and beauty company. Check out my classes and private consulting for further assistance with launching your business or taking your current bath and body business to the next level.

New York City Organic, Cold Process Soap & Creams/Lotions Classes!

Join me in New York City in March 2010 for one or all four hands-on, educational bath and body classes:

March 24, 6-9:30 p.m.
Organic Scrubs, Bath Bombs, Balms & Body Butters

March 25, 6-9:30 p.m.
Organic Cold Process Soap Making

March 26, 6-9:30 p.m.
Organic Creams and Lotion Class

March 27, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
How To Run A Successful Bath & Body Business

Held on the Upper West Side at a great studio inside Little Shop of Crafts (711 Amsterdam Ave. at 94th Street).

Classes are filling up. Sign up today at my website. In January, students travelled from more than five states as well as NYC to attend.

These classes are intended for both individuals and entrepreneurs with current bath and body companies and for individuals wanting to start their own business. Come join these small, intimate classes to learn how to run a successful bath and body company.

You'll learn from me, Marla Bosworth, a 12-year bath and beauty expert and market research analyst, who launched Back Porch Soap Company with only a few hundred dollars. Now I supply more than 200 upscale boutiques, Whole Foods, resorts, gift stores and spas with my products. In this class you'll learn how you can do the same.

Coming from out-of-town and looking for accommodations? Email me for recommendations.

Note: All classes must be prepaid in full on www.backporchsoap.com prior to attending. You will receive a confirmation email. Register before March 10, 2010 for special, early-bird discount!

Can't make this class but want to stay in the loop with us? Sign up for our newsletter here and we'll email you to let you know the latest happenings for new classes and more!

In addition to group classes, Marla is available for one-on-one consulting for individuals interested in learning how to make bath and body products or for existing companies looking for market research and/or consulting.
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Don't Miss the Next Cold Process Soap Class Set for January 23, 2010!

Want to learn how to make soap from scratch? Curious about the cold process process? Then this is the perfect class for you!

Marla Bosworth, 12-year soap business owner, will teach you how to make your own healing soaps using oils of your choice at home. This class is perfect for beginners and those who've never made soap. Whether you're a hobbyist or thinking about starting your own soap business, this is a great place to begin!

We'll cover safety guidelines and ensure that you reach a level of comfort so that you can finally make soap by hand at home! We'll discuss how to properly use and store lye, mixing lye and water, oils for soap making, fragrance oils, essential oils, superfatting, additives and exfoliants, coloring, molding and curing. Students will receive soap recipes and a list of my favorite places to buy soap making supplies and equipment.

We will make two batches of soap as a class. Each student will take home 10 handmade bars of soap.

Saturday, January 23
9 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Consider taking "How To Run A Successful Bath & Body Business" on January 21. View other January 2010 classes.

Class is held in my Duxbury, Massachusetts studio. We are located just 30 minutes south of Boston.Can't make this class but want to stay in the loop with us? Sign up for our newsletter here and we'll email you (once a month) to let you know the latest happenings for new classes and more!

Click here for information on private, one-on-one classes and how to launch your own bath and body business. Email owner Marla Bosworth at marla@backporchsoap.com for more information.

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Win $100 in Free Bath & Body Products...and I'm One of The Judges!

From Nature With Love, founded by Kibby Mitra and her husband, Jay, is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of ingredients and raw materials to the micro-cosmetics industry. A few weeks ago, I was approached to judge a contest held by From Nature With Love and Indie Beauty Network which features the creativity of handmade bath and body product designers in an event showcasing how much fun it is to make your own health, beauty and lifestyle products.

How The Beauti-Fall Bath & Body Recipe Contest Works
The objective is to reward people for their creativity, and to enjoy a fun way to share interesting and inspirational ideas for seasonal gifts made with ingredients that are reminiscent of the lovely fall season. This is not a contest for food recipes! Bath, bodycare, skincare and home fragrance only.

All you have to do to enter is publish your recipe with a photo of the finished product and/or a video showing how you made it to your blog or website, and to IBN’s social networking site in our Recipe Contest Forum, between now and November 20, and our judges will announce the winners the following week!

Beauti-Fall Contest Rules
Eligibility. No purchase of From Nature With Love products is necessary to win. Membership in IBN is not necessary to win. You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the United States or its territories in order to be eligible. One entry per person please, multiple entries will be disregarded. From Nature With Love or IBN employees are not eligible to enter.

Entry
To enter the contest, post your original recipe to your blog or website and then also post it (word-for-word) to IBN’s social networking site in our Recipe Contest Forum.

Disclosure
To enter the contest, post your original recipe to your blog or website and then also post it (word-for-word) to IBN’s social networking site in our Recipe Contest Forum.
To be eligible to win, the entry posted at your site and at our Forum must contain this disclosure: This recipe and post is submitted as part of the Beauti-Fall Recipe Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Indie Beauty Network and From Nature With Love, a supplier of raw materials and supplies to the cosmetics industry. Contest judges are Marla Bosworth, Lori Nova and LaShonda Tyree.

Important note to entrants: The judges names, Indie Beauty Network’s name and From Nature With Love’s name must be linked to their websites just like they are here!

Disclaimer
Neither IBN nor From Nature With Love nor the contest judges and organizers are responsible for recipes that are lost or which, for any reason, are not entered because of some fault of technology.

Entry Period
The entry period will be from 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time, November 6, 2009 to November 20, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. All entries must be posted to your blog or website and to IBN’s Forum by the deadline to be eligible to win.

Prizes
First Prize: A $100 gift certificate from From Nature With Love. Second Prize: A $50 gift certificate from From Nature With Love. Third Prize: A $25 gift certificate from From Nature With Love.

Judging
Judges will be asked to agree on a first, second and third prize as indicated above. Prizes will be awarded to the winners via gift certificate. Contest entries will be judged on originality, interpretation of the “Beauti-Fall” theme and presentation of recipe via photograph or video.

Originality
Your recipe and all accompanying graphics, videos, photos, etc., must be your original work original works of authorship on your part and have not been copied, in whole or in part, from any other work and do not violate, misappropriate or infringe any copyright, trademark or other proprietary right of any other person or entity.

Soap Making Class Produces 60 Lbs. of Organic Soap!

Back Porch Soap Company headed to Newton Community Education Center in Newton, Massachusetts to teach a cold process soap class to 18 students. The students made three, 20 lb. batches for a total of 60 lbs. of soap!

Above, students have poured one of the two loaves they took home and are leveling off the top and adding calendula petals and/or rosebud petals. Essential oil blends used in this class might give you some ideas to try. Batch One (peppermint, eucalyptus, patchouli and clary sage), Batch Two (lemon, lime, litsea, vetiver and a hint of black pepper), and Batch Three (tea tree, sweet orange, clary sage, lavender, and patchouli).


Rachel (above) choosing chamomile buds to add to the top of her soap loaf. Students like personalizing their own take-home loaves.

Interested in learning how to make cold process soaps or other natural and organic bath and body products? Or are you interested in launching your own bath and body business? We have lots of upcoming classes and also offer individual consulting via phone or in our studio located near Boston, Massachusetts.

Find out more about our monthly classes. Or contact owner Marla Bosworth for more information. Our soap making classes are unique for birthday parties and group outings!

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Want to Know How To Start Your Own Soap Business? They Did Too!

It's a hot question these days: "How do I start my own soap business?" There's no quick or easy answer, that's for sure. It requires market research, planning, determining your niche, developing your products, launching, and successful marketing...just to name a few.

Recently, George (NJ), Fifi (Venezuela) and her daughter Ale (also Venezuela) joined me for a private three-day consultation and classes on how to start a business. We made products including soaps (glycerin and cold process), artisanal bath bombs, creams, lotions, balms, sugar scrubs and sea salt soaks.

Here George is taking time to custom scent the creams he made from scratch with a blend from several essential oils.

Working as a team, George, Fifi and Ale created a batch of soothing aloe body lotion.

Ale and George put the finishing touches on the final product!

Ale and Fifi flew back to Caracas, Venezuela and began gearing up for a busy holiday season. They plan to start with home parties this year to get their business off the ground.

What are your questions for starting or running a successful bath and body business? Post your questions here or at my discussion group on Indie Beauty. And check out my classes at my website.

In the meantime, here are some of the classes I teach:

Natural and Organic Products:
Cold Process Soap Making

Organic Oils Glycerin Soap Making

Liquid Soaps

Creams, Lotions, Balms, Scrubs and Sea Soaks

Artisinal Bath Bombs

Skincare for Babies/Children

Facial Spa Treatments

Men's Facial and Body Products

Petcare Products

Soy Candles, Diffusers and Other Home Fragrances

Organic Body Oils, Bars and Body Butters

Personalization and Monogramming

Business Classes:

How to Launch and Run a Successful Bath & Body Business

How to Differentiate Yourself in the Bath & Body Industry

Business Plan Writing

Product Planning

Marketing Strategies
How to Implement Social Media and Internet Marketing

How to Wholesale Successfully

Looking for private classes or soap business consulting? Or send me an email and I'll reply with more information.

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Soap making class, soap making classes, how to start a soap making business in NYC, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Wyoming, Montanta, Idaho, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii, Alaska, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York City, Boston.

Four-Day Bath and Body University - Learn to Make Soaps, Creams, Candles and Much More!

how to make soaps and start a business

You've been asking for it, so here it is! This is an all-inclusive four-day bath and body intensive program that will get your current business or the one you've dreamed about owning off of the ground.

These classes are also available for individual signup. I'm offering a price break and lunches on all four days for those of you interested in the entire program to offset some of your travel expenses.

About Your Teacher: My name is Marla Bosworth. I'm the owner/founder of Back Porch Soap Company located in Duxbury, Massachusetts. My company was launched in 1998. Currently I sell to more than 250 upscale retail boutiques throughout the U.S. and overseas, as well as natural food stores such as Whole Foods. My professional background includes nearly 20 years in market research and consulting for small and large businesses. You'll learn from my vast retail industry experience, as well as my internet marketing insights. Come learn from someone who is "in the trenches" of a soapmaking business day in and day out!

Day 1 - October 1
9 a.m.- Noon Making Artisanal Bath Bombs ($65 + $20 materials fee)
Noon -1 p.m. Complimentary Lunch
1-3 p.m. Differentiating Yourself in the Competitive Bath & Body Industry ($125)
(This is an enhanced and updated version of the presentation I gave at this year's Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild convention in Palm Springs, CA.)
6-9 p.m. Glycerin Soap Making Class ($65 + $20 materials fee)

Day 2 - October 2

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Soy Candles, Diffusers and Other Home Fragrances ($90 + $35 materials fee)
1-2 p.m. Complimentary Lunch
2-5 p.m. Choose from: Natural Skincare for Babies & Children; or Natural Spa Facial Products ($90 + $35 materials fee)

Day 3 - October 3

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cold Process Soap Making ($65 + $20 materials fee)
1-2 p.m. Complimentary Lunch
2-5 p.m. How To Start Your Own Soap Making Business ($125)

Day Four - October 4
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Creams, Lotions, Balms, Scrubs & Sea Salts ($250 + $75 materials fee)

(Original Course Cost: $875 + $205 materials fee = $1080)
Package Savings = $125 plus complimentary lunches
Total Cost = $750 + 205 materials fee

Class is held in my Duxbury, Massachusetts studio. We are located just 30 minutes south of Boston. (Note: Traveling from NYC? One of my registered students is willing to drive/carpool back and forth from NYC and Boston. Contact me for more info.)

Can't make this class but want to stay in the loop with us? Sign up for our newsletter here and we'll email you (once a month) to let you know the latest happenings for new classes and more!View our website for more information and to register for this class here.

Most of my students come from outside of New England, and many travel from overseas just to attend my classes. This summer I've taught students from Ghana, Venezuela, Nigeria, Peru, Philipines, Chile and Ireland. I'm happy to help you with your travel arrangements. Please email me.

Recommended nearby accommodations:
Hampton Inn, Plymouth, MA (15 minutes from my studio)
Best Western Cold Spring, Plymouth, MA (15 minutes away)

Closest Airport:
Logan International

Other Transportation:
Commuter Train MBTA Commuter Rail to Kingston Station
Amtrak Closest station is Providence, RI and Boston, MA. Connecting commuter train available from Boston.

Looking for private classes or soap business consulting? Send me an email and I'll reply with more information.

What some of my students have said about taking my classes:

July 29, 2009

We wanted to let you know that we loved all your classes. Every recipe, instruction, tip you gave us has a lot of value for our business. For us coming all the way from South America was absolutely worth it to sit at your table and learn from you. We really appreciate all your generosity and kindness throughout the classes. I am sure that we will have much success because of you! Thank you very much for having us in your class!

Our best wishes, Ale & Fifi
Venezuela

___________________________

August 10, 2009

Marla,

I am remiss in not thanking you for the wonderful cold process class I took with you in May.
We are using the soap I made in class here at home and it is outstanding! My family has sworn off store bought.

I also made my first batch on my own! Had to clear the house of family and pets, but I did it. I am now curing a peppermint/with caraway seeds type of garden soap.

I am looking forward to taking a swirling class with you hopefully in the winter. (Note: She just took it!)

Thanks again,

Carolyn
Fitchburg, MA

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Soap Making Class Hosts Students From Nigeria, Venezuela and U.S.

Back Porch Soap Company's recent cold process soap making class hosted students from several countries. Ale and Fifi (pictured far left) flew in from Venezuela for three days of classes, Emilia (far right) is from Nigeria along with Cindy (from Montana) are both taking more classes this month, and other students came from New York, New Jersey and New England. Rick (pictured third from left) is a hair stylist from north of Boston who makes his own hair products. Sandy, Julie and Kiernan came from Massachusetts.

We made two batches of soap, and students selected their choice of additives for the top. Here, Ale is sprinkling lavender buds on top of her loaf of soap.

We made two batches of soap ~ and everyone takes home a loaf of each batch. Here students are spooning out and spreading the freshly made peppermint soap. We use natural plant oils - olive oil, palm oil and coconut oil.

George (New Jersey) is evening out his soap loaf. Behind him, Cindy (Montanta/New York) is choosing calendula petals as an additive to the top of her soap. Kiernan (Longmeadow, MA) finishes her loaves.

Cindy and George adding the lye/water mixture and stirring. (Note: I recommend that students wear closed toe shoes when making soap!)

Cindy and George working simultaneously to blend the lye/water and oils together before moving on to the stick blender.

Check out all my classes. I teach in NYC, Boston and am taking classes on the road in 2012! Looking for private classes or soap business consulting? Send me an email and I'll reply with more information.
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Students Get Creative in Soap Making Class at Newton Community Education

Recently I taught a glycerin soap making class at Newton Community Education Center. A few of the students were interested in starting a soap business. Others wanted to try out swirling, embedding toys and layering just for the fun of it. (Above, check out the "overfed" goldfish soap!)

Here, calendula petals make a nice addition to the top of the bar.

Duck soaps and layered bar. All classes are completely hands-on and students choose to create whatever they like - after all, soapmaking is a creative process!

Everyone decided to show off their favorite bars at the end. So many interesting people in this class!

My next upcoming glycerin soap making class is on Thursday, July 20 from 6-9 p.m. in my Duxbury studio. Check out all my classes.

Looking for private classes or soap business consulting? Send me an email and I'll reply with more information.

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Soap making class, soap making classes, how to start a soap making business in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Wyoming, Montanta, Idaho, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii, Alaska, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York City, Boston.

Soap Making Classes and How To Start Your Own Soap Business Class

Have you always wanted to learn how to make soap? Or are you considering starting your own business? Whether you're in New York or Maine and looking to take a road trip, or if you're planning to visit Cape Cod this summer, take time for yourself to join a class at Back Porch Soap Company.

All classes are held in our Duxbury, Massachusetts studio, located just 30 minutes south of Boston and 40 minutes from Providence, Rhode Island. Come and learn from a 12-year soap business owner with more than 200 wholesale accounts and a retail website. I've hosted students from Venezuela, Ireland, Nigeria, Chile, Peru as well as from all over the U.S. Or if you would like to book private lessons that is also an option. There is a lot to see and do in this beautiful area. I can assist you with your travel plans.

Glycerin Soap Making, August 20
Come join in the fun as we make an array of beautiful glycerin soaps! This small, personalized soap making class covers the essentials of glycerin soap making. Lots of hands-on learning. Each student will learn how to make four personalized batches, which yield at least 16 bars of soap! Your creations will make wonderful gifts!
6:00 - 9 p.m.
Course: $65 & Materials Fee: $20

Cold Process Soap Making Class, August 22
Want to learn how to make soap from scratch? Curious about the cold process process? Then this is the perfect class for you!You will learn safety guidelines and reach a level of comfort so that you can finally make soap by hand at home! We'll discuss how to properly use and store lye, mixing lye and water, oils for soap making, fragrance oils, essential oils, superfatting, additives and exfoliants, coloring, molding and curing. Students will receive soap recipes and a list of my favorite places to buy soap making supplies and equipment. We will make two batches of soap as a class. Each student will take home 10 handmade bars of soap.9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Course: $65 + $20 materials fee

Natural Lotions, Creams, Balms, Soaks & Scrubs, August 23
You're going to fall in love with making your own creams, lotions, balms, soaks and scrubs! In this class you'll spend the day making batch after batch of our tried and true recipes. In addition to taking home a box of products from what you make in class, you'll leave feeling confident about making these luxurious treatments at home for business or personal use.Come learn about sanitary precautions and practices, bottling and packaging ideas and options, how to price your products, the truth about preservatives, sourcing ingredients, labelling requirements and much more.
9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Course: $250 + $75 materials fee

How To Start Your Own Soap Making Business

Everything you need to know to start your own soap business. Learn from me, a 12-year soap business owner.

2-5 p.m.

Course; $125

Private Consulting
Whether you have an existing bath and body company and you need assistance increasing sales or if you are a start-up, Marla is available for private consulting. Areas of expertise include establishing business focus and assisting with business plans, differentiating your business and finding your niche, marketing and sales, internet marketing, product development, as well as sourcing ingredients and exporting.

Please email for further information.

All soap making classes are taught by Marla Bosworth, owner of Back Porch Soap Company and 12-year expert in the handmade bath and body industry. Since 1989 she has been providing market research and marketing for businesses of all sizes across the U.S.In addition to group classes, Marla is available for one-on-one consulting for individuals interested in learning how to make bath and body products or for existing companies looking for market research and/or consulting.

Do you or your group want to learn how to make soap, bath and body products and how to launch your own bath and body business? Email marla@backporchsoap.com for more information. Sign up for our newsletter here to to be the first to know about our newest classes and announcements!*****************************************************************************
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More Summer Soap Classes and Workshops Added To Our Schedule!

What are you doing new and fun this summer? Whether you're in New York or Maine and looking to take a road trip, or if you're planning to visit Cape Cod this summer, take time for yourself to join a class at Back Porch Soap Company. All classes are held in our Duxbury, Massachusetts studio, located just 30 minutes south of Boston and 40 minutes from Providence, Rhode Island.

Glycerin Soap Making, July 23
Come join in the fun as we make an array of beautiful glycerin soaps! This small, personalized soap making class covers the essentials of glycerin soap making. Lots of hands-on learning. Each student will learn how to make four personalized batches, which yield at least 16 bars of soap! Your creations will make wonderful gifts!
6:00 - 9 p.m.
Course: $65 & Materials Fee: $20

Cold Process Soap Making Class, July 25
Want to learn how to make soap from scratch? Curious about the cold process process? Then this is the perfect class for you!You will learn safety guidelines and reach a level of comfort so that you can finally make soap by hand at home! We'll discuss how to properly use and store lye, mixing lye and water, oils for soap making, fragrance oils, essential oils, superfatting, additives and exfoliants, coloring, molding and curing. Students will receive soap recipes and a list of my favorite places to buy soap making supplies and equipment. We will make two batches of soap as a class. Each student will take home 10 handmade bars of soap.
9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Course: $65 + $20 materials fee

Natural Lotions, Creams, Balms, Soaks & Scrubs, July 26
You're going to fall in love with making your own creams, lotions, balms, soaks and scrubs! In this class you'll spend the day making batch after batch of our tried and true recipes. In addition to taking home a box of products from what you make in class, you'll leave feeling confident about making these luxurious treatments at home for business or personal use.Come learn about sanitary precautions and practices, bottling and packaging ideas and options, how to price your products, the truth about preservatives, sourcing ingredients, labelling requirements and much more.
9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Course: $250 + $75 materials fee

Private Consulting

Whether you have an existing bath and body company and you need assistance increasing sales or if you are a start-up, Marla is available for private consulting. Areas of expertise include establishing business focus and assisting with business plans, differentiating your business and finding your niche, marketing and sales, internet marketing, product development, as well as sourcing ingredients and exporting. Please email for further information.

All soap making classes are taught by Marla Bosworth, owner of Back Porch Soap Company and 12-year expert in the handmade bath and body industry. Since 1989 she has been providing market research and marketing for businesses of all sizes across the U.S.

In addition to group classes, Marla is available for one-on-one consulting for individuals interested in learning how to make bath and body products or for existing companies looking for market research and/or consulting.

Do you or your group want to learn how to make soap, bath and body products and how to launch your own bath and body business? Email marla@backporchsoap.com for more information. Sign up for our newsletter here to to be the first to know about our newest classes and announcements!*****************************************************************************
Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Summer Soap Making Classes and All-Day Creams and Lotions Class

What are you doing new and fun this summer? Whether you're in New York or Maine and looking to take a road trip, or if you're planning to visit Cape Cod this summer, take time for yourself to join a class at Back Porch Soap Company. All classes are held in our Duxbury, Massachusetts studio, located just 30 minutes south of Boston and 40 minutes from Providence, Rhode Island.

Glycerin Soap Making, June 25
Come join in the fun as we make an array of beautiful glycerin soaps! This small, personalized soap making class covers the essentials of glycerin soap making. Lots of hands-on learning. Each student will learn how to make four personalized batches, which yield at least 16 bars of soap! Your creations will make wonderful gifts!
6:00 - 9 p.m.
Course: $65 & Materials Fee: $20

Cold Process Soap Making Class, June 27
Want to learn how to make soap from scratch? Curious about the cold process process? Then this is the perfect class for you!
You will learn safety guidelines and reach a level of comfort so that you can finally make soap by hand at home! We'll discuss how to properly use and store lye, mixing lye and water, oils for soap making, fragrance oils, essential oils, superfatting, additives and exfoliants, coloring, molding and curing. Students will receive soap recipes and a list of my favorite places to buy soap making supplies and equipment.
We will make two batches of soap as a class. Each student will take home 10 handmade bars of soap.
9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Course: $65 + $20 materials fee

Natural Lotions, Creams, Balms, Soaks & Scrubs, June 28
You're going to fall in love with making your own creams, lotions, balms, soaks and scrubs! In this class you'll spend the day making batch after batch of our tried and true recipes. In addition to taking home a box of products from what you make in class, you'll leave feeling confident about making these luxurious treatments at home for business or personal use.
Come learn about sanitary precautions and practices, bottling and packaging ideas and options, how to price your products, the truth about preservatives, sourcing ingredients, labelling requirements and much more.
9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Course: $250 + $75 materials fee

All soap making classes are taught by Marla Bosworth, owner of Back Porch Soap Company and 12-year expert in the handmade bath and body industry. In addition to group classes, Marla is available for one-on-one consulting for individuals interested in learning how to make bath and body products or for existing companies looking for market research and/or consulting.

Do you or your group want to learn how to make soap, bath and body products and how to launch your own bath and body business? Email marla@backporchsoap.com for more information.

Sign up for our newsletter here to to be the first to know about our newest classes and announcements!
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Teaching Aspiring Students at Newton Green Bodycare and Soap Making Classes

Recently I taught a Green Bodycare and Soap Making classes through Newton Adult Community Education at Newton South High School. These students were fantastic! They embraced the creation of natural bodycare and soap with ease!

This class of 20 students (some of them pictured above) made organic sugar scrubs, organic sea salt soaks, organic glycerin soap, and all-natural body balms. Students came from all over the Boston area. Newton Adult Community Education offers an in-depth course catalog quarterly, and classes are well-attended.

I also taught a Glycerin Handmade Soap. It was completely full, with 15 students!

Want to join me for a fabulous fun time? You can sign up for my summer classes in Newton here. Sign up with a friend and enjoy a wonderful evening with other inspiring creatives! You'll take home lots of products that you make yourself in both classes:

July 9, 6-9 p.m. Totally Green Organic Bodycare
Learn how to make natural and organic body-care products. You'll create and take home a dozen items: two exfoliating body scrubs, two luxurious body balms, four moisturizing soap bars, and four sea-salt bath soaks. These make great birthday gifts—or keep them for yourself (we won't tell). We'll cover the art of aromatherapy, how to blend essential oils, and which ingredients to use on your body and which to avoid. You'll also take home recipes, so you can make these fragrant and healthful products on your own. The class is $49 with a $25 materials fee payable the night of the class.

July 16, 6-9 p.m. Handmade Glycerin Soap
Make an array of beautiful, moisturizing soaps. We'll cover the essentials of glycerin soapmaking, with lots of hands-on learning, including how to use molds and add fragrance, color, shea butter and other moisturizing oils, herbs, and exfoliants. Each student will make three personalized batches of soap to take home. If you have sensitive skin, you'll learn how to make unscented soaps. This class is a great gift for a friend—or yourself. The class is $49 with an $18 materials fee is payable the night of the class.

Here are some of the beautiful soaps that students made in class:

Newton South offers great classrooms. In both spring classes, we made ourselves at home in one of the science labs. It was perfect because students grouped together at one of the six lab stations.

Can't make it to one of these classes? Then check out my other classes taught in our Duxbury studio here. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to stay up-to-date with where I'll be teaching next!
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Cold Process Soap Making Class; Memorable & Clean Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day weekend for most people means barbeques, outdoor parties and parades. But for seven students who came from all parts of Massachusetts - including Nantucket - it meant learning how to make cold process soap.

After introducing themselves and their aspirations for wanting to learn to make soap (for some a new hobby, for others a new business), we discussed the nitty gritty of precautions and procedures. This particular class was full of questions, which kept me on my toes!

We discussed soap making for the first hour, then spent the next three hours making soap. Students measured oils, water and lye. Then they combined lye and water, then melted the oils (we used palm oil, coconut oil and olive oil). When the temperatures were just right, we slowly poured the lye/water solution into the oils and made two 13 lb. batches of lemongrass essential oil/ground oatmeal and Bulgarian lavender essential oil soap.

Soap was divided among the new soapmakers and everyone took home two molds which held at least five bars. After 24 hours students sliced up their soaps at home and put them in a safe spot to cure. Now comes the hardest part - waiting 4-6 weeks for a complete cure!

Want to learn how to make soap? Join me for the next Cold Process Soap Making Class on June 27. Or take Advanced Cold Process Soap Making on June 13. Or check out all my classes here.
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

2009 Handmade Soapmakers Guild Conference: Beautiful Location, Great New Friends and Valuable Info!

I’m returning from an amazing five-day trip to Palm Springs, California where the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild (HMSG) held their 2009 conference. The Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild is an international non-profit professional trade association whose mission is to promote the handcrafted soap industry; to act as a center of communication among soap makers, and to circulate information beneficial to soap makers.

My mask and counterparts above were courtesy of Dennis and Kayla Fioravanti of Essential Wholesale. They provided attendees with a keynote from Erin Brockovich, then a wonderful evening of dining including an ice sculpture flowing with mango martinis (!), entertainment from comedians John Reep and Wendy Liebman, as well as very generous goodie bags.

Have you ever been to Palm Springs? It’s where desert meets mountains meets palm trees. The temperatures were in the 90s and 100s, but with the low humidity I was rarely hot. The Miramonte Spa and Resort in Indian Wells was a great place to hold a conference. From outdoor patios to hottubs, there were many places to network with soapmakers and industry experts from around the U.S.

Although the temperatures would soar, there were cool fine mist sprays that in the heat of the afternoon would cool the air around the patio and bar dining areas. The mist was so fine that it didn’t feel wet – it would evaporate and cool the dry heat. Just like an Evian mist!

It was fabulous – especially the creative and inspiring entrepreneurial soapmakers I met. The synergy between soapers was supportive and encouraging - we were all there for the same reason - to network, learn from each other, and grow our businesses. Many of them are rocking out their businesses despite the economy. The list is long and over the next few weeks I am going to be spotlighting them here on my blog.

Last fall I was asked to speak at this year's conference. I presented findings from my market research company to assist business owners find their niche, differentiate their business and ultimately increase sales. I really enjoy helping entrepreneurs grow their business. I'll be sharing some of my findings here on my blog over the upcoming month.

I also enjoyed meeting so many industry experts that I have talked with over the years, but hadn’t met in person. I took home so much valuable information by attending conference sessions from cold process soap making demos with Kelly Bloom of Southern Soapers, E-commerce with Jamila White from Ecommerce Diva, The Media is You by Donna Maria Coles at Indie Beauty, Profit Margin Killers by Linda Stevens of Upland Soap Factory and many more.

Next year's conference is slated for Denver, Colorado (Englewood) at the Inverness Hotel. If you are in the bath and body business, join us! Dennis and Kayla have promised the entertainment and surprises are going to be even better. Hard to believe, but I can hardly wait!

Dovetales Features Our Line of Monogrammed & Personalized Soaps

Dovetales Magazine just featured our personalized and monogrammed soaps in its latest issue! The article makes mention of the resurgence of the personalization and monogram trend that made its first appearance back in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Personalization is forecast to continue its popularity through 2015, as consumers continue to demand more specialized retail products. If you are a retailer or manufacturer, what are you offering to your customers to meet this need? If you are a consumer, what are some of your favorite products?

Class with Oak Leaf Goat Farm Students; Creating Goats Milk Lotions and Creams

Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a private consulting class with Jackie Reynolds and her niece Crystal from Oak Leaf Dairy in Lebanon, Connecticut. Oak Leaf Dairy has a milking herd of 75 goats which graze on pasture with no chemicals added. They produce over 400 gallons of goats milk a week at peak season!

The farm has been in the family since 1922. It sits on over 150 acres. It began initially as a cow dairy farm, and in 2006 Jackie and her husband decided to farm the land again with animals, and chose goats (for easy handling and child friendliness).
In February 2007 Jackie began making cold process soap. She is lucky to have the help of her neice, Crystal (shown above holding a body balm that she made in class). Together at home they make cold process soap batches together. Jackie tends to the lye/water, while Crystal measures and melts oils. The two work together harmoneously with hardly a word between them.

Even in class, I find them a very synergetic team. They drove up to Duxbury, Mass. for a private class to learn how to make various complementary bath and body products to add to their soap line.

Jackie, shown here, is melting oils as a step in making goats milk body cream. Jackie explains that goats milk is naturally protein rich, which makes in wonderful for delicate complexions. The milk makes the soap rich and creamy, and very moisturizing. She has had customers rave that it the soap has helped clear up skin conditions such as exzema, psoriasis and acne.

Crystal creating her own sugar scrub concoction with a secret oil ingredient! Crystal's favorite fragrance from our selection was Balinese Coconut - a nice tropical scent!

Jackie creating sea salt soaks with chamomile buds. Her favorite fragrance is almond.

If you are in the Connecticut area, look for Oak Leaf Dairy at local farmer's markets. Or email Jackie directly to purchase some of her wonderful handmade goats milk soaps.

If you would like to learn how to make cold process soap, lotions, balms, scrubs, or any bath and body product, check out my upcoming classes. You can sign up for my newsletter

as well.
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Making Soap with Jedwards Employees: Talking Handmade Soap & Organic Trends

I received an email about a month ago to teach a soap making class to a group of employees at Jedwards in Quincy, Massachusetts. At that time I wasn't familiar with the company.

Little did I know that Jedwards is also known as bulknaturaloils.com. Wow. How did I miss this one?

For all of your local soap makers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and even Connecticut, here is a money saving tip for you! You can place your order in advance on their website and confirm pickup. Their prices are incredibly competitive - and you save on shipping!

Jedwards has a vast variety of soap making supplies. They are even organic certified. From coconut oil to Babasou, you'll be amazed at the variety of oils they carry. Lotion and candle makers will be thrilled to know that they also carry beeswax in several varieties.

The class of eight students made two batches of cold process soap using palm oil, coconut oil and olive oil - all provided by Jedwards. Both batches traced perfectly and they added lemongrass essential oil to one, and Bulgarian lavender to the other. While waiting for the soap to traced we discussed trends in the handmade soap industry as well as organic trends.

If your company would like to learn how to make cold process soap, lotions, balms, scrubs, or any bath and body product, please email me. You can sign up for my newsletter as well.

Come Say Hello at Our Whole Foods Hingham Meet and Greet!

Join Back Porch Soap Company as we celebrate another Local Vendor Day with Whole Foods on Saturday, April 25th! Whole Foods carries our organic soaps, organic shea butters and all-natural gift sets. All of our natural bath and body products are made on the South Shore (Duxbury to be exact) near Boston, Massachusetts.

I'll be handing out samples of our moisturizing soap tomorrow in the Hingham, Massachusetts store. Our celebration takes place on Taste Local Day, which celebrates local vendors throughout Massachusetts. There will be free samples from us and other vendors from 1-4 p.m., so get there early, as the freebies go quickly!

Back Porch Soap Company has been supporting New England farms for 12 years. We source our ingredients locally when possible. Do you own a farm in New England? We'd love to work with you! If you own a farm and are interested in making natural bath and body products, contact us for private consulting!

In addition to handing out samples of our fantastic products, I'll be handing out information on my soap making classes in Boston and around New England.

Want to learn how I launched my products into Whole Foods? Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know when my downloadable report, "How to Get Your Products Into Whole Foods and Other Retailers" is availab.e Email me at marla@backporchsoap.com for more information.

Only Two Spots Left in Newton Continuing Education "Totally Green Organic Bodycare Class"

Live near Boston? Come join what's going to be a fabulously fun class, "Totally Green Organic Bodycare." There are only two spots left, so sign up now!

This makes a great early Mother's Day gift. Or come and make products to give to your mom!

Course ID: N1924

Course Name: Totally Green Organic Bodycare

Description: Learn how to make natural and organic body-care products. You'll create and take home a dozen items: two exfoliating body scrubs, two luxurious body balms, four moisturizing soap bars, and four sea-salt bath soaks. These make great Mother's Day gifts—or keep them for yourself (we won't tell). We'll cover the art of aromatherapy, how to blend essential oils, and which ingredients to use on your body and which to avoid. You'll also take home recipes, so you can make these fragrant and healthful products on your own. A $25 materials fee is payable to the instructor.

Instructor: Marla Bosworth

Time: 6 pm to 9 pm on Thursday

Location: Newton SOUTH HS in Room 2101

Tuition: $49
Materials Fee: $25

Check out my other class on glycerin soap making at Newton Community Education. We have a couple spots left for this class too! Here is more information. To register, go directly to their site

Course ID: N1934

Course Name: Handmade Soap

Description: Make an array of beautiful, moisturizing soaps. We'll cover the essentials of glycerin soapmaking, with lots of hands-on learning, including how to use molds and add fragrance, color, shea butter and other moisturizing oils, herbs, and exfoliants. Each student will make three personalized batches of soap to take home. If you have sensitive skin, you'll learn how to make unscented soaps. This class is a great gift for a friend or mother before Mother's Day. An $18 materials fee is payable to the instructor.

Instructor: Marla Bosworth
Time: 6 pm to 9 pm on Thursday
Location: Newton SOUTH HS in Room 2106

Tuition: $49

Materials Fee: $18

Hope to see you there!

Interested in learning how to make cold process soap? Our next cold process soap making class is May 23, in our Duxbury, Massachusetts studio.

We are just 35 minutes south of Boston, and only 50 minutes from Providence, RI.

Can't make this class but want to stay up-to-date with our schedule? Sign up for our newsletter. Do you or your group want to learn how to make soap, bath and body products or how to launch your own bath and body business? I am currently booking into June 2009. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Soap Making Students Make Two Perfect Batches, Lots of Laughs and New Friends

It smelled fantastic at Back Porch Soap Company this weekend! Saturday's cold process soap making class turned out two beautiful batches of soap.

We covered the safety precautions of soap making, additives, essential and fragrance oils, how to determine why a batch failed, molds, cutting, curing, packaging and pricing your final product.

Some of the students were just curious to learn the soap making process firsthand. Others have decided to make soap as a hobby, and at least one student has started her own business. Two of the ladies in my class (Ann in the middle and Teri on the far right) are returning students - they both took the glycerin soap making class.

Three students (mother and daughters), Diane, Taryn and Arianne drove down from New Hampshire to take the class. Jennifer (whom I met on Facebook!) and her sister Melissa (who was celebrating her birthday) also joined us. Vanessa, Tasha and Teri all came from Boston, while Ann came from Braintree.

This weekend's class of nine students divided up into two teams to make two batches that they would all share at the end of the day.

Students took turns stirring this batch of lemongrass and oatmeal soap. Both teams matched their lye/water and oil temperatures perfectly and reached trace within five minutes! The other team made a delicious batch of Bulgarian lavender soap.


Here the students learned how to recognize "trace", and are stirring in lemongrass essential oil and ground oatmeal with an electric stick blender.
This is a completely hands-on class!

Interested in learning how to make cold process soap? Our next cold process soap making class is May 23, in our Duxbury, Massachusetts studio. We are just 35 minutes south of Boston, and only 50 minutes from Providence, RI.

Visiting from out of state? I will gladly assist you with travel plans, including accommodations and local areas of interest. With Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation only 20 minutes away, this is a perfect family destination!

Can't make this class but want to stay up-to-date with our schedule? Sign up for our newsletter.

Do you or your group want to learn how to make soap, bath and body products or how to launch your own bath and body business? I am currently booking into June 2009. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Unwinding on Sanibel Island: Are You Scheduling Time to Recharge and Try Something New?

I'm a workaholic. I admit it. Honestly, I love my job and enjoy strategizing new ways to grow my business. After all, owning a bath and body company is my dream job.

There are times, however, when I completely hit the wall; when my brain is begging me to do something entirely different. It's akin to having writer's block. That's when I know that it's time to take a trip or a class to learn something new.

Today I'm writing this post from sunny Sanibel Island. While it is rainy and in the 30s back home in Boston, it's 88 degrees, tropical and balmy here. Feet in the sand. Drink in my hand. Four days of complete bliss.

My resolve from sunny Florida is to make time every few weeks when I get back home to take a day trip and refresh. It is inspiring; it breeds creativity. I am already refreshed and renewed. My creative juices have been flowing on Sanibel and Captiva islands here in Florida, and I can't wait to get these new ideas implemented when I get home.

The weather here reminds me of Cape Cod in late July and early August. The traffic on Sanibel at times reminds me of Route 28 on the Cape. I know that it will only be a few short months in Massachusetts before the tourists will come in droves too, just like the mecca that comes to southwest Florida.

So stayed tuned for some exciting announcements from Back Porch Soap Company. I have new products, new classes and much more in store for my wonderful customers. And while in Florida I've picked up new boutiques and resorts to carry my line of sea-inspired bath and body products. Time to go home and make seashell soaps galore!

Sometimes it's easier to stay with the daily grind. But in the long run your body, soul, mind and spirit will thank you for a refreshing break, whatever that is for you.

My wish for you is that you take time and be good to yourself. Especially if you tend to be a workaholic like me. Take a day trip, plan a special vacation getaway, or find a class that sparks your interest.

If soap making is something you are interested in, check out my classes. Sign up now! Or stay in the loop by subscribing to my newsletter.

Do you or your group want to learn how to make soap, bath and body products and how to launch your own bath and body business? I am currently booking into June 2009.
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making