A Crafty Gift: Boston Soapmaking Classes, Gift Certificates and More

Haven't finished your holiday shopping yet? Or have you resigned to the fact that this year your gift may be a little late? And what about those December and January birthdays?

How about sending a gift certificate for great sea-inspired bath and body products, fun kids toy soaps, organic bodycare, or soapmaking and business classes!



Short on time and need a gift sent directly to a friend or family member? We'll tie it up all pretty and include a personalized note from you - all for free!

Hurry! Visit Back Porch Soap's website now to get it that special gift on its way!

Also, check out our upcoming Boston soap making classes:
January 11, 2009
Totally Green Organic Bodycare

January 17, 2009
Soapmaking Bootcamp

January 24, 2009
Glycerin Soapmaking

Or join in a class from the comfort of your own home.
Teleseminar Class:
January 11, 2009
Launching Your Dream Business Bootcamp

This Holiday...Put Their Name in Soap!

Looking for something different to give to friends and family this holiday season? How about putting their name in soap? Or their picture, or dog's name, or dog's picture. We could go on and on. Don't forget the kids, the grandkids, and the grandparents. You're getting the picture, right?

This past weekend we had record holiday sales of personalized soaps! Some customers went crazy over dog breeds while others swayed toward friends and family names (including the ever popular "Nana", awwww...). Also on the top of the list are pictures of family boats (kind of cool, right?), monogrammed soaps, words of gratitude (Love, Believe, Unity, etc.), company names, bride and groom wedding favors, and family surnames.

These personalized soaps are exclusively made by Back Porch Soap Company. The image is made of a skin-safe material that I place in the middle of the bar of soap. It will stay with the soap throughout its use. They are moisturizing and long-lasting soaps, made with palm oil and coconut oil. To accommodate everyone, we make them unscented for even the most sensitive skin. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

So get out your list and start thinking. Whose name would YOU like to see in soap? You can start creating right here.

Join Me in Palm Springs for HSCG!

It's November, and I'm already looking forward to May 2009 when I'll be speaking at the Handmade Soapmakers Guild Conference in Palm Springs, California. Held May 12 - 14 at the Miramonte Resort and Spa, the conference draws bath and body companies from all over the U.S. together for lectures, classes, workshops and networking. I will be speaking on "Differentiating Yourself in the Market" which, of course, is vital for any business.

The keynote speaker for the 2009 Annual Conference will be well-known environmentalist and award-winner, Erin Brockovich. I'm looking forward to meeting Ms. Brockovich. She is a mover and shaker, which I admire. I'm thrilled to see she is currently working on bringing out the truth about Gardasil. It is shocking to me that 16 million doses of Gardasil have been administered nationwide. Apparantly parents across the U.S. are simply saying "Yes" to physicians without researching the cons to this vaccine. There is simply not enough information on long-term effects and more for me to give my 14 year old daughter's physician the nod in giving this vaccine. (Note: I'm digressing and will save this for another blog.)



Back to the HSCG Conference and the bath and body industry. Within the past three years the soapmaking industry has become a highly competitive market. Companies selling "just another bar of soap" are suffering from decreased sales. Attendees will learn how to increase sales by targeting niche and vertical markets. I'm presenting several interesting case studies - businesses who have focused on these niche opportunities and as a result have increased profitability. I'll also share my tricks and tips on developing an "eye" for demands and trends in other industries to stay ahead of the competition.

In addition to owning Back Porch Soap Company, this year I celebrate my 20th year as a business consultant and market research analyst. I have been consulting for companies of all sizes in the area of market opportunity, product development and positioning, as well as sales and marketing. My clients range from large companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Canon, IBM, and Xerox as well as small businesses. Contact me for more information on how I can help your company strategize and increase sales.

So, the HSCG conference looks fabulous and I'm looking forward to meeting up with industry colleagues. I've already check out the spa menu, and am putting in a reservation for Suprema Experienza - a 90 minute massage of choice, followed by a 45 minute bath, a 45 minute scrub, finished with a 90 minute Action Sublime Facial.

Hope to see you in Palm Springs!

Organic Bodycare Gift Sets Ready to Ship!

I love the holidays - especially the planning and anticipation. Over the years I've found that the more prepared I am with gift-giving, the more I am able to relax a bit more and enjoy celebrating the season.

If you love organic bodycare, you'll love the holiday gift sets I created! If there's a time to give the gift of pampering, this is the year. There is something about burrowing down in one’s home that is so enticing - especially with handmade and certified organic products! They're up on the website and ready to ship. Remember those special Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn birthdays over the next two months, too!

I must digress for a moment...I'm a Capricorn. December 28 to be exact. To not upset us Caps, remember to use non-holiday gift wrap.
Seriously (smile). The same is true for my Sagittarius friends. And Scorpios? Don't combine their gifts with Thanksgiving drumsticks.

Without further delay, here are some incredibly, fabulous, organic gifts!


Organic Bodycare Gift Set ($34) is a beautiful way to give the gift of organic body luxury! This is a gift of pampering - great for women or men! Our soap is long-lasting, moisturizing and soothing. The Caribbean sea salts (enough for two tub soaks) will relax even your most stress-out friend. Our 100% shea butter is a luxurious treat for the skin, offering both moisture and protection during the long winter months.
This elegantly packaged set includes a 5 oz. organic soap, a 4. oz. matching Caribbean salt soak and a 4 oz. 100% organic shea butter.

Coconut Soap Dish Gift Set ($12) includes one of our mild and long-lasting organic soaps wrapped up beautifully with a natural coconut shell soap dish - a natural, sustainable, packaging solution that supports small businesses in Thailand. These are great as hostess or teacher's gifts, and convenient to have on hand when someone unexpected comes to visit.
Our organic soaps are made of 100% certified organic palm and coconut oils, purified water, glycerin, sorbitol, and essential oils. They may contain natural, ground herbs or oxides for natural color.



Sisal Gift Set with Two Organic Soaps ($16) Shown here in our popular Provence Lavender and Almond & Shea Butter. Packaged in a sisal gift tote - another one of our natural, sustainable, packaging solutions that supports small businesses in Thailand. A wonderful and easy-to-mail gift for relatives and friends across the country or to have on hand for hostess gifts.

All gifts are available with the following essential oils:
Almond - protects the skin, softens and soothes
Eucalyptus - rejuvenates, invigorates and uplifts
Lavender Spearmint - a new twist on lavender, beautifully blended
Patchouli - beneficial for dry skin
Provence Lavender - relaxes and calms
Rosemary - uplifts, balances, promotes mental activity
Tea Tree - for problem skin (acne, oily, skin irritations)
Unscented - for those with extra sensitive skin

My recommendation? Shop early, give the gift of organic, and be good to yourself too. Enjoy!

Top 10 Tips for Alleviating Dry Skin, Excema and Psoriasis

This time of year many people complain about dry, itching skin - from arms to legs. It happens when we head into fall and winter. Homes and businesses start turning on the heat, which means less moisture in the air and less for our skin. Among other things, we tend to drink less water than in the warm summer months.

The good news is that there are 10 tips I'd like to share with you for bringing life back to your skin. (BONUS...scroll down to the bottom for a special promo on my handmade shea butter moisturizers.) Here's to an itch-free winter!



1. Nix the long, hot shower. I know, it feels good. Especially on a cold day. But you are robbing your skin of moisture and oils. So cut it short - 5 minutes is plenty - and use warm water instead. Besides, you'll save on your utility bill. And if you can, switch to showers every other day (for skipped days, wash your hair in a sink). You'll notice a difference in your skin.

2. Take your Omega 3 EPA/DPA Fish Oils. In capsules, liquid, whatever it takes. Not only will it help your skin, your ligaments and joints are going to love it. Dr. Andrew Weil recommends two grams of fish oil daily. Also, flaxseed oil is a wonderful supplement for keeping skin healthy and glowing. Check with your M.D. Even simply switching from salad dressing to extra virgin olive oil is another good move to putting good oils in your body for the benefit of your skin.

3. Drink plenty of water. Yes, it's true and you've heard it all before. Drink eight to 10 8 oz. glasses throughout the day. Your skin is the largest organ and needs to flush the toxins out daily.

4. Turn on the humidifier. Home heating takes the moisture out of the air during the winter months. A $30 humidifier will aid your skin and sinuses. Most come with an indicator. Try to keep it at 35%.

5. Moisturize after your shower. This is the best time, since your pores are open and ready for protection.

6. Choose wisely what you put on your skin. Our 100% shea butter (the pulp from Africa's karite trees) coats and protects the skin and is my first recommendation for those of you with a tendency toward super dry skin or even excema and psoriasis. It is a concentrated, therapeutic balm. You can find our certified organic shea butter here. I recommend Unscented for men and highly sensitive customers. For those of you who love fragrance, White Tea is my bestseller. It is light, sophisticated and rich. Do you have mildly dry skin? Then I recommend our shea butter body cream, which also contains soy, silk and aloe.

7. Skip the drying soaps and shampoos. Start reading the labels of these products and your skin will thank you. Don't use any products that have sulfates in them. It is an irritant and drying agent that literally strips your skin of its precious oils. Think of it as something you would use to degrease your car engine. While you're at it, throw out any products with parabens or dyes.

8. Take care of those hands and feet. Remember to moisturize them as well. Keep hands protect with gloves or mitten when outdoors. Protecting them from the elements makes a world of difference. Moisturize hands and feet when stepping out of the shower too, then again at bedtime. I recommend soaking your feet for a bit at night, then massaging them with shea butter and finishing off with a pair of cotton socks. You'll wake up with super soft feet.

9. Exfoliate twice a week with an inexpensive loofa or bristle brush. It aids circulation (start from the outer limbs and work toward your heart) and removes the surface layer of dead cells. Just think of it as prep work for applying moisturizer.

10. Cut down on Starbucks or your coffee of choice. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it removes water from the body. A good rule of thumb is for every cup of coffee you drink, tack on another 8 oz. of water (in addition to the 8 glasses you should be drinking daily).

So you made it through all 10 tips! They will get you through the winter with soft, hydrated skin.

For blog readers, save 20% on orders of $40 or more. Hurry, this offer is only valid until Saturday, October 18! Simply use Promo Code SOFTSKIN upon cart checkout. In addition, spend $60 or more and get FREE SHIPPING! Now is the time to stock up for holidays and long winter months. This offer is valid for continental U.S. orders only.

Why Would a Bath & Body Company Teach Soapmaking Classes? Good Question!

One of my followers on Twitter asked me a great question yesterday. She wanted to know why I teach soapmaking classes when my primary business at Back Porch Soap Company is making bath and body products. It made me pause and think about my reply.

I'll digress for a bit for those of you who don't know much about Twitter. Twitter is a social marketing site with a bit of a twist: you can only post 140 characters at one time. This makes communicating challenging at times. So responding to my follower's question in only 140 characters made me think of a condensed response. But there was so much more I wanted to say!

So here are my thoughts on teaching soapmaking classes and what it does for everyone involved: my students, me and my business.

First, teaching soapmaking and entrepreneurial classes gives me the chance to work one-on-one with great students. Just as soapmaking is therapeutic for me on days when I'm cranking out hundreds of bars, it is also therapeutic for my students in more ways than one. They leave proud, with a smile on their face, having been creative for the day and with bars of soap in tow.

Second, it builds my brand. Sure, I help my students make their own soap and their creations are a result of their masterminds. That is why it results in great marketing. Most of the soaps that leave my class become gifts. And with those gifts come bragging rights. "I made that soap," will inevitably come proudly out of the giver's mouth. "You did? Where?" will most surely be the response from the recipient. Are you getting the picture? Even if gift recipient doesn't take a soapmaking class, they will probably at the very least peruse my website and very possibly become my NEXT best customer!

Lastly, it's true what is said about teaching. Sometimes the teacher can learn more than the students. Even though I consider myself to be an expert soapmaker, I enjoy seeing soapmaking through someone else's eyes. I don't have classes to "steal" my student's ideas. Far from it. Instead, watching fearless students mixing fragrances I would never consider makes me realize over and over again how important it is to experiment and not get too comfortable in the way we are doing, making, and selling.

So thank you, Twitter friend, for asking me why I teach soapmaking.

If you're in New England sign up for one of Back Porch Soap Company's Soapmaking, Natural Skincare, and Entrepreneur classes held in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

Visit Back Porch Soap This Weekend at Boston's South End Open Market

If you love Boston - and shopping in an open-air market for wonderful, indie-made products - then stop by and say hello this weekend at the South End Open Market Studios.
I'll be there 10-5 on Saturday and Sunday, selling fantastic handmade soaps, shea butters, creams, kids toy soaps, gift sets and much more. You can also stop by and pick up information on soapmaking and small business classes as well. You can find more class information here on my website: http://www.backporchsoap.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=15
The weather forecast is for a cool and dry weekend, perfect for strolling the market and grabbing a bite to eat in the South End.
With an ever-changing group of artisans, a hip location and the chance to feel the sun on your face while you browse, it's a trip worth making. The Market offers the opportunity to meet the artists and vendors behind the work, and is fast becoming part of the South End's well-known artist's community. Every week offers shoppers something different and unique - you won't want to miss it!
The Market hosts a wide variety of vendors, whether you're looking for hand-crafted accessories, original art, antiques or just a fresh loaf of bread, you'll find painters, sculptors, photographers, clothing and jewelry designers, milliners, handbag designers, house wares, antique dealers, florists, bakers, local farmer's produce, and much more every week!
For directions and more info on this weekend check out: http://www.southendopenmarket.com/index.htm