How To Market, Sell & Teach Soapmaking and Natural Bodycare Classes

Over the years I've been asked by bath and body company owners if I would show them how to effectively market and teach soapmaking and natural bodycare classes. More than ever, now is the time to learn how to teach soapmaking and natural bodycare classes. Enrollments in art and craft classes across the country are increasing. Yes, I know...the "economy is slow." Let me tell you, my soap class enrollment has never been higher. Consumers are cutting back on retail dollars, but they want to learn how to make and share handmade products. This class is an investment for those of you wanting a whole new revenue stream.

My advice? Sit out a few retail and wholesale shows this spring and put those hard-earned dollars toward taking this class. You can join me from the comfort of your own home for this teleseminar (hey, in your pajamas with a glass of herbal tea...or if you'd like, a glass of wine!). Best of all, this teleseminar will be small and intimate with 10 students.

And I know what you're thinking, "I can just try and teach these classes myself." Absolutely! But let me share with you that there were learning curves I encountered which resulted in wasted time, energy, money and more money! This class will save you from those headaches, especially wasted money, and get you on the fast-track to teaching soapmaking classes.



Class Easily Pays for Itself
By the time students finish this course at the end of February, they will have teaching opportunities lined up for the rest of the year! Since the average one-day, soapmaking class costs $325, this bootcamp could *easily* pay for itself after your first full-day of teaching (providing, of course, you implement my tips and strategies).

Teaching soapmaking has created a wonderful revenue stream for my company. I'll share with you tips and secrets I've learned during my past 11 years of teaching soapmaking classes. I'll also share feedback from my students - why they choose my classes over others available online and in other states.

Students Will Learn This And Much More...
Just some of the topics we'll cover: How to Insure and Legally Protect Yourself and Your Business; Secrets to the Perfect Class Schedule; The Best Proven Ways to Market Your Classes; How to Set Up Class Efficiently; Teaching Effectively; Graceful Ways of Not Giving Away 'The Farm'; How to Find Your Target Audiences; Other Places to Teach Your Class; and Ways to Keep Your Students Coming Back for More; and much more!

You will be inspired, guided and supported!

WHO: Recommended for owners of bath and body companies with a minimum of three years in business and an online presence.

WHEN: Four consecutive Wednesdays: February 4, 11, 18 and 25.

TIME: 8-9:30 p.m. EST

WHERE: Live Teleseminar (You will be provided with toll-free telephone access number.)

BONUS: 1 hour of private, one-on-one consulting to customize and launch your soapmaking classes.

COURSE COST: $650 and LIMITED TO ONLY 10 STUDENTS

You save $400 in this group coaching format (private one-on-one cost is $1,050).

Register now to reserve your spot. (This class will increase to $795 in March.)

Questions? Email Marla at info@backporchsoap.com or call directly at 781.934.8100.

Fight Your Winter Beauty Blues with Our Sale; Top 10 Reasons To Use Shea Butter

Simply put, shea butter is amazing. To start, it is a natural, therapeutic balm for dry skin. And that's just the beginning. (If you are a complete shea butter expert and just want the deal of the month, scroll to the bottom of my post!)

Our shea butter is sourced from Ghana, West Africa. It is organic and 100% pure and natural. Besides being a superb moisturizer, it boasts exceptional healing properties for various skin conditions. Naturally enriched with Vitamin A and E, it is one of my top sellers.

From outdoor adventurists who battle nature's elements to nurses and doctors who wash their hands constantly throughout the day, our shea butter has been protecting skin for 10 years. Unlike lotions that wash off after first use, shea butter sinks into the layers of your epidermis and protects your skin throughout the day. Use it on your face before your daily beauty regime, on your hands, arms, legs, feet...anywhere you need to moisturize.

The Top 10 Reasons To Use Shea Butter:

1. Accelerates the healing of dry, itchy skin or dermatitis.

2. Acts as an anti-inflammatory against arthritis.

3. Natural anti-aging: helps reduce wrinkles, adds suppleness to skin

4. Regenerates skin appearance - wonderful before your beauty regime.

5. Softens feet and cracked heels.

6. Provides relief and in some cases cures Psoriasis and Eczema.

7. Heals wounds and burns.

8. Repairs skin damage from radiation.

9. Prevents pregnancy stretch marks and fades existing scars.

10. Protects skin from sunburn, cold weather, frost bite and oh yes, diaper rash!


Our shea butter is available in 4 oz. tins (shown above). At 100% strength, it is highly concentrated, so a small amount goes a long way.

For extra sensitive skin, I highly suggest our unscented shea butter. This is my recommendation for customers with allergies, who are highly sensitive, and also for children under 10. Our Provence Lavender shea butter is made with pure lavender essential oil, which is also adds healing properties. The bestselling fragrance by far is White Tea, which is light, soft, subtle and sexy. It's a sophisticated fragrance and is popular with both men and women.

For a limited time (through January 31, 2009 or until supplies last) get 50 PERCENT OFF your shea butter order. I've never offered this kind of discount before, so these could go fast. This is the time to stock up! Extra bonus...get free shipping on $60 or more. Get shopping and let go of those winter beauty blues!

Restore Dry Skin and Sore Muscles with Our Jacuzzi & Tub Bath Salts

This time of year I get inquiries from customers who are suffering from dry skin, excema, psoriasis and sore muscles. They are frustrated with their skin condition, have tried products that haven't worked, and come to me looking for a remedy.

Several years ago a woman in Brant Rock, Massachusetts asked me to make a sea salt soak that would be safe for her jacuzzi. She wanted a moisturizing salt soak; that would soothe her sore muscles and alleviate her dry skin.

I spent many days in the studio experimenting with various sea salts and essential oil blends. The end result? A fabulous bath and jacuzzi soak that is therapeutic and moisturizing. I've taken a special blend of Caribbean Sea Salts and combined them with a moisturizing cocoa butter. This is a proprietary blend and is only available here at Back Porch Soap Co. After soaking in these salts your skin will be refresh and rehydrated.


Soaking in sea salt helps remove toxins from your body. Toxins are small molecules, and can cause disease on contact with or absorption by body tissues. By eliminating toxins, we enjoy a healthier, glowing body and overall increased energy. Drink plenty of water after your soak to help your kidneys and liver flush the toxins out of your body. The results are very similar to a full-body massage.

I've created three blends for the salts: Lavender, Lemongrass & Eucalyptus, and Peppermint & Eucalyptus.

Lavender ~ Relaxing, soothing and calming. The perfect night soak.
Lemongrass & Eucalyptus ~ Renewing, cleansing, and uplifting.
Peppermint & Eucalyptus ~ Invigorating, stimulating, and rejuvenating.

So what happened to the woman who helped me invent these products? Well, she's turned out to be one of my best customers. She's put herself on autoship and gets all three salts shipped to her every four weeks. She starts her day with a jacuzzi, and chooses whichever essential oil blend suits her mood for that morning.

If you don't have a jacuzzi, you can still enjoy these incredible salts in a long, relaxing soak in a bathtub. Here's to your health and relaxation!

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!