I have talked alot about products that contain SLS ( Sodium Laureyl Sulfate ), which is a harsh chemical surfactant used in almost all products that produce a foam. Number one is soaps and shampoos. SLS is also used in engine degreasers and detergents of all sorts. It's linked to causing irritation, rashes and ungenetic skin disorders and my youngest daughter is allergic to it. I am sensative to it as well.
I read the backs of product labels like I do nutrition labels on food products. I want to know what's going on our skin or in our bodies.
Did you know, your favorite tooth paste, most likely contains SLS? I became aware of it, because my gums were bleeding when I brushed my teeth. My Dentist suggested brushing my gums more to toughen them and using a soft or medium bristle tooth brush rather than a hard bristle brush. He also gave me a special mouth wash because it appeared I had the beginning of a gum desease. I felt there was no way I could be pushing towards gingevitus, I brush my teeth every day, I floss , the works.
After following dentists orders and using everything he told me, my gums were still bleeding when I brushed, they were still sensative and still a little inflamed. Then I turned over the tooth paste container and read the ingredients. SLS! Could this be the problem? Every tooth paste I looked at had this ingredient in it.
I began researching to find out what people used in the good ol' days before SLS was in everything. Soap!? Baking Soda?!? What?
Well in the middle of my experimentation of creating a tooth soap or paste that would clean my mouth and teeth but be gentle on my gums I learned of another concern with tooth paste........ FLORIDE!?
The SLS in tooth paste didn't surprise me, after all it foams and most products that foam and bubble has SLS. Floride and it's controversy suprised me. From the time we are children we hear how great floride is and how it's best for our teeth to strengthen enamil and blah blah blah. When I read the differant articles available about how floride was once considered a very effective rat poison, that did it for me, I had to read on. You have the option of buying tooth paste without floride , but you don't have the option of buying tooth paste without SLS. If SLS was the problem with my gums, I needed to do something.
For the last several months I have worked deligently to create a safer, natural and effective tooth soap/paste.
This is what has happened. I have made a truly wonderful tooth soap/paste that cleans, whitens, doesn't foam but freshens breath, keeps teeth whiter, gentle to the gums and has herbs that fight bad breath, bad bacteria and doesn't leave a weird after taste in your mouth.
The first try was awful! I thought I was going to vomit, it tasted SOOOOO Bad!!!
The second try was a little better but still border lining the nasty side when it comes to taste. I am looking out for my customers here, ok? It goes in your mouth and if it tastes horriable you won't use it, even if it's better for you. Trouble was finding a way to make this tooth polish that didn't taste so bad it wouldn't ever be used after the first try without adding a bunch of sugary sweeteners.
My third and fourth attempts have come out amazing and I have to say my gums are no longer bleeding and turning a healthy pink.
While the tooth polish is still going through testing and tweaking to get it just perfect, it is already very amazing. Here are some neat facts and benefits about my upcoming tooth soap in the near future:
The combination of Peppermint Oil, Tea Tree Oil and Orange Oil fights bad breath, cleans your mouth by fighting bad bacteria. The specially formulated soap and baking soda clean the teeth, gums and tongue, polishing the teeth to remove plaque. Licorice root gives it a pleasant natural sweet flavor and also fights bad breath and none of it leaves a funky taste in your mouth after wards. The peppermint oil gives your mouth a cool clean feeling during and after brushing. The texture isn't the same as manufactured tooth paste(Creamy), it's a little grainy because of the mildly abrasive baking soda. From necessity comes great things, and I can't wait for the dentist to see my gums and teeth and ask me if I have been using that nasty medicated mouth wash he gave me. I will proudly tell him, No! it didn't help. That stuff was expensive anyway! I've been using Soaps 'N Suds tooth soap.
Once the Tooth Polish is perfected and been through more testing by others, I think it will be packaged in a neat little malibu tube. I have found, that you can't run a little water over the tooth soap after you apply it to your tooth brush like you would regular tooth paste because it washes away. There are no chemicals in this tooth soap, only natural ingredients!
"I think, therefore I am! If I believe, I WILL Achieve!"
I say this to myself everyday, several times through out the day. Life is what we make it, and it's about having a good attitude and being ambitious to achieve our goals. I am a very goal oriented person and it is my desire to see my business grow. To accomplish the things we want the most we must set our goals in an order that makes them easier to accomplish. I have had several people ask me over the last year "How do you do it? You must have a ton of energy being a divorced mom and caring for your kids, creating and manufacturing products then marketing also!?"
The truth is, I don't have any more energy than anyone else, and on some days less from my heart condition, but I do all I do out of necessity! I love what I do, I couldn't ask for a more rewarding business. I love my children and it is up to me to care for them and provide for them. I push myself everyday. I have goals, I refuse to fail or give up. I tell myself over and over, "If I believe, I will achieve", and I believe I will!
Setting goals is all about making little accomplishments to get you to the grande desire. Let's say in five years you want to buy a new home. The question is, What do you need to do to get yourself to the final step of buying a new home? You first begin to looking at the main desire Buying the home. To buy the home you need a certian amount of money. The next question is "How are you going to get the money together to buy the new home?". The answer is you need a better paying job. The next question is, "How or where will I find a better paying job, to accumulate the money to buy a new home?". The answer maybe, I need to go to school. The next question is, "how do I get the funds to go to school, so I may get a better paying job, so I can make the money I need to buy a home?". The answer would be, finding student loans, grants etc. to help pay for college if you don't have already have a college fund". The point is, to look at the big picture and analize what it takes to accomplish it going backwards, then set your list of small goals to meet one at a time. It may take longer than five years, may take less, but keeping your eye on the goal will get you where you want to be.
What I have ultimately wanted for my business is to get my own store front for my products. In the beginning I made my list of what I thought it would take to get to my final destination.
1. Perfect the Product
2. Introduce the Product to the public
3. Gather a customer following.
4. Place my Product within exsisting store locations
5. Save money made from individual sales and store placments to rent/purchase a store front.
I have accomplished 4 of 5 todate within this first year of public marketing. I spent several years perfecting the products. I then built a website so customers and potential buyers could obtain information on my products and buy at will, then proceeded to public marketing within my community and in neighboring towns via Markets, Trade Shows and events. Through public demonstration and display of the products I accumulated a steady customer following and an interest from store front owners to host my products in their stores. Now, it is all about saving the money, and finding grants to help a woman run business.
"If I believe, I will achieve!"
Only we can sabatoge ourselves out of our accomplishments. Others can hinder, yes, but do we give up or do we find a way? I WILL find a way.
I feel like this last year of business has been very healthy and prosperous Soaps 'N Suds. It has been tight many times, but it is providing for my family. I believe, if you can make it through your first year in business without being in the red zone at the end, and still making a profit into the second, it will grow and succeed and it will survive! The first year is the hardest. I believe many times I have created a frankenstien's monster. lol However, isn't this what I esteemed for?
Here I am a year later, at this time last year I had gone through only 2 cases of wax and maybe sold 50 bars of soap. This year, I estimate at least 10 cases of wax, 2000+ candles, 900+ bars of soap, 500+ bath bombs, 200+ Lip butters, 300+ lotion bars. That is amazing. When I begin to doubt myself and where Soaps 'N Suds will go in the future, I look back at the numbers, I look to my goal, my final destination and I say "If I believe, I will achieve!".
I think, therefore I am. One day, I will be in my own store front, displaying my candles and soaps, bath bombs, lip butters, lotion bars and gifts.
Yes.... "If I believe, I will Achieve!"
Did you know, by the time we reach the age of 16, we have consumed enough sugar in our diets to break down the elasticity of the skin around our eyes.
When I worked for the "major cosmetic company", they shared this information with us and the importance of buying their 60.00 retenol eye cream to stop the appearance of aging. Unfortunately there is not a magic serum that will cease our aging. Only creams containing chemicals that plump the lines out and shrink the skin up. These chemicals are definately not good for us or our skin. Unfortunately no one has found the fountain of youth or I would have certianly tried to find a way to bathe in it! lol I am determined to age gracefully, because, well let's face it... It's inevitable anyway.
Wrinkles will definately come our way as we age gracefully, however, if we examine more closely outside influences contribute to speeding up our aging appearance, it could help us prolong our youthful appearance a while longer.
Here are some interesting websites I found while researching the effects of sugar consumption to the skin to back up the information I had received years ago about sugar effecting the elasticity and function of our skin and aging.
Enjoy and I hope you find this informative. Next time you reach to the sugar bowl for a heaping teaspoon of sugar in your tea, remember what you're about to read and consider using an alternative yet safe sweetener like Stevia or liccorice root, both also being diabetic friendly and liccorice root what I use to naturally sweeten my lip butters. Read on my friends.... Beauty truly is skin deep!
Dangers of Sugar
Effects of Sugar on Skin
Sugar May Accelerate Aging
Face Facts about Sugar
on twitter
I know everyone has seen the eco-friendly reusable shopping bags. You can get them almost every where and we usually sell them at Farmer's Market or give them away with a purchase of 25.00 or more. I have been searching for some that are unique and exclusive to Soaps 'N Suds and I finally found them. It will be about a month before I have the first shipment. I have only ordered fifty for my first shipment. I want to see what the demand for them will be. I will have them at Back Porch Antiques in Hobbs and will have them on my table at Farmer's Market.
What I like about these the most ( aside from them being nylon and reusable to reduce waste of plastic bags in landfills ) is they are adorable as well as convienant because they are a full sized bag but fold into a compact little strawberry you can carry on your keychain or in your purse. Here is a picture!
Pictured above is the reusable shopping bag folded into a strawberry. Small and sleek it will fit easily into your purse or hang from your key chain.
Pictured above is the unfolded bag. This shows just how compact the adorable strawberry shopping bag really is!
The eco-friendly shopping bags are easy to fold back into a strawberry for easy storage and tote. Available in a variety of colors!
I will launch them first at Back Porch Antiques. Keep Posted.
Coming soon for the holiday season 2009, special discount cards to help you save on purchases of soaps 'n suds. I will be giving special discount cards to my valued customers to recieve a discount on your next purchase of soaps 'n suds from back porch antiques. Here is a sneak peak.
And by request by several customers for holiday shopping and gift ideas, the new soaps 'n suds gift certificate cards. The gift certificates will be available this month sometime.
The discount cards will be given to customers in their orders and sent in the mail in post card form. Gift certificate cards can be purchased from back porch antiques and directly from me and may only be redeemed at back porch antiques in Hobbs.
I was doing some research again on products that are unsafe for my children (AGAIN!), and if you had any idea what is lurking in that bottle of baby shampoo or bubble bath, you'd definately think twice before putting it in your shopping cart.
As a mother of three children with sensative skin, I am constantly flipping the containers over to see what is in the ingredients. Not just for them, but for myself. Just like when I'm shopping for groceries, I check the nutrion table on the food we purchase to ensure I am getting the healthiest food for my family. If it's to high in fat or empty calories, carbohydrates etc. we stear clear of those foods. We know they can, over time and consuming to much can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholestrol etc. We are a society who is health concious because we are the most obese country in the world and have the highest rate of heart desease from what we consume.
But what about skin health? Not everyone has sensative skin, but at some point in our lives we have experienced an uncomfortable and unexplainable rash. Any product that is used on your skin, ie, lotion, make-up, perfume, soap etc. is considered a cosmetic and the FDA requires that all cosmetics and skin care products have an ingredients label. Grab a bottle of your favorite bottle of lotion and your shower gel, and do a comparison. Do you see ingredients you cannot pronounce? Of course you do! The question is, what are those ingredients and what do they cause? I will go into that further momentarily, first I want to share an article I read that will make you wonder WTHeck is in your baby care products as well as your goodies!
As many know I am a member of the campaign for safe cosmetics. This organization tests products on the market to see what they are made of and how many ingredients are in the products but not listed on the labels, and they let you know how safe they are for your skin and what reactions or deseases specific ingredients within the product maybe or are linked to. I update on that website often and run my own products through their skin deep data system. I am proud to say that Soaps 'N Suds has some of the safest products on the market!
When I was reading on some new research from March 2009 via the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics studies, one that caught my attention was contaminants in bath products. This is important to me because 90% of my product line is bath and body. Here an sample from that article:
"Does baby shampoo need to contain cancer-causing chemicals? No – but it often does. Product tests released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in March 2009 found two known carcinogens, 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, in dozens of bath products for babies and kids, including Sesame Street character brands and even the iconic "pure and gentle" Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo.
This report followed up on test results released in February 2007, which found the chemical 1,4-dioxane in 18 popular baby soaps, bubble baths and shampoos. None of the products tested in either round listed 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde on the label.
Both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are known animal carcinogens and probable human carcinogens, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Formaldehyde can also cause skin rashes in sensitive children."
You can read the remainder of this article here.
I became aware that my youngest daughter, Neena, was unable to use Johnson & Johnson's baby products when she was an infant due to the rash she recieved from head to toe after a bath. I began bathing her with other products, which were a hit and miss with most, but after a while, even with using a product that did well for her at first, she would get the same rash. Tired of my little Neena getting red itchy bumps that seemed to settle on her arms and legs and across her bottom, I started bathing her with my goat's milk soap and pine tar soap. I started with the pine tar soap to help sooth and clear the rash and once it was gone I bathed her from then on out with goat's milk soap. She hasn't had that rash in over a year now. She is almost 3 years old.
What disturbed me about this article, is all baby products claim "Gentle" "Tear Free", etc. How can any product be gentle if it contains carcinogens like formaldehyde? Not to mention, when you dig a little deeper into the ingredients they contain Parabens and Phthalates!!! Granted, formaldehyde may not be added directly into the ingredients to create the product, but read further on into the article and see that it is formed by none other than a chemical reaction between other ingredients over time.
We decided that going without these ingredients would be best for our family. Considering many cosmetics contain ingredients that raise estrogen levels and contribute to breast cancer, skin cancer, wrinkles AND rashes, irritation, migrains. If you don't have a pre-exsisting skin disorder, chances are you can get one by using harsh products.
My main concern for so long was Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Parabens and Phthalates, so I designed products that do not contain those ingredients, I made something natural and pure. Now , I am concerned about other ingredients and my research and product design continues to ensure my family and customers have options to buy safe products they know are healthy and they can see the label and KNOW what the ingredients are in my products!
Here is a little inside information that major manfactures don't tell people, the definition of the ingredients on their packaging. Next time your shopping around, look at the back of the bottle. Do you want to know if they contain Paraben? They aren't going to put a sticker on the front of the bottle that says "NOW! WITH MORE PARABENS!". Here's the words to look for to know if your products contain Parabens right from the chemists mouth ( they won't always say paraben):
Parabens are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, from which the name is derived. Common parabens include methylparaben (E number E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216) and butylparaben. Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts. The general chemical structure of a paraben is, where R symbolizes an alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl.
Why do they use paraben? Paraben is an ingredient added to products that contain water to extend their shelf life by two years or more. This saves the manufacturer alot of money. It is also very cheap and in abundance. To keep the cost of manufacturing down and increase money in their pockets. Unfortunately it is as the risk of consumers health. Parabens are proven to increase estrogen levels in women, men and children and in turn linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues.
I make my products in small qauntities to ensure qaulity and quick sale. Soaps 'N Suds products never sit on the shelf long at all due to the rising demand for the products. I am currently formulating liquid lotions and body yogurts that are healthy and rich for the skin and with a paraben free preservative to prevent bacteria growth in products containing water. The new preservative is more expensive to obtain, but well worth my cost to produce a wonderful natural product without paraben! I am currently testing the lotions and creams and they will not be ready for public launch for another two months or longer. If you're still leary of using a lotion with a paraben free preservative, I encourage you to try our lotion bars, which are all natural solid lotion without water or preservatives.
Beauty truly is skin deep -
Rachel
I am happy to announce our new fall fragrance line for our candles and soon Room and Linen Spray. All fragrances are Phthalate Free!
Cinnamon Frosting - Spicy cinnamon with sweet notes of creamy buttercream frosting. Our customers who have already tried this fragrance adores it!
Pecan Pie - True to life pecan pie filling with a light and flaky pie crust.
Pumpkin Crunch - Better than pumpkin pie!! Creamy pumpkin puree with a spicey cinnamon and allspice background, just like the holiday dessert.
Blueberry Cheesecake - This one is as strong as the blueberry muffin, but with a wonderfully rich creamcheese filling oozing with blueberry topping.
Wine and Roses - The perfect blend of a dry merlot and a dozen fresh cut roses.
Vanilla Crunch - FANTASTIC EXCLAMATION POINT!! The perfect strong vanilla drenched in buttercreme and hints of nuts. The very best vanilla out there.
Indian Harvest - Imagine a cornicopia bursting in dried fruits, fall spices and hints of caramel. This has become our most popular fall candle.
As many of my customer know, I used to be a skin care consultant and examine skin and determining the type was a daily routine for me. Learning what your skin type maybe will help guide you to proper skin care for healthier and more youthful looking skin.
In this blog post I will be explaining the differant skin types and sharing some fun and helpful information for natural exfoliation and skin rejuvination. There are 5 skin types I will be discussing. Which one classifies your skin?
The first skin type and the most rare to have is classified as Normal Skin. The skin is soft, supple and smooth. It is fine-textured and free of blemishes (with the exception of periodic blemishes). It has a nice glow and never feels oily or dry. Less than twenty percent of women have this skin type. If this is your skin type you are fortunate; however, this does not mean that you shouldn’t take care of it. Caring for your skin on a daily regimen will maintane it's natural beauty and prolong it's "Normal" skin health.
The second is Dry Skin. This type of skin has a fine texture and is transparent looking. It feels tight and drawn without moisturizer and tends to have fine lines around the eyes and mouth. It feels especially dry after washing and may have whiteheads around the eyes and dry patches. This type of skin needs proper care because it shows signs of aging early.
The third is Oily Skin and the most common skin problem. The oily complexion is greasy, sallow and course. It has large pores and tends to have pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. Within hours of washing the oiliness will reappear and makeup is usually absorbed quickly.
The fourth is Combination Skin. This type of skin is oily in the T zone and the rest of the face is dry. The T zone is the forehead, nose and chin. The extent to which both areas are dry and oily may vary; however, both areas require a separate cleaning routine to restore them to balance.
Last but not least, the first skin type is Problem skin is usually oily and has a course texture and is subject to acne. It has large pores, blackheads, red blotches and may become more irritated under stress. If the problem is serious it will require the assistance of a dermatologist.
There are also 2 skin conditions that may occur either together or separately and may occur with any skin type. These are sensitive and allergic conditions. If when applying skin care products you begin to sneeze, wheeze, itch or breakout you are probably allergic. Skin that appears thin, pale and flushes easily and may be sensitive and be subject to allergies. If this is the case, treat your skin gently and use hypoallergenic products. I recommend before using a new skin care product all over your face is to do a "patch test". Use a small amount of the product on your skin behind your ear where it isn't visiable. Do the "patch test" for two or three days before deciding it's safe for your face. Some allergies do not show signs for a few days. I became concerned when my sister used a very well known acne skin care system and she used it all over her face and after two or three days of use her skin was red, swollen and bumpy and her eyes nearly swoll shut.
Now that I've finished with the learning part of this blog, on to the fun part of creating an at home spa in your own bath room. Why not pamper your skin by exfoliating and rejuvinating the delicate tissues with something wonderful from mother nature. Chances are you already have it in your kitchen and your skin will love you for it.
Here are some simple recipes for natural facial masks that work beautifully.
Normal Skin Mask:
1 Banana
1 Chamomile Soaked Chamomile Tea Bag
Steep the chamomile tea bag and set the tea aside. Mash 1 ripe banana and empty the contents of the tea bag into the banana and blend well. Apply to facial skin and allow to set for 20 minutes. Rinse with the chamomile tea you set aside and pat dry. This helps to maintane moisture and balance of the skin and can be applies 1 - 2 times a week. The banana helps maintane elsaticity of the skin and gives it a nice fresh perky appearance. I have heard of super models taking an old bra and placing mashed bananas in each cup and sleeping with it for the maintance of perky breasts. I have never tried it, but it's an interesting idea to say the least. lol
Dry Skin Mask:
1 cup of unflavored yogurt
1 tbs. finely ground almonds
1 tbs. honey
2 tbs. olive oil
Mix all ingredients into a bowl and apply to face, massaging gentle. Allow to rest on your skin until it feels dry, then rince thoroughly.
Oily Skin Mask:
1 cup unflavored yogurt
1 drop of menthol oil
1 tbs. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. inacticve yeast
1 potato
Peel a potato and place it in a bowl of water. Let it stay there for a couple of hours. You will need 2 teaspoons of this water. Mix in all the ingredients and add those 2 tablespoon of "potato water". Apply to skin, let it rest for 20-30 min and rinse with luke warm water.
Combination Skin Mask:
1 potato
Peel the potato and cut it into thin slices. Place it on the face and let it rest for about 15 minutes Rince off with camomille tea.
Problem Skin Mask:
1 tablespoon of active brewer's yeast
Heat up yeast over steam. You can put it on your skin up to 3 times a day.
Now, you're probably wondering, "WHY YEAST?".
Did you know that brewers yeast promotes a diet rich in B vitamins, which are essential for healthy skin. Brewers yeast can aid in prevention and treatment of acne. Consult a dermatologist for information about brewers yeast for acne and for any concerns that may apply. Where as I am not a dermatologist, merely a skin care consultant I am not laying any medical claim on this information, but from research and hours or reading and learning to help my customers promote healthy balanced skin, it's a little FYI I wanted to share with you.
In addition, always drink plenty of water and maintane a healthy diet rich in fruits and veggies for a clearer more supple complextion.
This is me playing with my camera. For years my skin has remained pretty much the same. I am classified as having "Normal" Skin, however, now that I am 31, I don't have the exact same texture I did when I was in my late teens. I am determined to age graceful and naturally. So what do I used on my face? Well, Soaps 'N Suds buttermilk soap for a cleanser every day, unless I get that periodical blemish from a hormone imbalance, then I cleanse with Soaps 'N Suds Pine tar Liquid Soap. Once a week I slather on Soaps 'N Suds brown sugar honey scrub and two slices of cucumber over my eyes "to reduce puffiness". I rince with Chamomile tea. I have always been blessed to have "good" skin and I do my best to keep it healthy.
Love, Peace and Soap Bubbles,
Rachel
Pioneer Soap Gal
I am offering two new products to my natural product line this fall. The first is Triple Scented Tart Melts. I've done tarts for a while, but I don't like the way they get banged up and melted in the current packaging, so I have started packaging them in clamshells. The clamshell will have 6 break away tarts. The clamshells are reclosable for convienat storage and are made with soy wax. The soy wax is softer than paraffin so it slices like butter. Tart Melts - $4.00 ea. 3.75 oz. clamshell.
The next product and the one I am the most excited about, is our natural, earth friendly, aerosol & phthalate free Room and Linen Spray! I have been working this formula for a year now and finally got it just right where it won't clog a fine mist sprayer and is long lasting. The room/linen spray has been passed around all week and been tested by about five differant people and already, before it's even marketed I am getting orders. HOW EXCITING!!!!
I am waiting on bottles and sprayers to arrive, and then I will launch the room and Linen Spray at Back Porch Antiques and Farmer's Market. This stuff is AMAZING!! Try the downy fresh fragrance in your linen closet and on your bed sheets for a freshly cleaned laundry smell. Very nice! Room & Linen Spray - $6.50 ea. 6 oz. bottle
Ladies and Gentlmen, I am happy to announce my official Grand Opening of my booth at Back Porch Antiques September 16, 2009! I am currently there stocking the booth and decorating it up. I am starting simple and working on growing there, I have to share my stock with 4 other stores and myself right now, so the inventory will grow as I go.
I had been stocking for a couple of hours today when I looked up and who was it? My first customer and none other than Mrs. New Mexico. I am glad she was my first customer, she really appreciates what I have and she enjoys the products. So before I was even set up I had a customer today, and you have no idea how that made me feel my time and effort was worth it.
For my grand opening sale I will be offering buy 4 bath bombs get 1 free! For October all pink candles will be 10% off in honor of breast cancer awareness month and listen for "Soaps 'N Suds at back porch antiques" on the radio next month. I will be a featured vendor for my move in and I am so excited!! Purchases can be made now, but the official grand opening will be next week. Chances are, if you come down there friday and tuesday will you catch me there working on the booth. I am so excited, I am finally there and two weeks earlier than scheduled!
Wow! What a busy season this has been for me! Summer has just flown past for me this year. I am happy to see Soaps 'N Suds handmade soaps and candles making their way into more homes and helping families with their allergy issues.
Fair and Rodeo was amazing! It was busy, there were alot of people, a ton of fun carnival food, but lots of customers for me. I even had the pleasure of catching up with some of my out of town customers that missed me at the Midland Farmer's Market.
The Fair and Rodeo lasted a week and that week I put in 80 hours. Special Thanks are in order for my sister, Melissa Gilcrease, my dear friend Junior Pulliam and my other dear friend Trina Collopy for their help with the booth that week. We made alot of sales and made new customer aqauntances that have come back for more Soap and Candles since the fairs end.
After such a long week and almost two years of butt busting work on the business my family and I took a vacation to Dallas. We sure needed it and it was nice to finally get out and have a good time. Back home, it was back to the grind stone pouring candles and soaps and working on new products to introduce on my fall fragrance line for this year.
Farmer's Market in Hobbs has come and gone again. The last farmer's market I had the honor of meeting our own home town celebrity Mrs. New Mexico 2007, Mrs. Courtney Whitley. Mrs. New Mexico has frequented my booth at farmer's market since we first opened shop here in June. She was even kind enough to write and lovely email and send her picture along to Soaps 'N Suds to let other potential customers know how much she enjoys the products and how they have helped her husband. You can read her email on the Soaps 'N Suds Junkies page. Thank you Courtney for the lovely email and your continued support of Soaps 'N Suds and my efforts to grow my business.
I have really enjoyed this last summer. I have met a few neat people that I never would have imagined may buy one of my products, and have had the pleasure of hearing directly from my customers on their needs and preferances. I pray that this year continues to be wonderul and my success will continue to grow through out the holiday season and into the next year.
Speaking of success, I got a nifty little fortune cookie today. The fortune read "You will be unusually success with your business". I thought it was cool to say the least. I do not usually take alot of thought into those things, but I did save that one for my scrap book!!
My ultimate goal for my business is to one day open my own store front and run my own shop. Until that day is blessed to me I work and manufacture my product line from my little kitchen, package in my living room and pack my car up every week to go from market to market to introduce, sell and demonstrate my line.
My location is currently my car and I frequent the Farmer's Market in Hobbs and in Odessa each week. I am doing my best to help support and bring the Mainstreet Open Air Market Place up with my neighbor, friend and Director of Mainstreet up to a busy business!
I am currently located in the Merle Norman of ALBQ, NM and The treasure shop in downtown Midland texas.
Now, two new locations are coming for me by fall and after the Lea County Fair and Rodeo.
The Fair and Rodeo is my main event for this year so I am working many hours a day and into the night to prepare for this major week long event as well as prepare for each weekly market on the weekends. Since this is my main focus at this point I will not be able to start on setting up location in the two new shops until mid august. However, be not discouraged...... I WILL be set up and with bells on with a grand opening announcment within a couple of months!!
Drum roll please..............
The Two New Locations to find Soaps 'N Suds is:
BACK PORCH ANTIQUES located in Hobbs NM on Broadway! YES! Julie and I spoke again yesterday and customers are coming in asking her to get Soaps 'N Suds in there, and guess what, we already had that planned a month ago! HEHEHE!!! I will be set up in the first row of booths as you enter back Porch Antiques and my FULL product line will be set up. I am hoping to have it ready by September 1st for my Offical Grand Opening there! I will have my entire line of candles present, all of my soaps, lotion bars , bath bombs and the works!!! I am so excited to be setting up there I can hardly contain myself, and I want to do it RIGHT NOW!!!! But I have to get through my main event for this year first.
The other location will be in Blessed Indulgence located in Midland Tx in the shopping center directly above woofers and tweeters! Pam is having the grand opening for Blessed Indulgence August 1st, and I am going to do my best to put some of my stuff in there but will fill the location she has set aside for me by Mid September! I am excited to be going into Pam's Boutique and I am dying to paint that window that faces the main drag with " Soaps 'N Suds Handmade Soap and Candle Co.". I cannot wait to cover the wall in Triple Scented Soy Candles and layer bath bombs everywhere!! And SOAP? YES! My Soap will finally be available for purchase in Midland/Odessa in this shop, along with my bath truffles, bon bons and lotion bars!!
Once the products are all set up and available I will send out an official news letter informing everyone of the grand opening and a special discount!!!
Keep my family and my little aspiring business in your prayers. Without the Lord we would be no where and he has truly blessed us.
Keep updated for further information!
Just a quick update to let all of our customers know our location for this weekend.
We will be located at the Hobbs FLEA MARKET Friday - Sunday behind Mainstreet Hobbs where Hobbs August Nights is hosted each year.
We will be presented a new product and featuring new candle fragrances.
We invite you to come out and visit and sample our products, smell our candles and enjoy the local flavor and NEW HIT SCENTS of Hobbs, brought to us by MAINSTREET HOBBS!
This weekend we will be launching
BUBBLE BARS - Solid bubble bath to minimize packaging and eliminate the use of preservatives. Looks and smells like a giant piece of bubblegum, just crumble under fast running bath water for a delightful bubble bath. Will create about 3 bubble baths, will be 6.50!
New Candles Scents : Indian Harvest and Bermuda Triangle, and Vanilla Crunch.
Delicious!
Hope to see you there.
Rachel
WOW! I am just amazed at the wonderful turn out we had out our first Hobbs Farmer's Market. Sponcered by Mainstreet Hobbs, the first Hobbs Farmer's Market was a blast. So many people came to check us out and I am pleased to say Soaps 'N Suds had wonderful traffic and our sales hit the roof!
Special Thanks to Stephanie Bradshaw and Eric "Junior" Pulliam for the help working my booth with me.
We were all up at 5 am and setting up by 6:30 am, Open for sales by 7:00 am and we were the last to tear down at Noon!
All of our Goats Milk Soaps SOLD OUT! Don't worry folks, there is more curing on the shelves and it will be ready by next market and we will be ready for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo for sure!!
Also, a special thanks to my Father for the fantastic displays he made to host my soaps. Thank you Daddy, there were alot of compliments on your craftsmanship and they really helped bring my product out!! Thanks to my Mother, Sister and Brother for all of their support and advertising my candles, soaps and bath bombs and bringing alot of word of mouth sales to me.
I am just so excited to have participated in this fun local event to support our town and it's heritage!
We will be available at the next Hobbs Farmer's Market the first saturday of next month! I hope to see all of our customers back next month to restock so I can hear how much you enjoyed the candles and soaps and I hope the customers who purchased for their sensative skin needs find comfort in the use of our natural soaps and lotion bars.
Below are pictures from today's Farmer's Market. WHAT FUN!!
For the most part, the announcment I am about to make will not upset my loyal customers if at all, so bare with me.
I have been in the process of changing suppliers for the last several months. For a few years I did business with a company that supplied me my cocoa butters, soy waxes, and fragrance oils. Over the last year I became dishearted to discover the dishonesty and disloyalty of this company towards the customers (such as myself).
This company claimed to be out to help the small business owner and I discovered that prices on shipping and various prices were being gauged to increase the profit of the supplier. This upset me tremendously because I enjoy what I do but I like to offer fair prices for my trade and this supplier over charging on shipping and specific needs made it where my profit was a minimum and made it difficult to replenish my stock of butters, oils and waxes to create more products at good price.
What bothered me was the claim on soy wax had gone up so high in cost due to a poor crop and price per case and pallet was based on the stock market. The cost of my wax was about 100.00 a case and then with the shipping be gauged I was spending nearly 150.00 dollars on a case. It was rediculous.
With my own online business, I am very familur with the cost of shipping via USPS, UPS, FEDEX and others and know that exact shipping is calculated according to weight, demension and zone/area code. I checked in according to how much my wax weighed and the destination with the shipping company and found my products were being shipped to me at a minimum of 30.00 MORE than what it was suppost. 30.00 is alot of money for a small business owner and can buy alot more supplies to replenish my stock!
I was upset to say the least. I had noticed several discrepencies aside from the cost of the wax and shipping throughout my suppliers inventory. When I contacted them to find out what the issues were I had recieved rude comments and phoney explanations. I was mad then.
Over the last several months I have been searching out other suppliers offering the same products for 100% less than what I was buying it for from the current suppliers.
What really did me in with them, is I looked over my invoices in the last 12 months and supplies I had purchased last year at this time was say 10.00 is now 24.00!!! Well over a 100% markup. I was beyond angry.
The good news is I am cutting this supplier loose all together as soon as I find replacments for specific needs. Thus far I have 90% of my supplies located with closer suppliers and much better and cheaper prices with the same or better qaulity. So I will be able to maintane my prices and on something go down a little.
The bad news:
There will be a few fragrances I will be discontinuing from my line because I absolutely refuse to deal with a dishonest person or company. Their claim is to help small business', when in fact they are making money by screwing small business' over. It's disgusting and I refuse to take part in padding their pockets at the expense of mine or my customers when I can better, faster and cheaper somewhere else!
The fragrances that will no longer be carried either perminantly or until which time I find a suitable replacment or can create my own is( Next to it is the better replacment coming soon)
RASPBERRY CREAM-----> Wild Raspberries
CARAMEL CORN-------> No Replacment yet
TOASTED COCONUT --------> Coconut Milk
ICE TEA TWIST---------> No Replacment yet
PINK SUGAR -----------> Pink Sugar, new Supplier, maybe slightly differant but doubtful.
PINK ----------> PINK , New Supplier, maybe slightly differant but doubtful.
PURE SEDUCTION ---------> NONE
CARRIBEAN COCONUT ---------> Flip Flops, is much better, but still in testing.
CALYX --------> None
HOME SWEET HOME ------> Cinnamon stick
BIRD OF PARADISE ------> Bird of Paradise, maybe lighter, but smells better.
SAND AND SUN -------> NONE
PUMPKIN CRUNCH -------> Sweet Potato Pie
APPLE JACK --------> None
For the customers who especially loved the raspberry cream, I do apologize, but the wild raspberries is a delight and you will love it. I just cannot support the dishonesty of a company, not to mention we have some new better fragrances gracing our candle line all through out this year and I urge you to keep posted for sneak previews of what is to come. I can't wait to introduce the new scents to the candle line.
June is going to be a busy month for the website, so keep posted for changes.
1. I will be updating our candle scents , adding our newest additions to grace our candle line from May. New additions are APPLE BLOSSOM, BLACKBERRY SAGE, DOWNY, FRENCH VANILLA, WILD HONEY and BERMUDA TRIANGLE and Mandarin Plum.
Bermuda Triangle was launched May 1st at Market and we can't keep this fragrance in stock it seems. I am doing my best to keep it available for the demand, so bare with me. Special orders for bath and Body as well as candles are welcomed as always. :)
I have found a vanilla that I am happy with, but I am continuing my search for find others to accompany the new one, French Vanilla, to give a variety to customers who have differant preferances in vanilla types.
Apple blossom is simply amazing. I cannot get enough of this scent. I have made candles like crazy and I am fighting the urge to burn them as soon as they are poured. I know I must make them for the customers, but I can't resist, it's so sweet and fruity with a hint of floral.
Blackberry Sage... mmm. this is one is unique. I smell sweet fruity blackberries and the undertone of herbal sage gives it an interesting twist. Sound strange? It's absolutely wonderful!
Downy. Fresh, clean, smells like the fabric softener. I love this one!
Wild Honey, it's true to it's name and the customers are raving about it.
Mandarin Plum - This one really grew on me fast. It's a wonderful aromatic blend of sweet juicy plums with a citrus twist. I just love it. Nice and strong and delicious!
Summer has brought some new scentsational twists to our candles, with more to come.
In june we will be sampling a new variety of fragrances to accompany the summer season as well as testing in advance for new scents to add to our fall and winter seasonal line. As usual, scents that are popular for our seasonal line, will remain on the list year round.
I can't wait to test the new ones coming and we have been hard at work mixing some new ones for our signature series candles.
Soaps 'N Suds signature scents are fragrances we blend and mix ourselves that no one else has.
Thus far, this collection includes: Country Berry Pancakes, Almond Joy, Cherry Fairie and Melissa. They are absolutely delightful and exclusive to us.
We will be at the First Farmer's Market in Hobbs, New Mexico June 6, 2009. Hope to see all of our local and out of town customers there.
Just a little announcment to my followers and friends, Hobbs is hosting their first Farmers Market June 6, 2009.
Market opens at 7 am and closes at Noon. For this year, being the first season, we are only doing market one a month, being the first Saturday of each month! If all goes well and it is accepted well with the community we will go to every saturday.
What does this mean for my Customers in other areas and Farmer's Market. Nothing is changing, I will be at the Midland Farmers Market every saturday for the exception of the first saturday of the month. Depending on how well this years market is in hobbs and IF we go to every saturday I will most likely do every other saturday in Midland and every other saturday in Hobbs. All is determined by my customers of course.
:)
NEW Lava-licious Natural Lip Gloss will be launched this saturday at Market in Midland Texas!
Packaged in a roll-on bottle, this two toned lip gloss is highly sweet with natural sweetener. Ultra smooth, glides on clear and heals and moisturizes with Sunflower Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Beeswax and Soy.
Just shake it up and mix the two layers of flavor and moisturizer and apply it your lips.
1 oz, roll on tube $3.50
This last saturday was my first farmer's market to attend. I have been looking for the information for over a year on differant places to go, and amazingly it was provided in a matter of a couple of days.
How exciting!
Packed everything up and left at 5:30 am saturday morning and got there just in time, took 20 minutes to set up so I was late.
It was a learning experience on how I should make sure I am up alot earlier to have my make up done and gone way before 5:30 am so I can be there early and set up by the time shoppers come.
The booth looked nice and the people were so friendly.
We made a nice sum of money for the first trip to market and I definately want to go back again and again and again and again. lol
Here are some pictures
In addition to the new Beary DeLight Jar candle, Oatmeal Soap and Victoria soap listed on our home page we have added three other products. These products are our featured products for this month. If you buy anyone of these items you recieve a 10% discount on that product!
Look around on our special offers page so you can see a selection of other offers to choose from as well and pick which one is more suitable for your shopping needs and savings.
Remember, you may only use one promotional code per order, and each promotional savings is not valid with or in combination of another. Promotional codes to recieve the discounts on the featured items are listed on our special offers page.
Almost Finished
PostedThe store will be closed until this afternoon, about 3 pm MT. time or sooner, pending maintance.
We are working on what little maintance we have left to ensure our customers experience a smooth and quick check out experience. We will be doing a few test runs today on our shopping cart system and payment methods.
I do apologize for any incovience this may be presenting at this time, but we want to assist you in experiencing a better, smoother and more enjoyable shopping experience with us in the future.
Thank you for understanding and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yep! You read that right! I said FREEEEEEE!
Each month we offer either freebies with your order, or a special discount on special products or store wide sale. This month we are giving away free soap and free bath bombs!!
WHY? To show appreciation to our customers new and returning we want to offer you a free bar of soap or a free bath bomb when you purchase 4.
So, buy 4 soaps and get 1 free, or buy 4 bath bombs and get 1 free!
Add all five soaps or bath bombs of your choice ( mix or match soaps, mix or match bath bombs) to your shopping cart. When you check out enter promotional code FREESOAP if your buying the soaps or FREEFIZZIE for bath bombs.
This really is a great deal. I was browsing around the competition the other day and I noticed they are offering buy 12 get 1 free. WHAT? You have to by 12 bath bombs to get one free? NO WAY! Buy 4 with us and get 1 free!
If you're a local customer ordering online enter the same promotional codes to recieve the discount. If your ordering via the phone, mention the coupon during ordering, print the couple from our Special Offer page and present it during delivery. :)
Price Drop!!
PostedThe economy has been a little haywire, to say the least!
Due to the drop in cost for our supplies for soap, bath bombs, candles etc. We are able to offer a lower price on most of our items. Discounted prices reflect anywhere from a few scents to a couple of dollars. The following items are at a lower price as of March 2009. If you are one of our consigners, the wholesale price is the same, where as items shipped to you were priced before the increase.
PINE TAR SOAP- Was $6.99, NOW $6.25.
ALL OTHER SOAPS- WAS $6.25, NOW $5.50.
Bath Bombs - WAS $4.99, NOW $4.50.
Candles- All candles reflect a $1 - $1.50 price drop.
Body Butters- WAS $8.99, NOW $6.99.
There are some really great price drops, take advantage today!
WOW! This has been a really busy crazy year for the company. We have come along way since we first went online in 2007 with our products. This last year has been a great year, but 2009 is already promising to be even better.
Let's start with what's going on with the website. First of all, our entire system was down and completely screwy! It was frustrating for customers and us trying to place and fill orders! Several months ago we recieved a notice via snail mail and email that our web host was selling out to another company. During the process of their transition everything went hay wire, unfortunately at ours and the customers inconvience! Recently, during the switch to new servers, the little glitches here and there turned into everything was done and not working at all!
Thankfully, we found out what all was going on and through the help of our web host providers and about two weeks of 16 hour days, we have everything fully functioning again. We will be doing shopping cart tests once a week now and ensure everything is in working order from now on, rather than the monthly tests we did in the past.
Our Shipping calculations were WAY off!!! and alot of our products were unable to be estimated due to a lack of dimension and weight. I personally was pretty upset over this because the former hosts were suppost to have everything in working order, but looks like they not only short changed us but our customers as well. We are happy with the new owners, they stay on top of things and we have taken over our site and store maintance ourselves! I apologize to the customers who experienced difficulties within our store recently. I mean everything was messed up, right down to our toll free number!! ALL is in working order now and will remain this, and the shipping estimations are updated properly!