I am *so* excited to be speaking at the Arizona Soapmaker's Conference this year. What a huge honor! I'm going to talk a bit about Bramble Berry's history and helpful business lessons that I've learned from teachers and mentors along the way. Some of these lessons include things like my friend Bob … Continue Reading
And in the "I don’t know whether to laugh or cry" category
This site purports to repeat actual student comments overheard at a college in Ontario, Canada. It's entirely funny and also entirely scary, especially if you have college age kids. Click here to read Overheard at Western. The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click … Continue Reading
Optical Illusion Advertising
I love these cheeky advertising campaigns. They're clever. They're unexpected. And, at the very least, they make me laugh. As advertising gets increasingly ignored, innovative and fun adssuch as these will increasingly become the norm as marketers try to slip their branding into our daily … Continue Reading
Fun times at college
I had the privledge of being a guest speaker at Western Washington University on Tuesday night for the International Business Club and the Marketing Club. It was entirely invigorating and I loved the questions posed by the students. It ends up being a bit of a trip down memory lane for me. The … Continue Reading
Amazing Embelishments
Seven Gypsiescarries a great line of embellishments for truly sophisticated, one-of-a-kind soap packaging. Think gifts in a high end department store might be your market? These are the touch you need to put on your soaps to get them into those refined air spaces. The best soap supplies on the … Continue Reading
Fun stuff from customers
This week has brought a host of new products from customers - just sending them to us to strut their stuff or as a thank-you for good service. From Linnie Schofield in California - Linnie sent us a huge box of goodies! Lotions, soaps and foaming bath melts. That's her bath melt in the photo that … Continue Reading
Introducing the soon-to-be-mayor
This weekend, I had the great privilege and pleasure to introduce the man that I believe will be Mayor of Bellingham in 2008, Dan McShane. The party was at the newly built Farmer's Market permanent home . About 200 people attended which the campaign was thrilled about, given that the primaries are a … Continue Reading
Ribbons, Ribbons, Ribbons
You need these ribbons for tags, for sprucing up your packaging and just because they're very cute! And really, who doesn't need more cute packaging in their life? The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry. Have a question about … Continue Reading
On Lye and Lye Burns
I've been soaping for a blissful fourteen years now. I love it. I crave it. There is very little that makes me happier than seeing a perfect trace in my soap or the smooth texture of a freshly cut batch of soap (big sigh). If I could only make soap all day and never have to actually work for money … Continue Reading
The Value of great support network
I just got the sweetest note about the Yahoo posting. Hi Anne-Marie, I just read your story at http://finance.yahoo.com/smallbiz/article/featuredbiz/26545. I found it very inspirational. And it just goes to prove that we should be living our passion, and the success will come. And, having a … Continue Reading
Soapmaking Studio Set – Ups
It takes a lot of work to set up a soapmaking studio. My first one was in the guest bedroom of my old house. It was about 400 square feet and even that wasn't enough room. I still exploded out into other part of the house with my growing soap business. The living room had a dining room table made … Continue Reading
Very cool log mold cutter
I think this cutter pretty much rocks. It's well loved in the soapmaking industry already because of its sturdy design and straight cuts every time. It's a bit more pricey than some on the market but for the durability and the precision it gives, I'm hearing that it's worth it! The best soap … Continue Reading
Hungarian Lavender Essential Oil
Our latest crop of Hungarian Lavender Essential Oil is in the warehouse and it is absolutely divine. It's smooth, mildly camphorous and sourced from a very small family farm. We're proud to add this Lavender to our line and think it's an essential part of anyone's EO toolkit or bodycare line. The … Continue Reading
Tips for layering melt and pour
Someone recently asked me about troubles with layering melt and pour soap. Here are my tricks for helping to adhere layers of melt and pour soap. Layering solid melt and pour colors is difficult but not impossible. There are a few tricks that I use when making fun loaves. (1) Pour the soap … Continue Reading