Just when you thought that we couldn't have enough salt (2 types of Dead Sea Salt, Bali Reef Salt and Pacific Sea Salt), we've added yet another salt - Organic Salt from New Zealand. We've watched the organic market grow and it shows no signs of stopping, so we're dipping our feet into the water … Continue Reading
Emma Faust Tillman
I came across some outdated news that Emma Faust Tillman, once the world's oldest living person, died at 114. Normally I would marvel at her longevity and then move on to the next news article. In this case, something caught my eye - she was an entrepreneur with her own business! A woman, and a … Continue Reading
The Bubble Room strikes again?
Can this man do no wrong? Wow, David from The Bubble Room has gotten another national press mention. On page 99 of the new People Style Watch, he gets another shout-out as a "local fave." One of these days, we'll have to get him to share his wisdom with us on attracting national press. The best … Continue Reading
Sparkle Fluff – Fun Stuff!
Sparkle Fluff using foaming bath butter! Fun stuff! Sharon, the owner of Sparkle Cookie, is going to school to be a librarian and she's also incredibly crafty as you can see from her web site. The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble … Continue Reading
My response re: complaints about our prices
I recently read a post on a soapmaking board about how Bramble Berry's pricing is higher than the would be customer would like to pay. I don't argue with customers on a regular basis, I usually stay silent when I hear comparisons about Bramble Berry's pricing versus other, lower cost soapmaking … Continue Reading
Aw, a fun blending idea from a customer!
A local Otion customer, Gail, just wrote me about some fun things she's doing with her fragrances. Anne-Marie, I just wanted to say how much I'm enjoying the new scents I bought, and the samples you gave me from your store. Thanks to you I'll be trying some scent combinations I may not have thought … Continue Reading
Adorable packaging for a soap company
Seriously, how cute is The Bubble Roome's packaging? Amazing! And a great representation of what a small cottage industry can do. They've gotten gotten some huge press (Lucky magazine this month, for one) which is a tangible example of how great packaging can really move your product up to the next … Continue Reading
Arizona in June? Who’s crazy enough to go there!?
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