Handmade Beauty Connection
March 11, 2001
A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630
March 11, 2001
Vol. 2, Issue 10
1. HBN Update ~ Welcome Renewing HBN Member!!
2. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question ~ win an *autographed copy*
of "The Herbal Body Book" by Stephanie Tourles!
3. Business Tip of the Month: Power Up! ~ Part I: Style Tips
To Make Your Business Stand Out In The Crowd!!
4. Handmade Beauty Recipe ~ Brilliant Belly Balm
5. Administrative Notices ~ Please Read!!
1. HBN Update ~ Welcome Renewing HBN Member!
Welcome Renewing Member!!
~ Advance Soaps & Sundries | Pam Parrish | North Carolina
Log onto these and other HBN member Web sites through HBN's Online
Member Directory, now with 3 ways to search: (1) by
state/country; (2) by member business name; or (3) by keyword
search!
2. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question ~ Last week's winner was Ellen Peacock of Ellen's Essentials in Houston, Texas!
Last Week's Question: Though you may find me displaying more brilliant hues, typically, my five petals are creamy white, soft and delicate. Touch one of them, and it will quickly brown. In the center of my petals are colors reflecting the brilliance of the sun, golden yellow and bright orange. I emit most of my fragrance throughout the night while you sleep. Arise early and I will linger for you a while. Indigenous to Mexico, Central America and the tropical islands of the Caribbean, my scent is powerful and exotic, heady and tenacious. Maybe a bit like some other tropicals you may have encountered, but my aroma is among the finest, freshest and most intriguing you will ever encounter in your life.
Last Week's Answer: Plumeria (frangipani)
This Weeks' Question: One method of extracting aromatic oils from delicate flower petals is to place the individual petals
on glass plates that have been covered with fat. The plates are
held in place by a specially designed device. The aromatic oil is absorbed
from the flower petals into the fat, and the resulting pomade is later
treated to remove the aromatic oil. What is the proper name of the device that holds the glass plates on which the fat and
flowers are placed?
To win this week, be the first to identify me and win an *autographed copy* of "The Herbal Body Book" by Stephanie
Tourles!
Please read the contest rules here
before submitting your entry.
While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner will be notified by email and their name posted at the link above.
3. Business Tip of the Month: Power Up! ~ Part I: Style Tips To Make Your Business Stand Out In The Crowd!!
My Power Up! articles are bite-sized articles on things you need to grow your business. The Power Up! Principles
and the links to the articles about them are are:
P - Patience
O - Organization
W - Weeding
E - Excellence
R - Recycling
U - Uniqueness - This Issue!!
P - Perseverance - coming soon!
! - Enthusiasm - coming soon!
Today's focus is on the Power Up! Principle of Uniqueness, and I'm offering great tips on developing a unique style that will
separate your business from the masses! This can sometimes be a challenge, especially in some markets that seem to be
flooded with a new company every hour every day! But there are things you can do to create a brand that makes your
business special, thus increasing your visibility and sales.
1. Innovate. Innovate, Don't Imitate! Look at your successful
competition (note, "successful" competitors are the only types worth studying) and do what the next logical
thing is for them
to do. Innovative business owners become industry leaders and they stand out in the crowd.
2. Plan. Do your business a favor and plan ahead for everything.
Plan for a shortage of favorite fragrance oil by having back-ups ready to go in a pinch. Plan for a computer crash by having a
supportive friend or business colleague lined up to allow you to borrow their computer when needed in an emergency. Plan for
the need to make changes to your business due to shifting
consumer demands by keeping up with industry trade information. Planning ahead for
unforeseen challenges in business allows you to continue to run your business even when things don't go the
way they are supposed to.
3. Develop a Mission Statement. All businesses should have a
concise mission statement that sets them apart from their competition. A mission statement capsulizes your business goals
and inspires people to conduct business with you. It also encourages people who work with and for you to conduct your
business affairs in a manner that is consistent with your
mission. You will find that your mission statement serves as a powerful reminder of why you are in business and is a great
way to help you maintain your focus. If you ever feel like you
are spinning your wheels, working furiously but accomplishing nothing, take a moment to re-align your activities with your
mission statement.
4. Network. The term can be intimidating. But networking is
really nothing more than surrounding yourself with people that encourage the growth of your business. I'm not speaking her of
chit chatting with those people. I'm speaking of developing and
maintaining relationships with those people that surround the issues associated with your businesses. They can be colleagues
in your industry, neighbors with small businesses, relatives encouraging relatives who provide helpful information about
being in business, etc. One of the best ways to network is by joining a trade organization that represents businesses in your
field. The personal and business relationships forged there not only encourage you personally, but often result in new and
lucrative business opportunities. To read "Schmooz
Or Loose," an article in which I was interviewed about the
importance of networking in last month's Small Business Depot, click here.
5. Create A Business Logo. A logo establishes consistency for
your business and allows consumers to readily identify you as unique. The price for development of a logo can range from
$150 to $300 if you do it yourself or hire a small business professional, or can run as high as several thousand dollars
(but don't pay this much!) Your logo should be simple and
adaptable to a variety of print and Web media so you can use it in advertisements, on your Web site, in
brochures, etc.
A good logo will allow your customers, competitors and new prospects to recognize you "right off the bat," before they even see your business name. It's worth the investment!
Next week, Part II will contain 5 other style tips.
4. Handmade Beauty Recipe ~ Brilliant Belly Balm
This very thick balm-like cream will soothe dry, itchy skin, especially as it stretches across the belly to accommodate
the little one growing inside. You can use plain distilled
water in place of the rose hydrosol if you are bothered by scents during your pregnancy. Makes about 3 ounces.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon each cocoa butter, jojoba oil and olive oil
1/2 tablespoon anhydrous lanolin
2 teaspoons beeswax
4 tablespoons rose hydrosol or distilled water
1 teaspoon borax
1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
1/2 teaspoon grapefruit seed extract (optional, extends shelf life) or preservative of your choice
Blending Procedure
Combine butter, oils, lanolin and wax in a heat proof cup. Place the cup inside a pan of boiling water and melt the
oils and waxes. Stir with a pop sickle stick, and once wax is
melted. Remove from heat. Place hydrosol (or water), borax and glycerin in a separate heat proof cup. Place the cup
inside a pan of boiling water until the borax dissolves. Stir with a pop sickle stick to ensure the mix. Remove from heat.
Using a hand-held electric mixer, begin mixing the oils and waxes. Add water mixture and blend on medium speed until
Brilliant Belly Balm forms, about 3 minutes. Pour into sterilized cosmetic jars and cap after a few minutes. Store in refrigerator between uses and dispense with a cosmetic
spatula or pop sickle stick to avoid dipping your fingers in the mixture and increasing chances of contamination. (This is especially important if you do not use a preservative.)
If you have a suggested recipe or trivia question you'd like to share, send it to Jenn@HandmadeBeauty.com. If we use either in an upcoming issue, we'll credit you!!
5. Administrative Notices ~ Please Read!!
~ We frequently receive requests from non-HBN members who are subscribed to the newsletter for usernames and passwords to access the password protected information at HBN's site. Please note that, while this newsletter is distributed free to anyone that subscribes (whether or not they are HBN members), usernames and passwords are issued only to businesses that join the Handmade Beauty Network. For more information on joining and obtaining a username and password for your business, click here.
~ Beginning next week, the Handmade Beauty Connection will be published on Mondays instead of Sundays. Look for your next issue on Monday, March 19, 2001.
Visit The Handmade Beauty Connection Archives.
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Donna Maria, Editor-In-Chief, DonnaMaria@HandmadeBeauty.com
Jenn Givler, Associate Editor, Jenn@HandmadeBeauty.com
The Handmade Beauty Connection
The Handmade Beauty Network | www.HandmadeBeauty.com
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