Filling the Soap Rack

This past weekend wasn't a weekend for creating great new soaps, but instead, for replenishing out-of-stock wares.  After the beating my rack took between holiday sales and filling my private label accounts, my soap rack is looking very bare.  Well, it was, anyway.  Take a quick peek at some of the offerings that are soon to be available again.

That lovely natural-colored soap on the left is a fresh batch of Lemongrass Sage Beer Soap, one of the newest offerings from Sara's Soaps 'n Such.  This divinely wonderful soap has a luxurious lather, a clean spa scent and moisturizes your skin like nobody's business.  Its rougher looking companion there is the beginning of a new soap concept, courtesy of my mother-in-law, Mary Ann.  Each of those bars has a kickin' lather (seriously, the bubbles rose FOUR INCHES above the top of my soap pot!) and the silkiest feel I've felt in ages.  They're scented with Purple Sandalwood, an exotically earthy fragrance.  And the new concept?  Stay tuned! :)

What soaps would you love to see me offer this year?  Any particular liquids or scents?

Back to Work

Break is over and it's back to the grind for us.  Oh, but was it hard!  We got started a day later than previously expected, because we had the opportunity to go see "Frozen" (highly recommend it!) yesterday.  This morning the temperatures were - I swear - the CoLdEsT here in recorded history.  Suffice it to say, cocooned under the covers with a 12-pound furry space heater beside me, and I didn't want to get up at all!

But get up we all did at long and at last.  As my fuzzy slipper-clad feet hit the floor of the lower level, a new excitement stole over me, and that excitement has continued to grow throughout the day.  Following 2013's series of business disappointments that I lay completely at the feet of the economy catching up with everyone, it would be so easy for me to be discouraged, to quit, to liquidate my business and call it a day.  But I'm no quitter!

I usually have a strong sense of how business will roll through the year, or, more importantly, how I'm going to roll with my business, and this year is no different.  I'm starting the year with better boundaries on myself.  I'm going to lower some of my walls to enable others to help me when I need it, as well as ask for help when I need it.  (Hey, even the Lone Ranger had Tonto, right?)  Another thing I'm doing with intention is put boundaries on myself.  I have to discipline myself better in order to grow my business, and I'm starting with this week's Indie Beauty Network's Success Call.  I have to give up an hour or two of TV to take part, and unfortunately, in doing so, I'll have to give up my best friend's and my weekly tradition of watching our favorite Tuesday night shows together virtually, but it's not every week.  It's not like I can't catch the shows in reruns or online, too.

While I don't think 2014 will be MY YEAR (I'd seriously make that blink if I could), I feel strongly that the steps and action plans I'm going to put into effect this year will provide an incredible foundation for next year to be MY YEAR.  I feel like I'm gearing up for absolutely amazing things to happen, and how exciting it will be to have you along for the ride!

Is 2014 going to be your year?  Or is this year simply the start of something grand for you?

Related articles

• Frozen bubbles and instant slushies: What to do when it's really cold outside (video)
• Give me Frozen Bubbles or Give me Death!

Victorian Heart Soaps

Mary, head of Girly Arts Made by ME, made these lovely Victorian heart soaps.  I just LOVE the colors, don't you?  White and red are perfect for you traditionalists out there, while the black soaps make lovely additions for those who prefer a more Goth or Steampunk look.

Mary's next step will be to give each heart a bit of mica embellishment, highlighting the raised motif with a light dusting of red, pink, green, gold and/or bronze sparkle.  They're going to look sooo pretty when she's done!  These soaps bear a light, delightful rose fragrance and would look absolutely lovely in your powder room or bathroom.

I'll be featuring more "loving" delights in the weeks to come, so keep watching.  What types of treats would you like to receive for Valentine's Day?  (This goes for both men and women.)

Related articles

• Our Changing Meanings of Valentine's Day

How Small Businesses Help Communities

Drama Llama soap (Photo credit: Sara's Soaps)

I am coming off a tremendous mixed bag of a holiday selling season.  My shows were slower than usual, but my seasonal online sales were smokin'!  I'm grateful for every dollar I earned.  I want to start this new year right by helping people realize how much small businesses help their local communities.

I sell soaps and body products.  From there, I portion out a percentage of my sales for my own pay.  I use that money to go shopping for my family and for gifts for people.  I pay local taxes out of that money.  Then I may meet a friend for coffee at our local coffee shop.  I buy cupcakes for my daughters' birthdays from the local indie bakery.  I'll pick up some locally grown produce for my family's dinner.  My girls and I get haircuts.  These people have to pay local taxes from what they earn, too.

All this money works together for our community.  Several local small businesses sponsor youth sports teams, something they wouldn't be able to do without income themselves, and without that sponsorship, kids might have to go without uniforms for soccer, baseball/softball, football or cheerleading.  The money our town makes upkeeps our roads, improves our schools (which need all the help they can get!), draws movie and TV production companies to our area, and builds up our downtown area.  It's a pretty awesome domino effect, all because a bunch of people decided to buy some soap.  When you "shop small," 70% of that income stays in the local community.  This simply doesn't happen with your big box stores selling products which are mass-produced overseas.

Buy local, support local.

Related articles

• The Top 3 Ways to Get Consumers to Shop Small
• Show Your Local Community You Care
• 10 Reasons to Shop Local

Happy New Year!

We want to take a few moments to wish all our lovely followers, friends and customers a most joyful, prosperous and blessed New Year!  We look forward to serving you in the coming year with more of the great soaps and body products you've come to love, and maybe surprise you with some new treats throughout the year.

Warm wishes and much love from all of us here at Sara's Soaps 'n Such!

Related articles

• Happy New Year, 2014
• Happy New Year
• Looking forward to Happiness in 2014