RE: Professional Associations

[Guest guest]

I'd like to hear people's thoughts on this subject as well.

I am not a member of a professional asociation with regard to soapmaking, but

have been looking into it and want to make sure it is worthwhile before I

take the membership plunge.

Thanks!

Lorrie

> How many people here are a member of a professional association in

> regards to their soapmaking/toiletry business?

>

> How do you feel that you benefit from being a member of the

> organization? Do you feel that your money is well spent, and not just

> a tax write-off?

>

[Guest guest]

hmmmmmmmm very good question...i belong to quite a few organizations some i

think all i pay for is the plaque i have on my wall lolol....and one realllly

doesn't do all that i thought it would...but i believe you get what you put

into it ...if you are thinking of joining a group .. i would talk to people

who belong ..and see what they say...ask them what they feel they get out of

it ...but on the other hand...i believe you should belong to some biz

organizations.. cause you can bounce ideas off of each other...one

origination i belong to i don't get a lot out of the meetings..but i have

made some really good friends that we meet once a week to talk about biz and

problems and sometimes it feels good to talk to someone who understands what

you area going though.....last Tuesday we sat and complained about high rent

prices ...and by the end of breakfast.. i was carrying her biz cards in my

shop and she was going to put some candles in her's lolololo....

i don't know if i helped at all ..but those are my thoughts

Patti

[Guest guest]

I have some strong feelings about professional organizations. I used to

belong to the Handmade Soapers Guild but got nothing for my membership and

quit. The guild has been in an uproar for several years now and has

changed leadership MANY times over. I would investigate THOROUGHLY before

jumping into that one.

I now belong to http://www.handmadebeauty.com/index.asp the Handmade Beauty

Network and am very pleased. Lots of links, suppliers, discounts,

insurance deals, special opportunities to chat with knowledgeable people in

the field, deals on advertising. Donna Marie, who owns it, is a wonderful

person, very helpful and easily approached. She runs a tight ship but has

a successful organization to show for it. Many legal issues have been

resolved for her members because she is an attorney and knows where to look

for answers. She has helped me get several wholesale orders and lots of

exposure for Thimbleberry Hill. Membership is not cheap ($100 a year) but

worth it to me.

The woman that was the Office

manager/treasurer/Secretary/webmaster/etc/etc/etc of the Guild has now quit

and formed her own organization. Something like Botanical Elements or

Botanical Essentials. She says it's just a hobby but who knows? I was

rather put off by the nasty attitude she had as secretary etc of the Guild

so was not interested in joining her group. Don't know anything about

it. You may find it helpful, though.

I have gotten a lot for my money from HBN. I feel strongly that we need to

act professionally, educate the public regarding the wonderful qualities of

our products, and bring soapmaking to the forefront of the toiletries

industry. Trade organizations give us a chance to present ourselves as a

force in this industry. Strength in numbers.....

Down from my soapbox,

Lizz

[Guest guest]

Lizz

Thanks for the input on the Handmade Beauty Network. I'll

have to keep that in the

back of my mind. I'm in the same boat with Colleen. We both

are not renewing our

membership in " that other " organization. I can't keep up

with all the personnel that quit

or get fired, as is the case with the office

secretary/manager. I rec'd an email from her promoting

her new organization. According to the email she was fired.

Anyway, I didn't get much

out of that organization and got fed up with all the

nit-picking, problems, etc. that I read

in all the emails every day.

I have a question for you regarding your statement that Donna Marie

helped you get

many wholesale accounts. Can you elaborate on that a little? Are you

saying

that she helped educate you as to HOW to get wholesale

accounts or did she refer

customers to you? Just curious here.

Thanks

Re: Professional Associations

I have some strong feelings about professional organizations. I used to

belong to the Handmade Soapers Guild but got nothing for my membership

and

quit. The guild has been in an uproar for several years now and has

changed leadership MANY times over. I would investigate THOROUGHLY

before

jumping into that one.

I now belong to http://www.handmadebeauty.com/index.asp the Handmade

Beauty

Network and am very pleased. Lots of links, suppliers, discounts,

insurance deals, special opportunities to chat with knowledgeable people

in

the field, deals on advertising. Donna Marie, who owns it, is a

wonderful

person, very helpful and easily approached. She runs a tight ship but

has

a successful organization to show for it. Many legal issues have been

resolved for her members because she is an attorney and knows where to

look

for answers. She has helped me get several wholesale orders and lots of

exposure for Thimbleberry Hill. Membership is not cheap ($100 a year)

but

worth it to me.

The woman that was the Office

manager/treasurer/Secretary/webmaster/etc/etc/etc of the Guild has now

quit

and formed her own organization. Something like Botanical Elements or

Botanical Essentials. She says it's just a hobby but who knows? I was

rather put off by the nasty attitude she had as secretary etc of the

Guild

so was not interested in joining her group. Don't know anything about

it. You may find it helpful, though.

I have gotten a lot for my money from HBN. I feel strongly that we need

to

act professionally, educate the public regarding the wonderful qualities

of

our products, and bring soapmaking to the forefront of the toiletries

industry. Trade organizations give us a chance to present ourselves as

a

force in this industry. Strength in numbers.....

Down from my soapbox,

Lizz

[Guest guest]

>I have a question for you regarding your statement that Donna Marie

>helped you get

>

>many wholesale accounts. Can you elaborate on that a little? Are you

>saying

>

> that she helped educate you as to HOW to get wholesale

>accounts or did she refer

>

> customers to you? Just curious here.

>

>

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

>

Donna Marie and her organization certainly did educate me about all aspects

of this business. By bringing sales opportunities to my attention I have

been able to send samples, or call someone, or contact in some way and they

have turned into sales! Quite often she contacts members with certain

skills to contact people who have contacted her. For example, once she

asked all of us that do CP/HP goat milk soap to sent samples to her. She

forwarded it to someone looking for gm soaps. They liked mine and sent a

wholesale order. Another time she put out a call (in the newsletter) for a

special soap for review. I happen to make that soap and followed

up. Ended up with a very nice review of my soap line in the Suds Report

ezine. Someone read it and emailed me for details....another customer!

Also, check and see if the insurance deals she has worked up are better

than what you have now. I think they are RLI.

There is a get-together in the land/DC area. I've never looked into it

so can't help there.

Many suppliers give members a 10% discount. Not a huge discount, but every

penny helps and many of these suppliers are small and can't afford much

more. I figure that the discount helps defray the costs of shipping.

HTH,

Lizz

[Guest guest]

I may have missed this post but which Professional Association are you

referring to. Thanks, La Shonda

[Guest guest]

La Shonda

Are you asking which one we're considering joining or the

one that we DID

belong to?

Re: Professional Associations

I may have missed this post but which Professional Association are you

referring to. Thanks, La Shonda

[Guest guest]

, I am referring to the one with the $100 and if you refer 4 individuals

you get your money back..Thanks...La Shonda

[Guest guest]

> Offer another benefit to their members.......getting credit

>on your next membership

>

> for referring new members to them. Or do they already do

>that?

:

Darn! That would be great if Donna Marie did that! I might have gotten

two credits!

Lizz

[Guest guest]

Lizz,

I'd give you the third credit. Let me know if she really does that...if

anybody knows for sure.

Lorrie

> Darn! That would be great if Donna Marie did that! I might have gotten

> two credits!

>

> Lizz

>

[Guest guest]

> Lizz, do you know? The reason I bring that up is this. If

>we get 4 of us to

>

> join, we could join cheaper. One person could initially join

>at the $100 price.

No, , I don't know. Sounds like a plan, however. Why don't you ask

Donna Marie? Maybe you wouldn't want to give ALL the details.....maybe

just the gist.

Lizz

[Guest guest]

At 06:33 PM 2/27/2003, you wrote:

>Lizz,

>I'd give you the third credit. Let me know if she really does that...if

>anybody knows for sure.

>Lorrie

Donna Marie does refund your $100 if you get three new members. I don't

know if this is in the three months of my renewal so maybe I'm not

eligible. Anyway... I can't apply. The new member mentions someones name.

Lizz