Handmade Beauty Connection
January 14, 2001
A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630
January 14, 2001
Vol. 2, Issue 2
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1. HBN Update ~ Welcome HBN Members!
2. Jenn Givler Appointed Associate Editor of the Handmade Beauty Connection Online Newsletter
3. Business Tip of the Month: Power Up ~ Excellence
4. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question ~ win a sample of pure vanilla oil (absolute) from Madagascar to warm your winter!
5. Handmade Beauty Product Review by Donna Maria
6. Handmade Beauty Recipe ~ Road Map Relief
1. HBN Update ~ Welcome HBN Members!
Welcome Renewing Members!! Thanks for your support!!
~ Sand Pea Herbal Soaps | Sandra Posey | Maryland
~ Aromaleigh, Inc. | Kristen Leigh Bell | New York
~ Isabella Rose Organic Essentials | Suzanne Brow | N.Jersey
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. Jenn Givler Appointed Associate Editor of the
Handmade Beauty Connection Online Newsletter
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jenn Givler, owner of Lavay Bath Products, as the Associate Editor of
the Handmade Beauty Connection. In this newly established
position, Jenn will assist with execution of editorial design, production, business development and other
operational endeavors of the Handmade Beauty Connection.
To read more about Jenn, her appointment and the contributions she will make to the Handmade Beauty Connection, please
click here to read
our news release.
Please send your writer inquiries, query letters, feedback and suggestions for new product reviews and articles to Jenn
at Jenn@HandmadeBeauty.com or call her at (610) 380-5981.
3. Business Tip of the Month: Power Up! ~ Excellence
Our first Power Up! article focused on Patience. Last month, we focused on how the Power Up! strategies of organization and weeding can help your business remain focused on the thoughtful pursuit of its goals. If you missed those articles, you can read the article on Patience here, and the article on Organization and Weeding here.
This month's focus is on the Power Up! principle of Excellence and why it's important to strive for it. Whether you have
a handmade beauty business or another kind of venture, it
is important to take consistent, targeted steps in the direction of excellence in all phases of your business.
While we may all have different notions of what excellence is, we can certainly agree on one thing it is not.
Excellence is not perfection. A business cannot be perfect because it is managed by imperfect people. But
the fact that we cannot attain perfection does not excuse us from trying to attain excellence. What does this mean
in practical terms? It will vary from business to business, but here are some hallmarks of an excellent business.
1. An Excellent Business Treats Customers Like Fine China
One of the most consistent observations I have made over the years is that the most successful businesses are the ones
that take steps to consistently value their customers, no matter what the cost. There is no excuse for a business
owner's failure to return customer phone calls or email
messages. Aside from quality products, one of the main reasons your customers will return to you instead of your
competition is that you let them know you appreciate them.
A call out of the blue, a quick email to say hello and see how you can be of service to them this month or even a
free gift to a customer that has referred new business to
you are ways you can let them know how much they mean to you.
2. An Excellent Business Owns Up To Its Mistakes
All businesses make mistakes because all people make mistakes. A very famous restaurant operated successfully in New York
for years before deciding to open a branch in Atlanta. But because they had not adequately tested the ovens or new
recipes, opening day was a disaster when their customers noticed that the food was not up to par. Rather than tell
their customers they were sorry and charge them for the food anyway, the owners ended up throwing out thousands of
dollars of food on their opening night and apologized to their customers table-by-table. They owned up to their
mistake, and it paid off. After taking a few days to regroup, they had a second grand opening and there were
lines around the block, mostly the same people who had been disappointed just days before. Their customers
gave them another chance because they had owned up to
their mistake. Your customers are smart, and will know when you are trying to pull the wool over their eyes. Own
up to any mistakes quickly and they are usually happy to
give you a chance to make things right.
3. An Excellent Business Manages Its Time Wisely
Time management is one of the keys to excellence, not only in business but in life. If a business is not focused on its
priorities, setting aside adequate and predictable times to
accomplish them, it will not only lack excellence, it will also fail. Early on in my business, I kept a million tasks
in my brain, accomplishing them one at a time when I either had the time or simply when I felt like it. That worked,
but I was consistently playing catch up, rushing to complete tasks that I had not set aside adequate time to complete.
Today, I have a task list for every day of the week. For example, certain times are set aside to call on HBN members,
other times are reserved for business planning, other times are spent writing and editing this newsletter and responding
to your feedback, and other times are set aside for preparing remarks for public speaking engagements. That does not mean
that I ignore emergencies when they occur; a small business must always be fluid and flexible. But barring an emergency,
no matter what the tasks, setting aside specific times to accomplish them ~ and sticking to your schedule ~ is one of
the keys to business success.
4. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question
Last Week's Question: One of the season's hottest handmade beauty and relaxation spa treatments this season is an Ayurvedic indulgence said to alleviate mental stress and nervous tension. The treatment involves the continuous and rhythmic pouring across the third eye (an area on the forehead) of warm sesame oil.
Last Week's Answer: Shirodhara
This Week's Question: In the 1970's, while starring as the only African American in the soap opera "Another World," this woman had no choice but to use the show's make-up, which was designed for skin that was much lighter than hers. Determined not to have a "chalky" appearance on national television, she mixed together several products from different lines to create make-up that was perfect for her chocolate-caramel colored skin. She now owns a successful make-up and cosmetics company servicing the specific skincare needs of women of color.
To win this week's prize, a sample of pure vanilla oil (absolute) from Madagascar to warm your winter, be the first to provide the full name of this inspiring entrepreneur.
Please read the contest rules 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.
5. Handmade Beauty Product Review by Donna Maria
Honey Dream Cream by Kathleen Lewis Beauty Worldwide
4 oz. ~ $25
Back in September before the dry, cold winter weather set in, I reviewed this wonderful handmade Honey Dream Cream by HBN
member Kathleen Lewis Beauty Worldwide. If you missed that review, you can read it
here.
I mentioned then that I was looking forward to using the cream on my skin when winter arrived, and I was right!
While I have used the cream occasionally for several months,
one morning last week, after a warm shower, I slathered a generous amount of Honey Dream Cream all over my body and
then rested for about 15 minutes to let it sink in. The
cream had retained its softened butter texture and had not separated at all. The honey aroma was still warm and
soothing and I noted several times throughout the day that
my skin felt protected and nurtured. That night as I dressed for bed, I could still smell the light honey scent
on my body. If your skin is suffering from the winter blues, Honey Dream Cream may be the cure.
Honey Dream Cream is available from Kathleen Lewis Beauty Worldwide, and you can contact her by
visiting HBN's online Member
Directory.
6. Handmade Beauty Recipe ~ Road Map Relief
I sometimes tease my husband because the back of his legs look like the little lines on a road map. He recently took
a trip to Africa to help film a documentary, so before he left, I made a batch of Road Map Relief in the hopes that it would help keep his skin moisturized in the heat of
the desert sun. He reported back that it worked like a charm, so if you have road maps, this may be the cure for
you too!
Road Map Relief (yield @ 9 ounces)
Phase A (Oil Phase) Ingredients
10 grams beeswax
2 grams stearic
50 grams shea butter
62 grams coconut oil (refined)
62 grams olive oil (I used extra virgin)
Phase B (Water Phase) Ingredients
100 grams distilled water
16 grams vegetable glycerin
8 grams borax
8 grams grapefruit seed extract (optional to extend shelf life)
Aromatic Oils (this is one of my husband's favorite blends; some skin types may be irritated by cinnamon and nutmeg, so
feel free to substitute your own favorites)
20 drops mandarin essential oil
12 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil
10 drops cedar essential oil
2 drops nutmeg essential oil
Combine Phases in separate heat proof (I use Pyrex) 16 oz. glass measuring cups. Place each Phase in a separate double
boiler to warm water/borax and melt shea butter and waxes. When completely melted, use an electric mixer to combine the
two Phases, pouring Phase A into Phase B. Mix until Road Map Relief is thick and creamy. Add Aromatic Oils last and stir to
incorporate. Pour into clean lotion bottles. Take a warm
winter-time bath, enjoy a cup of tea and apply this rich lotion to the driest skin. Shake before using. Enjoy!!
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!!
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
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