2. HBN Member Success Spotlight: White Lotus Aromatics

This week's HBN Member Success Spotlight shines on HBN member White Lotus Aromatics, a California-based importer and distributor of exotic aromatic oils from around the world, including attars, absolutes, essential oils and so much more!

Member Success Spotlights are one of the many benefits of HBN membership. To learn more about Country Herbals by Andrea and all of the other HBN members profiled in HBN's Success Spotlights, click here.

3. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: The winner of last week's contest was Suzanne Buckles of El Cajon, California. Suzanne won generous samples of mint essential oils, courtesy of Rainbow Gardens!!

Last Week's Question: I am a white powder, a common filler used in foundations and color cosmetics. Since I am a naturally occurring and abundant mineral, my cost is low. I am easy to work with and my texture is soft and silky when I am properly prepared for use in cosmetics. Despite my benefits, there is a lot of controversy about me because studies have shown that I can contribute to ovarian and lung cancer.

Last Week's Answer: talc 

This Week's Question: According to physician and aromatherapist Daniel Pénoël, a relatively newly "discovered" essential oil from the Melaleuca family, grown in northern New South Wales, contains chemical components that make it especially suitable as an antibacterial agent. Also, it's high content of linalool makes it very calming, and thus, desirable for use in full body massage.

To win this week, be the first to state the full, complete and correct Latin name (including genus and species) of the
plant from which the oil is extracted, *and* its common name, and win a bar of Mint Julep handmade soap, courtesy of HBN member Country Herbals by Andrea.

Please read the contest rules here before submitting your entry. Put "TRIVIA CONTEST ANSWER" in the subject line or your answer will not be considered.

While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner will be notified by email and their name posted at HBN's home page.

This week's guest writer is HBN member Jenn Givler of Lavay Bath Products. Before starting her company, Jenn worked as a public relations associate for a business consulting firm, where she learned the value of continuing education for small business owners. Jenn is also the associate editor of the Handmade Beauty Connection. Take it away, Jenn!!

Are you up on the latest trends in your industry? Whether you own a small handmade toiletries business or a multi-million dollar .com company, it’s important to stay on top of trends in your industry. Staying on top of trends means keeping up to date on what your customer base is looking for now, and what they will be looking for within the next six months to a year. It also means keeping yourself educated. So where do you get information like that? How do you find out what customers are interested in, and what they will want in the near future?

Here are several tips to help you stay on top of your industry.

1. Read, Read, Read. And then read some more! One of the most important things you can do for your business is read. What should you be reading? Trade journals are a good place to start. Not only do trade journals give you vital information regarding the current state of the industry, but they provide you with a continuous source of what’s up and coming. There are even a few trade journals that you can subscribe to for free to get you started. Check out these web sites to see if you qualify for a free subscription: 

www.happi.com
www.soapandcosmetics.com
www.freebizmag.com

There are literally hundreds of publications you could subscribe to. Others might include general business publications like Entrepreneur, Success, or Smart Business.

2. Check Out The Competition. Another thing to help keep you on top of trends in the industry is checking in on your competition. This means visiting their stores and web sites, and maybe even purchasing a product or two. It’s always good to see what others in your industry are doing. What products they are coming out with, how their products compare to yours, what they feel like, how they are packaging them etc... 

3. Go To The Source – Your Customers. Always stay in touch with your customers. When someone places an order, ask her what her needs are and what she would like to see from you in the future. This can be done in the form of an e-mail, a phone call, or in person. Customers love to give feedback, and if you add a product to your line that she requested, make sure you let her know!

Staying current is important to the success of your business. As a business owner, it’s not only important to know current trends, but also to stay educated.

Would you like to be a guest writer? If so, send your contribution to Jenn@HandmadeBeauty.com.

Designed to inspire, encourage and coach you to create the life you love! Tapes Now Available:

1. Legal & Regulatory Challenges Facing The Handmade Toiletries Industry Today: Applying Yesterday's Laws To Today's Marketplace. Includes the latest on cosmetics, trademark and Internet law. Perfect for online toiletries and aromatherapy businesses! 2 90-minute tapes. To order, click here.

2. Planning NOT To Fail: How to Prepare A Business Plan That Positions You For Success!! Handmade toiletries/aromatherapy centered business planning tape with tips for making the most of your small business. Selected by the College of DuPage for use in their continuing education aromatherapy course!! 1 60-minute tape. To order, click here.

3. Audio Tapes Of Several HBN Beauty Calls™ are now available, including Aubrey Hampton (preservatives & the FDA inspection process), Melody Upham (transitioning from manufacturer to supplier, general business tips) and Kristen Leigh Bell (selecting a logo and graphics artist, helpful marketing tips). For details on these tapes and how to order them, click here.

6. Handmade Beauty Product Recipe: Almond Oat Cleansing Meal

This easy dry mix of natural ingredients is a snap to make ahead of time and travels well so you can take it with you anywhere. Yield: 2 applications 

Ingredients

1 teaspoon almond meal (finely powdered almonds)
1 teaspoon kaolin or other clay
1 teaspoon oat powder (finely powdered oats)
1 teaspoon honey powder
1/2 teaspoon borax
3 tablespoons water, tea or hydrosol 

Blending Procedure

Step 1. Combine all ingredients. If planning to use right away, mix them in a small bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of distilled water, your favorite skin-loving herbal tea or the hydrosol of your choice. Mix well. (Sometimes, I substitute 1 tablespoon of whipping cream or milk for the liquid.)

Step 2. If making for use later, combine the ingredients and store in a zip lock plastic bag or other container until ready to use. Add the water, tea or hydrosol when ready to use and stir well to combine. I like to store this mixture in small plastic zip lock bags. When I'm ready to use one, I just put the liquid right in the bag, seal it and mix it in the bag. I dispense the product straight from the bag. What could be more convenient!??

Step 3. Before using Almond Oat Cleansing Meal, allow it to rest for about 5 minutes so the liquid ingredients can be
absorbed by the oats, clay and honey powder. Then, massage a generous amount gently across dampened face and neck skin to cleanse. You can leave some on as a mask if you'd like. After it dries (about 5-10 minutes), rinse well with warm water. Pat excess moisture from skin and follow with toner, a spritz of hydrosol and moisturizer.

Step 4. Remember that you can always double, triple, quadruple, etc., each dry ingredient proportion to make more of this mixture.

7. Handmade Beauty Product Review by Donna Maria

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