Articles

For a small business, time is everything and is your most valuable asset. Anyone who's run a small business understands that effective use of your time is critical to your success.

Sugar is the common name for sweet, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are found in food. There are many types of sugar derived from many different sources. Sugars are located in the tissues of most plants and are obtained from sugarcane and sugar beet via commercial extraction. Historically, sugar was relatively unimportant until American Indians discovered methods of turning sugarcane juice into granulated crystals which were easier to store and to transport.

Fragrance blending is becoming our new obsession! It is so satisfying to imagine a scent and then create it. This month we were inspired by flower gardens, food gardens and meditation gardens. If you love floral, you’ll love these fragrance blends!

You’ve heard of the benefits of using social media to market your business, but how do you execute an effective strategy that doesn’t require you to be a web guru—or consume your time? Here’s the lowdown on how to support your business with social media effectively, and strategically. 

This article answers commonly asked questions regarding Essential Oils, how they are processed and how they are used.

Part of running a profitable small business is how well you can maximize the value of your own time, to ensure that your working hours are dedicated to producing real and impactful results. Here are a few simple ways to ensure that you approach your workdays with mental focus, maximum energy, and also as few distractions as possible.

Creating a product line extension for holiday soap making or other beauty products can boost your profitability and increase average order values throughout the season. And the best part is that you don't have to heavily invest in new products or expose your business to financial risk. Instead, use data-backed research to grow your holiday product offerings in a way that is smart and effective. Here's how to do it. 

This month we explore seizing, a phenomenon in which an oil/lye mixture solidifies so quickly after mixing that it is too thick to transfer easily from the mixing pot to the molds. While there is nothing functionally wrong with the resulting soap, seizing leaves little time for artistic techniques like layering and swirling, and in a large batch there may be insufficient time to fill the last molds before the soap hardens completely. Fortunately, the cause of seizing is easily understood, and simple tests can identify the culprits.

Viva Magenta, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2023, is a vibrant and expressive color that’s described as “brave and fearless,” “rooted in nature,” and “a new signal of strength.” One look at this bold, vital shade of red and your mind will go wild with the creative possibilities.

Learn how to make laundry soap in this short 'Make It Handmade' video. Laundry soap only needs three basic ingredients: a scented bar of cold process soap, sodium borate and sodium carbonate. We created our laundry soap by grating the soap first. We then mixed it with the two other ingredients, and finally pulverized it in a food processor. We finished making the DIY laundry soap by packaging it in white zip pouches, and included a small scoop.

Preservatives keep our products safe from microbial invaders like bacteria, mold, yeast, and fungus. When we make anything that contains water or may be exposed to water, we must include a broad spectrum preservative – one that prevents all manner of ick - lest we face the heartbreak of a fungus or bacteria lled product that’s not only gross, but dangerous.

Most of us have witnessed or experienced the affects of bullying or being bullied in children; it can be devastating. But the bully experience is not limited to children; adults are bullied too. It happens in the workplace as well as in personal relationships.