Interview With Jen

I was interviewed by Jen Adkins of About.com a month or so ago and forgot to post it. (huh?) Well, I guess I've been busy.

Here is the interview if you want to go there to read it.

And thank you, Jen for the press!

Here it is as I have copied it, too:

Interview with Joanna Schmidt, Entrepreneur and Blogger

Owner of Product Body and The Soap Bar Blog

By Jen Adkins, About.com Guide

As the founder of Product Body, Joanna Schmidt is a pro when it comes to creating sweet bath and body products. I've always been a big fan of her shop. Even before I tried my hand at soap making, I knew I needed to pick Joanna's brains a bit. Especially because she's busy with her second love, The Soap Bar blog, where I spend endless hours monthly. She shares with us her experience creating bath and body products, soap and running a business.

Tell us a little bit about how you got started making soap, and what your big break was. I started The Soap Barblog because I had a love for handmade soap and found a void online. I was looking for soap blogs with information, reviews, lessons…a hodgepodge of information and fun, but I couldn’t find anything like it, so I started one.

I also believe, as a small business owner, having sent my bath and body products to bloggers all over the country, that those bloggers really were the folks that gave me the press I needed to jump-start my company’s business. If it hadn’t been for the blogger’s trying the samples I sent and them and raving about them, I wouldn’t have gotten the customers who found us and who we still have!

OK, so back to your question… I never intended to make soap, but after 7 months writing the blog, I was given so much encouragement from my readers, that I felt a sense of community and excitement by the whole idea of it, that I went for it and I haven’t ever looked back. I love soap making - it’s one of my favorite things to do.

Can you remember the first time you made a soap/skin care item? Was it a success? Tell us about it. I don’t remember the first, but one of my first fondest memory was making the chocolate sugar scrub we used to make. Mmmm. It had organic cane sugar, exotic oils, Ghiardelli’s bittersweet chocolate and essential oils. It was decadent and sinful.

I stopped making it because my customers were complaining that their white towels were getting stained from the fine particles of chocolate that were left on the skin along with the light sheen of oil. My quiet-in-my-head answer was, “Shhh, use a darker towel, it is awesome and you go to bed smelling like a box of fine chocolate!” So it was a success AND a failure.

When you were a newbie, where did you get your info? Can you recommend any books or online websites to check out?Like you, I followed information and the wisdom of David Fisher on About.com, used soapcalc.com for my lye calculator so I could figure out how my oils and butter would change my soaps hardness, conditioning, lather, etc, and read blog after blog, watched video tutorial after tutorial. I am a information hog/whore, call me what you will. When I am interested in learning something, I have an insatiable thirst. I can’t help it.

• Video I used to learn how to line my mold.
• Cold process soap photo tutorial
• Hot process soap photo tutorial

Share with us your biggest soap making mess-up? I think it was my first batch, actually! I honestly don’t know where I got the recipe. It was a basic one. The next day when I went to unmold it, it was solid on the outside and jiggly on the inside. I asked my readers for help. Answers. Someone asked me what lye calculator I used, and I had no idea what they were talking about. Hahaha! I obviously really did not do all my homework. I was given some tips, I cooked it up, added water, some extra lye and made some awkward soap. It worked okay, but that was a lame attempt at soap. Was it the worst, though? No, I’ve had to chuck a few batches, but this one was the most interesting with the jiggly interior.

What about the product or recipe that you are most proud of?I think I am most proud of my soaps. I make bath and body products and the Ski Bomb is awesome, everyone loves it, but the soaps are more ME. I can put me into them, I am proud of them.

What supplies would you recommend a newbie have on hand before thinking about making soap? Dedicated soap making stuff like a pitcher for the lye, a plastic spoon, a large glass mixing bowl or large plastic pail, a stick blender, one or two silicone spatulas, kitchen gloves, shop goggles, glass measuring cups, a scale, a microwave or a double boiler, soap molds…. I know I must be forgetting something but you definitely need all these things before you even get to the oils, butters, distilled water, lye, fragrances, clays, botanicals, micas, and anything else you want to adorn your soap with.

What are your favorite supply stores?

Oh, I have so many and I wish they were all under one roof! It kills me to order from 6 different suppliers and pay six different shipping charges. Awful! Some of my favorites are:

• Soaper’s Choice/Columbus Oils
• Brambleberry
• Southern Soapers
• Majestic Mountain Sage
• Camden Grey
• Snowdrift Farms
• Chemistry Store
• Coastal Scents

These are just some of the suppliers I use regularly. I love Nashville Wraps for tissue paper and Paper Mart has wonderful grosgrain ribbon for a great price (25 yrds for under $2!). And then I like going toMichael’s to buy paper and specialty items for soap decorating ad holiday stuff.

You haven't been a soap maker for an extremely long time. How long was it from the day you made your first soap to the day you had your first sale? Because I already had a bath and body products company, it was a very easy. I made sure that my friends and family didn’t complain about anything before I would ever sell anything, but when I thought my soaps were ready, I had an easy go of it.

What challenges have you noticed when it comes to selling soap and skin care items? That people are extremely adamant about what they require for their skincare needs, but over the years I realized I can not meet everyone’s needs. I need to build what I think is high quality, and it will draw those who it draws.What 3 things do you wish you knew before you started making soap?

• 1. I wish I studied a little more before actually taking on making my first batch of soap (which is weird, because I really did think I had studied, too!)
• 2. I wish I knew how to make my own wooden soap molds so I could make any size or shape mold I want anytime I want.
• 3. I wish I had taken a class or known a soap maker /had a mentor that I could have watched in action before I took the plunge.

If you could convince someone to buy homemade soap vs. deodorant soap at the store, what would you tell them? I tell people that most commercial soaps are basically pressed detergent. Some commercial soaps add sodium laurel sulfate which is a surfactant that is a known irritant and they remove the glycerin made in soap to sell it separately - either for lotion manufacturers or to make glycerin soaps.

Handmade soap, on the other hand, is chock full of glycerin which is naturally occurring from the saponification process which is the chemical reaction caused by the lye water and the oils and butters combining. That’s what creates the skin loving combination of ingredients that make SOAP.

Of course you use your own soap and products religiously, I'm sure, but do you have any other favorite soap shops we should check out? I‘ve been excited about Haus Of Gloi lately. Britton is in her 20’s and I love the look of her soap, the design work, her style, the scents are to-die-for, and her photography is stunning. I think she’s unique and she will go places, Chica! Go check her out!

So there it is in its entirety. But if the links don't work, go check it out on about.com. :)

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Thrilled

Creme Fresh by Product Body

There is this online shopping place that stood out for me that had a dark backdrop, beautiful bath and body products, lovely soaps and unique offerings. In fact, this beautiful shop is where I discovered the steampunk artist that created the art that I used to base my tattoo on.... that I was so inspired by. All of the offerings were products that were made by independent artisans like me, so I thought I'd be in touch with owner and send samples and see if they might be interested in my soaps or products.

I wasn't that confident because, at the time, they were carrying Arcana, Villianess, and Haus Of Gloi, and my labels up against their labels are like Yin and Yang. Dark and light (even though I relate more with theirs at heart, shhh). Mine are a bit happyhappy joyjoy. But I contacted them nonetheless and promoted myself and asked to send samples. Laura said, "send one. That's fine."

I sent her a box with 3 full bars of soap and 4 or 5 slivers of other soaps, samples of scrubs and samples of Creme Fresh. I knew one sample wouldn't represent my company and if she didn't like the scent I chose for her, then I'd be out of the running. I know scents. Some are total turn offs. What works for me, can smell like hell to someone else.

Two weeks later, I get an email a mile long with lengthy feedback on each product I sent. What she liked and didn't like and why. But guess what? She wants to have me be another one of her soapy people. What an honor! She doesn't have that many and she has quite a following, so I do feel special that she likes my stuff as much as she does.

My new favorite online shop other than my own is Faery's Muse. And that is another place you can find us. They are in San Diego, so if you live out there, you might actually get your stuff much quicker than from us. ;) And it's already made!

The other thing is we discontinued Chocolate Dipped Orange on Product Body's website since we introduced Dark Chocolate Almond over a year ago, but Faery's Muse now has the exclusive on that scent as long as they carry our products.

Go check out the shop and go check out their other shop, Mystic Dreams, which carries beaded curtains, unbelievable chandeliers, and lots of unique home decor.

Oh! The other thing: Faery's Muse is carrying 6 oz jars of Crush On You for $12.00 which (right now), we do not sell.

Another reason to buy from her... especially if you don't want to buy the full pop.

;)

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Breathing

Life outside of the shop has been an adjustment, but I am feeling great about it. Really! I have had such a positive outlook on the whole thing, which I really never do. I usually look at the glass half empty when it comes to my own life, but not this time. I am feeling energy and creativity and I feel ready to be productive and work myself silly. I haven't gotten my system down yet, so my work efficiency level isn't perfected yet, but I am getting so much more done without customers walking in, or solicitors trying to sell me jewelry or chocolate or some auto place down the street wanting to do a deal with me and sell me a package where I can get 4 oil changes, brake pads and something else for only $69.99. (whatever). Then there are the browsers, who are waiting for their friends at the tattoo shop who are just killing time who have no intention of buying but like to smell things. Then, there are those random people that would occasionally pop in, like that crazy woman who came in with her little dog with the bugged out eyes and sat in my wicker chair and talked to me for 30 minutes about strange things while interrupting herself every so often telling me she wished her dog would run into traffic sometimes. I don't know if she was crazy or on drugs, but I think her state of being was not drug induced, sadly. It was permanent. That poor dog: Bugsy was his name with the bugged eyes. He was a bit sketched out. And rightly so.

Bugsy

I've caught up on my retail orders so if you are looking for your package it is en route! My wholesale orders will be cranked out and shipped out today, tomorrow and Friday except for the soaps I need to make, pour and cure. Because of the move, everything has been in "halt" mode for more than a week. Whether a delay is uncontrollable or not, I have guilt about them in my orders. My wholesale customers have become like friends to me. I care about them, so I hate it when they're disappointed.

They have been very patient and supportive. I love them!

And I have been so supported by all of you and I want to thank you for the undying support and comfort you have given me through this time. I believe it has a lot to do with my sunny outlook on closing the shop. I initially thought closing it indicated my failure, a total catastrophe. I don't see it like that at all now. I see it as my stepping stone; As my way to move forward because I couldn't focus or work hard enough to get enough done, so I was just treading water. Now I feel like I can make product - produce, produce, produce -- - if I need to... and right now, my wholesale customers, including the new ones, are needing the product they have asked for, so I better get moving and mix up the goods!

Thank you and hugs to you.

:)

xo Joanna

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Video of The Shop

This is an EIGHT minute video of my shop the day after we closed. I took this "silent movie" for myself so that if I ever feel like looking back at it and remembering it, I would have it.

Sadly, my video camera wouldn't hold a charge so I used my mother's FLIP video camera which worked great but has less than stellar high def capabilities. I walked around s-l-o-w-l-y. It's not very interesting and the shelves are pretty empty with products having being sold out, but you get the idea if you ever wanted to see the little shop of Product.

I'm feeling really good, by the way. I feel like the shop closing is a good thing because doors appear to be opening right in front of my eyes. But we'll see.


xo Jo

pssst! As I said, it's long and boring ...it really was for me. Historical documentation.

Last Day

Goodbye my shop.

kiss kiss.

On to new things. Back to old things. Open the door because here I COME BABY!

Emotional Shop Closing

Is has been a very emotional couple of weeks for me since our decision to close the store. Almost everyone that has come into the shop is a repeat customer and, while they are shopping, I've mentioned that we are closing the shop at the end of next week.

Their first reactions are usually worry and sadness.

"Why? What's wrong?" When I let them know I'm o.k., then they immediately say, "Oh no, where am I going to get your soaps, and smell them, and touch them?" ... "I can't go back, Joanna! It's all I use now....."

I love my customers. Apparently, they've gotten hooked on handmade soaps and smelling-before-buying. So I am gathering all of my local customers' names and email addresses and will contact them if I start going to a regular farmer's market or find a monthly location where I can display my soaps.

Today, one of my regular monthly customers came in and chatted me up with political conversation, thoughts on living in other countries, and ideas of a better life before we moved onto a soap chat. He always comes in alone after his shift at the hospital, buys 5 or 6 bars of different soap, talks about the world, his wife and grown up children, and jokes that being physically dirty is the reason he stopped in.

I have really loved my time at the shop for so many reasons, but in this post I want to thank all of the customers that came in because they were curious, dared to try one of my products or soaps, and came back. I loved meeting you. I loved talking to you. I wasn't pretending, except for the crazy guy with the hands like shovels that wouldn't leave the shop.
c r e e p y d u d e.

We are down to our last few days. Today was busy for me with organizing equipment and doing inventory. It wasn't a wildly busy retail day, but I told the customers about the shop and sure enough they scooped up a variety of soaps, fearing they wouldn't be able to smell them for awhile. "Can't live without these, Joanna....." Very sweet story: A 17 year old guy from the fishing shop two doors down came in for his mom "just because she was at home all day doing laundry and stuff and she'd probably like this stuff". Could there be a nicer kid? Dropped over $30 of his own money because he thought his mom was working hard at home. I can only hope my son stops to think like that when he's that age.

My heart has been doing the involuntary tightening twist these days and it's not been easy. The decision was a hard one and it was really sad at first, then brutal and heartbreaking, then it moved towards being realistic and reasonable and now I feel like it is absolutely the right decision and that it will really help me hone in on what I need to focus on with the business and life in general -- for now. The experience was incredible and I'd do it all over again. I have been wearing many hats for many years, but this balancing act was by far the most fun to "endure". Every day was a joy. I looked forward to getting to the shop every single day. There wasn't a day that I stared at the clock so I could go home.

I need to thank every single one of you who walked into the shop over the last fourteen months and changed my life. You know who you are. So.. as part of growth, both personally and professionally, I will hone in, focus, work harder than ever and make magic. This is what I need to do. But I do have you all to thank. You have touched me.

One more week in the shop. I will continue to keep you updated as we go, of course. Shop hours next week will be:

Monday through Friday: Noon - 6 pm for sure.

Saturday and Sunday we will be moving and cleaning (I think). If we can swing being open on Saturday we will be, but I just don't know...

Thank you.

xo

love, Joanna

Very Short Sale AND...We Have Some News

For our first sale of 2010 we're offering Crème Fresh at 10% off, from today through Monday, Jan 18th. Here's what we say on the site about it:

Ze brie and ze butter on ze baguette can’t hold a candle to our latest and greatest moisturizer, Crème Fresh. Smooth and silky, Crème Fresh sinks in quickly, moisturizes deeply, and leaves you feeling velvety soft. You have to use it to believe it. Ooh la la!

And now, it's offered in a new formulation that's slightly lighter but even more potent. Because in addition to the moisturizing and anti-aging properties of the grape seed and coconut oils, Crème Fresh is now made with a copious amount of aloe juice that helps heal damaged skin.

Want to grab some? Hit the site and use the coupon code creme10 during checkout to get your 10% discount.

Now about our store....

First, the bad news: we're closing our retail store. While we loved meeting and working with customers in person, it divided our attention, and balancing the store with the formulary work was taking its toll on both sides of the business. Combined with the slow economy, we just can't justify keeping the retail location open.

The good news is that we aren't going out of business. Not by any means. We still have a formulary and will continue to provide the same handmade, freshly formulated goodies to our retail and wholesale customers. So don't worry!

AND A HUGE THANK YOU! Every one of you that came over the past year made our shop and formulary a wonderful place to work; we thank you sincerely and look forward to many more years of providing you the soaps, scrubs and balms you love.


xoxoxox

We Are Back In 2010

Happy New Year to all!

After a very needed, long and wonderfully relaxing vacation here at Product Body, we are back today faced with a pile of orders, both from online and wholesale. This is great for us, thank you!!

I do want to let you know that we were cleaned out of products because we were open right down to the wire on Christmas Eve and folks were coming in for last minute gifts. The shelves are empty, so today, I have to whip up a ton of product to send to customers and to fill the shelves back up.

Luckily, I have some soaps that are due to be unveiled and brought to the floor....

So if you have an order placed with us, please have some extra patience and know that we are formulating your products and it will be fresh, fresh, fresh and we will ship it as soon as we can. We promise!

Again, happy new year and we thank you for being a part of Product Body for yet another year. We love you!!

***

Holiday Shop Closing Announcement

For all of you who can't stand being away from Product Body's Crush On You and soap and the new Creme Fresh, order today or you will have to wait until we return from vacation before we start formulating and shipping again.

Our physical store will be open 10 am until 7 pm today through Wednesday and then on Christmas Eve 11 am until 4 pm. After that we will be closed until January 5th. That is the day we will be returning to the shop/formulary so any orders that do come in will be sorted, and we will begin to formulate, but shipping for those orders will not begin to go out until Thursday January 7th or Friday January 8th because we will be making all fresh EVERYTHING, so you must be patient.

:)

We love you and thank you all for your support and patronage this year. Have a warm, wonderful holiday and a very safe New Year celebration.

I leave you with what I have always told my kids since they were itty bitty:

Surround yourself with people that make you feel good.

This isn't always possible during the holidays but it's something to think about for the new year. Have a happy, all!!

**

You Still Have Time To Order For Christmas!

You still have time to order for Christmas delivery. If you order now, we can still get products to you. We have to ship by Friday to play it safe, so if you order by THURSDAY, you can make it. That leaves you today and tomorrow. I will work my TUSH off and get that package to you. I promise you will get it before Xmas.

Everything is still handmade and fantastic. I will even throw in a free surprise.

:)

Shop away!

New Scent For The Winter

Ginger Milk Tea

 Steaming creamy milk tea with ginger and a whisper of clove.

We are only offering it in Crush On You and Creme Fresh for now.  ....Well..... I made a loaf of soap, but it won't be ready until mid January.  Pictures to follow when I cut the loaf.

I tell you, I am hooked on the scent, BIG TIME already.  It's my new favorite.

Our Gift Sets Are Apple Crispy And Ready

Last year our Figgy Pudding gift set was so wildly popular with all of our customers.  The apple crisp sugar scrub scent we created was raved about, so we have dedicated two entire gift sets this year based on our hand blended, signature secret sauce scent : Apple Crisp Gift Set and Apple Crisp Mini Set. 

Hot baked apples, drizzled in butter, sprinkled with brown sugar, cinnamon, graham cracker crumbs and a whisper of cloves.  Oh, you must try this set.  If you don't get the set for someone else this year, get one for yourself.  There are a limited number and we may not be offering this next year, so get 'em while they are fresh out of the oven!

Can you stand it?

Brine Thyself!

It does look like snow, but acts like the ocean to soothe, soften and take you away to a place of bliss. We've made a bottle of relaxation just for you to enjoy in your tub. 10 ounces of a magical mix. Sea salt, epsom salt, tapioca and fragrance.

Salt Snow... Fantastico!

Come see what all the fluff is about.

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Joy Of Statistics

Have you heard the big news?

It's very big for us. After serious number crunching and long, hard hours of back and forth between me and my husband/business partner, we have dropped our prices by 15-25%. This was a hard decision, but we believe that in these economic times that we all face and with the situation being what it is for so many of us, we need to put this company in a more accessible place without sacrificing quality. We hope that Product Body will be what you reach for when you need something and that it is easier because we brought it closer to you.


We love our customers and every email and phone call we get brings smiles and adds lifts under our toes and sparks energy into our very noisy muses, so thank you thank you thank you for your support and feedback.

You have no idea what joy it brings me, personally, every time you add a comment on my blog or send an email about an experience you had about a product you used and how it made you feel or what memories the scent evoked for you. You think I may not be listening or don't care? You are wrong. I read every word myself. I eat that stuff up. Maybe because it just brings me such joy to bring people such joy!

=)

Soaps On The Curing Rack

In the soap curing rack:


Soap : time the soaps are ready for sale

Pumpkin : Halloween
{with real pumpkin pulp with scents of pie, graham cracker crust and warm spices}

Cocoa Java : November 20th
{Caffeine packed! Made with real unsweetened cocoa and pecan praline coffee grounds, sweet, hot dark chocolate and a drop of vanilla}

Ruby Red Rock Star : November 20th
{A burst of freshly squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice. Pink topped with glitter.}

Rhubarb Yuzu Cocoa Butter soap : November 15th
{Moisturizing bar made with extra cocoa butter and babassu oil, scented with sweet garden rhubarb and tart yuzu grapefruit}


This is for now.

Stay tuned for more.

Bring It Home

...bring it on home to me....( Led Zepplin if you didn't already guess ;))

3/50. Great concept. Click to read it clearly.

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Mashed Potatoes?

We had our shea butter sugar scrub, Crush On You, photographed (by us of course, as usual) thinking we did a great job and how peaceful, spa-like and luscious it all looked. Well, Girl's Life (GL) wanted to do a give away with us a week or so ago. GL 's a magazine and blog that is targeted to 10-14 year olds. This I didn't know until after the giveaway started. I actually thought the audience was 14-17. So, on their blog, two comments mentioned that the Crush On You looked like mashed potatoes, so now every time I see this picture, I think of potatoes.

So sad and potatoey. You CAN tell me it doesn't look like potatoes, even if you lie to me. ;) Just lie to me.

On the flip side, it is the best damn scrub I have ever used. =0)

Closeouts are going going going...

photo credit twp (wire mesh materials)

You should check out our closeout section to see if anything floats your boat. Because we have changed sizes in some products or discontinuing smaller sizes, we are passing along the savings to you. We have discounted those items.

See what's left before they are gone!

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Our New Line Up

It took long, grueling hours and a number of disagreements, but we finalized the look of our containers and labels. Here is the Product Body family, with the Mama Bomb folded into it all nice and snug.

All cohesive-like:

The Product Body line is available here

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Changes

There will be changes coming with our products....

Some new things, some things gone for good. Stay tuned for our newsletter and I will update you here as well with the news and with photos.

A Thousand Thank Yous

We made it past 50 endorsements for Shine A Light! I am thrilled. We are into the first round of the "Judging Phase", I can't even believe it. Brad nominated Product Body and who knows?? Well, you never know. I'm sure thousands have entered, but Product Body sure could use the award money for marketing, staff (boy, I really could use help!!), a sales person... we could really be efficient!

We may be inspiring enough....

I love you! And so I give you a thousand thank yous and my promise to continue to try to be the best I can be and try even harder.

Shine A Light Small Biz Award. Can't Do It Without You.

Shine A Light Program is an opportunity of a lifetime for me and Product Body. Amex and NBC are asking people to recognize inspiring small businesses. I have until Sunday to collect at least 50 endorsements to qualify...to be in the running for a monetary prize so we can make Product Body go to the next step, to continue to bring you yummy body treats.

When you go to endorse Product Body, you do need to register. It will only take one minute of your day. I promise.

So if you'd be willing to help us, please register here: Shine A Light and then hit our story page and click the Endorse Now button on the upper left part of the page.

You can get to our story page directly by either going here, Product Body Shine A Light Profile Page or by clicking on the Nominations button, then using the search box and searching under Product Body.

This means the world to me. You have no idea.
Thank you.

ps: If you are really feeling crazy, tell the world and send the message out to nominate us, too!

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A Facelift

Product Body's homepage was redesigned and I am loving the colors, the treatments and the whole vibe. It needed to be brightened up, cheered up and simplified along with our slimming menu changes.

We hope you like the changes and the eye candy. Thanks to my husband for his talent, perseverance and his patience with my perfectionism, nit-pickiness with this-n-that, and my random thoughts through the process.

Go see it for yourself: Product Body Website

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Very Slimming

The shop looks so much nicer now from the front.
Must. Take. More. Pictures.
And my hair has grown. ;)

Being everything for everyone has put me and this company into a head spin. As much as I love to formulate new things and offer a million wonderful fragrances, I can not do that with the lack of staff and support I have in the current state we are in.

With that, we have decided to discontinue some products from our line and just focus on the products which are our best sellers.

We will be eliminating:

• Chez Salt
• Velvet
• Butter Scrub
• Bubble Rubble
• Tangerine Whipped Dream
• Coconut Milk Bath Soak
• Salt Bath

What we have on our shop shelves that are already made are on closeout on our website and when they are gone, they are GONE. Super discounted, some over 30% off. We will be offering new things for the holidays and we will bring in new things eventually, but for now, we will be offering the best of the best and we will NOT disappoint.

The Crush On You is amazing and is our very best seller. Apparently, some of you scrape the bottoms of your jars while you wait for your paychecks. I totally know how you feel, though because I can't live without it. I have to scrub my face with it every night, and I am addicted to the Baked Bread scent. Can't live without it, oh my gawd! It's THAT good.

The other thing is that we added some handmade soaps to our site. You can still see all of my soaps that are available on my Etsy shop, but if you want one transaction when you shop with us, we'll be offering more and more soaps as we go right there at the Product Body site.

So this is my update for now.

Hope this wasn't too much of a hit.

I still love you! And I'm still here. =)

End Of Summer Sale!

Yes. Summer is ending. There are only a few days left in August and then September rolls around, Labor Day comes and before you know it, Halloween will be creeping up on you. Yeah, you'll see!

So.... for the last few days in August we are offering 15% off of everything except Product Travels and Gift Certificates. It's the last yee haw of summer.

Coupon code is summersend

SO, use it, share it, use it again. It expires when August does!

My Etsy Shop

Because it is too hard for me, personally, to upload my ever changing soap and bath bomb products every week or so on Product Body's corporate website, I opened an Etsy shop where it is very easy for me to manage my own updates. I know that may sound lame, but because I don't make 6 of the same soaps all the time, I don't have standard listings.

I am having so much fun with soap making and bath bombing I can't even tell you. I would love you to periodically check out what I have to offer there because handmade soap is incredible. I make it all from scratch using fresh, nourishing oils, lye, water and the best fragrances I can find. Here's the address: http://productbody.etsy.com

Like I mentioned, the shop is constantly being updated, so what you see there today is not necessarily what you'll see there in three days. In about a week, I have a very pink Ruby Red Rock Star (tart ruby red grapefruit) coming due and she is fine and tart!

Lots of love from my soapy lab of smelly goodness!!

xo
Joanna

Beauty By The Batch

Have you checked this place out?

"Beauty By the Batch is dedicated to promoting the benefits of using handmade beauty, health and home care products to consumers seeking high quality products."

We are one of the featured artisans there and I am really proud to be a part of this new website. They have artisans listed, but they also have articles in their Personal Care Articles Library that are saturated with an enormous amount of information that we can all learn from.

=)

...don't be left out without the information

Vacation Notice

I am giving my notice. ;)

Product Body will not be formulating or shipping any more orders until we start processing orders again on August 11th. So if you haven't placed an order by yesterday, Friday July 31st, you will have to wait until August 11th to have your order processed, formulated and then shipped.

I do hope you understand. I must have a vacation before I fall over. I haven't had one in (I think) two years.... SO! Here I go on a road adventure. Perhaps I'll see you on the way!

Have a wonderful half of August.

this is how I feel now....

this is how I want to feel on my vacation.... =)

Ooooo! Another Rave! Thanks, Dollface!

Cindy Bokma, the talented writer, mother, (to me) comedian, fashionista, extrordinaire who writes Hello Dollface blog and Conversations With Famous Writers blog has written about our products, again.

What a HONEY PIE!

I'd love to regurgitate it here, but you should go over there and read it yourself.

Some of my favorite words...

Hands down
Julia Child
lathers up
whisper
no lie
Hello?
heaven
sniffing me

Cindy, perfume. I like it.....


;)

What Fun! I Stumbled On A Rave.

Usually when someone does a review about our products, they let us know, so we can be grateful and, of course, link back to their site and give them THANKS. But this time, I stumbled right over my own feet and into the screen on this one. How nice! Please go see it for yourself by going here to THE FIND blog. I have copied over the text of their review of Crush On You for your reading pleasure:


Beauty Review: Product Body Cream and Crush on You Sugar Scrub

posted July 9th, 2009

I’m a sucker for indie beauty brands. Especially those products that are handmade. Many of my blogger friends had been raving about Product Body’s Crush on You sugar scrub, so not wanting to be the one left out, I had to get my hands on it to try it out for myself.

Crush on You: This sugar scrub has the texture of cookie batter–and that’s a good thing (unless you are hungry!) A blend of sugar cane, sunflower oil, shea butter and glycerin, Crush on You is the perfect way to both exfoliate and moisturize at the same time. Your skin will feel incredibly smooth without a trace of flaky skin. I have it in Lemon Essential, which smells just like lemon zest. Or if you are from Rhode Island–it smells like a Del’s Lemonade!

Cream: While this looks to be a heavy cream in the jar, it is a very lightweight moisturizer that packs a deeply hydrating punch. Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil will work their way into your driest spots to breathe life back into your skin. Once the dead skin has been sloughed away by Crush on You, Cream is the perfect follow up now that your skin can better absorb it. I have it in SEXY Laundry Day, which is a very unique scent (and only available for a limited time!) It is a very clean and crisp fragrance, yet slightly floral.

I hear that Bubble Rubble is a major hit, as well, so I might just have to check that out. I’m definitely impressed by these two products and I am not at all surprised by all of the beauty mag press Product Body is getting lately. This is one brand you’ll want to keep your eye on! www.productbody.com


From our friends at A Girl’s Gotta Spa



Gotta love it.
Thanks for letting be be happy about smelling like lemonade. =)

Jo

Product Of The Day At Product Body

CHEZ SALT in pink grapefruit

Emulsified shea butter and olive butter salt scrub made by hand and excellent for the AFTER WAX of the bikini area to keep ingrown hairs at bay.

Salt. The magical bikini area mineral.

Oh yeah.....

*

Another Give Away

On the very stylish, awesome Indie Style Blog written by Crystal of Dirty Girl Soap, more Product Body goodies are being given away..... wahooooooo! You can win: one 9 oz Crush On You, one Champagne whipped soap and one Sahara Moon soap.

TWO winners. Have fun playing....

:O)

Quick! Give Away At The Bright Side:: Ends Today

The Bright Side Project is a website dedicated to daily giveaways. Each day they feature a brand or product they think will add a little sunshine to your life. Today is the PRODUCT BODY GIVE AWAY. So think quick folks and get out there!

Two winners (!) will receive one Crush On You ultra plush sugar shea scrubby wash in any scent available and a Product Travels Creme Fresh. In order to win.....

Go find out! The Bright Side Project

Summer Hours

Shop hours have changed for the Summer. We will be closed every day at 5:00 pm instead of 6:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday. We remain closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Enjoy the Summer!

*

Wash and Road Wash Price Drop For Good

Yup! We dropped the price.

Road Wash went from $16 to $13.50 and Wash went from $22 to $19.50.

A...N....D... an awesome new scent that you could die for:

c o c o n u t l e m o n g r a s s

Just get me the suntan lotion and a smoothie. STAT!

Double Item Sale! Sugarfoot and Cream......

Yeah. 20% off Sugarfoot and Cream going on now through June 29th. The sale was sent out in the newsletter to our customers, but we've decided that times are tough for everyone and we all deserve a sale, don't we??

:O)


Go check out the online version of our newsletter and get the sale code.

Toffee Soap

A couple of months ago I made soap with my daughter present in the shop. She didn't actually help me make the soap, but she designed the soap, scented it and topped it with sugar and chocolate soap shavings after the pour. She did a great job, I must say. We didn't name it until the soap was fully cured, because the scent fully morphed and now it smells mostly like toffee. It looks like fudge or pie....definitely edible. We made two loaves and Nina gets a lot of compliments on the bars. People come in all the time, take one look at the curing case and wonder if they've stepped into a fudge shop.

Hehe.

If you are interested in getting a Toffee soap, you can find them at our Etsy shop here. The main Etsy shop link is here if you want to check out our other Etsy offerings.

***

Bubble Rubble... In Sexy?

Oh yeah, in green, and the pink is Gardenia. Just sayin'.

Shop for it....

And The Winner Is.....

Random.Org generated a random number, so with all of the comments tallied in, then all of the posts that people wrote, which earned them extra points, and then all of the referrals and extra points earned there, the winner came out to be...... tinagirl.

tinagirl, congratulations!! Get in touch with me by email, so you can get your $25 in
Product Body Cash! jo(at)productbody(dot)com

Thank you all for playing. Maybe next time, we'll do a scavenger hunt ;)

Product Body Cash Give-Away

We are giving away $25.00 in Product Body spending money. It's true. We will put money into your Product Body account (you don't have to have one set up yet) for you to use towards any Product Body online purchase. It's used like a gift certificate/cash and never expires. Fun, yeah? Here are the ways that you can earn entries:

1. Go to the Product Body website and look around...find a product you'd like to try in the scent you'd like to try it in and return here and leave a comment with your answer. You may leave a total of three of these (we know how hard it is to choose only one Product Body product).

2. You can also send your friends to do the same thing, BUT they have to mention in their comment that you sent them. You'll get an extra entry automatically for each person you send.

3. If you have your own blog and you post this give-away on your blog, you get TWO automatic entries! (let us know so we can add entries to your name)

Contest ends on JUNE 17th. So have fun browsing and good luck!

Inexpensive Pocketbook Item

For only $6.50, you can get a Product Travels Creme Fresh (pictured above) and it's not such a big investment. Isn't it cute? Look! Those are my keys, my green leather purse and my green sunglasses, all sitting on my brown leather wallet. My husband and I do all of our set design, so everything that is set up is taken from one of us, unless there is a prop-less set, of course.

The Creme Fresh is nourishing and more than 99% natural. Get some. Get smooth. I find that my hands get dry looking at the most inopportune times, like when I'm about to meet someone I don't want to have dry looking hands! Yeah, especially me, the one who makes creams. A horror!

It's like a make-up artist walking around with no make-up.
A shoe maker with holey shoes.
A boat maker who lives in the Colorado mountains.

Oh, you get what I'm saying. Don't make me come back there.

Update on Ingredients - ORGANIC!

Product Body is now using organic high oleic sunflower oil across the board replacing all high oleic sunflower oil that we have been using prior. This change began in April and the website shall reflect this as soon as we can update this. We are also now using organic palm oil that is also farmed using sustainable farming practices.

We try to use natural and organic ingredients when it is feasible, but we also try to maintain fresh, quality products at a reasonable price. I read an interesting article today "Being Organic Or Natural Won't Necessarily Make A Product Green". You may be interested in it. Sometimes natural practices without thought can create an even bigger problem.

As product manufacturers, we need to look at the larger picture.

This organic news is good news. The palm oil especially. You can read a bit about the Orangutan species and why buying sustainable palm oil is important over on my soap blog here and here.

Thought Provoking Quote

Never mistake motion for action.

~Ernest Hemingway

Want To Lose Some Poundage?

flaxseed

A generic letter from my doctor:

There are seven simple foods for you to keep in mind that

can help you with controlling your weight:

(1) salmon,
(2) walnuts,
(3) hot sauce with capsaicin,
(4) water with lemon,
(5) ground flaxseed,
(6) cinnamon, and
(7) granola bars with high fiber and low sugar.

All of these are good items to consider when you want a

snack or when you want to help control that feeling of

hunger so that you can maintain control over your weight.

To Your Good Health,

Dr. Paul Winner

That's if anyone is looking to lose some pounds, or get healthy!!

NEW! TSA Approved Travel Set!

Are you so tired of squirting your stuff into tiny jars or mini tupperware so you can travel? Well cut it out and look no further! It is so true and it is awesome - in our newest scent, Beach House. Get them here. Also, you can get all the Product Travel items individually at the Product Body site....

Shop on Candid Camera

Thought I'd show part of my workspace.

I have 5 different work stations in this little area. You can see a little of this here, a bit of that there... Oh yes, this is a cruddy mess. After a full day of formulating, making and pouring soap and before clean-up. I DO clean up after every project, but I did have a few going at the same time, so it got crazy AND it was the end of the day.

From the work table in the formulary looking into the retail portion and out the door... (underexposed, sorry).

Mother's Day Approaches

If you are local, please stop in for some very cute Mother's Day packages I've put together ranging from $15-$89. Some are in plant pots, tea pots, baskets, etc. So, so cute! We decided this year NOT to do a Mother's Day offering online due to a busy wholesale schedule here (we just don't have the staff this minute), but we did send out an incredible Tips and Treats newsletter celebrating our wedding anniversary.

We gave 20% off of Coconut Milk Bath Soak and when the customer buys a non-sale item and wishes us a happy anniversary in the comments section at check out, we'd send them $13 gift certificate into their account. That is one dollar for every year. Yeah, it's like cash and it never expires.

So if you are on our newsletter list and you happen to miss that email - - check you SPAM filter.

Am I A Control Freak?

It's hard to be lying in bed all sweaty and achy while my husband mans the shop and puts together the orders I almost completed on Saturday. I know he's competent. I am just so used to me doing it all myself that when I am not there, I feel like I have no control. And I don't. So this whole idea of control is really a bigger issue.

Since I'm already in a lying down position, there's no need to sit down to think about control. I'm here, in the most relaxed and exposed position known to man. On my back. Like a turtle. So I'm thinking, "Am I into control? Do I need to have things go the way I want them to go? Do I need to maneuver situations in order to guide things to my desired outcome?"




My answer is no. I am just not one of those people. I mean, I'm not someone to be walked all over or just shrug my shoulders at any idea. I am not a slug with a lack of input. I just don't carry agendas that are inflexible.

So why is it that when I am not at work, and others are doing my job, do I feel a bit worried, like somehow it might not be done right? Again, super competent husband doing really easy packaging and labeling work.... I suppose if we had a bigger staff and we had individuals doing specific jobs, I could let go of the control.

Ok, I am achy now and my little moment of stress should have been a moment of Zen. My oatmeal and water must settle and now I need to nap.

I hate fever aches. :(

***

A Macro Detail

Shop's Curtain

Sometimes it's just good to stop. Look closely at where you are EXACTLY and see the beauty in the regular, ordinary things you see day in, day out.

Pretty In Pink Or Just Overkill

I've been on a cupcake bath bomb kick like a LOT of people. I'm still working on getting my peaks (frosting) much higher. I have to tell you, when I leave out the bubble bath portion, I can get them much taller, so i think I'll stick with the original formula I started with.

Thought I'd hit you with el carnival cuppy cake! If you are in the neighborhood, I have 4 individual ones and a 4 pack wrapped up in a cupcake box tied with a pretty ribbon all ready for a party!

Now, I am ready for a real cupcake. DD, my cupcake friend who has a cupcake shop around the corner, I need a red velvet with cream cheese frosting - aaaaaaahhhhhhththththh!

Chez Salt - What It's Good For....

If you get waxed at all, on your legs or your bikini area especially now with the Summer coming, you may want to start using a salt scrub to avoid ingrown hairs. Because...ow, those are no fun, and they are ugly. Yup - it's really true. And if you don't believe me, ask a spa manager, although, they'll try to sell you the salt scrub they carry in their spa.

Because I own Product Body, I'll suggest our salt scrub with soothing shea butter, Chez Salt. I made some FRESH this morning in juicy pink grapefruit. Just for your poor freshly ripped off skin that now feels like baby's skin.
:)

That's my skin tip for the day.