E-tailer Spotlight ~ Soap That Makes Scents

We are introducing one of our newest e-tailers ~ Karina of Soap That Makes Scents. She has some fantastic products. You will get to know Karina by reading her interview. Hope you find time to go visit her website and Etsy store - the links are below. I can tell you that you will not be disappointed to find her samples in your box. We will be posting her "Product Showcase" tomorrow. You will see her wonderful products - too bad you can't smell them!








How or why did you start your business? When I moved from Canada to the United States in 2004, it wasn't legal for me to work, but I still wanted to contribute to my family. I had been making and selling soap since 2001 and was able to continue that while the paperwork was processed to allow me to work in the U.S. Our daughter (who is now almost three) was born soon thereafter and I didn't want her to be in daycare, so I decided to stay home and raise her--Soap That Makes Scents went full time in 2006.



What kind of products do you carry or make? Soap That Makes Scents offers a lovely variety of handcrafted bath items including a vegetarian soap line, shea butter lip balms, and body souffle





What do you listen to or watch while you work? If I'm on the computer, I constantly have YouTube videos playing in the background..mostly Bon Jovi (yup, they are still rockin' out with new music!) or Richard Marx



Do you have a special or certain way you like to begin your day? Well, I'm a work at home mom, so first thing is to make sure my toddler is fed, and then while she's quietly playing I check my online sales and update my shop where needed. After that, I answer all waiting emails/convos, and then go over my To-Do List for the day..normally soap and heavy computer work (like label design) is created during my daughter's nap time; wrapping/cutting/labelling when she's up and about.



What do you do to unwind and relax? When I have the time, I love to read. I devour books in just a few days or so. Right now I'm reading the TruBlood saga (8 books in total--the 9th out this year), which is now a television series on HBO.



Do you have a storefront, sell strictly on-line or both? I sell online, as well as at craftshows and homeshow events.



Please list any websites and email addresses. http://soapsthatmakesscents.com/

Do you sell on Etsy, Ebay, Fuzzb or Made It Myself? If you do, please list a link to your store.

http://kreatedbykarina.etsy.com/

Do you Twitter? What is the url to your page? www.twitter.com/kreatedbykarina



Do you have a blog? Please list a link to your blog. http://kbyk.blogspot.com/



What or who inspires you? What really gets me going the most are scents...fragrances invoke memories and mindsets. Think about what the smell of sugar cookies fresh from the oven means to you, or the scent of coconut--perhaps it reminds you of your last tropical vacation. That's what I want to capture. I want to offer a slice of your life in every bar.


What advice would you offer to someone starting their own business? Promote like there's no tomorrow! No one will know about you or the great products you offer unless you tell them about it--and often.

"E-Tailer Spotlight" - Ye Olde Chandler

I'd like to introduce you to one of our newest e-tailers, Faye and Lesli of Ye Olde Chandler.
They are participating in our sample box this month.

I must let you in on a secret - you are going to absolutely LOVE their candles and tarts! Faye and Lesli sent some of the best smelling tarts for the boxes this month. They have a wide variety of fragrances to choose from. Some of the scents of the tarts for this month's sample box are: lavender, tropical romance, mango papaya, magnolia, ginger bergamont, mulberry, honeysuckle, muscadine, fresh linen, lilac, asian sandlewood, mardi gras, cool citrus basil, moon lake and many more. Be sure to visit Ye Olde Chandler, if you are in the market for a candle. They make all their candles from American Grown Soy. They make handmade soaps, too. I've not smelled the soaps, but if they are anything like the tarts - they will smell wonderful!

Visit Faye and Lesli at Ye Olde Chandler; return to this blog - post about a product you like or would like to try or a comment about their website. You will be entered into a drawing for a candle from Ye Olde Chandler in your choice of fragrance. Your prize will be sent directly from Ye Olde Chandler to you. Be sure and leave an email address so we can contact you. The drawing will be held on Thur., March 26 at 5:00 Central Time.


Tell us a little about yourself and/or your business.

We are a mother and daughter team living in Texas, Faye and Lesli, who began making a small assortment of candles in Lesli's kitchen during lunch breaks. We have now grown to over 60 scents, added handmade soap, and branched out onto the internet! We like that our products have that natural quality and that soy wax not only burns cleaner but supports American farmers.

How or why did you start your business?

We always enjoyed going to craft malls and antique stores together. One day while we were browsing one such shop we noticed a few different candle kiosks. After looking over the products, I'm not sure who said it first, but one of us mentioned that we could make our own, save money and probably make them better than the ones we'd been looking at. It all kind of built from there!

What kind of products do you carry or make?

We carry container candles, votives and wax melts as well as many varieties of soap. We also occasionally have special, limited stock items such as tart burners and crock candles.

Do you carry handmade products? Do you make them yourself?

Yes, all of our candle and soap products are handmade by the two of us.

What’s your favorite product to make or create?

Lesli's favorite product to make is soap, so she specializes in those products. She also has a special place in her heart for Lemon Pucker candles as that was the first scent we ever made and it always brings back happy memories. Faye specializes in candles and scent development and is always on the lookout for new scents to add to our collection.


Do you have a storefront, sell strictly on-line or both?

Currently we sell only online but we do hope to have a storefront as soon as possible. We also do craft shows when we can.

Please list any websites and email addresses.

We can be found at http://www.yeoldechandler.com
We can be reached at info@yeoldechandler.com

Do you work at another job?

Faye has recently retired from her job at a local school district where she worked for over 20 years. Lesli works part time at a boarding and training facility for dogs, her second love!

What or who inspires you?

When it comes to business we inspire each other whether it be mixing and testing new scents or coming up with a fun product idea.

What advice would you offer to someone starting their own business?

Don't give up! Even when things seem slow, if you truly love the product or service that you offer and you are enthusiastic about what you do, people will recognize that and good things will follow.

"E-tailer Spotlight" - A Woman With Scents

This spotlight features Carol of "A Woman With Scents". I love the name of her website. Carol is active on many forums and has been featured as Indie of the Week on Wickedly Chic. Carol offers handcrafted cold process soaps, as well as candles. Carol has a shop on the indie site "Etsy" www.awomanwithscents.etsy.com Check out Carol's many scents!

For the drawing Carol is offering a "3 soap fall sampler pack". If any of you haven't tried Carol's soaps - I can tell you they are wonderful! She sent me one (some time ago) - it was fabulous! Great swirls, lathered good, scented just right! The person who wins "3" of her soaps will indeed be lucky! We will draw next Wednesday, Oct. 15! To be entered - go to Carol's Etsy Store A Woman With Scents or her website www.awomanwithscents.com; look over her products; come back here and post your comments. You will be entered into the drawing. Good luck ladies! Thanks for your support of our e-tailers!


Tell me a little about yourself and/or your business. I've been happily married for 21 years, and have a nearly grown son. At the time I started my business, I was working around 50 hours a week outside the home and wanted to be more available for my son, who was into all types of sports.

How or why did you start your business? I figured if I had to work hard for the rest of my life, I'd rather be making the money for myself rather than someone else. Also, it was kind of a dare. I had too many people tell me it couldn't be done, so I set out to prove them wrong.

What kind of products do you carry or make? Pillar candles, votive candles, container candles, scent tarts, and soap. I also crochet some bath accessories like body poofs, soap savers, and bath mitts.

Do you carry handmade products? Do you make them yourself? Yes, everything I carry is something handmade by me.

What’s your favorite product to make or create? Pillar candles and soap probably allow for the most creativity, but I have fun making it all!

Do you have a storefront, sell strictly on-line or both? No storefront, but I do have local wholesale and retail clients, in addition to selling online.

Website and email address. http://awomanwithscents.com, sales@awomanwithscents.com

Do you have more than one website? Yes, I also sell on Etsy (awomanwithscents.etsy.com), and hang out on myspace and iEmporium. I try to keep everything cohesive between the sites I use, but use them all to create a larger web presence. I also have a blog at awomanwithscents.blogspot.com, but I'm not very disciplined with my blogging.

Do you work at another job? Yes, my family owns a steak house. When I'm not cooking up candles and soap, you can find me there...cooking steaks!

What or who inspires you? Mostly, my family. They've always been hugely supportive.

Do you have a favorite quote or saying? Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.

What advice would you offer to someone starting their own business? Never give up...never surrender!

"E-tailer Spotlight" - Country Keepsakes

Snowberry Creek is proud to introduce our very first "E-tailer Spotlight". We will be featuring a new E-tailer every two weeks. Please check out their websites and the wonderful products they carry. We are happy to introduce Ms. Becky Willis.

Tell me about yourself and/or your business.

My name is Becky Willis and I own Country Keepsakes Retail/Wholesale. I am the mother of 3 kids (ages 17, 14 & 12 - 2 boys & 1 girl). Happily married going on 13 years.

I have owned Country Keepsakes for almost 1-1/2 years, but worked very closely with my sister for over 2 years prior to that when she had the storefront. I started making soybean candles back in Oct. 2002, which is where I "originally" started.

How and/or why did you start your business?

As I previously mentioned I started out making soybean candles and had my own website "Brambleberry Candle Company". I had a website-but at the time I didn't know how to market or get my name out there. Eventually, I sold what business I had to my sister so she could wholesale her other products along with the candles. For quite a while I kicked myself as I really enjoyed making the candles and was mad at myself for "giving up" on myself so soon. I did, however, work closely with my sister-learning what I could about the other parts of the business. I did create her website originally and market her site as I had learned more about doing that. In January 2007, my sister asked if I would be interested in taking over the business (purchasing it from her) as she was ready to move on. She had already closed the storefront buisness and was mainly doing things from home, more wholesale than retail. I was so excited. We set the date of March 13th for me to take over *2007* and the rest is history.

What kind of products do you carry or make?

We carry soybean candles (3 sizes), melts (3 or 4 different kinds- "buttons", muffins, stars/hearts, and "tops" -like muffin tops and cake tops...), pillars, cake candles, electric lights, potpourri, potpourri fix'ins, soybean lotion, bar soap, farmhouse mixes (like cocoas, cappuccinos, dips, cheesecakes, pancake, waffle, side dishes, muffins & cookies). We were/or look like we are still carrying rag quilts, handmade dolls, and rag balls-but recently my Mom has opened her own site "The Grungy Cupboard" and that is where the purchasing of the dolls will come from. It will still be shipped from Country Keepsakes and orders can be combined.

If you carry handmade products, do you make them yourself?

95% of the items we carry are made here at Country Keepsakes. The only things we don't make are the silicone dipped bulbs, tart warmers, and rusty pans. Together with my Mom, Linda everything here is made to order. I make all of the candles, where my Mom does the mixes, sewing and packaging during busy times. It wouldn't be possible to do it all by myself.

What's your favorite product to make or create?

I would have to say I most enjoy making the candles. It is especially enjoyable when I "create" a new scent or a "new look" when it comes to the Grubby Cake Candles.

What or who inspires you?

I would have to say originally, my sister inspired me as I didn't realize the hidden talents she possessed. After having the business for over 1 year, I am inspired by what I see out there. I have found that you can't compete (well only with yourself). It is never possible to carry everything-and what you do carry, you should make sure it is the best that it can be.

Do you have a favorite quote or saying?

I have had many-but I have 2 that I refer to often.

"A Champion is a dreamer that refused to give up!" unknown author

"We Create our tomorrows By What we dream Today"

These two hit home with me often.

Do you have a storefront, sell strictly on-line or both?

If all goes well, my Mom and I plan to open "The Grungy Cupboard" as a storefront as well as her website. We are hoping to achieve this by October 15, 2008. Otherwise, right now I am online and have the occasional retail customer and 1 local wholesale customer that stop in at the house to pick up their orders.

Website and email address.

Country Keepsakes (retail)

http://www.cntrykeepsakes.com/ Email: houseonthehill06@aol.com

Do you have more than one website?

Yes- I have Country Keepsakes Wholesale

http://www.cntrykeepsakeswholesale.com/ Email: cntrykeepsakeswholesale@gmail.com

The Homestead Register

http://www.thehomesteadregister.com/ Email: thehomesteadregister@gmail.com

FreeBannerXchange

http://www.freebannerxchange.com/ Email: info@freebannerxchange.com

I also have a Top 100 site http://thehomesteadregister.gotop100.com/

Do you have a blog?

Country Keepsakes Weblog http://countrykeepsakes07.wordpress.com

Do you work at another job?

LOL -sorry...I shouldn't laugh. Actually I am considered my husband's daycare "assistant"- I only assist when it is necessary - whether he has to run errands or pick up kids when they are in school....otherwise no, I don't work another job-not sure where I would fit it in...oh and I am a Mom as I referred to also-which in itself is a job-just not an "outside" of the home type.

What advice would you offer to someone starting their own business?

Research, Research, Research. I feel you have to go into business with a plan. Somehow you have to set yourself apart from others. You don't want to do a business that you are losing more than you are getting. Although, we all know buisness takes a few years to get going-so don't despair. Definitely don't go into a new business adventure thinking you are going to be making money right away-and think long term. Some of the best businesses didn't give up after 6 months - they kept fine tuning and tweaking to get it just right.

Hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into the life and business of one of our Snowberry Creek Sample Box E-tailers. I can attest to the fact that she makes the best potpourri and fix'ins. The dip mixes are very yummy. I have personally tried the Mexican Fiesta, Spicy Cajun and Garlic Onion. Becky offers recipes on her website using the dip mixes. Next time I must order more so I can try one of the recipes. Please stop by and visit her at Country Keepsakes.