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Handmade Toiletries Weekly Newsletter
December 10, 2000

A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630
December 10, 2000
Issue 48

Fresh From Our Family To Yours!!

Visit us at http://www.starrpineschristmastreefarm.com to see for yourself our lovely holiday wreaths. Our wreaths are handmade with Scotch pine grown at our family-owned Starr Pines Christmas Tree Farm. We add festive red ribbons and fragrant pine cones to design a wreath that will scent your home throughout the holiday season, filling it with ambiance and precious memories. They make great gifts with your personal holiday message, and we'll ship your wreath in a specially designed wreath box for the perfect holiday gift.

Visit our Web site for directions to our farm or call or email us for more information about our wreaths.
(800) 882-6858 | info@starrpineschristmastreefarm.com
http://www.starrpineschristmastreefarm.com

1. HBN UPDATE ~ WELCOME NEW HBN MEMBERS!!
2. HANDMADE BEAUTY TRIVIA QUESTION ~ win samples of "Christmas Tree" essential oils
3. BEAUTY BUSINESS TIP OF THE MONTH - Power Up! | Organization and Weeding
4. READER RECIPE ~ Hot Spiced Wassail

1. HBN UPDATE ~ WELCOME HBN MEMBERS!!

Welcome New Member!!

~ Amishmaid.net | Sandra Foley | New York

Renewing Members!! Thanks for your continued support!!

~ Woodspirits Ltd | Barbara Bobo | Ohio
~ Arboretum Natural Cosmetics | Olga Goldberger | Mass.
~ Madame Renaud Naturals | Michele Renaud-Slavik | Colorado
~ Joan's Gardens | Joan & Jon Fricker | Indiana
~ Columbus Foods Company | Mike Lawson | Illinois
~ Honeychild Handcrafted Soap | Robert May | Wisconsin
~ Maison de Marjan Herbals | Margaret LaPierre | Virginia
~ Inner Sanctum Salon & Day Spa | Ricey Clapp | Maryland
~ Anderson Creekside Farms | Patricia Anderson | Georgia

Log onto these and other HBN member Web sites through HBN's online member directory at http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com!

2. HANDMADE BEAUTY TRIVIA QUESTION ~ Last week's winner was HBN member Libby Claridge of Julian, California. Libby won a sample of Hope & Grace, one of my Christmas 2000 aromatherapy holiday blends.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: Continuing with our month-long holiday trivia questions, provide the names of each one of Santa's reindeer with correct spellings, and identify which reindeer is known for his bright red nose.

LAST WEEK'S ANSWER: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph. Rudolph is the red-nosed reindeer. Lots of entries listed Donner but the correct spelling is Donder with the "d" in the middle!

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: A variety of different species of trees are available for use as Christmas trees. Four varieties are very common, identified largely by the arrangement of their needles. Parts of these trees yield popular essential oils which are often identified with the fall and holiday seasons. To win this week, name three of the four most common species of trees used as Christmas trees in the US.

Read contest rules at www.handmadebeauty.com/hbcn/about.asp

Be the first to answer this week's question and win a sample of two of the oils taken from the trees described in this week's question.

3. BEAUTY BUSINESS TIP OF THE MONTH - Power Up!
Organization and Weeding

Our Beauty Business Tips of the Month are focusing on my Power Up! Principles. We are spotlighting 7 Action Items you can take to focus on your goals and maximize your business' chances of success.

Last month, we focused on the principle of Patience and how practicing it can help you pace your business growth to maximize your chances of success.

This week's Power Up! Principles are Organization & Weeding, 2 "must do's" for any successful business.

**Organization
Consider your business as a garden, with all kinds of herbs and flowers that either take root and grow, or wither and die from lack of attention and nurturing. Anyone who has ever had a garden knows that it's not all fun and games. Before you plant the first plant, you have to decide what you want to grow. Do you want roses or herbs? Will you require a particular type of soil? What plants grow most heartily in your part of the world? How much daily sun will be needed?

After you decide what you want to plant, you should prepare the ground. Then, you must gather the seeds or cuttings, arrange them in complementary ways, water them regularly and protect them from the elements and nature's creatures that might want to chew them up for dinner or sport.

Getting organized _before_ planting the garden will help ensure order and efficiency and save time and energy in the long run. A business is no different. Before hanging out a "for sale" sign, it is wise to organize a business on paper. The exercise of preparing a business plan is a great way to tame random thoughts and rebel ideas that could get in the way of a successful venture. You can find lots of tips for organizing and focusing your goals and preparing business plans at www.bizplanit.com.

**Weeding
Like a garden, a business needs constant weeding and pruning. No matter how large or small the operation, if the owners are unable to adjust quickly to change, sometimes abandoning what once seemed like "no lose" propositions, their chances of success are greatly reduced.

If you find that your product is not selling, it's time to find out why so you can weed out either the product itself, or the ineffective methods you are using to sell it. If you are running yourself ragged to manufacture a line of 10 different kinds of matching soaps, lotions and bath salts, then it's time to take a moment to decide whether to weed out some of the scent options are scale back to just soaps or just lotions.

I believe that one of the most effective weeding tools a business has is its customers. No matter how much time it takes to communicate with your customers, it is always worth it, and it can save you lots of time, energy and money in the long run. Ask them what they think. They always have opinions and most won't share them with you unless you ask. Customers see your business through a much more objective lens that you, and you will be pleasantly surprised at the things they notice and the valuable suggestions they have.

There are several ways to let your customers help you weed your business. You can create a questionnaire and ask them to take a moment to complete it at the cash register. You can place a feedback form on your Web site seeking feedback on what things they like and don't like about your business and/or products. Provide them with samples of 2 or 3 products and ask them to give you feedback on aroma, packaging, ease of use and effectiveness. Or just randomly call 1 or 2 of your repeat customers on a rotating basis and ask them for some feedback.

Sometimes it's not just the products that may need weeding, but we as the business owners and managers often need a little weeding. One tool I have found personally useful in my businesses is to make a list of 10 things that I feel might be hindering my ability to reach some business goals. Perhaps it's sleeping in too late in the morning, procrastinating about a particularly challenging or unpleasant project I know I need to complete, spending too much time chatting online (this is a biggie for many small online business owners) or failing to be responsive to my customers. Whatever part of my behavior is not consistent with my goals has to be weeded out. I make a promise to myself and a close, trusted advisor to weed out at least 3 things on the list by a certain date. I then report back to my advisor on my progress to keep me accountable.

Next month, we'll focus on the Power Up! Principle of "Recycling" your business.

4. READER RECIPE ~ Hot Spiced Wassail

This recipe was contributed by Kim Baron of Bronx, New York. Kim says this is the perfect winter treat to warm you body and soul, and also creates a wonderful fragrance in your home. This drink sounds delicious and easy, and I'm definitely adding it to the list of refreshments at our holiday gatherings this year. Enjoy!

· 4 cups fresh apple cider
· 2 cinnamon sticks
· 1/2 tablespoon whole cloves
· 1/2 teaspoon allspice
· 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
· 1 small lemon
· 1 small orange
· 1 bottle moderately dry white wine (optional/adjustable)
Kim uses vouvrey, but you can also use chardonnay; I would personally cut the alcohol at least in half)

Wash and slice the orange and the lemon, discarding the ends. Put all ingredients except the wine into a large, covered pot. (I'll probably use my crock pot.) Simmer together for 1-2 hours. Remove from heat. Add wine to mixture about 5 minutes prior to serving, after removing from heat. Serve hot.

Note: For Wassail With A Kick, add 1/5 cup dark rum along with the wine.

Editorial Note: December is National Drunk & Drugged Driver Prevention Month. Make your holiday as safe as possible by appointing a designated driver if you'll be drinking at your next holiday activity. Read more at http://www.ncadd.com.

If you have a recipe you'd like to share, send it to recipes@handmadebeauty.com. If we use it in an upcoming issue, we'll credit you!!

Visit The Handmade Beauty Connection Archives at http://www.handmadebeauty.com/hbcn/archives.asp.

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