Creating an Herbal Bodycare Business »

Author Sandy Maine's interest in soapmaking was instilled early in life as she watched her grandmother make utilitarian soap in their home. In 1979, she founded SunFeather Natural Soap Company with a mere $15.00 investment. And 20 years later, she is still operating the business which employs 20 people who produce about 4,000 pounds of soap each week. Sandy's husband Louis is Vice President of the soap company. Sandy is the author of Storey's Creating an Herbal Bodycare Business, as well as three additional herbal and soapmaking books. One of her titles, The Soap Book: Simple Herbal Recipes, received the 1997 Benjamin Franklin Award. She is a member of Business For Social Responsibility and a number of environmental and human rights organizations. Sandy tithes to more than 10 humanitarian and environmental causes throughout the world from the sale of SunFeather soaps. She is also an Adirondack Wilderness Guide, and her two children share her interest in nature. In September of 1998, Sandy was the featured speaker at the first soapmaker's conference. She is known for her dedication to create innovative soap products, such as soapdough and soap tassels, as well as teaching others how to make soap for a hobby or for a living. Currently she is involved in making a soapmaker's guild in the Ithaca, New York area, where she lives.

Sandy Maine turned her love of soapmaking into a $1 million business. Now she shares her business-building philosophy so others can make their dreams a reality. This inspiring book offers profiles of successful entrepreneurs in many areas, including aromatherapy and herbal bodycare, plus advice for marketing a product, employing others, and much more.

Author Biography: Author Sandy Maine's interest in soapmaking was instilled early in life as she watched her grandmother make utilitarian soap in their home. In 1979, she founded SunFeather Natural Soap Company with a mere $15.00 investment. And 20 years later, she is still operating the business which employs 20 people who produce about 4,000 pounds of soap each week. Sandy's husband Louis is Vice President of the soap company.

Sandy is the author of Storey's Creating an Herbal Bodycare Business, as well as three additional herbal and soapmaking books. One of her titles, The Soap Book: Simple Herbal Recipes, received the 1997 Benjamin Franklin Award. She is a member of Business For Social Responsibility and a number of environmental and human rights organizations. Sandy tithes to more than 10 humanitarian and environmental causes throughout the world from the sale of SunFeather soaps. She is also an Adirondack Wilderness Guide, and her two children share her interest in nature.

In September of 1998, Sandy was the featured speaker at the first soapmaker's conference. She is known for her dedication to create innovative soap products, such as soapdough and soap tassels, as well as teaching others how to make soap for a hobby or for a living. Currently she is involved in making a soapmaker's guild in the Ithaca, New York area, where she lives.

Acknowledgments

Introduction: The Collec tive Art of Good Living

Part I: The Creative Art of Business Philosophy

Chapter 1: creating work and culture

Chapter 2: a call to garden: growing your business

Part II: Natural Bodycare Business Owners Share Their Stories

Chapter 3: the story of sunfeather natural soap company

Chapter 4: from california to the vermont highlands

Part III: The Journey Begins

Chapter 5: dreaming and planning

Chapter 6: setting up shop

Chapter 7: building a market

Part IV: The Art of Management

Chapter 8: maintaining, growing, and sustaining your business

Conclusion: Hopes for the Future

Suggested Reading

Appendix: A Sample Purchase Order

Resources

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