How to Make Lip Balm

Happy Tuesday, friends! Today I have a few photos and minimal instructions on how to make simple lip balm. 

"Amy! Why minimal instructions? We want maximal instructions!"

Oh, friends. Silly, silly friends. Lip balm is so freaking easy, there is no way I could maximal-ize this instruction. Trust me. Here we go.

Step 1:  Buy some lip balm tubes! This is a nice Etsy shop that sells them. (That's not an affiliate link--I'm just trying to save you some time.)

Step 2:  As seen in the photo, bind four of them together with a rubber band. 

Step 3: Using a digital kitchen/crafting scale weigh out 0.25 ounce of beeswax, and 0.35 ounce of organic, virgin coconut oil. 

Step 4: In the microwave or on the stovetop, melt the wax and oil together. 

Step 5: Pour the melted mixture into the tubes. Please note that I am using an old Turkish Coffee pitcher (tiny!) with a nice lip for pouring. A 1-cup Pyrex should do the trick just as easily. Take your time and pour carefully, so the mixture doesn't run down the sides. Steady hands! 

(Use every drop of that wonderful stuff! You can see that my recipe fills 4 tubes, nearly to the top, but not over. Hooray!)

Step 6: Wait for the balm to cool and set up. Note that the balm looks like two sets of googly eyes. Chuckle. 

That is all there is to it, people! I'm serious! This balm has a lovely coconut scent which is not overpowering. It is smooth feeling, and great for your skin. Try it and let me know how it goes--in the comments!

If you want to learn all I know about making balms and butters, you can find my book, Making Balms and Butters in Your Own Kitchen here.

In-Person Selling 101: What Do I Say?

It’s easy, really. You just talk to people. 

 I know, I know. That doesn’t make for a great, informative post. Also, I realize that this comes easily for me. Well, relatively easily. I’m a teacher, you see, and I talk to people all day. All day. 

 All.
Damn.
Day. 
 
So it’s not difficult when I’m vending, and talking to other people (NOT SCHOOL PEOPLE). However, I have had to figure out some things that help my vending time move smoothly, and also some psychological tricks that help folks to make the decision to buy (or not, if I’d rather they move along). If you are worried that you won’t know what to say, that you’ll be awkward, that you’ll say the wrong thing, then this post is for you. I’m here for you. You’ve got this. 

 You can do this! Let’s begin with some basics.

 Starting off, please note that I break rules. To break a rule, you must know the rule first, and one steadfast rule of in-person vending is: Never Ask a Yes-No Question of a Potential Customer. The idea is to ask open-ended questions, to get them talking and therefore giving you more opportunities to sell to them. 
 
Ahem. 
 
I have figured out how to ask a yes-no question and turn it into a selling opportunity. My standard question of potential customers is:
 
Have you visited our soaps before? 
 
If they answer Yes, then I say: 
 
Oh, good,  which one is your favorite? 

We then begin to converse. 
 
If they answer No, then I give them my Elevator Speech:
 
Okay, all of our products are all-natural, with no artificial fragrance or color; we only use essential oils for scent. And everything is handmade, from scratch, in my home in Denver. 
 
Usually they reply something along the lines of, “Wow!” or “That’s fantastic!” or “Thank you.” I reply in kind, and then continue the conversation by asking: 
 
What kind of scents do you like?
 
Aaaand the conversation is started with an open-ended question. They start talking, and I start picking up soaps and shoving them under their noses. (Not really. Okay, maybe sometimes.)
 
The reason I ask a yes-no question to start is because I think that kind of question is easier for a customer to answer. It’s more shallow, and small-talk-y, which means they are more apt to begin the conversation by responding, even if reluctant. Also, their answer more often than not gives me the opportunity to say my Elevator Speech. If it’s a busy day, and there are a few new customers there, they all perk up and listen to my speech, and I can talk to all of them at once. The higher engagement starts at the end of that pitch; the ones who wouldn’t buy anything anyway just fade away, and the ones who are really interested stick around and keep talking. 
 
There are also a few psychological tricks I use to keep people around and also to increase sales. It helps to have some sort of bulk-purchase deal to discuss when they are deciding on a purchase, but if you don’t have one, that’s okay. My favorite psychological trick starts when a customer picks up a soap and carries it along the table. This person is making a decision. The question I ask is:
 
May I start a bag for you?
 
Seems simple, right? She hands it over, and I put it in a bag. However, it is also an opportunity to go for the bulk purchase. If you don't have one, the trick is still there. The psychology of the word, “start,” implies that we are not yet finished; we have to add more soaps/items to the bag. If she replies that she only wants that one soap, and reaches for her wallet, then I roll with that. If she mentions ANYTHING about not being able to choose, or deciding on another,  then I mention our Buy 4, Get One Free deal and ask directly if that’s what she wants to do. 
 
Guess which “item” I sell more of than anything else? 
 
That’s right. 5 soaps. 
 
Now, let’s talk about you, because that’s why you are here. What are you selling? Are you able to create a discount for multiple-item purchases? Even 2-for deals are a good idea. My lotions, sugar scrubs, and bath salts are all $12 each, or 2 for $20. 
 
What about your Elevator Speech? It’s called this because it’s a speech you could say in the span of a short elevator ride, if you had to, that encapsulates the description and benefits of your items for sale. Let’s break mine down, so you can create yours.
 
“All of our products are all-natural…”    This shows a benefit. People who buy handmade soap want things that are natural, organic, and not full of crap that sounds like “chemicals.”
 
“With no artificial fragrance or color. We only use essential oils for scent.”     This shows the benefits and luxury of the soaps. People who know about essential oils know they are expensive. It also reiterates that we use botanicals, and not things that are “artificial.”
 
“...everything is handmade, from scratch, in my home in Denver.”     This shows that I am the artisan, so they are buying directly from the person who made it, and from scratch to boot.  It also tells my locale, so they can make a decision about buying from a local artisan, rather than someone from farther away. I use this to my advantage at any show in the Denver area. 
 
So, now it’s your turn. Let’s start with your elevator speech. Ask yourself:
 

1. What products do I sell? 

2. What are the benefits of my products? (Handmade, well-made, strong, sturdy, organic, designed by you, etc.)

3. Where are they made?

4. Who makes them? 

 
Hey, I don’t care if you copy my speech and insert your information in there. Go for it. I’m here to help. 
 
We can talk more in detail about customer interactions in the comments. Have you had a doozy of a customer interaction? Did you freeze up? Were they asking weird things? (More than you think…) Leave a comment and let’s have a conversation about What to Say When, so everybody can learn from more specific situations.

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How to Be a Crafty Rebel in 8 Easy Steps

If you are anything like me, you were audacious in your youth. You had confidence, took risks, walked with style, and you made stuff.

YOU MADE STUFF.

And then life happened, and adulthood, and then what? What happened to making stuff? Paying bills? What's that about? 

So you started again, and this time, you thought, "I'll turn that into a business." Maybe you did, and maybe you didn't, (I did! Check it out here.) But your craftiness changed, somehow. You didn't have as much time for it. You focused on your career, or your family. 

Listen to me. 

You can get that feeling back. You can be a crafty rebel if you want to. You know why? It's simple. 

You never stopped being one. 

I had an epiphany when I turned 40 years old, and it was this: We never stop being every age we have ever been.

(Click the birdie to tweet that thought.)

Think about that for a minute. You know how to be 20 because you have been 20. You know 10 because you have been 10. And your body and your mind NEVER STOP knowing that, so you NEVER STOP being 10 years old. Or 15. Or 18. Or 42. 

This works the same way for who you are inside. If you are creative, arty, crafty, whatever you want to call it--you DON'T STOP being that way! You are still that 15-year-old who hand made her Halloween costume and won the contest in high school. You are still the 30-year-old who faces every Team Snack Day at work as a personal, competitive challenge to out-snack all the others. 

You are still a crafty rebel. You never stopped. 

The big question is: How do you get that spark back? How do you find the time? How do you become that person again? I'll tell you.

How to Be a Crafty Rebel

1. Dig out all your craft supplies, including tools. Set them out somewhere in your home. Trip over them, daily. Have fights with your spouse/roommate about it. Ignore all criticism. Lie and say you are making a hat for her/him.

2. Hand write thank-you notes, as a rule. No more emails or texts. Put a stamp on it and send it. 

3. Color the tips of your hair. Just the ends. 

4. Start a YouTube channel. Or a blog. Or a new Pinterest board entitled "Crafty AF."

5. Make something. Then make another thing. And another. To start,  it can be as simple as dinner, or as complex as a self-portrait completely out of melted crayons. Crochet a sweater for your coffee cup. Or a hat for your dog (not your spouse/roommate, you lied, remember?). Draw a mandala. Take photos of everything for a week, and post them on Instagram. Use ridiculous hashtags that will get you no followers whatsoever.

6. Think about starting your own crafty business, while making tea one day. Write down all of your crafty business ideas. Buy a ridiculous, fabric-covered notebook for this express purpose. Ignore the fact that you already have 20 blank notebooks on the shelf. They are so pretty.

7. Join the Crafty Rebels group on Facebook and learn from others who have done it and continue to do it. Read and write and share there, and become part of a community of crafty rebels. Use the hashtag #craftyrebel. 

8. Sip your tea and smile. ​

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Contingent Workers and Your Business: What to Know Before You Hire

Today’s blog post is brought to you by Courtney Rosenfeld of gigspark.biz, where she gives advice to those pursuing work in the gig economy. Hiring out work can be a great benefit to those of us with a handmade business; we simply can’t do it all, and when that happens, it’s best to hire an expert. Courtney breaks it down for us here—enjoy!

Image via Unsplash

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There were 16.5 million contingent and alternative workers in the U.S. in 2018. As the freelance and gig economies grow, that number is only expected to rise. For business owners looking to solve temporary labor needs and keep costs low in order to help them meet sales and marketing goals, hiring contingent workers is an attractive option. Craft e-Revolution offers the following information on what business owners should know before making the leap.

What are contingent workers?

Contingent workers are freelancers, independent contractors, temporary workers, consultants, and other hires outside of a company. Contingent workers aren’t considered employees, which means they receive payments instead of salaries and aren’t eligible for benefits. Contingent workers are also responsible for their own payroll taxes.

Advantages of contingent workers

HR leaders say they hire contingent workers in part to save money. Without benefits or payroll taxes to pay, companies can hire contingent workers at higher hourly rates than their permanent staff and still save.

Contingent workers are also popular for short-term labor needs. Whether it’s to staff a big event or execute a digital project, businesses can use contingent employees to temporarily increase their staff without onboarding employees.

6 times to hire contingent workers

These are examples of times a business might choose to hire contingent workers instead of permanent employees:

Starting a new business

If you have just started a small business and don’t need full-time employees, payroll may not be worth the additional investment. This is especially true if you’ve opted for a Colorado LLC registration, opting for pass-through taxation. Wages for contract workers and freelance workers can simply be written off as business expenses, keeping it simple. 

Branding and marketing

A business’s brand plays a big role in its success. Whether a business has a big marketing budget or a minuscule one, branding and marketing freelancers can help them achieve their goals.

Staffing an event

Staffing trade show booths and greeting guests isn’t the best use of valuable employee time. Rather than overpay salaried workers to staff events, businesses can hire temporary workers to manage security, catering, registration, and other logistics.

Outsourcing bookkeeping

At some point, keying accounting data becomes a poor use of a business owner’s time. If they can’t yet justify an in-house bookkeeper, a virtual bookkeeping service is an excellent stopgap.

Improving business operations

When operational snags stop a business from growing, hiring a consultant can help you take a step back and find new, innovative ways to grow your business. 

Implementing cybersecurity

Most small businesses don’t have a cybersecurity expert on staff, but they still have valuable data to protect. A cybersecurity consultant can secure a business’s IT systems to reduce the risk of a breach.

Hiring contingent workers for high-tech jobs

One of the top reasons companies hire contingent workers is because it’s a great way to access highly skilled talent without bringing on an expensive permanent employee.

One example of a project where a business benefits from contingent workers is web development. Rather than hiring a permanent web developer only to run out of work when the site is complete, businesses can hire freelance developers. And since web developers know their skills are in-demand, there are countless freelance web development experts to choose from. That makes it possible for businesses to find the right talent at the right price; businesses in need of complex redesigns can find developers with advanced skills, while businesses looking to update their site’s front-end can hire a CSS developer. 

Where to find contingent workers

As the contingent workforce has grown, so have websites dedicated to finding and hiring them. Freelance job boards, gig economy apps, and even LinkedIn are resources for finding contingent workers. When hiring through these websites, you’ll most often be working with independent contractors. Businesses must comply with certain rules in order to classify a worker as an independent contractor.

Agencies are another way businesses can find contingent workers. These include staffing agencies, consulting firms, and outsourcing agencies that provide business services like virtual assisting, bookkeeping, or customer service. Usually when working with an agency, the contingent worker is an employee of the agency. As such, you’ll submit payments to the agency which then pays the worker.

If you find yourself in the scenario of needing to hire but not having enough in the budget, particularly if your business took a hit from the pandemic, take heart. Through government-backed or private loan programs, you can quickly access the funds you need to hire the right contract workers for your business. Several companies are also offering grants to small businesses affected by COVID-19.

Contingent workers are a great resource for businesses, especially when it comes to highly skilled and short-term jobs. However, while contingent workers are ideal for many positions, they’re not right for every job. Before hiring contingent workers, businesses should consider assignment length, budget, and tax rules to determine if a contingent worker is the right fit.

How to Make an Apron from A Button-Down Shirt

It’s time to learn something!

Today's tutorial takes the form of a video I made, and published to my channel on YouTube. Please have a look, and remember to subscribe to my channel!

How to Set Goals (for life and business)

Learn strategies for goal setting to make changes happen in your life and business.

Growth.

Growth only happens when things get uncomfortable. Did you know that lobsters have to shed their entire shell in order to grow bigger? They crawl under a rock and cast off their old shell, then wait for the new one to crust up, and emerge, bigger and better.

They don’t know to do this until they start to feel cramped and uncomfortable. The discomfort is the indicator that they need to change and grow. Your growth will cause some discomfort for you; it’s a good thing. It means you are ready for more. This is true for both life and business. If you have or want to have a handmade business, then this post will outline how to set goals for that.

If you are feeling like starting up your handmade business is a struggle, I’m here to validate that for you: YOU ARE CORRECT. It’s a big challenge to get a business up and running, and once it is, to keep it running and bringing in some dollars. How many dollars are enough, though? And how much do you want your business to grow each year? How will you get started with this growth? How will you know it’s growing?

It’s time to let you know that the process is simple for this growth: goal setting.

I can hear you already: “It’s not that simple, Amy! None of this is that simple! You can’t just set a goal and the growth happens! Also, I’m freaking out a bit and getting shouty!” Well, that’s true, you do have to work at it. But the process for goal setting is simple, once you know how. No need to shout—I’ve got a system to help you. I will teach you how to set goals.

I set goals every January for my business. I sit down and I’m intentional with what I want and how I want to get it. The secret for me is this:

I set action goals.

Goals for your business are important, because they give a focus to the daily work. They help with the "why" of our business actions. They help us to make the right decisions. But why action goals? What's wrong with, "Increase my income by 25%?"

The reason for action goals is simple: they are completely under my control. Having an income goal is a good thing, and can help keep our daily focus, but there are many, many factors working on the income goal, over which we have no control. The economy (hello, COVID), personal or family illness, automobile problems, a global pandemic or even just personal illness--these are just a few of the Things That Can Throw a Wrench Into The Works. 

Action goals are COMPLETELY under my control. Here are a few examples:

1. Write and schedule/send a soap newsletter, every week, on Thursdays. 
2. Contact 4 small shop owners every week to discuss wholesale opportunities.
3. Sew one new item every week.
4. List one new item on Etsy every week, on Wednesdays. 
5. Post 10 new Pinterest pins every day.

All of these goals are under my complete control. I must schedule the time to do them, I must create a plan to execute them, I must make sure my craft area is clean in order to do them. The kicker is this: if I do these things, then my income will increase. It will. The more attention I pay to the actions of my business, the more my income increases.


You may have heard of SMART goals. Keep your goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-sensitive. Action goals are SMART goals, if you write them that way. As far as time-sensitivity, for business I recommend a 3-month timeline for re-assessing goals and changing course as necessary. I think you could go as short as 1 month for personal life goals.

Here is my process for setting business goals:

1. Get a notebook.

2. Write down everything I want from my business. Money totals, client totals, email subscribers—everything.

3. Then, I get out my laptop and use my goal-setting worksheet. I write down my full-year financial goal (you can do this at any time of the year, it doesn’t matter when you start; I do mine in January, but I am a big proponent of start now), and a sales breakdown of how I think that financial goal will happen (retail, wholesale, and other income).

4. After I have decided on these things, I will then set my action goals for each quarter of the year. Since there are 3 months in each quarter, I set 3 action goals for each quarter, so I can focus on one per month.

5. Referring to these quarterly action goals, I then set weekly goals for the quarter. I don’t recommend setting weekly goals for the entire year at once; we will inevitably change them, as things happen in our lives. I set 12 weekly goals (one for each week) for the quarter I am in, and then…

6. At the end of each quarter, I will reflect on my goals, which ones I achieved, and what adjustments I had to make. I write these down, as well. The adjustments are valuable to save for later; reviewing them can help keep you from making the same mistakes twice, saving you time and money. At that time, set weekly goals for the next quarter.

7. At the end of the year, I reflect on the year: the adjustments I had to make, things that were easier than I thought, things that were more difficult, etc. I also write down what I have learned about myself. (Owning and running a handmade business can change a person, or can reveal the person you really are, as most challenges do). Finally, I write down what I want to accomplish for the next year.

This process doesn’t take up much of my time, and even so, it’s time well-spent. My business growth is due to the fact that I sit down every three months and look over my goals to make adjustments. You’d better believe there were some big adjustments to be made when a global pandemic was declared in the middle of March, 2020, and we were all sent home. Craft fairs? Canceled. Farmers markets? On hold. (Luckily, they were declared essential business and allowed to continue. Whew!) Websites? Well, those were up and running, so that’s where I put my attention. We adjust. It’s what we have to do.

Want to learn how to set goals with some LIVE instruction by me? Enter your information below and you will be signed up for my free goal setting webinar! I will show you how to use the worksheets, provide a platform for sharing our goals with others, and give you the foundation you need to move forward with this system. It’s happening on December 5th, 2020!

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