June 10 & 11, 2016
Benjamin D. Aaron has been handcrafting and selling soap and body care products for over 9 years. From wholesaling nationwide to health food chain stores to running a retail storefront, Benjamin has learned countless lessons through trial and error, failing and learning.
Currently, Benjamin oversees 3 companies. The Imperial Drifter Grooming Company (www.imperialdrifter.com), a men’s body care and grooming company, is his latest venture. This business was spawned from a personal interest in the branding strategies behind what men purchase (or what women purchase for men). His second company, Method Creation (www.methodcreation.com), was born out of Benjamin’s itch to help others in our cottage industry. Method Creation helps create branding schemes and offers one-on-one coaching with fellow handcrafters. Benjamin’s third company, of which he is the Co-Director, is The Lovin’ Soap Project (www.lovinsoapproject.org). The Lovin’ Soap Project is a 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit organization whose mission is to empower women in developing nations through the hands-on training of soapmaking and body care products. Benjamin and The Lovin’ Soap Project team have so far worked in Haiti, Uganda, Tibet, India and Senegal.
With no business background, Benjamin has relied on the power of goal-setting to achieve everything he has set out to do up to this point in his professional career. He is an adamant promoter of taking 100% responsibility for all outcomes and circumstances, and firmly believes that having clearly defined targets every day creates success.
Amanda Gail is co-founder and co-director of Lovin’ Soap Project (www.lovinsoapproject.org), who’s initiative is to empower women in underdeveloped countries through soapmaking, and owner of Lovin’ Soap Studio (www.lovinsoap.com), a popular educational blog for soapmakers, which features tutorials and soapmaking articles. She has been a speaker for the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Central Soapers Workshop, Alabama Soap Conference and Texas Lonestar Soap and Toiletries Seminar. She teaches everything from the basics of soap making, to advanced formulations, mold making, color, and design techniques. Amanda has contributed to various publications and blogs including Handmade Magazine, Soap Collaborative, Saponifier and soapqueen.com.
Catherine McGinnis is the owner of www.Soaping101.com, one of the most popular social media outlets for soapmaking tutorials and advice. With fifteen years of experience in the industry, she is passionate about helping soapmakers sharpen their skills via seminar talks, comprehensive classes and online videos. The style and know how she offers in her videos and to the soapmaking community is an extension of her genuineness. She considers soapmaking an industry where information can be freely shared and enjoyed.
When not in front of the camera, Catherine is the owner of a trendy brick and mortar soap store as well as created and personally directs the annual soapmaking social gathering, SoapCon, which attracts speakers and soapers from around the globe. Catherine graduated Summa Cum Laude from MSU with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with her fields of expertise being Marketing and Economics. Catherine’s videos can be viewed at www.soaping101.com.
Kenna (Kendra Cote) created Modern Soapmaking (www.modernsoapmaking.com) in 2014, a proverbial online playground for soapmakers, after owning and operating two successful soap companies. With over ten years of soapmaking experience, she passes on her knowledge through resources and eBooks (which have collectively sold over 1,000 copies.) She continues to nurture soapmakers through her own mentorship programs and workshops, as well as through industry events and publications.
We hope you will come and join us at the 18th annual Alabama Soap & Candle Association Meeting that will be held at the Doster Center in Historic Downtown Prattville, Alabama! We have a link to the Rand-McNally website that will give you step by step directions to the meeting location when you provide your starting point.
The Alabama Soap and Candle Association began as the Alabama Soap Meeting in 1998 with 4 members, and has grown to well over 100 members. Join our Yahoo Group to keep up with activities like monthly luncheons, our winter gathering, and more.
We promise fun, fellowship, food, my three favorite “f’s”!, education, and some awesome shopping opportunities. There will be several vendors there from whom you can buy on the spot, and many of our generous sponsors will provide samples of new products so we can try before we buy. Put this event on your calendar now…. it’ll be the *must attend* event of the Summer of 2015! There are always several swaps in which you can participate. We promise you two fun-filled days of amazing speakers and demos. We have had amazingly generous sponsors who provide items for door prizes and for our goodie bags. I’m sure that they will be even more generous in 2015. Some of our vendors may offer specials such as free delivery to the meeting.
We’d love to see you there! Make plans now to be there, Friday, June 10th and Saturday, June 11th, 2016. Early-Bird Registration ends March 31! REGULAR REGISTRATION ENDS MAY 31!!
