About the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild

The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild was formed in 1998 by a small group of enterprising soapmakers. The first annual conference was held at the Woodspirits Farm in Ohio. Since that initial gathering the Soap Guild has grown in terms of both numbers of members and outreach into the community. The HSMG now has members in nearly every US state and territory, and many other countries.

The HSMG is registered as a non-profit 501(c)(6) exempt trade association serving the industry of handcrafted soap, including the soapmakers who make the soap and the vendors and suppliers who serve them.

Mission of the HSMG

The mission of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild is: To promote the handcrafted soap industry; to act as a center of communication among soapmakers; and to circulate information beneficial to soapmakers.

Membership

Membership is open to those who make and sell handcrafted soap and vendors who provide products and/or services to handcrafted soapmakers.

In response to a critical need for affordable product and general liability insurance for soapmakers, the HSMG negotiated a group insurance policy which, in 2006, became part of the member benefits for soapmakers in the United States.

Management

The many activities of the HSMG are funded by membership dues, Benefactor members and donations, and are primarily carried out by volunteer members. The operations of the Soap Guild are overseen by an elected Board of Directors who serve in a volunteer capacity and manage in accordance with the Corporate Bylaws.

Location

The HSMG maintains an Administrative Office in Saratoga Springs, NY, but most of the business and communications of the organization are carried out through this website which includes a section on Resources for Soapmakers and a Members Only area.

You can contact us by phone, fax or email.

Code of Ethics

In 2005 the membership approved a Code of Ethics. All new and renewing members agree to abide by the code in their soapmaking endeavors. Soapmakers, vendors, suppliers and consumers may file a complaint with the Ethics Committee if they feel a member has violated the HSMG Code of Ethics.