For Soapmakers

See also: Benefits for soapmakers

Associate (Personal) Soapmaker

The Associate Membership is for individuals who make soap, but do not market or sell to the public. It is intended for those who are learning the craft and making soap, but are not yet ready to go into the soapmaking business. Personal Memberships are limited to five (5) years (for more information on this limitation, see the Membership FAQ).

Associate Memberships include all member benefits except those that specifically relate to marketing and selling handcrafted soap. Personal members may vote and serve on committees, but not hold office.

Dues: $80.00 per year. Associate Soapmaker Join/renew

Professional Soapmaker

The Professional Soapmaker Membership is for individuals who make handcrafted soap and market it to the public. Benefits for Professional Members are geared toward those things that assist in promoting handcrafted soap, increasing proficiency in the trade, improving business skills, encouraging networking opportunities and providing general exposure for the member's business and products.

Professional Members have the right to vote, participate in committees and serve as President and on the Board of Directors. Soapmaker members may also participate in the Certification Program and use the HSMG Member Logo on their website, promo, packaging and signage.

The Professional Membership includes product liability insurance (except as noted below)

Dues: $500.00 per year. Professional Soapmaker Join/renew

International Soapmaker Members

General and product liability insurance, which is part of the Soapmaker membership, is only available for soapmakers within the United States and Puerto Rico. For soapmakers from other countries the insurance is excluded from the membership and the membership price adjusted accordingly.

Dues: $100.00 per year. International Soapmaker Join/renew

Soapmakers with Existing Liability Insurance Coverage

For Professional Soapmakers who already have general and product liability insurance coverage, the insurance portion of the membership may be waived and the membership price adjusted accordingly.

Dues: $100.00 per year. Professional Soapmaker (Insurance Waived) Join/renew

Retired Professional Membership

Since making soap tends to be a life-long passion, the Retired Professional level is for soapmakers who have retired from their soapmaking business and no longer market to the public, but still want to be connected with and support the handcrafted soap industry. In order to qualify for a Retired Professional membership, the individual must have been a member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild at the Professional Soapmaker Level for a minimum of 2 years.

Dues: $100.00 per year. Retired Professional Soapmaker Join/renew

For Vendors & Suppliers

Vendor Memberships

Vendor Memberships are for those who provide products or services to those in the handcrafted soap industry. Benefits are geared toward those things that help them gain exposure to soapmakers. Vendor Members may also participate in the Certification Program and use the HSMG Member Logo on their website, promo, packaging and signage.

Vendor Membership is in the name of the business (rather than an individual). Vendor Members may not hold office (Board of Director or President) as the membership is in the business name, not that of an individual.

There are three tiers of Vendor Membership. Suppliers may choose the level that is most fitting for their personal goals and business model.

Tier 1

Tier 1 membership is designed to provide the HSMG items and services most often purchased by larger vendors (i.e. advertising in The Handcrafted Soapmaker, Conference Exhibitor Space and Conference sponsorhip opportunities) as a single, all-inclusive package.

In addition, a substantial portion of the membership dues are reserved for legislative advocacy, so joining at the Tier 1 level is a way to provide support for that HSMG activity.

Dues: $3,000.00 per year.

Vendor Membership, Tier 1 Join/Renew

Tier 2

Tier 2 benefits are designed to provide the HSMG items and services most often purchased by vendors as a single, all-inclusive package, but at a smaller level. As with Tier 1, a portion of the revenue is earmarked for legislative advocacy.

Dues: $1,500.00 per year.

Vendor Membership, Tier 2 Join/Renew

Tier 3

Tier 3 is designed for businesses working on a smaller budget but who still want to gain exposure to soapmakers and support the activities of the HSMG.

Dues: $500.00 per year.

Vendor Membership, Tier 3 Join/Renew

Benefactor Levels

Benefactor levels of Patron, Supporter and Friend are for members of all types who wish to increase their level of support of the HSMG. Benefactor members automatically receive additional exposure on the the website, various recognitions and special discounts.

The HSMG respects and appreciates those members who choose to upgrade to Benefactor status and wherever possible acknowledges and supports them.

Benefactor status is in addition to the membership dues. To increase your membership to a Benefactor status, go through the regular process for signing up for membership and ADD the benefactor status during the checkout process in the shopping cart.

Friend: $100

Supporter: $250

Patron: $500