Fir & Cedar Soap smells like a Christmas Tree

The coupon code is now live on our website.  I apologize for any confusion I caused by putting the wrong dates down in my post.  Tomorrow, Sat. is the 24th, not the 21st and Monday is the 26th, not the 23rd.  Unfortunately, I just realized my mistake as I sat down to set up the coupon code for tomorrow.  Again, I apologize for any confusion, but hopefully the rest of my discussion about Small Biz Sat. and Cyber Monday helped to clarify my meaning.

Anyways, I did just test the coupon code and it IS working.  Just enter your order and enter NOV2012 into the field labeled Promotion Code  when checking out.  This field is located under the box where you indicate any Special Instructions.  The coupon is limited to one per person.  If you have any questions or problems feel free to email me.

I headed my post with a picture of our Fir & Cedar Soap because that is the new Soap scent that is on special on our website.  It is a wonderful holiday scent as it smells like a Christmas Tree.

Speaking of holidays – I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving yesterday and that the rest of your holiday season continues well!

Our Christmas Soaps make excellent stocking stuffers.

Black Friday is the time to hit the malls and big stores.  Saturday is the time to shop the small businesses.  And Cyber Monday is internet mania.  Susan’s Soaps & More fits in the last two categories and we are offering 20% off everything in our store beginning on Saturday, Nov. 21 and running through Monday, Nov. 23.   Simply enter Nov2012 into the coupon area when checking out and you should see your discount reflected. Don’t forget that we are also participating in the American Express Small Business Saturday program which is a GREAT way to maximize your dollar.  If you registered your American Express cards back on  Nov. 18th then if you use one for a $25 purchase or more with us on Saturday, Nov. 24, you should see a $25 credit on your American Express Bill.  Remember these three things must apply:

1. You must use an American Express card that you preregistered with the Shop Small website.
2. You must make your purchase with a qualifying small business, which Susan’s Soaps is, on Saturday, Nov. 24
3. The final bill must total $25 or more.

Note: The $25 statement credit is between you and American Express.  If for some reason it does not reflect on your statement you need to contact American Express.  It is NOT the responsibility of Susan’s Soaps & More to credit this to you.  For more information on the American Express Shop Small promotion you may visit their website.  You can even look up a specific business there and make they are part of the program.

Holidays are a busy time for everyone, particularly anyone involved in retail sales and at Susan’s Soaps we are going to be even busier than usual this Christmas selling season.

Jerry  and I will be at the St. Martin’s Altar Society Christmas Bazaar this Saturday, Nov. 17.  The doors open at 8:00 am and the bazaar runs until 5:00 pm I believe.  However, just FYI – we have a wedding to attend and so will probably be heading out around 4 or so.  The show will be in the church’s community center and it is located just north of I20 at the County Road 213 exit.

The next week is Thanksgiving.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I hope you have a nice holiday and enjoy a good time with friends and family.

I know a lot of you will next be heading out to take advantage of the deals on Black Friday but we here at Susan’s Soaps & More will be participating in Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24th.  If you aren’t familar with this promotion sponsored by American Express the short version is register your Amex cards on Nov. 18th, spend $25 or more with a small business on Nov. 24 and get a $25 rebate back on your statement.  I have included a link below where you can go for more details as well as to register your Amex cards.  It’s a great shopping promotion for sponsoring Small Businesses.  In addition to getting your $25 credit back from American Express we will be offering a special discount that day as well so check back next week for more details.  IMPORTANT NOTE: You MUST preregister your Amex cards on Nov. 18th to get the rebate back from American Express on the 24th.  See details below.

Make sure to register any American Express cards on Nov. 18th here https://shopsmall.americanexpress.com/sbs2012/ .   If you have multiple Amex cards you can register more than one be registration is limited so don’t delay.  Once registered you can use any of your registered Amex cards to get a $25 statement credit after making a purchase of more than $25 at a qualifying small business.  You can check the map at the above link as well to verify that your favorite business is listed.  I know we are and probably most other “small businesses” that accept American Express cards are as well.

• You must first register your American Express Cards to qualify.
• Only one $25 purchase per card qualifies and the purchase MUST total $25 or more.
• The business must be a qualified business
• You can register multiple cards but registration is limited and begins on Nov. 18th at 12:00AM MST and continues until Nov. 18th 11:59PM MST

The following week on Thursday. Nov. 29 marks the beginning of the Arlington Chriskindl show with their tree lighting ceremony at 6 pm.  I will have more details to follow on this.  But the basics are that show runs from Nov. 29 – Dec. 15.  It opens (except for Nov. 29) at 11 am and runs until 7pm Sun-Thurs., 8 pm on Fridays and 9pm on Saturdays.  The theme and style of the show is like a German style outdoor holiday market with everything there to be something you might find at a German market.  We will be located next to the Ballpark in Arlington.  Hope to see you there!

I thought I would share 5 of my favorites from the fair as a walking tour.  These are not my only favorites, but definitely is my short list for close to the Food and Fiber pavillion. So please join me for a short walking tour.

Elsie in her pen

Elsie and Buauregard are located inside the Food & Fiber Building at the east end. After you have finished petting Elsie and Beauregard stroll through the Food & Fiber checking out exhibits and the General Store. Exit the building at the west end. Look out towards the food booths in the promenade and you can see my next favorite.

Corn on the Cob

The Dock

Girl Scout Butter Sculpture

Now, walk down thru the Embarcadero from The Dock and you will come to the Creative Arts Building that houses the Butter Sculpture. Every year an artist does a close to life size sculpture out of butter that is displayed in a glass walled freezer. This year in honor of the Girl Scouts it is depicting a couple of Girl Scouts giving Big Tex some cookies. The scouts and their den mother are pretty much life size but all you see of Big Tex are these HUGE hands and boots.

After viewing the Butter Sculpture take in the rest of the Creative Arts Building exhibits. Here is where you can see fabulous quilts, gorgeous canned goods, artwork of all kinds, live demos by visiting chefs and more.

Then after viewing everything to see in the Creative Arts exit the building and walk back across the promenade to the Wine Garden, my last favorite on this little tour.

Wine Garden

The TDA and Texas Wineries have created a little oasis of relaxation in the middle of the fair. There are canopied tables and chairs, greenery and piped in music. You can purchase wine, beer, coffee, cheese plates and more. So relax, enjoy a bit of your favorite libation and let the soothing ambiance work its magic.

Well that’s it, 5 of my fair favorites. I have brought you full circle as the Wine Garden is adjacent to the west end of the Food & Fiber Building. I hope you enjoy my State Fair of Texas favorites as much as I do. Maybe next year I’ll do another in a different section of the fair. This after all, the State of Texas so there is an awful to see!

Powered by Twitter Tools

Powered by Twitter Tools

Just finished getting product set up last week.

We have been “doing” the Texas State Fair for number of years now. I haven’t checked back but my guess would be around 7 years or more.

I actually feel like one of the old timers. Through those years a lot of things have stayed the same like the automobile buildings, Big Tex, the Chevy Main Stage and Fletcher Corny Dogs.

There have been some changes as well, most of the ones I know about are around the Food and Fiber Pavillon which is where I sample. For example the Wine Garden just outside the building is a great place to relax even if you don’t drink wine or beer. It’s a lovely outdoor patio area with piped in music that is just plain nice to relax in. (It’s where I am sitting as I tote this post.)

TDA Wine Garden

Another change I have seen in the Food & Fiber Bldg. is towards pretty much nonstop events to attract more traffic. It seems like there is always something going on from I can tell this seems to true of other buildings and the fair in general.

Of course another change is the prices have gone up. I hear people say they don’t go because it is too expensive. It can be, of course, with rides, food and the midway on top of the admission fee. But there are a number of ways to minimize the entry fee and once you get in there are all kinds of free exhibits, shows, demos and giveaways to take advantage of. If you are of a mind you can definitely have a great time doing the fair on a budget.

I love being a part of this great Texas tradition and if you haven’t been ever or in a long while try to schedule a visit this year. And of course if you do stop by and say “Howdy!”

Our Sampling Kiosk

Powered by Twitter Tools

One of the key cornerstones that I have built my business on has been to give exceptional customer service.  (That along with providing all natural product, maintaining our original standards of high quality and not promising what I can’t deliver.)  I have always felt that as a small company this was something we should and could deliver on.

Unfortunately, even though we try our best and attempt to double and even triple check everything, sometimes we do make mistakes.  Our customers generally let us know when we make a mistake as well they should.  In fact, we most definitely want them to let us know when we make a mistake because otherwise we can’t fix it and make it better and even worse we probably don’t even know we made the mistake and may continue to make it.

Of course we do have super nice customers who post on social media sites about how much they love our products or even email me directly with positive feedback.  Each of those positive comments always makes my day.

But I have to say until recently, I have never received an express delivery token of appreciation from one of my customers.  It not only made my day, it probably made my entire month!!  I received the certificate pictured above from the gals at Unique Online Furniture along with a little cache of sweet treats just to let me know how much they appreciate what I and my team do here at Susan’s Soaps & More.  Unique Online Furniture has been a customer of ours for a number of years.  They purchase our soaps and then gift them to their own customers that purchase their bath vanities and other products.  I think it is a win win for all of us!

I wanted to brag a little on the regard in which some of our customers hold us and also to say that having received such an unexpected boost only reinforces my commitment to providing the best service and products possible.  Business is business but it comes down to people and how you treat them.  Here is a heartfelt Thank you the Unique Online Furniture Gals for raising the bar!

Powered by Twitter Tools