June 2017: Old Friends, New Favorites

Hello, friends!

I don’t know about you, but we’re getting pretty excited for summer break around here. I think you’ll find that a lot of the products in this month’s VIP are going to be super useful as we transition into spending more and more time outdoors!

First up in the June VIP is a fan favorite: the HIMALAYAN SEA SALT SQUARE BAR! Made with a goat’s milk base and scented with jasmine essential oil, the Himalayan Sea Salt bar is rich in vitamins and minerals with a delicate floral scent. It’s the perfect blend of scrub and soap in one delightful package!

The next item for June is our classic COOL CUCUMBER SQUARE BAR! We combine cucumber and aloe with our olive oil glycerin base to create a super-soothing, moisturizing bar. This bar’s cooling effect is the perfect remedy for skin that’s been in the sun too long, so you’ll definitely want to keep it on hand all summer long. When you need relief from too much fun in the sun, reach for Cool Cucumber.

Hopefully you love our next release, because you can prevent major sunburn altogether with our UNSCENTED SUNSCREEN! We’re giving our VIPs a travel ready one-ounce tin of our Unscented Sunscreen that’s perfect for keeping in your purse, diaper bag, or backpack. Customers will be able to purchase the Unscented Sunscreen as both a lotion bar and in the one-ounce tin on the website, so everybody can stay protected from the sun this summer. Our sunscreen provides about 20-30 broad spectrum SPF (just remember to reapply your sunscreen regularly, especially if you’ve been swimming or sweating!).

Next up is a new lippy that I know you will love: enjoy a tube of our brand new MARGARITA LIP BALM! Made with olive oil, our Margarita lip balm goes on smooth and packs a delicious punch. Cinco de Mayo is over, but this lets you keep a fresh margarita on hand at all times.

Our last new product will be great for those minor cuts and scrapes that happen all over the playground: meet our brand new LANOLIN BALM! This ultra-thick salve is going to be your best friend when it comes to intense healing. The potential uses for this balm are endless; it’s equally awesome at treating cracked cuticles and soothing eczema as it is for providing relief to nursing moms. The Lanolin balm will be available in both two and four ounce tins.

HUGE NEWS!

We are proud to announce that Hilltop is partnering with Kalamazoo Candle Company to release our very first candle! Appropriately named SUMMER, this candle is a lush combination of invigorating citrus and lovely floral notes. Grab your Margarita lippy and a Summer candle and pretend you’re experiencing your own island getaway.

Hopefully you’ve got some fun in the sun planned for yourselves, because you have all the products you need to keep your skin protected and refreshed. Until next month!

Happy creating,

Christine

Fall is in FULL SWING

This month we welcome in our FALL SCENTS and HOLIDAY products!

It’s not fall at Hilltop until the HONEY and Spice is in full swing productions!

Hilltop’s Honey and Spice makes everything NICE! There are many things you probably didn’t know honey could do, so I’ll tell you. Honey is LOADED with antioxidants, enzymes, and other nutrients that nourish, cleanse, and hydrate the body, it decreases the appearances of scars, is anti-inflammatory, and the hydration revives skin cells. Honey also contains antibacterial and antifungal properties that will kill the bacteria that can lead to breakouts. Say goodbye to acne, and hello beautiful skin!

Honey and Spice Square Bar $4 or 3 for $10

And of course we have would have a PUMPKIN product for fall!  Pumpkin Goatmeal is a great soap to have! Not only is Pumpkin a great moisturizer, but it is rich in Vitamin A that will soften your skin. Is also known help clear acne!

Goat milk soap is very mild and has the closest PH level to our skin. It help to reduces skin inflammation, and even sooths dry and damaged skin.

Our Pumpkin GLUTEN FREE Goatmeal (the only gluten free goatmeal BTW) a great gift for everyone.  Especially when it comes ‘round Thanksgiving!  Both of these soaps are in HIGH demand EVERY fall, so we are always very excited to bring them back into rotation.  You will find BOTH of these square bars in our Hilltop | Square Bar 3pk!

Our Third FALL scent is our Vanilla Butter Nut!  This AMAZING NEW scent is going to be in available in Bath Bombs, Bath Salts, and Fizzy Salts!!!  This warm and nutty flavoring oil is sure to please!  It’s like a bath in Werther’s Original Candy!  Everyone in our VIP got to try one of our freshly handmade bath bombs.  They are always such a treat!

IT’s BACK this is not a TRICK!!!!!

BODY BUTTER is OFFICALLY back, so you know we had to come out with a new scent! Our Mango Shea Peppermint is our same great blend of oils and butters, with the addition of Peppermint Essential oil!

Mango Shea not only smells AMAZING, but it is rich in antioxidants, vitamin A, C, and E! It has SO many uses! It softens, soothes, and moisturizing the skin while protecting it from harmful UV radiation Mango Shea Body butter may also reduces fine lines and wrinkles, helps fight dry skin, and eczema!  You will love the peppermint essential oil because it is known to brighten the skins complexion and help with acne, and the aromatics will help to lift your mood!

 

It’s it great!  Wouldn’t you LOVE to be a VIP?  Recently one of our VIP-er filled out a #Show Us Your Hilltop form and included this months VIP as her image!!!

So SADIE!!!! SHOW US YOUR HILLTOP!

Sadie Whaley Papillion, Nebraska

Tell us a little bit about your Hilltop routine:

I use Hilltop soaps during showers and shaving. My four boys loves all the scents and use the soaps as well! I use Hilltop lotion everday! My boys have taken the Hilltop hand sanitizers to school and everyone loves using them. My favorite Hilltop Design product is the lip balm. It makes my lip so soft and smooth.

What Hilltop product(s) are in your purse/pockets/backpack right now? 

Lip balm and lavender lotion

What Hilltop product(s) do you want to try that you already haven’t?

Bath bombs. I will be trying one because I received it in the October VIP package!!

If you could only have one Hilltop product for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Life time supply of the shaving bar. Makes me not break-out and leaves my legs and under arms silky smooth!

 

Thank you SO MUCH Sadie!  A GREAT thing about our VIP is that it puts products in your hands that you might not think to try! Maybe you don’t need it…or think you wont like it!  As a VIP member, you’ll NEVER have to wonder…because you will get to try SO MANY NEW THINGS!!!

We only have ONE MORE VIP for 2016 and we plan to end strong!

Until next month….

Enjoy the Fall Scents,

Christine

WELCOME 2016

Welcome to the New Year!

And our FIRST product release of 2016.  Our VIPS have been enjoying these indulgent products for nearly a week and the BUZZ is H.O.T!

What was IN OUR VIP?!?! Read on friends!

Hilltop | Body Butter

CocoShea $15 oz What is so great about Cocoa Butter? Cocoa Butter is made from the vegetable fat of the cocoa bean. That’s ALSO what make CHOCOLATE, FYI. Cocoa Butter has a naturally High amount of vitamin E in which make it EXCELLENT in skin repair. Cocoa Butter is often recommended to lessen stretch marks and scar tissue. For best results you must apply multiple times a day.

If you LOVE our MangoShea you need to try this. Where the MangoShea has a lighter moisturizing feel. Our CocoShea is a little bit thicker, great for all you customers with EXTRA EXTRA dry skin. You are going to LOVE this!

Don’t forget we only SHIP our butters during the cold season, October – April.

We stock out butters YEAR round at our Headquarters. Come for a visit

Hilltop | From Scratch

Fizzy Salts $5.00

Made with Epsom Salt, baking Soda, Arrowroot Powder, Citric Acid, Olive and essential oils.

This is a great addition to our Smelly Salts! And an alternative to our Bath bombs. You are going to LOVE how they Fizz and Moisturize!

Available in Rose, DF Almond, Peppermint, DF Eucalyptus and DF Lavender.

Hilltop | Soap

Honey Kiwigranate $4 or 3 for $10

It’s BAAAACK!!!! For those who know what this bar is all about, they will NOT waste any time. Last year we sold out of ALL of my bars in THREE WEEKS. I’ve made double that this year. But they’ll still go quickly. WHY? What makes this bar so special???

I call this the Anti-Aging bar.

*Kiwi contains collagen-stimulating ingredients and may be added to skin care products to slow the appearance of aging. Yea!

*Pomegranate Juice is also a great help in firming skin tone and making pores smaller with all of its antioxidants helping that’s something to get excited about! Yea!

*Honey has been used in skin care for over 5000 years. It rejuvenates, heals and moisturizes the skin.

This bar is so popular it has a pledge. 😉 You can check out the pledge from last year’s blog post. Let me know if you can pledge the pledge in the comments!

Hilltop | From Scratch

Avocado Soap 1.50/oz.

A.V.O.C.A.D.O. <<- That. Right there! AMAZING in skin care.

Avocado is an effective and natural way to moisturize and condition your skin. Avocado contains vitamins and proteins as well as a humectant that pulls moisture into your skin and holds it there. This keeps your skin smoother and plumper, eliminating small wrinkles and making your skin look younger.

YOUNGER ->> I like that.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_4505792_make-avocado-moisturizer.html, with simple ingredients that can be found in your KITCHEN!!! This moisturizer is a GREAT DIY mask!

I have waited SO very long to release this soap. There have been so many GREAT From Scratch Bars released it was hard to know what order to do them in. I feel just great about adding this one to January. To start the year out right.

 

Did you notice a trend with January? It’s our ANTI- AGING month! Take care of your skin. Repair your skin. While you are running off the Gym, Don’t forget your deodorant, and BRING YOUR SOAP bring your BUTTER! Keep a stash on hand. After you exercise, and after you bathe, be sure to moisturize!  Don’t forget to baby your skin, and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I hope you just LOVE our new products!

Oh, Speaking of

LOVE ….

You are going to LOVE that we have EVEN MORE new products. Valentine’s Day is RIGHT around the corner. (Did you see our window display at Headquarters?)

I will elaborate on these products in next week’s blog post but I want to show them off and let you know they are available for purchase TODAY!

Hilltop | Scrub

Sweet Cherry Sugar: $12.50 for 8oz so yummy and, yes you can eat this one 😉

Hilltop | Body Butter

Whipped Chocolate Body Butter $15.00 for 8oz: Light, Chocolate, Moisturizing. What’s not to love?

Whipped Sweet Cherry Body Butter $15.00 for 8oz: Bright, Sweet, and reminds me of frosting for your skin. Technically, this is edible too…but it’s not nearly as tasty as the scrub, not that I know. I’m just guessing.

Oh come on! You know I taste nearly everything 😉 lol! Who’s kidding who!

Combine these three items with our ALREADY popular Chocolate Sugar scrub and our COCONUT OIL soap 4oz bar and you get the makings of an amazing, SPA-MAZING Gift set.

You will get you choice of a scrub and a butter with a 4oz bar of our coconut oil soap for only $29.95. This is LIMITED. VERY LIMITED and once they are gone. THAT’S IT.

Get your orders in early. These scrubs and butters are NOT sold separately.

ARE you LOVING this first set?!?! Wasn’t January 2016 HUGE?

Did you notice anything different?!?

It’s 2016. We are in YEAR THREE of Hilltop Designs and we were ready for a facelift. Not a huge one. But a refresh. Do you like?

The timing could NOT be more perfect as we are prepping to shoot our third design book and because of several cost increases in our raw materials and packaging goods, we had to bid farewell to our Classic Ball Jars Look. 😦

Change is GOOD! Because our scrubs and butters will ALL be in airtight containers. The BALMS look amazing even though their reveal will start in a few weeks. I feel like we are just a little more grown up. Like we upped the ante.

While we are all striving this month to rejuvenate and give our outsides a youthful glow…our products are STEPPING out PROUD and showing off their mature AGE 😉

I hope you have enjoyed our first blog post of the year! We’ll see you all next week on the blog, where we will tell you all about the Valentines goodies and we will ALSO say good-bye to some good friends. Until then.

Happy Creating

Christine

Vacation! Work? Vacation!!! What an exciting week!

 

I’m on vacation right now! And I laugh, because two of the BIGGEST items on my TO-DO list happened this week. LIKE SUPER HUGE things. LIKE, I’m SO excited… I can’t wait any longer to tell you WHY we had to hit pause on our vacation.

www.hilltopdesignshd.com

WE HAVE A BRAND NEW .COM!

We have a wonderful and AMAZING new WEBSITE!

It’s ALL OURS AND YOU CAN SHOP on it too!!!!

Etsy has served us well, but it is NOT exactly set up for the way we sell.

Hilltop has grown and to support that growth not only have we opened our own

BRAND NEW ONLINE HILLTOP SHOP @ www.hilltopdesignshd.com (go and bookmark that right now)

But we are now also able to offer our amazing consultant’s their very own shop links and workstations.

As a Hilltop Consultant you will have access to your sales, customer lists, items sold and more. This allows you to see a running tally of your sales throughout the month. NOT just at the end of the month with your commission check, like it used to be.

OH! Commission! YES!! You can see that too! Did you know that Hilltop Consultants make 50% commission on sales???? Well, now you can watch that ticker climb up and up!  It is simply wonderful!

Our Consultants will be able to post their links and have their customers shop directly from them.

So about ETSY. The shop will remain open on ETSY as it is a great place for a store as ours. Etsy is a great niche’ market place and I would never want to lose that. SO, If you would like to continue to shop on Etsy your wonderful consultants will still get credit for your purchases!

Hilltop is headed for BIGGER and BETTER with these two amazing platforms to purchase our quality skin care line from!

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL…..

Not only are we launching our VERY OWN e-commerce site. We are opening our very OWN STORE.

This has NOT been easy. But really. It never is.

July 26^th. I had a vendor show in the town where I live and I was sooooo excited about this little space we were going to move into. IT was awesome! I was so excited to move into our little town. Only 10 days or so until I got the keys.

Then Monday came. Called to arrange pick for keys, no answer. Text. Nothing. Email….well you get the picture. And then I got that gut feeling, that gut instinct that won’t go away but you know. That plan I had… It’s about to change.

UGH!!!

I hate that feeling! So immediately I prayed. A prayer that included three things that Hilltop could use to better our upcoming holiday sales season.

The three things that I have been praying for are: 1.) MORE SPACE <<- this is the BIGGEST NEED. 2nd this space needs to be within my budget AND 3rd I want it LOCAL to the communities I’m involved in.

So I start to call around. Still hoping in the back of my head I’m wrong about that feeling in my gut.

I write two MORE letters to the different business in the town I live. Trying to see if their spaces are available. But door after door is closing. And I still know nothing in regards to my Martin space.

There are 2 potential spaces in neighboring towns that are cute but the prices are too high for my budget.

And then one afternoon, I notice a hand written sign on a building in Hopkins that has been empty for a while. So I call on it. Get the information and it is HUGE. THAT terrifies me. Because WOW…what am I going to do with all that space. So I call it a day, because really WHAT in heaven’s name am I going to do with all that space. And it’s kinda ugly. Soap needs cute.

So I pray, and I pray and pray and I weigh the pros and cons, and MAYBE I do need to check out the huge space in Hopkins. It fulfills ALL three of the requirements I was praying for. Not only by answering what I thought I needed…but by exceeding the requests.

This place is amazing folks. The potential for cute is beyond belief. And there is even a window we will be putting back in so you can SEE in and we can see out.

My cousin Jillian did a great rendering on Photoshop it even shows the new window…with a VIEW!!!

We will be packaging there, shipping there, and receiving there! Eventually creating there. Our offices will be there and YES! We will have a third platform for purchases, beause you can SHOP THERE!!!!

We found our HOME!

And IT’S HUGE and I feel like that is God saying “Here you go! Here is your space, I did you one better on the price! Now, fill ‘er up!”

That gut feeling God gives you…I was right on. The other building sold, and we ended up needed a new location just as I suspected!

SO!!!!!

I’ll let you know when we are open in Hopkins! I hope you ALL come and visit us for Arts and Eats. We are excited about opening up Hilltop Designs in Hopkins, Mi.

Until Next time, Happy creating from Vacation

Christine