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Hey Y’all!
It’s another brisk morning in South Carolina and I couldn’t be happier! The rush of cool air has my creative juices flowing with new product ideas and I am looking forward to sharing them all with you.
Today I am writing about my favorite show...Survivor, and what it actually means in comparison to the "Indie" business owner. The tag line of the show is Outwit, Outlast, Outplay. In today’s struggling economy, that is exactly what small business owners are doing. With the fall of 4 major players in the banking industry, I am reminded why I started Cactus & Ivy so many years ago.
Survivor is defined as: - one who lives through affliction;
- one who outlives another;
- an animal that survives in spite of adversity
Survivor completely describes what the “Indie” business owner is all about. We survive sourcing ingredients, packaging options, shipping, equipment, etc, in smaller volumes because we don’t meet the minimum requirements that are afforded by big business. And yet we survive.
Every “indie” owner has started out the same, whether in a small work area or even our homes. We strive to build a business that will produce products that offer something different than the “one size fits all” concept that big business is putting on retail shelves. With the threat of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 discussion draft, we are really in for the fight of our lives. If you haven’t already done so, please click here to read and sign the petition. Your support is greatly appreciated by so many, myself included!
I applaud you for supporting your “Indie” business owner, whoever they may be. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and never forget how far we’ve come. Cactus & Ivy will work hard to earn your business and even harder to maintain it. That is a promise!
You know what I’ll be doing at 8pm tonight. That’s right……watching Survivor!
Thanks for stopping by y’all and have a great day!
Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy
Hey Y'all!
Well Fall is definitely here in my neck of the woods and it's absolutely marvelous! I've been waiting on the "dog days" of Summer to disappear and the cool, autumn breezes to blow in. I am loving it! Now to today's topic.
Natural Body - Why I do what I do
As a suffer of Fibromyalgia, I needed to create a product that my husband could use to massage the frequent knots that appear around and under my collarbone and shoulder blades.
Fibromyalgia is defined as 'a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain'. You can read more about this condition by clicking here.
When I create a product, I research the benefits each ingredient will bring to the final product. Especially in massage oils, I look for base oils that produce a good slip without feeling greasy and will penetrate the skin easily. When choosing essential oils, I look for properties of calming, relaxing, rejuvenating, balancing, grounding and the overall feeling of peace. My favorite massage oil at the moment is Mint Jasmine Body Bath & Massage Elixir. Our elixirs are blended with Babassu Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Jojoba Oil for their benefits necessary for healthy skin, such as antioxidants, vitamins E and C, and oleic acid. The floral aroma of jasmine blended with the uplifting aroma of spearmint make this a completely intoxicating and relaxing blend.
Although Cactus & Ivy has the 'Guinea Chicks' to test our products, I leave the testing of massage oils to me. It's a tough job but someone has to do it! Hey....it also gives me an excuse to get another massage or two or three!
Have a fabulous day y'all!
Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy
Hey Y'all!
I hope this day is treating everyone well and you are getting back into the swing of things after a relaxing Labor Day holiday!
Today I'd like to say a little about what is means to be "cruelty free and vegan". From its inception, Cactus & Ivy made the conscious choice to never test our spa and body products on animals, nor would we purchase raw materials from companies that don't adhere to the same policy.
Cactus & Ivy signed the The Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals, for which I recommit annually. Providing a list of my suppliers and getting written confirmation, also obtained once a year, that the supplier has not been involved with animal testing for specific ingredients.
The Caring Consumer program, which Cactus & Ivy is also a signer, seeks to gather information on the animal-testing policies of cosmetics and household-product companies, the Statements of Assurance from companies that meet their cruelty-free criteria, and share this information with the public.
In addition, we went vegan with our product line this year. We replaced beeswax with candelilla and carnauba waxes, and stopped using honey. I am very proud of the Cactus & Ivy product line and will continue to seek out new and beneficial raw ingredients to continue producing "cruelty-free and vegan" natural products. We are always on the lookout for locations where Cactus & Ivy would be a great fit. If you know somewhere you'd like to see Cactus & Ivy products, please don't hesitate to give us a call or send an email.
You may reach Cactus & Ivy by email info@cactusandivy.com or call us at 864.445.9494. Feedback is greatly appreciated - good bad or indifferent. We'd love to hear from you. Don't forget, we are running a 20% off promotion to say thank you. Please use promo code TY2008 at checkout.
I'd like to leave you with this quote..... "I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not."
Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a fabulous day!
Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy
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