Latest Blog Articles

  • WSP Handcrafted Product Page I am behind in updating all of the new businesses that wish to be added to the WSP Handcrafted Product Page. I have hired someone to do this work for me and I expect it to be updated by next week.

    If you wish to have your company added and your company has not been added by 10/6, please feel free to contact me at debbie@wholesalesuppliesplus.com

    Working Hard for Your Success!
    Debbie May
    www.WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com
    1-800-359-0944

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  • Regular Readers Our blog now has a "Regular Readers" area.  

    Consider adding your profile to the "Regular Readers" list and including a link to your website!  By doing this, you may just increase your business!

    To add your profile, press the "follow this blog" link to instructions on how to have your profile added.  

    You do not need to be a customer of Wholesale Supplies Plus to have your profile added to this area.  Please note that competitor websites will be blocked from public view.

    Working Hard for Your Success!
    Debbie May
    1-800-359-0944

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  • Joy Holiday Soap This is the perfect bar for holiday specials. Easy and quick to make. Ideas for different letter combinations: Dad, Mom, Wow, Boo, ABC, 123. Birthday Party Favors: A single number in the center of the bar.

    Joy Holiday Soap

    Ingredients:
    2 oz Crafter's Choice Ultra White Soap
    4 oz Crafter's Choice Extra Clear Soap
    Super Sparkle Iridescent Glitter
    Crafter's Choice Crimson Powder Mica
    Crafter's Choice Red Liquid Pigment
    3.5 ml Crafter's Choice Hunter Green Liquid Color
    Crafter's Choice Hollyberry Fragrance Oil
    Silicone Alphabet Mold
    Crafter's Choice 9 Cavity Rectangle Mold

    Directions:
    Melt the white soap. Color white soap with crimson mica and red liquid pigment (until desired color is achieved). Pour soap into alphabet mold. Allow to harden and unmold when solid.

    Melt clear soap. Add desired amount of glitter and 3.5 ml of fragrance. Pour soap into mold until you have a layer 1/8" deep. Immediately spritz with rubbing alcohol and set letters in place. You may need to wiggle letters a bit so that any air pockets are released.

    Color remaining clear soap with a few drops of color green color. Spritz soap in the mold with rubbing alcohol and pour green glitter soap into mold.

    Allow to harden. Remove from mold. Package as directed.

    Let me know if you have any questions!

    Debbie May
    http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/

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  • New Fragrances - On Sale Two new fragrances now in stock and ready for shipment. Each have 25% Off on the 4 oz, 8 oz and 16 oz sizes.

    • Aromatic Notes: Brown Sugar, Apricot, Raisin, Ginger, Nutmeg, Vanilla
    • Debbie's Notes:  Reminds me of a natural comfort scent.  
    • Brown Sugar is popular in retail lines.  I feel this scent will be a strong seller.  
    • Aromatic Notes:  Banana, Coconut, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Clove
    • Debbie's Notes:  Very fruity, complex and yummy!  
    • We were asked to come up with a scent called "Monkey Farts".  The name "Monkey Farts" is not a name that I feel would appeal to most WSP customers.  Not sure about the name "Monkey Snacks"..... so if it does not sell well by this name look for a rename of "Fruit Frappe".
    Wishing You Much Success!
    Debbie May
    www.WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com
    1-800-359-0944

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  • Update - FDA Globalization Just got word that my trip to Washington would be best if postponed 2 weeks. Congress and staffers are focused on the "Wall Street Bail Out" which they are pushing to finalize by Friday.

    It looks like I am rescheduled for Oct. 6-8th. I am excited as it appears that I may have 2 additional meetings that I would not have had if I went this week. We are up to 1,000 completed surveys. Please keep passing the survey link to those that may benefit from this work.

    I just keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason. Keep the faith. Stay focused and push forward. Your letters and comments have been incredibly inspiring. Thank you for taking the time to write!

    I will keep you posted.
    Debbie May
    http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/
    1-800-359-0944

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  • Shout Out to Steve - Thanks! I want to give a big "Shout Out" to Steve and say "Thank You" for taking the time to call me yesterday!!!

    Steve is a customer of WSP that called me yesterday to "talk" about the FDA Globalization Act of 2008. It turns out that prior to Steve starting his own small business, he worked for 10 years as a Congressional Staffer in Washington, DC!!

    He provided me with insight for how the committee system works. He provided guidance on what to do and what not to do. He provided me with valuable contacts that are willing to assist us in Washington.

    I am headed to Washington next week. After I return, Steve will likely be the first person I call. I promise to keep all of of you updated!

    Feel free to leave Steve your comments here....thanking him for taking the time to step forward on this very important issue.

    Debbie May
    http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/
    1-800-359-0944

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  • Two Shipping Rate Changes Shipping costs continue to increase for all of us. I truly feel that costs have increased higher than any of us thought possible. Fuel surcharges, increases in corrugate box costs and the continued commitment to packing fragrances in recycled biodegradable holders are only a few of the challenges WSP continues to wrestle.

    Due to unforseen cost increases, two of our shipping discount programs require adjusting. The new programs are:

    WSP Website - $7.95 Flat Rate for Orders $25 and Less
    Fragrance and Flavors Website - $2.95 Flat Rate for Orders $50 and Over

    These changes are expected to take place sometime tonight.

    Thanks for your understanding.
    Debbie May
    www.WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com
    1-800-359-0944

    more

  • Made In USA - Final Transition As mentioned months ago, we are in the final stretch of switching our Stock Clear and Stock Colored PET Bottles to Made in the United States. I did this for several reasons. They are:

    1. It feels good and right to support American Workers.
    2. Silgan Bottles (our new manufacturer) has tremendous respect for consistent quality.
    3. The Blue Bottles are a traditional Cobalt Blue (they don't look purple).
    4. The Amber Bottles are a traditional Amber (they don't look orange).
    5. The bottles are an exact color match to our Stock Colored Silgan Jars.

    I have moved the "Made in China" bottles to the surplus page. I will deplete our inventory from this location. If needed, I will replenish this stock until our new stock bottles arrive.

    The "Made in the USA" bottles are on our regular clear bottle and colored bottle stock bottle pages. Many have already arrived. Many more are arriving at the end of the week.

    Wishing You Much Success!
    Debbie May
    www.WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com
    1-800-359-0944

    more

  • FDA Surveys - 500 and Growing!!
    The FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is an important issue.  Late last week, I asked people to complete a survey that I will hand present to select members of Congress and the Senate.  So far, over 500 surveys completed!  More are coming in every day.   

    Thank you to all that have completed the survey and passed on the survey link.  Your surveys will make a huge impact in showing that this issue involves real people, with real lives.  My goal is to have a minimum of 2,000 surveys for presentation on September 24th. Please continue to inform your associates and social networks about this survey.  I have created a link on the WSP website for those needing the survey link.

    I have created a quick link on this blog to follow updates on this issue.  I will post updates from my Washington trip as well as any other information that comes to mind.  

    Be Informed - Get Involved!

    Debbie May
    1-800-359-0944

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  • Get Informed - Be Involved The United States Energy & Commerce Congressional Committee is discussing a draft bill they have entitled "The FDA Globalization Act of 2008".

    While this discussion bill is not yet a formal bill, which can be voted into law, it addresses problems of food chain supply and consumer safety as it applies to drugs and cosmetics. It is expected to become a formal bill soon.

    I am most concerned with this draft bill as it pertains to small businesses producing cosmetics such as lotions, lip balm, bath salts, shower gel, moisturizing soaps, etc.

    If this bill becomes a law, as it is currently drafted, and you are producing cosmetics you will be required to:

    · Annually register your company with the FDA.
    · Pay a fee of $2,000 per year.
    · Register all ingredients in each of your individual formulas.
    · Document good manufacturing practices.
    · Report all adverse reactions.

    I know the hardship this potential legislation will have on small businesses in our industry. Now is the time to act. This discussion bill is not a full bill. There is still time to have the language modified so that it does not interfere with your business, product innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit of the American Dream.

    On September 24th, I will be making my first trip to Washington DC. I will be meeting with several people including Senator George Voinovich, Senator Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Betty Sutton.

    I need your help for this important visit. Please take the time to answer 10 important questions. I will be binding your answers into a book for presentation with additional support materials.

    I will personally deliver your message to Washington on the 24th!

    Sincerely Yours,

    Debbie May
    President & CEO
    Wholesale Supplies Plus.com, Inc.

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  • Productivity UnPlugged Over the past year, I have felt like my work life is a bit out of control. So much to do and so little time became my motto.

    This past week I was incredibly productive. I am talking “knock it out of the ballpark” productive. 

    Yesterday, I started to think about what changed. What did I do differently?  The only difference was that I didn’t have my blackberry all week. Certainly this could not be it! I bought my Blackberry to make my life easier.

    This morning I found this article by Paul Chin.   It seems being “plugged in and connected” isn’t all that it is cracked up to be.   I now look forward to many more productive weeks!!

    Debbie May
    www.WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com
    1-800-359-0944


    Unplugged:  Information Overload Requires a Human Solution
    Paul Chin
    10/13/2005

    "Why does the dog wag his tail?" asked Robert De Niro in the movie Wag the Dog. "Because the dog is smarter than the tail. If the tail were smarter than the dog, the tail would wag the dog." This raises a similar question in the context of technology: Are we running technology or is technology running us?

    Personal Unproductivity

    Powering up my home office is like powering up NASA's Mission Control. High-speed modem, check; printer and fax, check; cell phone, check; PC, check; primary and secondary external hard disk drives, check; coffee machine, check. We are go for launch. With all this, my friend still asks, "Why don't you get a BlackBerry?" (or what some refer to affectionately as a CrackBerry for its addictive qualities).

    Think for a moment about how many times a day you break your train of thought or stop what you're working on to check your e-mail, answer voicemail, Google something insignificant, or check an online news site. I must admit that I've been guilty of all these productivity infractions in the past — and most of the times I wasn't even aware that I was doing it. It just naturally happened because it was there. I can even recall some instances where I interrupted my interruptions. I'll be in the middle of writing an article when my e-mail client chimes in with an interesting story from a BBC newsfeed. I would spend a few minutes reading it and then forward the story to several colleagues and friends who might also find the piece interesting. Within an hour an e-mail debate or conversation would break out, giving me another story idea. I'd start jotting down notes and possible research sources when it clicks: my original article is still sitting in my taskbar.

    When I finally realized that I needed to return to what I was originally working on, it took me forever to get the rhythm going again. And all that time spent "getting back into the groove" is unproductive time. I was wasting time trying to get back to the point I was at originally — that's the true definition of moving backwards.

    According to Dr. Donald Wetmore — the creator of the Productivity Institute and a 30-year veteran in the field of personal productivity and time management — the average person is interrupted once every eight minutes. Eighty percent of these interruptions are rated as having little-to-no value, creating approximately three hours of wasted time per day.

    But that was then. Now I no longer feel the need to read every piece of information that comes my way when I get it, or to answer non-emergency e-mails immediately. If I'm in the middle of something important and the phone rings, I let it ring and allow voicemail to take care of it. I schedule three times during the work day — the morning, just before lunch, and at the end of the day — in which to address my e-mail and catch up on news. Now I find that I'm getting almost twice as much done. Why? Because I changed the way I worked. I came to recognize my biggest time guzzlers and learned how to manage all the information coming at me from every direction.

    Time management and personal productivity is a behavioral process; no software can teach you this. Technology is there to help you improve your own efficiency; it's not there to become a substitute.

    Causes of Personal Unproductivity and Information Overload
    • Obsessive need to be "plugged in" such as constantly checking e-mail or calling office
    • Poor attention span and lack of focus
    • Rampant multitasking and the inability to prioritize tasks
    • Constant interruptions by colleagues (either in person, by phone, or e-mail)
    • Poorly structured and/or repetitive content
    Technology is a great thing. It can help you accomplish tasks that used to take twice as long, if not more. But you can't use technology alone to manage information overload anymore than you can use fire to treat a burn. If you don't already possess the basic skills to manage information, technology might become a hindrance more than a help — it becomes a liability, a part of the problem. 

    Information overload is a human problem that needs a human solution. Remember: Technology is a tool for personal productivity, not a replacement. It can't exhibit the good judgment of a human being. Technological solutions can only be as good as the people using and developing it.

    Technology alone won't solve all your personal productivity and information overload problems — it can only ease them.

    Corporate Revolution?

    The fast-paced business world has bred a corporate culture that dictates if you're not in constant motion, you're not being productive. Passers-by will see co-workers who are “just sitting there” and think they're not doing anything. But everyone needs that uninterrupted downtime in which to calm their minds and gather their thoughts. This is especially true for those in the creative field where these quiet uninterrupted moments of thought bring about eureka-type ideas. Some solutions are surprisingly low-tech.

    It's OK to slow down, or to "Zen out" as I like to call it; and there shouldn't be any guilt in doing so. I've solved some of my most difficult work problems when perfectly still. These quiet moments can really help reduce the constant chatter racing through your mind and give you the clarity needed to figure out problems. 

    Multitasking isn't the asset many employers make it out to be. In fact, multitasking, outside the context of computers, isn't possible. Dr. Edward Hallowell, a psychiatrist with over a decade's worth of experience in the field of attention deficit disorder, says, “No one really multitasks. You just spend less time on any one thing.” He goes on further to say, "Your brain literally can't multitask. You can't pay attention to two things simultaneously. You're switching back and forth between the two. So you're paying less concerted attention to either one."

    Closing Thoughts

    People seem to feel the need to be plugged into information and technology at all times whether they truly need it or not simply because it's there. Sometimes you need to step back and ask, "Am I really going to read all these newsfeeds I've subscribed to?"; "Am I using these technological solutions because they really do help me become more productive?"; "Is this PDA really necessary?"

    It's alright not to be plugged in 24/7. I've personally improved my own productivity and ability to manage large amounts of information with this lesson. Some of my best articles were written in a quiet cafe with my cell phone off and laptop offline. Everyone needs to take a step back and look at what the real problem is. Maybe it's not the technology that's broken. Maybe it doesn't need rewriting. Maybe it's us that needs the “rewriting”. Maybe if we spend a little more time improving our own abilities to organize our tasks and digest incoming information we'll actually improve the manner in which we use the technology. Unplugged shouldn't have to mean unglued.

    Paul Chin is an IT consultant and a freelance writer. Previously, Paul worked as an intranet and content management specialist in the aerospace and competitive intelligence industries.

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  • Why I don't Twitter Twitter’s concept is helping people stay connected through quick frequent conversations that revolve around “what are you doing?” Basically, you create an account and people join your “network”. The public can see your conversations at any time. From my perspective it is much like being “a fly on the wall” reading conversations others are having.

    I have to tell you, Twitter sort of creeps me out.

    I can’t really picture having a great dinner with my husband and stopping to twitter. Stubbing my toe on the sofa and stopping to twitter. Going to a party with my girl friends and stopping to twitter. Changing my clothes and stopping to twitter. Firing an employee and stopping to twitter. You get the idea.

    Instead, I like calling my best friend and hearing her voice when I talk about my latest frustration. I like writing a two page email and sending it to my girl friend living out of town and then getting to read about her life.  I like holding close to my heart conversations I have with my daughter.  I like seeing friends I have not spoken to in weeks and getting all of the “scoop” face to face.  I like sending that special family member a box of cookies for their birthday.  I like not having to not censor my thoughts because the public will see them.

    I guess I like my privacy.  

    So,  for those of you that have emailed me....I  won't be twittering.  Take my word for it....my life is not that exciting anyway!

    Debbie May
    www.WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com
    1-800-359-0944

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  • Smelly Jelly Crystals Due to declining sales and increasing minimums we discontinued our Crafter's Choice Smelly Jelly Crystals.

    We do not want to leave customers in a bind therefore, for those of you still needing the crystals please try a google search for the words:

    Terra-Sorb
    Hydrogel for Soil
    Watersorb

    You will also likely find this product a local garden and tool centers.

    Debbie May
    www.WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com
    1-800-359-0944

    more

  • Prayers Please I wanted to make a quick post and ask for prayers from those that pray.  

    Theresa, one of our key team leaders in the warehouse, was in an accident this weekend.  She was thrown off of a Labor Day Parade Display.  Her hip, leg and foot were very badly injured.  Emergency surgery pinned her leg and hip.  The heel of her foot cannot be rebuilt until the swelling goes down.  We are being told that she will be in a rehab facility for 2-3 months.

    Until we get temporary staffing in place, please be patient if orders take an extra day for processing.  We are all just so saddened.  Theresa has worked for WSP for 8 years.  She is a very valued employee.

    Thank you.
    Debbie May
    1-800-359-0944

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Issue: FDA Globalization Act 2009

The FDA Globalization Act 2009 may be of interest to your business. Click on "View Bill" to view latest congressional activity.

Points of Interest: There has been no activity on this bill since it was referred to committee on 1/28/2009. Senator Dingell proposed a different bill (HR 2749) that amends the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for the purpose of improving food safety. This new bill does not impact drugs or cosmetics.

Issue: Safe Baby Products Act 2009

The Safe Baby Products Act 2009 may be of interest to your business. Click on "View Bill" to view latest congressional activity.

Points of Interest: There has been no activity on this bill since it was introduced 4/28/2009.