Essential U Blog

The Salad Dressing Legacy

ast month at the Inc. 500 Conference, we had the honor of hearing A.E. Hotchner, the close friend and business partner of Paul Newman, just days after what would become his last visit with his dear friend. Hotchner spoke of Paul Newman with great affection, admiration and brotherly love. He told the story of how they started Newman’s Own. What I enjoyed learning was how these men dedicated their lives to giving, and in return received much more than they could have imagined. There's more to the story, so keep reading, but first, enjoy this video. Get a few tissues first ...

As Hotchner told the story of how Paul Newman didn't like any salad dressing but his own homemade concoction. When he ate out, he would always assemble his own dressing at the table. According to Hotchner, at restaurants, Newman went to the rest room to rinse any lettuce that might have been accidentally "contaminated" with any salad dressing other than his own.

TC Labs Update

ast month, we posted alerting you to the fact that we were available to help any cosmetics companies that had been unable to contact their supplier, TC Labs. We come to you now with a firm update on the status of that company. We have been advised that TC Labs, also known as, Natural Solutions has officially shut their doors. Many customers were left in limbo with no communication until they finally announced that they have gone out of business. We are here to make sure the business you planted stays firm and thrives!

      

We hate to see small businesses fail, but most importantly, we want to ensure that their business closing does not affect your business. Essential Wholesale is here to help you get back on track. We can find an alternative cosmetic base for you or if you send us a sample of the stock product that you formally bought from TC Labs along with an ingredient list we can re-create that product.

Aromatherapists Offer Aid to Relief Workers: You Can Help!

s you know, it's been a brutal hurricane season for people in pockets throughout the southern United States. If you're an aromatherapist and/or aromatherapy products manufacturer, I've been told about a great way you can help. The United Aromatherapy Effort (UAE), a non-profit organization that was founded by aromatherapist Sylla Sheppard-Hanger in response to the 9/11 tragedy, put out a call to action this week. The UAE’s mission is to provide stress relief and aromatherapy to relief workers during emergency work and afterwards. They have teamed up with Emergency Response Massage International to bring aromatherapy treatments along with massage to the disaster field in service to the responding heroes.

      

According to the UAE, they have immediate critical needs in response to Hurricane Season: any ready to use products including: gallons of bug spray, empty sprayers, inhalers of all types (uplifting, allergies, sinus, stress, sleep, etc.), aromatherapy sprays or roll-ons, balms, lotions, shampoos and monetary gifts.

According to UAE, no amount of monetary support is too little or too much and every product will be put to good use.

PLEASE SEND ALL MONETARY DONATIONS TO:

United Aromatherapy Effort
c/o Sylla Hanger, Founder
16018 Saddlestring Dr
Tampa  FL  33612
(813) 265-2222
sylla @ tampabay dot rr dot com

PLEASE SHIP AROMATHERAPY PRODUCT DONATIONS TO:

NOTE:  For immediate details of what has been received and what is needed, please call Geraldine. (318) 518-1187
unitedaromatherapy@gmail.com

Geraldine Zelinsky, UAE Assistant Director
6051 Roma Dr; #202
Shreveport LA  71105

Thanks to Kelly from Ashi Aromatics  for spreading the word to me. Now, it's your turn to pass it on.

You Can Ring Our Bell!

We Always Answer Our Calls!

he phones at Essential Wholesale have been ringing off the hook ever since last week when people started calling us with questions regarding TC Labs, aka Natural Solutions or Boutique Labs. Apparently, we have been told anyway, customers who had purchased bulk bases and other supplies from TC Labs have not been able to get in touch with the company. We don't know what's going on, but we do know that there websites are down. We have been told that voice mail is either full or messages are not being returned. We have heard several stories of customers being left hanging with no product suddenly and no answers -- not a good thing as we approach the holiday season.

          

While we don't know their status, and will not engage in speculation, we want to make sure you know that we have successfully helped many people replace TC Labs products with the best Essential Wholesale product replacements. We understand that small businesses tend to keep small levels of stock on hand and can’t wait for answers regarding the status of their supplier. If you are in need of product and can’t get any answers, we are standing by to help you!

If you were a customer of TC Labs (or anyone else for that matter!) and need an alternative to another company's base, we would be happy to find help you the closest Essential Wholesale match and send you FREE samples to help you make the right choice.

Feel free to call us directly 503-722-7557 and talk to our Customer Service Team to find the right match for you.  You may be asked to email your ingredient list to customerservice @ essentialwholesale dot com.

Please! Ring our bell! We are here to serve. Woot! There goes the phone now!

You Can Ring Our Bell

our phones at Essential Wholesale have been ringing off the hook with questions about TC Labs (aka Natural Solutions or Boutique Labs), which appears to have fallen off the face of the earth -- or something like that. As of the writing of this post, we have no information on how to contact them. Their websites are down and their phones are going directly to voice mail, which we have been told is full, or at a minimum, when messages are left, they are not being acknowledged or returned. These are not good signs, especially considering the holiday season is nearly upon us.

      

We don't know how to get in touch with them, but that doesn't mean we can't help. In fact, we have successfully helped many people find the right Essential Wholesale product to take the place of their formerTC Labs (or Natural Solutions or Boutique Labs) products so they can restock their shelves during this time of uncertainty. 

At Essential Wholesale, we understand that small businesses tend to keep small levels of stock on hand and can’t wait for answers regarding the status of their supplier. If you need product and can’t get any answers, we are here to serve you.

If you were a customer of TC Labs and need an alternative to their base, we will be happy to identify the closest Essential Wholesale match and send you FREE samples to help you make the right choice. Feel free to call us directly at 503-722-7557 and talk to our Customer Service Team to find the right match for you. You may be asked to email your ingredient list to customerservice @ essential Wholesale dot com for closer review.

So please! Ring our bell! We are here to serve you.

Formulators Go To San Francisco

We Love San Francisco!

an Fransisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The weather is perfect, the terrain is aesthetically pleasing and there's no shortage of things to do. For the last week, Allison, Kacie and I have been catching the sights here in between our heavy duty technical color cosmetics training. We arrived on Sunday and put on our walking shoes. One day, we walked around North Beach, Chinatown and Union Square and Japantown.

      

We then headed back to North Beach to eat dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Panta Rei. I called ahead for reservations, called Japantown. then We headed back to North Beach to eat dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurants Panta Rei.  I called ahead for reservations which was a comedy of misunderstandings. I tried to make reservations for Kayla between 6:30 and 6:45 pm. We ended up with reservations for JC at 6:35. It is truly an Italian restaurant so there was a language barrier. We decided to go with the flow and be JC. Allison and Kacie went on to play tourists to see Ghirardelli Square, the Embarcadero, and along the Piers.

For the Love of Lavender

n my world, summertime means Lavender Festivals and Art Shows. My mother has always been a working artist and with summer comes many art shows. My mom will be showing at the Gotta Have Art Show to benefit Whidbey Island General Hospital Foundation June 20 – 22nd. She'll be at the Skagitions to Preserve Farmland from July 19th to 27th, and also at the Lavender & Wind Art Festival with a Taste of Provence, August 2nd and 3rd in Coupeville, which will be a perfect combination of food, outdoors, art, music and lavender.

       

Lavender Festivals are abundant in the Northwest. The 3rd Annual Daffodil Hill Lavender Festival is June 28-29th in Oregon just south of Salem. The 2008 Oregon Lavender Festival will be held July 12 and 13th.  The artisan fair is held in Yamhill, Oregon and there are 20 farms are spread out all over the Portland metro area. The Lavender Daze Festival  will be held July 12th and 13th as well in Hood River.

We got hooked on Lavender Festivals after visiting the Sequim Lavender Festival in the “lavender capitol of the world." The 12th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival will be held on July 18, 19, 20th. It’s All About the Lavender will be going on in Athol, Idaho on July 19th and 20th. It will be a busy weekend for lavender. The San Juan Island Lavender Festival will be going on that same weekend on July 19th and 20th. 

I hope you get a chance to enjoy the summer with some art and lavender. 

Death By Lipstick?

ince the beginning of time, one of the most effective ways to change public perception is to implement what is sometimes called "The FUD Factor." If you can instill enough Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt in a person, even if those emotions are unfounded, the person is inclined to act in accordance with them, even to their own detriment.

      

The American Council on Science and Health chose the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' lipstick report known as "Poison Kiss" as the number one on their "Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares of 2007." Despite the honor as an unfounded health scare, awarded by non-profit organization, the California Senate Appropriations Committee has introduced a new bill that will declare all out war on lipstick in California.  Despite that fact that the entire case revolving around lead in cosmetics leans heavily on the "FUD Factor." 

Teaming Up For the Troops

Join Us In Showing Soldiers How Much We Care

e recently had a conversation with Jerry Wertz, Vice President of Packages from Home and the proud father of Brandon Wertz serving in Iraq. We were so impressed with his mission to serve those who are serving our country.

       

If you would like to donate, Jerry says that there is a constant need for deodorant, insect repellant and shaving products. All other toiletries are also appreciated in any quantity. They are grateful for all donations, big and small. If you would like to join us, contact Packages From Home through their website, or you can give them a call at (602) 253-0284. Because they are accepting donations all the time, you can also simply box up yours and mail it to them at this address

Packages From Home
1201 S. 7th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007

We can all do our part to show soldiers that we care!

Welcome To Essential U!

I'm So Glad You're Here!

am excited to welcome you to the Essential U blog! I am delighted that you are joining me here and I hope you'll find this a fun and informative place to hang out.

       

Here are a few posts that I think are especially informative and entertaining:

There Oughta Be A Law: fighting for truth in cosmetics labeling
Holiday Reflections: thankful and blessed
Our Son, Keegan: that's right, I'm a proud mama
Picture Perfect: me and my husband having fun

This is our first stab at blogging, so please take a moment to tell me what you think. Do you like what you see? What can we add to make it better for you? All feedback is requested and welcome so please post what you'd like in the comments section below.