Friday, March 28, 2008

The Power of Green!


Sorting through the confusion of green cleaning products.

Many companies are re-evaluating their product lines to better fit "green" standards.
Watkins didn't know it at the time, but the products that we have been committed to developing and bringing to your family for 140 years are getting a lot of attention and actively sought after by consumers.

Today we have many choices for natural and environmentally friendly cleaning products. How do we weed out the truly natural products from impostors? Gina Moore, Watkins Home Care Product Manager sat down with me to sort through this confusion and give us a few tips.

What makes a green cleaning product "green?"
At Watkins we have defined green cleaning products as items that use renewable, non-toxic, phosphate-free and biodegradable ingredients. Products that work, but don't create fumes or leave behind residue that may affect the health of your family or impact the environment.

How do "green" cleaners work?
Green cleaners break down dirt and grease using surfactants from natural renewable resources. For example, instead of using ammonia as the active ingredient, Watkins uses natural plant extracts. These active ingredients act like magnets pulling dirt up and away from the surface.

What should we be looking for when we are looking for "green" cleaning products? Watkins of course! Your first indication that a cleaning product isn't as natural as it could be is the use of colorants or dyes. A neon pink or purple cleaner should send up a red flag. Pay close attention to ingredient decks, cautionary statements and label warnings. These might be an indication that the product isn't as natural as it could be.

How do we know a "green" cleaner is truly not going to harm our environment?
The Clean Water Fund, a non-profit organization, estimates that the average American uses forty pounds of environmentally harmful household cleaners each year. Multiply that number by 245 million Americans and the effects are significant! The important claims to look for with regard to environment are biodegradable and phosphate free. Also steer clear of aerosol cleaners that can deplete the ozone.

What ingredients should we steer clear of?
Watkins has established a freedom code for our Natural Home Care line complete with all the ingredients we steer clear of:

  • Ammonia Free

  • Animal Ingredient Free

  • Benzene Free

  • Biodegradable

  • Boron Free

  • Butyl/Ethyl Free

  • Cellosolve Free

  • Chlorine Free

  • Diethylene Free

  • Dye Free

  • Ethanol Free

  • Ether Free

  • Formaldehyde Free

  • Isopropanol Free

  • Kerosene Free

  • Mineral Spirit Free

  • Non-toxic

  • Petrochemical Free

  • Phosphate Free

  • Phosphoric Acid Free

  • SLS Free

  • Sulfuric Acid Free

Environmentally friendly cleaning tips:

1. Cut down on skin irritations by using natural cleaning products on surfaces that will come in direct contact with your skin: upholstery, carpets, and kitchen countertops.


2. Use a dishwasher detergent that is phosphate-free. Phosphates cannot be removed from water sources with current waste water treatments and end up in fresh water areas.


3. Invest in a quality set of microfiber cloths. Use these instead of paper towels when cleaning to lessen your impact on the environment. Every little effort helps!


4. Dispose of old, toxic cleaners properly. Contact your local recycling center.

Shop for green cleaning products at http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney

Thursday, March 27, 2008

How to Create Your Free Blog or Blog-Based Website

If you haven't started a blog of your own for your business or as a personal journal because you're not sure where to begin, here is a step by step video tutorial about how to set up a free blog at www.blogger.com.

This two-part video tutorial (a total of about 24 minutes), takes you through the process of how to create your own free blogger-based web site for your business. A free blogger blog is a great way to get your business on the web, but it’s only a start.

PLEASE NOTE: This video mentions beta.blogger.com (a test version). Now all the functions are included in the main blogger web site www.blogger.com. So, you can reach the site by going directly there.

You can view the video by clicking on the following link (it will open in a new window)

Click here for Part 1 of "How to Create Your Own Free Website"

Click here for Part 2 of "How to Create Your Own Free Website"

I found this video tutorial at www.craftbusinessblog.com/rollercoaster-craft-resource-center

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Watkins

New Natural Peppermint Foot Cream




If you're itching to kick off your shoes and tiptoe through the tulips, you'd better do some "sole" searching first. If there's one part of our body that we tend to neglect, it's our feet. With proper care, you'll feel good about baring your soles, and you may even avoid having to foot the bill for a doctor visit. If your feet are looking a little rough around the edges, try Watkins Peppermint Foot Scrub with pure peppermint oil and pumice-it will rid your feet of dry, dead skin and smooth out the rough spots. For a surge of energy that will absolutely knock your socks off, massage your feet everyday with Watkins Peppermint Foot Cream. The pure peppermint oil will energize your entire body and help to relieve pain and itching. If you work out, apply Peppermint Foot Cream before exercise. Research shows the aroma of peppermint can help you work harder and faster, resulting in more calories burned during exercise.

Brenda Koth, MS, RD
Watkins Health and Nutrition Advisor

Peppermint Foot Scrub




Peppermint Foot Cream


Sunday, March 16, 2008

Why I Love My Watkins Business and Customers



I received this lovely Thank You card from one of my customers! I love the card with the breautiful Iris flowers and the sentiment it expressed.

In January one of my customers placed an order by mail. She ordered for a friend and had the products shipped directly to her friend. I mailed a hand written Thank You to her for placiing her Watkins order with me. A few days later I got a phone call from my customer. She said that her friend hadn't received her order yet and could I help her. I told her I would check with Watkins to see if the order had been delivered. (Shipping time for all Watkins orders is 5 to 7 business days, unless a product is not available or is on backorder.)

I looked at the order details and saw that the order address was a post office box. Watkins does not ship to post office boxes. I checked with my customer for her friend's street address and assured her that her friend would receive her order soon. Then I called Watkins to determine what had happened to her order. The helpful customer service representative said the order had been returned. They said they would send out the order immediately.

This is what the Thank You card said.
"A few short words,
but they express
The warmest thanks
for your thoughtfulness."

My customer also wrote a beautiful note of thanks and said she would place her next order with me! She said her friend received her order a few days after I spoke to her on the phone.

An extra bit of information.
My customer mailed her Thank You card to Watkins Incorporated, with attention Eleisia Whitney, Watkins Associate, written on the envelope. Watkins was very kind to forward the card to me.

If my customer only knew how she touched my heart!

Around the Kitchen Table - Watkins Newsletter - March 15, 2008

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Welcome to another issue of Around the Kitchen Table!

If you enjoy trying new recipes and celebrating holidays you are in luck this month! St. Patrick's Day is March 17. The first day of spring is March 20. Easter is March 23.

I chose most of these recipes especially for your spring cooking, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter - Banana Oat Breakfast Cookie, Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage, Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Vegetables, Hot Corned Beef Buns, Cider-Glazed Honey-Baked Ham, Flower Power Cupcakes, Mint Brownie Pie, and Minty Ice Cream Shamrocks.

Enter to win my Watkins Spring Giveaway! Just place an order by March 20th and you could win an assortment of products valued at $80.87! See details in this issue.

Each month one of you is chosen to receive a free full-sized product so enter the contest. You might be the winner!

Join Watkins for just $39.95. Join for the 25% discount on your own products and earn a 25% commission on sales. If you are interested in starting your own Watkins Home Business get all the details at Watkins Business Details (http://www.vanillasage.com). Join for the discount or for part time or full time income!

Join for the 25% discount on your own products and earn a 25% commission on sales. If you are interested in starting your own Watkins Home Business get all the details at Watkins Business Details (http://www.vanillasage.com). Join for the discount, for part time income, or a full time career!

I love to hear from you. Any suggestions to make this newsletter more informative and helpful are appreciated.

Read this issue now:
http://www.everydaynecessities.com/march15-08newsletter.htm

Eleisia

Friday, March 14, 2008

J.R. Watkins Natural Personal Care Line is Here!

I am pleased to annunce that the J.R. Watkins Natural Personal Care Line is Here!

We are pleased to announce the latest addition to Watkins family of products - J.R. Watkins Natural Personal Care. We continue our commitment to you, your family and the environment by continually remaining on the forefront of product development and innovation. We are pleased to be one of the first companies to offer a complete line of natural personal care with formulas that are at least 95%natural, with many 99% natural or higher. We truly are at the forefront of this product category!

By using renewable, plentiful ingredients from mother earth, we are able to provide you with a luxurious line of natural personal care products that are free of harmful chemicals that may pose risk to human health.

When J.R. Watkins mixed his first 'natural remedies' batch in 1868, he probably had no idea his "green" philosophy would be more relevant today than ever. This new line represents more than 140 years of innovative, natural product development - J.R. would be so proud!

Natural Hand & Body Lotions
Created with your skin's health in mind! Our natural formula contains more than 10 natural oils and extracts to protect and pamper even the most sensitive skin.
(11 fl oz/325 mL)

20470 Aloe & Green Tea
20486 Lavender
20487 Lemon
20520 Mango
$9.99 each


Natural Body Creams
Natural shea and cocoa butters are whipped together with more than 10 natural oils and extracts to protect, soothe and condition your delicate skin. This is a healthy treat your skin will never forget!
(3.3 oz/95 g)

40507 Aloe & Green Tea
40508 Lavender
40509 Lemon
40516 Mango
$7.99 each

Natural Hand & Cuticle Salves
Formulated around a premium beeswax base, these salves incorporate natural oils that moisturize, nourish and revitalize hard-working hands.
(2.1 oz/59 g)

10490 Aloe & Green Tea
20481 Lavender
20521 Lemon
10495 Mango
$6.99 each

Natural Body Oils
J.R. Watkins Natural Body Oils are a rich blend of luxurious natural oils regarded for their nourishing qualities.
(2 fl oz/ 59 mL)

20505 Aloe & Green Tea
20514 Lavender
20515 Lemon
20506 Mango
$5.99 each

Natural Foot Care
Formulated with pure peppermint oil, our natural foot care will provide a burst of aromatic peppermint while tingling and reviving dry, tired and aching feet.
(11 fl oz/325 mL)

20478 Peppermint Foot Cream
$10.99

Head to Toe Kit
We packaged our favorite natural personal care in our signature J.R. Watkins pouch so you can pamper yourself from head to toe, naturally!

Contains:
Aloe & Green Tea Hand & Body Lotion (1 fl oz/29 mL)
Mango Hand & Body Lotion (1 fl oz/29 mL)
Aloe & Green Tea Body Cream (.7 oz/20 g)
Lemon Cream Body Cream (.7 oz/20 g)
Lavender Hand & Cuticle Salve (.25 oz/7 g)
Lemon Hand & Cuticle Salve (.25 oz/7 g)
Peppermint Foot Cream (1 fl oz/29 mL)
Natural Beeswax Lip Balm - stick (.14 oz/4 g)

20533 $15.99 (please note new lower price!)

Available at my Watkins Online Catalog

Watkins Spring Giveaway



I love giving away Watkins products! This seemed like the perfect time to give a product assortment away.

Spring arrives Thursday, March 20th. To celebrate the arrival of Spring I’m giving away a planter of products! Take out the products and use the planter for your Spring flowers.

The assortment includes:
Aloe and Green Tea Shea Butter
Peppermint Foot Cream
Peppermint Room Freshener
Shredsoap Linen Spray
Vanilla Extract (2 fl. oz. bottle)
Clear Vanilla Extract (2 fl. oz. bottle)
Hazelnut Extract (2 fl. oz. bottle)
Cinnamon (6 oz. tin)
Sesame and Garlic Snack and Dip Seasoning
Oregano (tin)
Ginger (tin)
Paprika (tin)
Soup and Vegetable Seasoning (jar)

The value of the assortment is $80.87! All are full-sized products, not samples.

This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

To enter:
1. Write a post about the Watkins Spring Giveaway on your blog.
2. Leave a comment below that you have posted about the giveaway on your blog.
3. Send an email to eleisiawhitney@watkinsonline.com giving me your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Or
If you place an order for Watkins products with me, you will automatically be entered in the drawing for the planter assortment. My Watkins ID# is 335001. You can place your order at http://www.watkinsonline.com/eleisiawhitney, by phone (Watkins order entry 1-800-928-5467), or by mail to Watkins Incorporated, P.O. Box 5570, Winona, MN 55987-0570. Please give my ID# 335001.

I’ll choose a winner at the end of the day on March 20th and post the winner here on March 21st!

Contests and prizes are offered by me and not Watkins, Inc. or other Independent Associates.