When I was a child growing up in NYC, my father would call home every afternoon and ask my mother the same question, "What came in the mail?’  I used to wonder what he was waiting for.  The mail never interested me.  I could not imagine that someone would make a special phone call home to check on MAIL especially when that person was coming home in a few hours.  Now I understand.  I call my husband one minute after school is over and I don’t say hello or how are you but I blurt out, "Is my box there yet?"

The box that I’m waiting for, the box that occupies my mind is my SWAP box.  When I joined Soapnuts a few years ago, I expected to exchange soap tips and techniques.  I never expected to be peering down my driveway ready to lunge at my UPS man for a box of Tubby Time II products!  A Soapnuts swap is a very special way we have of connecting with each other by exchanging our ideas, products and little bits of ourselves.
 

A hostess forms a swap because she is wondering about something or may just love a product or want to celebrate a theme.  These ideas are as varied as soaps celebrating your state, interpreting a wonderful book, hair products or products revolving around a season.  Some groups stay small and intimate while other groups are very large with several sub groups.

Just as important as the actual swap items is the booklet that goes with each swap.  At it’s most simple a swap booklet contains the product formula and simple biographical details.  At it’s most elaborate it has over 50 formulas, and many thoughtful brief essays answering some very intriguing questions.  They have also contained pictures of ourselves, our heart’s desires, thousands of calories of holiday treat recipes and the cartoon you identify with the most!

What do I LOVE about swaps?  What keeps me signing up for more?  I love getting so much stuff in the mail.  Every swap box is a mini gift extravaganza that is all mine.  My greedy little heart loves to have so many luxuries.  I especially love being able to try new products without having to make them myself.  Reading the booklet is just as wonderful as opening the swap box to that delightful rush of mingled fragrances.  In the booklet each person shares more then just their way of doing something.  I tend to skim the booklet quickly just as I rapidly sort out the contents of the box, then later carefully read and reexamine each thing.

Another very positive aspect of a Soapnut swap is the feedback that occurs after each swap.  After each box is delivered, the hostess sends out the announcement that feedback and comments can begin.  Many of the swappers make positive comments about each item.  What I love about feedback is that it is never negative or competitive.  I still love seeing what other people enjoy about my products.  I have to admit that I look for my name first then go back and read the rest.

Why participate in a swap?  Why send away your great products?  What pay postage for 20 vanilla soaps?  First of all, swaps are fun, who doesn’t love getting great stuff in the mail?  Swaps are great learning experiences.  I tried my first sugar scrubs, lotion bars and emu products in swaps.  I’d never be without them now.  Some of my best selling products were inspired by things I got in swaps.  I do always tweak the recipe to really make it mine.

So while I’ll never list swapping under interests or hobbies on my resume, Soapnut Swaps are my not so secret addiction.