As much as I hate to say it, I am discontinuing my entire skin care line.  I will still carry Soaps, a few scents of Body Cream, Lip Balms (on occasion), and the entire Doggie Sage Line.  All Skin Care items are $5.  To make the sale even greater, if you enter the code “OnSale2011” before January 1, you will save another 40%!!!  Check out all of the skin care items on sale!

Why am I discontinuing the lines? I plan to focus more on my web design business, Hollen Zoo Designs.  I found that I loved making soaps, I just did not love doing sales calls.  It turns out that 90% of what I had to do was sales.  It was just not a good fit and not at all where I shined– actually I would say that I pretty much would receive a F in sales.  Maybe I was so bad, because I was too close to the product I was trying to sale, but I think sales is a gift, and I admire anyone that is able to do it with finesse.  I did, through the process of owning a business find where I did shine, outside of brewing soaps, was programing websites.  Yes, I loved it so much my idea of a fun Friday night is a glass of wine and php code.

Through a natural process, the design business started taking off, leaving me little time for the part of Jackson Sage I despised, sales calls and demos (please please please be nice to the lady doing demos in the grocery store!).  Leaving me with two choices, close Jackson Sage or down size.  I love Jackson Sage too much to stop making the products.  Leaving down sizing the only option.

I feel very blessed that I am am able to make the transition to a smaller business for Jackson Sage, while maintaining all the aspects of the business I love.

If you need a website, mention this post and save 20% off your web design!

I am not sure when I am going on maternity leave since this baby could come anytime between now and June 15 (my inducement date!).

What does this mean for orders?

I will be open but with limited quantity of products between now and August 31.  If I sell out of a product I will not be making additional items till September.  If the website inventory is not correct (meaning it still says I have it in stock), I will send you an email to find out it you would like a full refund or if you would like me to send what items in your order I have in stock.

Also, please allow additional time to process your order.  Normal turn around time is 5-7 business days.  Please allow up to 10 business days for your order to process.  Most likely it will not take that long, but just in case!

I am a one women show, so the best way to contact me in via the contact form so I can write back at strange and odd hours.

Pink Peonies and Roses arranged in a beautiful handcrafted piece by Pinkkiss Pottery are today’s garden pick.

Jackson Sage Firming Body Cream was picked by Health Journal as a local option for natural skin care products for Mom!

(Click image to enlarge)

Still fine tuning the products but this is a sneak preview of the new line!

Is the Stork!  While Still in Draft Mode– here is a new version!

Thanks Everyone for your help and letting me know what direction to head.

I am working on the new Baby Sage Skincare Line and I am trying to come up with a logo. I would love opinions on which direction to go. Both of the following logos are drafts.  I am still trying to pick out a font.

Which one do you like best? The stork? Or the circle/belly? Or neither?

Our latest newsletter.

Improved Jackson Sage Website! We have been hard at work updating and improving our website.  If you have not seen the new site, please check it out.  New features include: easier to use shopping cart, cleaner and clearer images, and more detailed product descriptions. Save 20% (or more) on our #1 Selling Skin Care Line Revitalizing Skin Care Line: Hydrates and repairs skin by promoting collagen production, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin tone and texture, and hydrating. Our top skin care product last year, Rose Hip & Sea Buckthorn Berry Skin Cream, is on sale for $14 (reg. $28)!  It boosts tons of botanical ingredients to to improve elasticity, fight free radicals, and repair damaged skin.  The Key ingredient, Vitamin B3, rejuvenates skin, increases cell renewal, smoothes out wrinkles, and reduces inflammation in acne and rosacea. Doggie Sage NEEDS your Dog! Have a dog?  DoggieSage.com is looking for dogs to feature on our website.  It is so easy to do! All featured dogs will be entered into the monthly Top Dog Contest.  If Voted Top Dog, you will receive a $25. gift certificate to shop online at Jackson Sage Shop for human and dog skin care goodies. We will notify you when voting starts– make sure to send out the voting link so your friends and family can vote!  All dogs submitted, once you confirm your newsletter subscription, will receive a coupon for 10% off to use online at jacksonsage.com for purchases of Doggie Sage and Jackson Sage products. Submit your dog now! New Clearance Section We hate to say goodbye but, we are discontinuing some of our products.  You will find massive discounts in our Clearance Section. One of my favorite products, Lemon Sage Complexion Bar, is being phased out.  Now $3, was $9.  Designed to use as a facial bar, but great to use head to toe.  Jojoba, Avocado and Grapeseed Oils combine to make this a balancing and moisturizing bar. We are expecting!! We are expecting a baby boy in late June! We do not expect any delay in orders BUT there maybe two weeks when the baby is born that orders will take a bit longer to fill.  Please keep this in mind in June when you place an order. Save 15% Enter Discount code “NewWebsite2011″ during checkout to save 15%. Offer ends February 28, 2011. follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend Copyright © 2011 Doggie Sage by Jackson Sage, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

I started Jackson Sage in 2007.  I was a full time elementary school art teacher.  It started as a dream, just something I thought would be fun to do.  Something I thought would be great if someday I could do this full time.  Many hours, tears, blisters and an economic meltdown later, the company is still here.

I never imagined how much I would work, how hard I would work, or even how much I would want to work.  It is not uncommon for me to work 10+ hour days 7 days a week… after all the company is just me.  Well, ok I do have a C.E.O. (Canine Executive Officer), Princess Buttercup, but trust me the only thing she is really good at doing is shredding paper and being cute.

I never imaged how much I would learn, how many roles I would play and more importantly how much I would completely and utter love what I make and do.

Every dime I made the first three years, I reinvested back into the company.  I was able to purchase a better computer, better design programs and better supplies in general.  Because of this, the products were, and are, in constant transformation of improvement.

Below is a look back at where Jackson Sage started.  The first picture is of the VERY first product I made and its photo.  Followed by 4 more generations of products and photos.   Currently we are in transition between generation 6 and 7.

One of my favorite ingredients is St. John’s Wort but is taking on a new meaning as I am eagerly awaiting June (See previous post!).

A wonderful, and easy to grow herb, named after St. John the Baptist, because John the Baptist’s festival falls on Midsummer’s Day, when the herb is in bloom (and 1 day before my estimated due date!).

This hardy herb can be found in many cosmetic products because of its antibacterial and astringent properties, that give this herb the ability to lubricate the skin, and ease minor aches and pains.  For the muscles, it has the ability to relax the muscles, strengthen ligaments and nerves.  For your skin, it eases the redness and pain of sunburn, speeding the process of healing and reducing itching.  It also is used on the skin in general to soften dry skin.  And that just covers the topical healing properties!

What Jackson Sage products contain this healing herb?

Tea Tree and White Willow Bark Toner: Boosts St. John’s Wort as one of its key ingredients to help fight of bacteria that causes acne, and to heal and soothe skin inflammations.

Soften Up Salve: Hands down one of my favorite products I make.  This versatile product, can be used head to toe!  I designed this salve to help my Husband when he recovering from knee surgery.  It assisted in healing the swelling and reducing the scar (not that he cared about that part, but it did it anyway!).  I also like to use it on my neck to help keep the skin tight and youthful.  Because of the versatility of our Soften Up Salve, St. John’s Wort full herbal power shines through.

Want to Learn More?  Try these links: