Teach Soap

I'm curious how many people here actually sell their soap and how many just make it for personal use? I've been soaping since April and have been giving it to friends and family to test it out. They've given me great feedback. A few friends have said they want to buy more from me. I started making soap just to have nice soap for my family to use and never with a business in mind. However, I've begun making more soap than our family will probably ever use! There are just so many different oils and additives I just can't stop. I just whipped up some soap with the whole loofah in it poured into a PVC pipe and it turned out so pretty.

It just seems like SO many people are selling homemade soap. There are a gazillion listers on Etsy. They are in every farmer's market and craft show. Is there still room in the market for more soapers?

When did those of you that are selling make the leap and start a business?

I've been making soap since 1969. Sold on and off til I got my website around 1991. I've noticed that the market is getting saturated with soaps. I have no problem with another soaper. What I have a problem with is someone that only does this for a hobby and seriusly undercuts their prices. They are not making anything, they are probably loosing.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I agree. I tried to make custom Christening gowns at one point but quit when I realized nobody wanted to pay a decent wage. There are a lot of women out there sewing for pennies an hour and I don't want to compete with that. I'm told constantly by others that I should sell some of the stuff I sew but know that nobody is willing to pay what I would sell it for. My time is worth a lot

I just got an email from Mrs. Meyers and they've started selling soap bars for $4.99 a bar. I can't imagine what quantities of raw materials they are buying and still selling for $4.99.

Have you seen soap sellers that are making awful product and still doing well? For now, I'm going to keep practicing and enjoy what I'm making.

Here's my latest...

Yes, I have seen pretty pathetic stuff. Sadly it sells. But the customer will not be back and the soaper will not have repeat business.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

renaanne-

I don't sell soap myself but many friends and family think I should do so. I feel like you do- that there are just too many soapers out there already...and on a personal note, many that do it far better than I.

However, I think that if you really want to go for it, you should. Think locally... try selling at farmers markets, craft fairs, local businesses. Don't let the fact that there are 4 billion soaps for sale on Etsy get you down. Many people are putting a lot of effort into buying locally produced items because it lessens the impact on the environment.

Now, finding a local farmers market/craft fair that doesn't already have 10 soapmakers is the hard part...

Edited to say: Oops, I just saw that you said they're in every farmers market too. Perhaps there is a Whole Foods around where you live? They love locally produced items as well.

_________________
ween rules

I was contacted by Whole Foods to wholesale my soaps. They made me run in circles and in the end nothing ever came of it. They specify essential oils only, yet they sell soaps that have fragrance oils. Doesn't make sense......

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

There's an interesting soap seller at our Whole Foods. They sell soap by the ounce I think. It's like these hunks of soap and not pretty bars. I guess people buy it because it's still there. It smells good and looks nice but I haven't bought any.

I did buy some soap at a craft sale last year. After it had been home a while, it started weeping and turning brown in spots! I think it had herbs in it. It smells good and I use it as hand soap in the powder room but it's definitely not pretty. I wonder if they'd cured it all because I would be horrified selling something that ended up looking like this bar. The packaging was pretty! Corrugated cardboard and a pretty label.

I may just sell to friends and family. My dad has run a business for 36 years and I know it's not nearly as glamorous as people would think. It's like having a 2 year old that never grows up.

The number of other soapers has never bothered me in my decision to go business. Like all of you, I started making it for friends and family--- they wanted it for their friends and family and before I knew it, I had a business. The serious part of it is deciding to get insurance and doing the LLC thing--- personal protection and all---- then searching for art and craft shows that you're willing to drive to--- making sure you have some kind of web site for your customers to order more who don't live near you---then keeping up with taxes,stock, supplies, packaging....... I thought I'd do this so I could work out of home. It's worked so far but I'm not rich yet............

_________________
You may be only one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person

Awwww shucks Thanks!

Not the motivation you were looking for? *doh* I suck at inspiring others. hehe.