Teach Soap

I did alot of experimenting this weekend. Even though my sales are good for some repeat recipes, I can't resist experimenting. First I made goat milk soap for the first time from canned goat milk, it did discolor to a deep tan within two days.

I partnered with a lotionmaker that has been supplying me with equipment and supplies (he likes me ), hauled all my stuff over to his house and did two batches one cp and one hp. His house is super peaceful quiet and well stocked with everything imaginable (eo's, fo's, pigments, etc.). I made my usual chocolate soap that sells the best, in a rich moisturizing variation for the oncoming winter. I was able to show him how to save the hp batch that I think had a false trace. So I stick blended the oil separation back in while it was cooking in the crock pot and the batch was perfect.

Finally, I made a huge slab. The goal was a halloween soap with pictures of black pumkins embedded in an orage bar...

I mixed black pigment in a squeeze condiment bottle with raw soap at light trace, drew the pumkins at the bottom of a slab mold (my hand was so unsteady, so my pumpkins were a hot mess) I let them set and dry.

Mixed unrefined palm (but it was not 100% palm oil) and tomato paste as a colorant at 2 oz in the batch. Combined with TD the color was a beautiful pumkin orange but over night it morphed to YELLOW! The embed pumkin pictures were perfect and seamlessly laid into the orange soap. I definately want to see how this cp batch is once cured.

It's a hot mess and ugly so I have alot of give aways HOWEVER, I learned so much that I definately can make a lovely embedded christmas soap using a simple chirstmas bulb design and glitter.

One thing that pissed me off my friend is a lotion maker and does melt and pour. I sell a 5 oz bar for $5. He claims for all the work I do, I'm losing money, that I need to sell my soap for $10 a bar. I didn't think I was doing any more work that a baker or cook and not many slices of cake sell for $5.
It upset me a little but I was able to make a point to him. He said he "loved" my peppermint soap, but he said he could make it in 1/2 the time I did. I assured him that IF I gave him my recipe "of course" he could make it quicker than I can, but I told him it took over 20 batches for me to create that soap he "loved"...I told him the praise I get and $5 a bar leaves me fulfilled as a soap maker.

Don't let your friend get to you. Most people would not buy a bar of handmade soap for $10. Keep on keepin on.

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

I think many of us are caught somewhere between our love of the art, doing it for the sake of the results and experience, and the need to have it support itself and hopefully put some change in our pockets, as well. In this economy, we all can use a little of that.

Pricing must be competitive, regardless. Keeping your price in line with others who sell a similar product is what we must do. Granted, if you can figure out some way to get the same results quicker, that's always a good thing (wish I could!). Time is money, but if that is jacking your prices out of line with everyone else, you might as well be propped up on the sofa eating Bon-Bons, instead. I know if I figured my time, I'd be losing a LOT of money. I keep at it, nonetheless, in hopes to build my business and experience enough that it does start paying off. We all have to do what works for us best. Good Luck!

_________________
Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com

Baraka, you hit it on the nose...I don't factor in time spent because it would be like putting a dollar amount on the time I spent eating, and adding that to the cost of homecooked food, iykwim

I LOVE MAKING SOAP, it's like my karma-downtime, so no need to be paid "yet" for the time spent. I mainly am happy providing reimbursement for suppy cost and having a lil extra gas or fun money.

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

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

I looked at your website, your prices are pretty reasonable. I wouldn't worry about the financial goals of other soapers vs. their price. I'm not trying to pay bills and my soaps are priced higher than yours and are rustic bars.

Soapbuddy, unfortunately this is something that occurs in every business, regardless of what it is. For the relatively small amount of business I do, my wholesale price is kept at the same price as my biggest competition (and we all know who that is ) . My retail is double the wholesale price, theirs is over 3x wholesale.

When one is in business, it is treated as a business. When one only marks up enough to cover expenses, they will tire of that, and won't be around long. I also look at the soap business much as the art business. Although the materials from which they are created are the same, each product is unique and reflects the "artist" who created it. We have to be true to ourselves and not worry about the things we can't control.

_________________
Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com

wow, barbara, your soaps are breathtakingly beautiful! Have you taped into the house staging market? When condos and upscale housing were all the rage, I saw a huge assortment of decorative soaps in model baths.

_________________
Barbara at Oasis Soap Co.
http://www.oasissoap.com