Teach Soap

All Day I Dream About.......SOAP!!!!

First, let me start by apologizing for the length and insanity of this post. I'm currently 29 weeks pregnant, so we'll just blame it on the hormones!!

I haven't made that many batches of soap, but I feel like I am bombarding my family with it. Prior to giving them my soap to try, I ask if they're interested in testing it out for me and they always say yes. My question is, how much time do you give for someone to test out your soaps? Do you offer them multiple soaps at once? I decided to branch out and ask my friends if they would be willing to try my soaps for free and all they have to do is fill out a brief survey. I decided to go this route so that I can reach a larger group of people and I decided on the survey because it will automatically compile all of the data for me so that I can see what people liked/didn't like about my soaps. I'm trying to decide if I should only offer one sample piece at a time or multiple. Multiple would be easier as far as shipping supplies/costs go, but I need to find a way to keep things organized with the surveys (the surveys are all electronic so that they don't have to worry about mailing anything back to me).

I'm constantly wanting to make soap, but I don't want it to go to waste so I haven't been soaping as much as I should/would like to. My first soap order was last October through BB...I purchased the MP sample pack, an EO sample pack, as well as a mica sample pack. I am down to my last one pound block of MP base, but I still have a decent amount of EO and micas left. I just received my 2nd ever soap order (which was purchased through NG) which will be used for my baby shower on Sunday with some things left over. I also made one batch of CP soap which my family (especially my dad) is obsessed with. Every time my dad comes close to running out of the soap he is on my case about getting a new bar to him ASAP! I definitely need to make a new batch since I'm running low on bars. My boyfriend and I even made our own wooden soap mold with a lid and handles!!

I keep thinking to myself that I would be so awesome at MP if I had continuously made soap since last October, but a lot of stuff came up in my personal life and I just didn't have the dedication that I needed. Now, all I can think about is soap. If I'm on my phone or my computer I am either on this forum, looking for stuff that I want to buy, or doing some kind of research. Last year, I came up with a name for a soap company so I'm trying to do some research to find out the process for getting a name/logo trademarked (I still need to get the logo done up) as well as what type of business license is required in the state of Massachusetts. I'm sure I still have a ways to go before I can start selling, but in my spare time I like to educate myself when I'm not making soap.

My boyfriend is convinced that I'll be selling my soaps (MP only...he wants me to do CP too, but I told him I need a lot more than one batch under my belt) come next spring/summer at farmer's markets, but I told him there's a lot of steps we need to take first. Not to mention we're expecting our first child in November so we will be busy being new parents.

How do you find the right balance between constantly wanting to make soap and not making it too frequently so that it just sits around without being used up? Should I just offer a multi-pack of sample soaps or should I wait to see who actually responds to my surveys? I have no problem offering my soaps at no cost, but I do want some feedback in return. I'd hate to make all this soap and just have it sitting on a shelf wrapped in plastic wrap.

Welcome to the fold!!

I would have to say, so what you love to do. There is always Christmas and Birthdays for handing out surplus. It would be nice to sell to at least cover the expense of your habit, but realistically your looking at a long time to turning a profit. Most of that time will be culitvating customers and getting all your ducks in a row from the legal aspect...throw a new baby into the mix and it may slow you down a bit. But that is a slow down that is TOTALLY worth it.

I have been making soap for the last 8 months and just recently sold my first bar (to my roommate no less). And because I have been papering my town with business cards for the last month, I have an order for 24 full size assorted bars for an aquaintance's wedding. I'm in a ladies club and I have been passing out free samples at the last two meeting and have already gotten some feedback and requests for purchases (although they wont go to the website for some reason LOL). I started carrying a purse again just to hold some samples and business cards to give out when I meet people.

The last month for me has been getting a website set up, business banking account, paypal for the website, insurance, DBA, and tax permits business cards and t-shirts printed, labeling, packaging decisions, and finding venues I can afford to sell at...and on, and on, and on.

I figure with everything I have put in so far, if I break even the first year I will be lucky, just because of the overhead. But since I got laid off, my options are limited unless I want to move (ruining my husbands career). My husband wants me to stay home, he likes me much better now. LOL. So my soaping is both an opportunity for me to have my business (lifelong dream), to express my creativity, and be at home to take care of our burgeoning farm.

I am not trying to be discouraging, but as you read through all the posts here you can see how much your going to have to deal with.

this is a link to my blog where I wrote about some of the stuff I have been mentally dealing with regarding my ventures for the last month.

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Dawn

Dawn, I appreciate your response and your honest feedback!!

I honestly don't think people realize everything it takes to start a business; perhaps they forget the overhead costs? Not entirely sure! I hadn't made soap as often as I would like because of money issues, but now that I'm working again I'll probably place some orders to hold me over while on my maternity leave in November. I should definitely use soaps as gifts for birthdays/holidays...my sisters work in retail so they always buy me stuff from their work, now I can just make them some soap!

My dad told me that he thinks my survey idea is really good from a marketing standpoint, so hopefully that will help me generate quality bars of soap. I think right now my priorities need to be to make soap and research as much as I can. I need to find out the cost of getting a name trademarked as well as how long it will take, if I only need a DBA license in my state, what other licenses may be required in my state, as well as the cost of liability insurance.

Congrats on all the new interest with your soaps, it must feel great!! Do you make MP or CP or both? For the tshirts that you're getting made are those going to be for people to buy or are you making them for friends/family to wear for advertisement?

I will definitely check out your blog, thanks for sharing it with me.

Once you have decided on your business name and are ready for advertising, check out VistaPrint. They have some great deals on banners, business cards, t-shirts, etc. I have a t-shirt printed with my business name that I wear whenever I'm at a market.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Did you guys get your company names and logos trademarked or registered? It's funny you mention Vistaprint because they're HQ are out of the town next to me/the same city I work in. I don't know why I didn't think of business cards!!!!

In the Spirit of keeping things local I used a print shop in my small town for my business cards. Its a bonus because they keep a couple of your cards as sampes to show others...which can equate to free advertising. Of course I took a couple of free samples in when I picked up my cards.

A friend of a friend is going to print the shirt for us to wear around town and while working markets...now my husband says he wants some shirts too so I have to pick some up for him. I havent trademarked my name, but I do have a .com.

I also have set up a facebook page for the business and have everyone in my Familiy re-sharing my posts from there. My sister has already told me she is going to be ordering soaps and whatnot from me for gifts for her family and our insurance agent is considering buying some gift baskets to hand out to some of her high dollar clients.

We have a very nice resale shop (high end clothing at great prices) I am hoping to meet with the owner as soon and maybe put a basket of soaps there to sell. But I am trying to pace myself as well I dont want to bite off more than I can chew.

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Dawn