Teach Soap

I sold my first CP soaps at a little craft fair we had in the community I live in. I think it was very successful and was pleased with my $285 in sales.
A lot of people asked my if I knew Lush Soaps. Nope. When I looked at their web site it reminded me of the reason I got into making soap for friends and family in the first place. PRICE!!! Is it their basic recipe that people like or is it their cute names and the eco-groovey thing they have going?

They're not CP soaps, they are syndet bars (synthetic detergent). So the ingredients are similar to commercial shampoo, only the form is solid. Lots of people like them. I found that they were too expensive for me and started making my own. Congrats on your sales!

They have lots of money for creative advertising. I don't find anything special with their products. If anything, one time I received something from L*sh as a gift and it grew moldy.

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

I have to say their advertisements are very misleading by saying it's fresh and it's handmade. Lush makes people believe it's natural and the same as cold process soap but in fact their soap is made of surfactants, oh and costs a fortune! When I tell people what soap I make their first reaction is 'oh, I see, like Lush', and then I'll have to explain how it's not the same, sigh.

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Shieh Design Studio
https://www.facebook.com/ShiehDesignStudio
http://soapandrestless.blogspot.com

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

I'm pretty new to soaping, but I'm happy with my CP soap so far! I don't sell...this is just for me and the hubby pretty much.
I stopped by the Lush store in New Orleans earlier this month, and WOW...I wanted some of everything! The soaps were so smooth and creamy-looking, and smelled great! I was super jealous until I started asking questions. Since Lush touts their products as all natual and handmade, I wrongly assumed that this was CP soap. The staff (who were all over me when I walked in), completely lost interest in me when I mentioned that I made soap, and asked if this was CP soap. They didn't even know what cold-process soap was, and when they gave me a catalog listing ingredients, I could see why! This stuff is just detergent with stuff added to it to make it more interesting....total misrepresentation of what they actually offer, IMHO! I did spend $20 on two small bars of soap to check it out...smells great, but very drying...DUH, like commercial soap!
Since I don't sell, I can at least feel good that my soap is better...if not as pretty as Lush soaps. For those of you who DO sell, you can say that your CP soap is "truly" all-natural and handmade...making it WAYYY better than the detergent bars that Lush sells for ridiculous prices, LOL!

I LOVE Lush products. And have to restrain myself from spending too much $$$ when I shop there.

Congrats plschrader on your sales!!! Sounds like your well on your way to growing your company in 2011!

Margo, I'm just curious about which Lush products you love...we visit New Orleans 2-3 times a year, and this was my first visit to Lush, and I was only interested in the soap...so I didn't really pay attention to anything else. I was SOOO disappointed with my soaps from Lush... they smelled divine, but made my skin feel horrible...very dry! It was as bad or worse than a bar of "Dial" commercial soap...but I'm willing to give them a second chance...what products do you recommend?

My DH brught back a bar from Vegas for me to try. It smells wonderful. I tried it but my skin became so dry, I started to itch. I don'y think they put true quality ingredients in their products. They go by looks and scent, not by actual quality.

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

I can't even walk into their stores, the strong fragrances make me sick, don't know how those girls working behind the counter can survive an entire day in such environment, also I don't really fancy the idea of washing myself with same product I wash my dishes or clothes with (detergent) no matter how good it smells. In my opinion there is nothing better for the skin than real soap specially handmade, loaded with beautiful oils

snowcake and karma are the bomb, I might go to Lush and hang out today. They were my inspiration.

I LOVE Sultana, Honey I Washed the Kids, Rock Star, and I have 3 other bars I just cant remember their names. I also like all of their message bars.

I think its the scents I like more than the quality. I don't have any skin problems or irritation to most products. I do agree that there is nothing better than a good quality CP bar, which LUSH is not. And the excitement of being in a "soap store" surrounding with all the displays and scents. I get carried away, not to mention I'm a closet soap hoarder.

On another note, has anyone tried Bomb Cosmetics? I am interesting in hearing about their quality before I place an order. Hope its OK to ask, or do I start another thread? I'm a newbie at this.

LOL, margo! I totally get the idea of being seduced by the Lush stores...everything looks so enticing, and smells SOOO good!! Fellow soap-junkie here...
I don't have any skin problems, nor do I have sensitive skin prone to irritations...but it did piss me off that my $32/pound Lush soap gave me alligator skin, LOL! Like Soapbuddy mentioned, I was itchy because the Lush soap dried my skin out so much...and they have the NERVE to imply that this stuff is "fresh, and all-natural"???
I don't mean to offend, but IMHO Lush is all style with no substance. The soaps might be pretty, and they do smell good...but they are still detergent bars. Complete poseurs...they should be ashamed of themselves!!

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

Lush inspired me too!

One of the things I find interesting, is the products I still buy from them since I have started formulating.

I made my own version of Sweet Japanese Girl since they stopped making it, because I loved it so much!

I still buy Flying Fox, and I love Karma and Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds (not having yet managed to formulate a bubble bar which is as good). I really love Christmas Kisses (only available online in the retro store during the Christmas period), as it really soothes my muscles and achy bits. I expect I can probably make something like this myself, but haven't bought anything elsewhere commercially which I like as much. I love Brazen Honey from the Fresh Facemask range. I will probably try to work out how to make that at some point in the future. I have had random people compliment me on how good my skin looks after using it, and it's great on my combination skin. I also really like Vanishing Cream moisturiser.

I think Flying Fox shower gel is my favourite thing. I haven't been able to make anything as good yet, and I think it smells like sex in a bottle! I always come out of the bath or shower feeling good after using it.

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"The question is: does it work on stage? If it works on stage, does it fit the theory? If it works on stage, but doesn't fit the theory; throw out the theory." Bertolt Brecht