Teach Soap

Hi.
How do you go about handling your M&P soaps being displayed and stored at a fair on a nice sunny day?My first (kids fair/marche) attempt at selling my soaps will take place on May 31st. For a very small fee ($30) I will get an 8 foot table and a shade canopy. I'll be splitting the table with a friend who is selling very cute cards and we hope our items complement each other in such a way people will buy both.

I'll likely have anywhere from 10-12 designs (200 soaps with the main bulk the French Flag (50) and a Cafe Creme (50). My display will be group in baskets based on the design (and samples pieces to pick up and smell) - how should I store all the inventory that is not on display? In covered bins under/behind the tabe that will be outside all day? OR inside in a designated classroom where I can go and refill the display from there if I need to? If the weather cooperates at the end of the month it should be ~mid 70's/sunny and quite pleasant. It's also been known to rain (freak occurance).

Off topic from my subject but is there any gage on how much soap to make the first time?
Thanks
Hilary

_________________
http://www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com

Bring as much as you can comfortably display on your table. You can store any excess underneath the table.
You could store them in some classroom, but if people are in and out of that classroom, theft happens. I would not leave my products unattended.

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

Thanks Soapbuddy - Yeah - best to keep an eye or foot close to my inventory

I guess weather/heat should not be a concern for the time I'm there (with the soap sitting out) - based on your not mentioning anything about the weather as an issue from your perspective

I so appreciate any/all feedback that comes through this forum - and the time people spend in replying. It's very helpful!!

_________________
http://www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com

Another thing I just thought of; try to keep your soaps out of the sun, so they don't fade as fast.

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

I had my soaps out this past weekend, and it was pretty hot that day. Well... some of my soaps melted. And most of them got very soft to touch. Definitely keep them away from direct sun. Maybe bring a large cooler with you, freeze couple of bottles of water over night, and put them in the cooler with your soap. You will have water to drink, and soap preserved

SiberianSF -
Yeah - that's what I'm affraid of - I will have a canopy and I don't know exactly where my table will be among the vendor tables or the orientation. I've less control over that aspect but can also think about how to 'shade' the soap on display if that is possible. Excellent idea on the cooler. Thanks for that great tip !! Off topic - but are you in SF? I'm just over the bridge. What fair or outdoor event were you at?

Again thanks for taking the time to respond.

_________________
http://www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com

Hilary, hey neighbor

I was at SJ flea market. My dog club had a competition there, and I have made some soap with a dog club logo. They usually set up a table with t-shirts and leash/collar combos, so I just put the soaps there too. It was under canopy, but that didn't help. The ones that were toward the edge (where the sun finally hit in the late afternoon) straight melted to liquid, and those that were on the back of the table, under the shade were very soft to touch.

Katya

Katya-
That's a shame with regards to your soap getting really soft or melting. What did you do with the melted ones? I'm so sorry. I'm assuming now from your experience that the large cooler is on your checklist of things to bring to future fairs. If you did not have your cooler with you how were you storing your soaps not on the table? Or did you just have a handful of soaps that you brought? Was there anything you could have done in with regards to the soap on the table? I suppose if you had the cooler you could rotate soaps after awhile - move some from the cooler onto the table and those on the table back to the cooler. I suppose there is only so much one can do.

Nice to know another soap crafter is close by. I hope to offer up any answers to questions you have in the future.

Hilary

_________________
http://www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com

Yeah, the damaged one was given away to friends. It is still a soap (after it cools and hardens), and can wash you/your hands. Just not a pretty one.
Thankfully I brought with me only few soaps of several kinds, just to see if it will get any interest at such venue.

I like your idea of rotating soaps. If I am ever at the fair, that's exactly what I would do

Katya

Hello can you give us an idea what temperature it was on the day your soap melted, because I am in SC, almost in the desert and I generally do boutiques, and we are not always inside. I only had problems with my candles. The only thing I have had to put in a freezer, were my mango melts. Are insulated bags as good as a cooler. the reason I ask is if you have a really hot day and take the soap out of the ice then the customer carry's it around the temperature may dropped drastically. The insulated bag may be more even in temp. Just a thought..