Teach Soap

More than likely this is the improper time to ask this question as the elves are all elbows right now. That said I'll include Merry Christmas and the Best of Holidays to all!

When sending samples to friends and family do you send along a questionnaire asking about color, fragrance, bubble etc? If so what questions are the most important and is there an order to asking them?

Thank you all, can you tell I'm getting my nerve up for the first 1#4oz batch that soapbuddy shared a recipe for!

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

i have always wondered if samples really do any good. I realize (I think) that your purpose is for input, not exactly sales, but I have found that there are as many opposing opinions on practically anything, as there are soaps that you could make in a lifetime. Input from those who regularly give samples, would be great to hear.

As for opinions, this is what I have come to believe regarding my own soap business. Sales will dictate your best soaps, and nothing else, short of just obviously horrible batches. When I began trying to market my soaps, I gave too much credit to what others thought I should be doing. When I tried to make changes to suit others, the results were both disappointing and discouraging. Interest in doing it at all, really faded. It was then that I pulled in some of the experience with people that I've had in my past, remembering that no one has the answer to what you should be doing, except yourself. You must please yourself first, or nothing will work.

I am certainly not saying that advice is not good, as one can and should constantly learn from both experience and others. But, it is my opinion that the only valuable advice is from those with experience on the subject. In this case, it's other soap makers and not friends and family, whose input is the most valuable. Learn about the business, learn about materials and techniques, find what works for you, and your sales will goven the rest. JMO. Good Luck.

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

Thanks Barbara I appreciate your opinion as you are a professional. In my former life my husband was an artist, a jeweler and it brings back some of his comments also. You feel the art, what pleases the eye, the senses emulates nature, but sometimes it is the mundane that the public desires and if you sell loads you spends loads of time doing just that.

So yes, I hear exactly what you are saying, so please yourself first and go from there. I will be using a recipe sheet each time and not all the characteristics I love, the scents, the shapes and the colors.

Your gems are what got me started in this hobby! I absolutely love them and others I've received and have recreated a few small marbly looking ones in a mold of my making! Also I love the photo of one of your gems sitting on what looks like an acrylic business card holder. So great for photos and also to set wet soaps in for bars.

Again thanks for your valued opinion
Mella

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

Thank you for the kind words. It often seems that my taste, and that of the masses is at opposite poles. However, with the internet, you have the world from which to attract your buyers. There are plenty of people out there who will appreciate what you are doing, so make it a pleasure for yourself. Don't give others the power to keep you stressed about little things that at the end of the day, won't matter.

Family and friends often give unsolicited advice, which you can take, or leave. When you start asking for it, some will take that as license to never stop telling you what to do. When that comes from people you are in regular contact with, it can get old really quick. WE know what we are capable of, what we can afford to put into our business, and what works best for us. Others just don't always understand that.

AH, time to get off my soap box!

Wishing you GREAT success in the NEW YEAR!!
Barbara

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

BTW, that little acrylic thing is made for displaying things... what, I don't know . It's not very big, but bigger than a card holder - 3" wide, 3.5" deep, 2" high. It doesn't always work, but does lift the soaps up so more light can come through. You gave me an idea. I DO have an acrylic card holder that I might try also, especially for smaller soaps. Thanks!

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

Barbara, it was great to read your thoughts on the opinion of others. Although I am not yet selling my soaps, I hope to be in the future, and your comments have given me food for thought.

I LOVE your gem soaps. They are so beautiful, and look like a labour of love for you.

Also, I wasn't sure whether to call you Barbara or Baraka.

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Suzanne
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1135479737
http://stuffandnonsense-essebee.blogspot.com/

Do call me Barbara. Baraka is the name of my farm. It means, "the blessing," although that's not always the case

I do get carried away with my opinions sometime. I've just had experience with too many opinions, to the point that I totally lost interest in a very important project. Not good. Creative work is extremely personal and comes from deep within the artist. It's just not a place for "others." I think it is also why I could never teach someone to do what I do.

When you are producing soaps that you are proud of, and either the expense of it, or the fact that your inventory is stacking up in every room, you'll know that it's time to start selling. I actually like the challenge of selling. It's like a game. You'll love it too when the time is right.

I wish you the best of luck with your soaps. Do you have photo's?

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

When I make soap I tend to make batches that are a bit larger then my molds so I will have some extra to pour off into a small "mini-loaf" Silicone baking pan that I use to make samples. We test all our soaps ourselves and what we do give away to others to try I simply look for their first impressions of the soap usually " I loved it is was so.... " or "It was ok...." I realized there was only so much really useful info I could get from people who aren't truly into soap.

I was for many years a salesman and the selling of our soaps is alot of fun for me. I take samples to all the fairs I do and either give one small one away to a customer who makes a several bar purchase ( usually a sample of one they didnt buy ). Also I display the samples on a platter and sell them for 50 cents a piece. It gives people a chance to try something they aren't sure of and I get alot of sales from people who tell me they bought a sample and just had to get a couple bars after using it.

I listen carefully at the shows for what people ask about and make notes to help me judge what types of soap or what scents people are interested in but ulitmately I make the soaps that I want to make because as they say you can't please everybody. In short listen to what everyone has to share but take from it what works for you and don't worry about the rest of it.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone had the same appreciation for our product, and the work that goes into it... not to mention the quality... that we soapers have for what we all produce We would all be very wealthy

Thank you all for the wonderful encouragement you have given me in 2009! I wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year!! Have a very Merry Christmas.

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