Teach Soap

I'm feeling stuck. I don't know how to promote my product line. First off a little background...

I am first and foremost a jewelry maker. I have been beading and doing wire work for over 13 years. 2.5 years ago I started selling beads and supplies online, then one year ago I opened a Bead and Gift shop in my small town. I have a back room full of beads and everything needed to make jewelry. I have a front room full of hand made jewelry, plus other gifty items, most handmade. I have a few consigners for art, fabrics and hair bows. I've been TRYING to get a body products consigner, but the couple I've talked to have not been very interested.

So I decided to start my own line of products! I had already made lip balms just for fun, so it was a short step to solid lotion bars. I bought supplies for mp soap, and I will start playing with that this weekend. I also have premade lotion base, and some soy wax for tarts.

So I have been playing with packaging and display ideas. I can't decide whether to go elegant with a script font, damask paper etc... or fun and fruity with products angled at kids, tweens, and teens (which is a large part of my market in the store).... or can I do both?

I want some type of consistency in my labeling, but I'm stuck! I guess I want to do both, but HOW?

I went through something similar when I was designing my labels. Originally I was thinking simple & elegant, but after making CP soap for awhile, I decided that didn't fit with the soap I was making. Sooo...I changed everything to a more rustic look and that fits much better with the types of soap I make.

My advice is to determine what you are most comfortable making and that may lend itself to how you should label & market your products. You can always have a line for "mature" buyers and one for the younger crowd.

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

I would take a look at other stores in your area that carry similar products and see what they do to give you ideas.

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

Well, after talking to some online friends on another board I have decided to go with a garden theme! It can be both fun and elegant. There is TONS of great decor right now for display, and it goes well with the other decor in my store. I have an ivy theme going on, so flowers fit right in! I'm thinking of picking up some colorful painted flower pots and putting a white or glass plate on top to make garden themed pedestal for my display. I also found some adorable small painted galvanize planters that will be great for my cello wrapped stuff. It's going to be cute cute cute, but not totally kidish! Right up my alley!

Be careful with glass; especially in outdoor displays! Kids do run around and they can knock the glass right off and get injured. Or someone could accidentally knock it off and cut themselves. I don't use any glass in my displays. It's also heavy or fragile to carry around.

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

Sounds like you got it to blend very well. I am figuring you already carry insurance... you may want to check with them to see if they cover the bath and body items you make.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

I will check with my insurance agent, thanks! The glass will be for my store. I already have glass shelving, so more glass isn't really an issue. Plus I'm fully carpeted. For craft shows I'll probably use baskets and my risers I already have.

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

Update! My sister and I processed over 30 lbs of melt and pour! We worked all day! We also made bath bombs in two scents, and whipped shea butter and coconut oil. I was a little annoyed because my shea was grainy and I had to melt the whole thing down, cool, and rewhip. But the end product was lovely! I worked all day yesteray on packaging and got six types of soap up for display. I will continue to work on packaging what I have made, then I hope to make at least a couple new items each week to add to my collection at the store. What other bath and body products do you recommend I try?

Edie

Wow! That's a lot of soap in one day! I'd love to see pictures of your work!

I know a lot of people also make lip balms, or even shampoo & conditioner and hand lotion. But it seems like some of those products can be a bit more finicky when it comes to shelf life.