Teach Soap

So I have a show coming up and I will be the only soap maker there. It has been a few years since I have done a show and I didn't have nearly as nice a product as I do now. When I did them before I would take anything and everything I had on hand and come home with most of it. Well, I have grown older and wiser and have done a ton more research and then more research and add a tad bit more on top of that. So anyway, my point is I have done a lot of research and know what sells around here and what doesn't. So, this isn't a huge show but is probably a medium size show. I will be the only soap maker there although there is one other vendor that listed organic soap as part of her booth but I don't really know what that means and she sells other things too (not soap related). It is a 1 day show from 9-4. I don't know how many people they are expecting though. Show has been going on for about 10 years. So, I have about 100 soaps, a dozen whipped body butters, and a dozen face masks. What I am torn about is should I include lip balms or not? I know that I am not taking a ton of product and so I feel like I should have a few different options but I am also trying to be realistic and not dump a ton of money that I don't have into making something that I am going to bring home and have sit on the shelf for a long time. What would you do? As of right now, by the way, I am guaranteed at least 4 sales (people I know that are coming to the show). And I keep second guessing the amount of body butters and face masks I should take. Do you think I would be better off uping the amount of those two products or adding a 4th product? AHHH! I hate stress and this is stressing me out and my husband is no help at all!

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Haven

I would especially with chapped lip weather around the corner! ( I am a lip balm crack addict though, always have one in my pocket )

Do you have a perfected lip balm recipe? They usually do not take me very long to make, so if you have the supplies on hand - why not? If it would be a new investment then I say go with what you have and promote it with a smile and that self assurance that your product is now fantastic!

I wonder if there have ever been any studies that show if a vendor wears a certain color it is more of a draw for customers??

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

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The Black Currant- Shipping within the US!

My shop: The Black Currant on Etsy!
My blog: http://www.theblackcurrantshop.wordpress.com
Also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube!

I like green. I have a green shirt with my logo on it and a green apron for craft shows.

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

I have to order more ingredients anyway and that is why I am unsure if I should go ahead and get the stuff for lip balms. I do have a good recipe. Not perfect but good and my sister and several friends love it. They keep telling me to take it. I just don't know.

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Haven

Thanks Lhangen, I knew there had to be something along this line. So what is the psychology with the green that Soapbuddy wears? Maybe just having the colors coordinated and her logo is the real punch.

Hvrba, One additional thought... what is your profit margin? Will you make enough to make it worth the effort? Or could they be a draw for someone stopping at your booth? I think this is the big question... if someone is not 'into' bar soap maybe they will stop because of the lip balms and then you can also talk about how good handmade soap is. I would also suggest having a few lip balms unflavored, unscented and uncolored.... for the men that are looking.

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

Honestly if you don't already have the ingredients and everything on hand and the shows coming up, don't stress it. I've taken lip balms to some one day shows and there have been times where I haven't. (I always take them to 2 day shows though) I've never had someone come up to my booth and say, "Oh you don't have lip balms, well I'm not going to buy anything then." Most of the time when I do bring lip balms, people stop to see my soap and then are surprised that I have lip balms because they weren't expecting them.


Lhangen ~ Thanks for that info about colors. I guess that probably explains why I get so irritated at the Avon lady who seems to always be put next to me at almost every local craft fair I do. She always has a red tablecloth, red shirt and apron. Do you have any insight to black and dark purple? LOL

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Genny

Well, I had to order more ingredients for my body butters and such so I went ahead and threw the lip balm stuff on there too. I am fairly certain that I will do well at this show. I am more confident than I've ever been that I will sell. I talked to the show coordinator in length and she assures me that I will not be near any other bath and body products and again, I am the only soap maker there. There has been a lot of talk generated lately about my products amongst my friends to their other friends and I have gotten really good feedback from many different sources lately. I should be ok. If those don't sell, I can stick them in stockings at christmas.

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Haven

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The Black Currant- Shipping within the US!

My shop: The Black Currant on Etsy!
My blog: http://www.theblackcurrantshop.wordpress.com
Also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube!

_________________
The Black Currant- Shipping within the US!

My shop: The Black Currant on Etsy!
My blog: http://www.theblackcurrantshop.wordpress.com
Also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube!

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Genny

Green is good then. Purple = mystery, royalty - that could be viewed possibly as someone unapproachable. I do not sell but if I ever would this would be good to know as orange is my favorite color and sometimes I can over do it! And as they say black makes all of look a little thinner!

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