Teach Soap

Hi everyone! I was at my first large craft show this weekend. I learned a lot. Like how much more I need to decorate my booth than for farmers markets and how important it is to have good lighting! The best part of this craft show was how friendly everyone was - organizers/volunteers, vendors, and customers. One of two other soap makers in the show was new to making soap. She came to my booth to say "Hi!" and ask for any tips. I went by her booth and tried to help as much as I could. She was very nice and we enjoyed talking soap. (LOL since when did I become an expert???) True, she did all M&P and I only brought CP. Another local soap maker (not in the show) came by to talk with me and we plan on getting a group together. (I'm really excited about this!)

Anyway, the third soap maker in the show (not local) did all M&P as well and had been doing the show for years. His soaps looked very nice as did his display. I planned on buying a bar at the end of the show. The second day of the 3-day show, several of his customers came by my booth (not all at once) to tell me why glycerin soap is so much better than lye soap. At first I tried to explain that it was also made with lye but they didn't listen. They didn't want to look at my soaps either. One told me my CP soap would force her to scrub down her shower and she is too old to do that anymore so she uses glycerin soap. He had told her that and to stay away from Shea butter. (Does Shea butter cause more soap scum??? I hadn't heard or noticed this.) They ignored the benefits of using handcrafted CP soap that I tried to tell them about. All these people included the same line, "Glycerin soaps last a long time too." (His soaps were very large so people cut them in half to use them.) I'm sorry to say I finally got annoyed that they were searching me out to tell me why my soaps weren't as good when they didn't even look at them! I told them that very artistic things can be done with glycerin soap that you can't do with CP but the trade-off is that I control all the ingredients going into my soap. Not long after that, no more of these people came by. I'm sorry to have let that annoy me but I never said anything bad about his soaps to anyone. It really bothered me. That was the one bad thing that marred the show but it was otherwise great. Do most large shows involve soap makers trashing each other? My husband says I'm naïve to think people don't do this kind of thing in business but that depresses me. Thank goodness most people are not like that. Sorry for the rant! It really was a good craft faire.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

The whole "CP soap is better" or "MP soap is better" happens every once in a while to most of us I think. When I was making and selling MP soap, I had people come up to me & tell me how much better CP was. Now that I only do CP I get the occasional, "Glycerin soap is better because lye soap burns your skin, or clogs your pores, etc" Unfortunately a lot of times it does start because of one soaper negatively influencing customers, because that's the only way they know how to sell.
I figure, if the only way you can sell your product is by bashing other products (whether they be big business or little business), then your products need some work.

I like that you met some nice soapers that you can have actual discussions with, that's always fun when that happens.

Also, according to our plumber, soap scum really doesn't have much to do with what kind of soap you're using. It's your water that is the cause. If you have hard water, you're most likely going to get soap scum.

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Genny

Linda, I glad you were able to have a good time and connect with other soapers. Its too bad he did not realize that to down grade someones other product can also put you in a negative light. All you can do is continue to educate. Maybe invite him to your group? When someone asks me about cp vs m+p I usually expain that both are soap, both start out the same way but then through the mystery of chemistry they change. I will also tell them that every skin is individual and until they try one of each how will they know what works best on their skin?

Genny, thanks for that little info from your plummer! I will keep it in my noggin.

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

That's why I am so happy I will be the only soap maker at this show I am doing in a couple of weeks. I am sorry you had to deal with that. I have never personally come across any of those types of people and any other soap makers that I have met have been very nice. And I have been doing this for almost 5 years now and while not doing craft shows for a few of them, I have attended craft shows with my mom and sisters and always talk at length with the soap makers there. Some people are just negative all around and should learn to keep their mouths shut. What is the saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"... Don't feel bad that it affected you negatively, just let it roll of though and don't dwell on it or it will make you bitter.

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Haven

Thanks guys! I have chosen to focus on how nice everyone was and how lucky we were that the weather was perfect. Fortunately, that is the only time anything like that has happened. Soap makers are a really supportive bunch!

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Linda, I'm glad you had a good show! It's a shame that some people have to be like that other soaper.

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