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Welcome to the wide, wide world of soapmaking! I took an agonizingly long time to get into the actual production part of my soapmaking adventure. I am an absolutely precise control freak at times and market to a special needs crowd.
There are several very easy things that you can do to test the waters with your products. I'll list them in no particular order.
1. Set up a shop on Etsy and don't forget to take multiple pictures and have an engaging description. Yes, there are a bunch of other sellers trying to sell their soap, but no one has exactly what you have.
2. Grab a table at a farmer's market. It's Texas, so there might still be some open at this time of year. Don't worry though, spring isn't far away either!
3. Texas is just full of flea markets. Have you been to one yet? You didn't specify where you live, but if it's anywhere in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you might try going to Trader's Village and have a look around. Even if you don't rent a table your first time out, it's very large and pretty fun to go to on the weekend - in my opinion. You can usually rent a spot at a flea market for $50 or less in the 'anyone can sell here' area. You might be surrounded by people doing a garage sale, but you will have hundreds of people coming by to view your wares.
4. Craft and Trade shows. I know, the gun shows don't seem like the place to sell soap. No one else is, but why shouldn't you?? Wives get dragged along to these kinds of events every year. I suppose husbands do as well. That's not the point! Think outside the box to put yourself in a position to fill a need that hasn't even been realized.
At any public location, be personable, ready to talk about your product, and enthusiastic. If you're going to be in the sun, bring a parasol, a large picnic umbrella, or a pop-up pavilion. The Texas sun, even in fall, will crisp any skin not already acclimated - and often skin that is acclimated already!
In order to look professional, you need a few things. First, you need an official business name. It could be your name, but you should be registered with your local government. Typically filing fees are $50 or less and renewals are even less than that. For example, mine was a $5 renewal fee.
Second, you will need packaging. Admittedly, this can be an optional item, but in the locations I have suggested specifically for getting your feet on the ground, you will want to legitimize your presence, your product, and your company. Therefore, packaging is a must and requires that you have a logo. Being as you like birds, perhaps you could create your own bird-based logo for use.
Third, when you register your business, you will want to look up the local retail tax regulations. Then, when selling your product, you will want to collect tax. Now, I understand that this can be a pain, but again, you are setting yourself up to appear to be a fully functioning soapery - if that's not already a word, it is now - and providing products that your new customers will enjoy and want more of. The last part is the most crucial, as return business and referrals will help you get off the ground faster.
You can use things like social media to create pages for your business, but in general I do not recommend the use of 'free' website generators. Look into getting a domain name and hosting it - godaddy can be very helpful here. If you don't code, find a friend who does or coordinate with others. Some people will be happy to donate their time, while others can be 'bribed' with a little of your product. That being said, a website is very important to establishing the authenticity of your endeavor.
Well, I have to dash to work now. I hope this has provided some insights, epiphanies, or at least been somewhat helpful in the 'I have good soap ... what now?' dilemma.
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I like birds, if you couldn't tell!
