Teach Soap

Just finished up with the opening day at the local market. Booth fees were $10 and I made that back plus $240. So, all in all and considering I was tucked away in the back where most peeps couldnt see me, I think it was a fairly good day! Not too bad actually for a 5 hour day. I even sold out of a couple of products! I'll be up front where the main line of foot traffic is from now on, so it should get even better.
The only 2 booths I had for competition only come occassionally, so I'm thinking that they wont be an issue. They had nice products but very limited(one booth only sold soaps, and the other only sold sugar scrubs and bath salts).
The booth that sold the soaps admitted to me that she doesnt make the soaps herself, so she doesnt have that personal connection and she told different people that her soaps were m&p and others that it was lye soap. What a hoot! Doesnt she know that people talk and they'll figure out she is full of bs? The lady that sold bath salts and sugar scrubs, had her salts packaged in very tiny sample size zippies and tiny little 2 oz jars of sugar scrubs. Both charged way more than I did for way less products. Both booths said that sales were terrible for them that day. I beleive them, because I had a friend in a booth between them that said that they didnt sell hardly anything.
I feel bad that they didnt do so well, when I did much better, But at least it makes me feel good about my products and pricing.
I still need to work on my displays and labels, but no major worries. I'll try to post pics but I usually have a bit of trouble with that.


Denise

Congrats on your sales!

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

Thank you soapbuddy! I had a lot of fun today, and I got a better idea of what works and doesn't for this crowd. Next week will be better. I'm off for a week and half for spring break, so I'm gonna be busy in the kitchen. I have to restock on bath salts and smelly jellies for sure as well as bath bombs, candles, soy tarts and soaps. Hmmm, wonder what's going in the soap pot 1st?

sounds like a good market! mine doesn't start until May - I can't wait!

_________________
http://www.magichandsworkshop.com
http://www.magichands.etsy.com
http://www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.com

Our's runs march through december. Benefits of living in texas I suppose?
We have longer growing seasons. But come to think of it, out of the 30 vendors that were there today, I don't recall seeing a single produce person? Funny, I didnt notice that during the day?

The best advice I can give you is to be confident in your product and in yourself! The ones that balk at $5 a bar, will be the same ones that complain about a $3 bar. What I mean is that IMO people that appreciate handmade soap, will also apreciate the time and skills that went into making it and wont blink at the $5 price tag. The ones that do complain, might be gently educated on the quality, skills, and time that went into it, but most cant be educated. They will always be the ones who will say, why should I pay $5 a bar when I can get it at the dollar store for a buck? Again, IMO those people will most likely be your "just browsing" or the "want something for nothing" crowd and wont buy it unless you give it away (and maybe the farm too while your at it).
Don't ever compromise your self esteem, skills and value of your products for anyone.
This was my 1st time at this market, but I have been selling online and at other local craft shows and festivals for a very long time. I wasnt sure how the farmers market crowd would take to soaps and other B&B products in general. For a teensy weensy second, I considered lowering my prices to feel things out, but I snapped out of that real quick and took my own advice. And I'm glad I stuck to my guns. No one at the market gave a second thought to my $5 price tag on my soaps or any of my prices for that matter.
I knew I had quality products and I carried an attitude the entire time that showed that. Even if you feel less than confident or you have doubts, never show it. As the old saying goes "fake it til you make it". Your confidence in your products and pricing will grow with each show.
I've learned a thing or two about about people in my time. One of the most important things I've learned is that attitude is contagious.
If you present yourself with a positive attitude and tons of self confidence and confidence in your products, your customers will feel it and have the same attitude.

Best of luck,
Denise