Teach Soap

I'm probably not the only one on this forum who never set out to actually sell soap, but just to have fun making soap in scents I love that I couldn't find anywhere else, and to save money on my soap addiction!
Heaven knows, I've talked my co-workers' ears off about my soaping journey, along with various people whose paths I've crossed looking for ingredients and stuff. But now that I can actually use my very first batch, I have people literally demanding to try some for themselves! I don't mind giving samples for people to try, but now I've got people wanting to buy it, and wanting to know if I can make it in whatever scent. I refuse to sell my soap for the obvious reason...this is my very first batch...I don't know my butt from a hole in the ground about soap-making yet!!! NOBODY cares...I've even had a local shop-owner offer to carry it in her store. NO WAY!! I'm taking notes on what people are asking for, and I'll try to make soaps for them to sample, but I don't feel at all comfortable with selling my soap yet, DUH! I enjoy making soap, but this is a hobby...I have a very demanding full-time job that I have no intention of giving up.
I'm now saving a bar from each batch to see how it ages per Soapbuddy's advice. I have zero interest in running a soaping business, but it WOULD be nice to make enough money on a batch to pay for the next one, since I also have zero interest in going broke providing free soap! I'm very hesitantly telling people that I may sell them some soap next spring, but is six months really enough experience to sell?

I know what you are dealing with. I only make soap for my family, and for special gifts for our closest friends. Some have asked if I would sell, but I tell them no, but if they have any requests for special soaps for a gift in the future - I might try to make something special for them. Soaping is one of the few hobbies I have that I won't be injured doing, and if I try to turn it into a part time job - I don't think it would be as fun anymore, then I'd have to come up with something else to do to relax - maybe Base Jumping or Bull Fighting?

I agree with Denversoap. Get the license(s) and liability insurance covered. Make sure that you can produce a consistent bar each and every time. Get your soap formula down. Decide which oils or butters work out the best for you. Then test, test, test! You need to know how the soap will behave 6 months down the road or 9 months. Will the scent or color fade? Will the formula be prone to DOS?
Get all your ducks in a row before you start gifting soap or selling. It can become an expensive hobby.

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

Thanks!
You guys have really helped put this in a new perspective for me.. I love my job, but it is insanely high-stress. I certainly don't need the added stress of having to produce soap to fill orders, in fact the very thought makes me shudder. I just never thought of it that way. When my friends/co-workers tried my soap and wanted more (yes indeed, very flattering, LOL) I guess was just thinking that maybe I could sell a few bars here and there to make up for the cost of materials. But thanks to you guys, I can see that this idea was not very well thought-out. And the offer of selling at a store was pretty much an automatic NO for me!
Your advice on not talking/sharing with others about my soaping journey was sound advice. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who can't help broadcasting anything I'm excited about! My peers are the same...none of us do anything half-heartedly...and enthusiasm is contagious, LOL! We've been having a lot of fun dreaming up soap "flavors" we would love to try, and different textures, like scrubbies or felting. As I said, I started soaping to make soap for me and the hubby, but I LOVE sharing it, and just can't wait to see if I can make soap in the scents and textures my friends and I have been imagining! How can I not share?? That's part of the fun!!!
Sooo...now I know I don't want to be in the soaping business. Not at all!! But as Soapbuddy said, it can be an expensive hobby, so would it be wrong/unethical of me to ask (only my closest friends) for a donation to help cover my costs for batches of soap that we've dreamed up? And of course, if I make a bad batch, I'll ask for nothing. Failure pays for itself with experience and wisdom, LOL! What do you guys think? I'm obviously no business-woman..

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

My thoughts on selling...don't be half in half out. If you sell just to cover your costs, you will find that you have a tremendous amount of business because you will be the only one selling handmade cold process for $1/bar. When/if you decide to actually sell and price it factoring in overhead, time, and supplies and set a realistic price per bar...your friends might not be so excited about paying for it. Have you asked them what they'd be willing to pay for a bar of soap? I've noticed everyone is interested until it comes time to put up the money.

A friend of mine came over yesterday for a soaping lesson. We had a blast and she left so excited with 3 lbs of soap and eager to try it for herself and make some for her family. Teach a man to fish...

Rena

Oh Rena,
What a fantastic idea!!! And how right you are


Brandy

After this advice, I did ask my friends if they thought a $4 donation per bar of soap was cool with them. The response was a unanimous "H*ll Yes"! Still mulling this over...

let us know what your decision and the reasons behind it. I have some of the same issues but so far have stuck to my decision not to sell. I love giving gifts and helping someone out. (ok.. sometimes I will ask for a prayer in return). If I ever decided to sell it would be at our small farmers market and that would not be until I can retire... which is a ways off for right now. If one of my friends, family or co-workers asked me to show them how I make soap I would gladly have them over.

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