Teach Soap

Looking for any and all advice. I spent 10 weeks in the mall and learned so much. I expanded my product line and customer base but in the end the rent was too high vs the income earned. The experience opened my eyes about what I did have. Which is, I live in a commercial corner property.

I've been trolling the trendy areas in Philly and want to do a cross between a vintage shop and a small Whole Foods type shop. I take my food handler license test on the 20th.

I want to sell bath and body, clothes, furniture, bulk food, internet access. coffee and have a custom prepared menu. My spot is off the beaten track, larger than most places but the neighborhood is well mixed and gentrifying.

Anyone with experience?

Hi, phillysoap. I don't have any advice or experience with this sort of thing, but I just wanted to say congratulations and best of luck to you! It sounds like a great idea for a shop. How excited you must be! Best wishes!

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- Jenny -
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I have a brick and mortal store. I love your idea but worried you would be able to do this alone. Will you be making all the bath & body products and the food menu items yourself?

We have approximately 1,000 sq ft shop in a tourist area outside of Toronto (Canada). We only carry bath & body products and we also teach classes. Teaching is a great revenue for us, we charge $150.00 and if you have just 10 students a week it keeps the store profitable during the off season. That may be an avenue to look into.

I wish you all the best in your new endeavour.

Thanks Jrose for the best wishes.

Margo, one thing the mall experience taught me is "I will be in this ALONE", my adult children begrudgingly helped me. Strangers (or I'll call them "new friends") hung around for periods of time to help.

My thoughts, I have about 1,000 sq ft too...wanted to have internet access with phone, fax, computer and copy, coffee area , selling only ganoderma coffee, hot chocolate and tea, fruit smoothies in the summer, refinished small quirky furniture items outside (I have an antique chair I'm working on refinishing), bath and body, my whipped shea and essential oils are out selling my soaps. I ordered plus size basic black dresses I'm reworking, and am making children's jumpers out of 24 yards of african print fabrics...I want to cook and provide food items which ever way the wind blows me...

Leather couch, jazz music playing, tv occasionally...a place to chill...get what you can't get anywhere else

Hi Philly,

Sounds like you are trying to : 'do the job you love'. To do this alone you will be very busy and putting in alot of hours but it is great to follow our dreams! My only concern is you say you are "off the beaten path". How far off. Will you be able to pull customers to your spot? To me it sounds like a place that would do well in a 'recreated downtown" - you know the out of mall experience. Or maybe in the area of a univeristy/ tech school.

I have never gone into soap selling because I am concerned that once I do it will no longer be fun... just a job. I wish you the very best on your endevors.... let us know how it works out.

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

I'm in a busy densely packed neighborhood, if I step out my door and look north I see the whole skyline of the downtown area, downtown is a 1/2 hour walk and a 5 minute drive. Right now we are surrounded by bodegas, pizza shops but I am 3 blocks away from "trendy". Just from the flea market and mall I have one "stop by" customer at least 4 days a week spending on average $20, thats without even being "open".

Sounds like an amazing spot to hang out in! Keep in mind food items have a short shelf life. I still have this fear you maybe starting out too big, but dont want to discourage you to follow your dreams. I work my store 6 days a week and have 4 part-time employees I couldnt do it alone. I have visions of you with a line up at the cash, customers that have questions, and your busy cooking food.

Bubbles 2; Yes, I sometimes find making the soap a chore not a passion anymore.

Don’t think “if” think “when”.

Think for a minute as a customer what experience do you want to give them? A place to hang out? A place to eat/drink coffee and work on their computers? A great place to buy handmade bath & body products? Buy clothing, furniture? I think it might be confusing. Or it could be a unique experience and I’m wrong.

What are your strengths is it making products or selling, body products or cooking? I am more of a sales person, that's my passion and pleasure, not so much making product.

Sounds awesome phillysoap. Congrats! and good luck!

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Debbie

No advice to date, but will be opening my first store in February of this year. I am very excited my store will be approx. 650 sq. ft. but on the beach in a nice area and I am praying things work out. I will be selling soap and bath and body products along with other fine handcrafted products I make. I have also decided to carry mineral makeup and serve coffees.

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Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

Oh, sorry got caught up in the "about me" I wish us both luck and cannot wait to hear how it goes for you, it sounds very cool!

_________________
Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

_________________
Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

thanks for all the support!