Teach Soap

I consider myself very new to soaping, but the very first thing I learned in nearly every book I've read is "get insured". Even if all you ever do with soap is sell a few here and there it's still possible that someone would have an adverse reaction to your soap and decide to sue you for it. Having product liability protects you if such an event were to happen. If you don't care about whether or not you'll get your shirt taken off your back due to a customer's allergic reaction, then by all means, don't get insurance.

Okay, you say you have a lot of experience in business but it's not in soaping or B&B products. As a matter of fact you just made your first M&P soaps this past week. You don't know how your soap will hold up 3, 6 or 12 months from now, be it the product itself (ex. scent, lather, integrity) or the packaging you decide to use. Most people who decide to sell & share their love of handmade B&B products research their recipes, test products & plan responsibly before proceeding with their business plans. I've expressed my concern over your almost blase` disregard for your potential customers' safety under another topic. We all here on the forum just want you to think first before you leap and think of what might happen to your customers if you don't know what you are doing. As a matter of fact, that's one reason why there's been a Cosmetics Safety Enhancement Act of 2012 which affects small B&B businesses. By not understanding all aspects of your products, you are doing your customers & fellow B&B crafters & business people a disservice. We are not picking on you but we don't want handmade B&B products to get a possible bad name.

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Armi

Whoa whoa whoa folks! All Fayt has said was that he was going to give the guy some samples to try! He never said he has a huge marketing plan all set up! Quite the opposite actually. He plans to see how the samples are liked before leaping head first into registering a name and getting insurance etc. All he needs to do is get the guy to sign a waiver... for now.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Actually he's posted that this is "under the table cash" and that he would worry about insurance later "when I have multiple stores". It's in the post on the first page.

And it's not just the insurance side of things. Having only made his first soap this past week - it's WAY too soon to be even thinking about selling!!

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I really don't think anyone will be able to change Fayt's mind. They've already talked to the store to show them samples. I don't think Fayt's going to call up the store and tell them they're soaps haven't been sufficiently tested, so they need to bow out.
But like it was already said, this does affect all B & B handcrafting sellers. Do you know how many times I've been told to mind my own business when stating that maybe a newbie should do some more research before selling? Too many times to count. But, by encouraging newbies to do some more testing, we are minding our business.

I also just wanted to say to Fayt if you do come back here and look at these messages, we are not saying these things to discourage you from making soap. We want you to make soap and perfect your craft to the best that you can. We are not saying these things because we're jealous or because we feel threatened that you are now a competitor.

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Genny

Well said, Genny!

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

I make soap as gifts, for fundraisers, for swaps, and I sell the occasional bar. I don't aspire to make my living from soaping. That said, as soon as my soap went to that first silent auction, I got insurance. It was a whopping $145 per year from RLI. Worth every penny for the peace of mind it brings.

The big thought that really convinced me to get insurance: Don't just think about your customer that will use the soap, think about each and every person who will have access to your soap in that customer's home. Think of their spouse, their kids, and any guest who might pick up your soap and use it. To me, that was the big eye opening thought.

That thought, and this article about How to start a Soap Business were the two key factors to my thinking about getting into the soap business: http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/how-to- ... iness.html

That's a great article, AriaGirl - very helpful! Thanks for sharing it.

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

I don't have any plans to ever make this into a business so I am not even possible competition for Fayt. This is all about stress relief for me, and I use natural products because of my allergies. I decided to educate myself about handmade soaps & B&B products, most especially after a bad experience with a M&P soap i bought from a local crafter that I developed a severe rash and peeling(!) on my hands from. Good thing I only used it for handwashing! I tried to contact the seller but she never contacted me back, and until now I still don't know what was in the soap that made me have such a severe reaction which makes me leery whenever buying from someone new or unknown to me. I'm a nurse so couldn't work for over a week until my hands healed. If I had decided this initial experience to not use handmade products anymore, i would have never known the joy of crafting or how nice my skin feels and looks after using a well-made soap or lotion. After my bad experience, I try to share what I've learned when i can and it really irks me when i see people who just do this for the money without really knowing what they are doing. That's why Fayt's attitude that he already sunk $75 into supplies, has a lot of business experience in signage and has a potential buyer already lined up as sufficient basis for him to start a soap business very troubling. Please go the correct route and learn from experience and testing products and get insurance before selling.

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Armi

$75 in supplies is just peanuts. I've sunk thousands and I've done my homework. For me, it was never make it today, sell it tomorrow sort of thing. I have a business and it's run as a business. If you sell soap as a fly by night, then it won't last long. That's more of a hobby, not a business.

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

Very well said everyone!

And I'd like to point out that even if they don't go after Fayt personally, or even the shop owner, there is the ripple affect that can potentially effect every other soaper out there. If the customer has a bad reaction to one soap, how do you think they will receive other soapers if they come across them? How do you think that customers friends will feel about hand made soap after hearing how their friend got a rash, it burned, it left their skin too dry, too oily, didn't work etc.

I have a girlfriend who is convinced that all M&P soaps are bad and only AFTER I convinced her to try one of my CP soaps has she even begun to re-consider hand made soap. Why? Because a M&P bar she purchased from a market once had too much FO (I would say) and left her underarms red raw with a rash. After that experience (nearly 5 years ago btw), she won't even make eye contact with another soap stall if she sees one. She only tried my soap because I was a friend...

And with regards to supplies... I WISH it was a simple $75 investment!! I'm going to my first Market this weekend (and only taking M&P and I'm still not confident taking my CP after only doing it for 6 months...) and so far I have spent probably close to $5,000 BEFORE selling!

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I've offered to help Fayt test his soaps

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

That's very kind, Hesty. I'd be willing to be a tester too if needed. His soaps look very nice in the pics he posted last week, probably nothing wrong with them. It's never a matter of whether or not he's got good soaps though, it's always the "what if" that becomes a problem.