Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

Thanks (blushing) That sandalwood one is from the bar mold I bought from Kelsei's creations. Its GREAT There is no waste from me messing up a cut. But there are other soaps on there that are from my regular log mold. I am thinking a bout upping the price but I have only had 2 sales.
I've looked at other sellers on there and they do charge more so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea I guess I'm just to timid with the pricing and need to venture out a little

I know what you mean. I was very inconsistant with my prices too till DH said pick a price and stick with it. So I now have a retail price and wholesale price.

I do think you should raise them, you don't want to be shorting yourself. A simple way to figure your price
cost X 4= retail
Cost X 2= wholesale

Or the usual going rate for handmade soap seems to be $1/oz. Make sure you include your packaging cost too.

Did you free hand cut your soap for the swap? If you did I want to know how you did that so perfectly. It looks better than mine that I used a cutter with!​

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Quote:
I know what you mean. I was very inconsistant with my prices too till DH said pick a price and stick with it. So I now have a retail price and wholesale price.

I do think you should raise them, you don't want to be shorting yourself. A simple way to figure your price
cost X 4= retail
Cost X 2= wholesale

Or the usual going rate for handmade soap seems to be $1/oz. Make sure you include your packaging cost too.

Did you free hand cut your soap for the swap? If you did I want to know how you did that so perfectly. It looks better than mine that I used a cutter with!

Of course now I'm blushing again lol. My DH was sitting with me when I read that. I did free cut those. I can't remember but those might have been cut with my machete actually. I go between that and my SS cutter.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

I might be selling my soaps to a lady that owns a local artist/ gift shop in PA. I took a look at her store site and right now she offers SO many different kinds of soap then what I can give her for a while at least. And she doesn't carry any with lard in it. But I did email her and let her know that not all my soaps have lard in them and that I can provide soaps without lard. I did send her a list and pics of all the stuff I have right now though and she is willing to give me a chance. I'm just wondering how the lard thing will affect this. What do you ladies think?

 

[Morgaine]

Quote:
I think it depends on your market. Almost all my friends were a little grossed out by lard/tallow soaps when I said I was thinking of using that. But all are in their 20's or early 30's and are what I consider 'crunchy'. I don't think any of them would buy soap with lard listed. I'm going to try some lard soaps I think and see how they at the farmer's market with a different group of buyers. MLF does very well with her soaps and most contain lard (or the special ingredient in the soap swap).

Are you going to have a set amount (dollars or bars) that have to be ordered at a time? I have mine set for 15 bars for a wholesale order which is one batch although it does not have to be one scent. Make sure she covers the cost of shipping too. I say give it a try and see how it goes. Oh, is this for a wholesale account or consignment? Good Luck, I really hope it goes well for you. Do you have any health food stores around you? I would see if they would be willing to carry your soaps. I've had good luck with them. I'm so excited for you! It so cool seeing something you made in a 'real' store!

 

[Morgaine]

I'm waiting on my lye.

There is only enough left for 1 maybe 2 batches. I'm a little annoyed with aaa chemical because their web site said they used UPS but they sent it out Fed ex who can NEVER find our house. I knew I should have requestd UPS only. I'll just have to wait for Fed ex to call and give them directions. They always use google and google has our roads all messed up. I'm thinking of soaping the coconut lime verbena today and trying to do a layered soap. Tan, white, green. wdyt?

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Quote:
You are gong to have to post pics when you unmold! It would be a wholesale and yes, she would have to pay for shipping. As far as how many at a time I don't know just yet. I'll say on the low side that I can send 32 as they get done curing but then I would really have to work my butt of because I will be sending to her and selling at the market and Etsy is just going to have to be very small amounts at a time like I have now.
My lye better be here tomorrow. I haven't soaped in a week and its killing me.

We don't have any health food stores around.

 

[Morgaine]

Do you have any feed stores around that would carry your soaps? I bet you would be able to sell lard soaps there. Several of the nicer independent feed stores around here carry little things like that. I have one who is going to be buying mine as soon as they sell all the soaps they are currently selling . I really play up the local aspect. Are there any B&B's or small hotels in the area who would be willing to sell your soaps in the gift shop or lobby? How about any antique stores? I would try any mom & pop store you could find and just ask. What's the worst they can tell you? No?

 

[Morgaine]

Oh, and I would start making sample sizes too. Take your normal ba and cut it into 1/4th. Make some business cards and leave samples every where you go. You can usethese to put your card and soap in.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Quote:
I saved that site. It is great. I've been wanting to leave samples every where but I don't really have anything I could put them in like that. I can ask the one feed store I go to the other store has rude employees that think they know a lot but they really don't.

 

[Morgaine]

Quote:
I saved that site. It is great. I've been wanting to leave samples every where but I don't really have anything I could put them in like that. I can ask the one feed store I go to the other store has rude employees that think they know a lot but they really don't.

They will send you a free sample of any size too. They sent me one for 2.5X3.5 and it fits 1/4 of a bar perfectly. Here is mine

I haven't found a cheaper place yet. You can either put a business card in there or slap a label on.