I don't know why people seem to get offended when someone else mentions they want to start a business regardless of how new/inexperienced they seem. If the soap is crap, the soap is crap. Why does anyone else care? (Rhetorical, I'm not looking for a debate on the issue, just stating that people get sidetracked when they see "new soaper" and "business" in the same post.)
Because it effects how they see OTHER soapers soaps that DO have years of experiance and knows what happens to their soap.
Thats why get get offended/annoyed.
"I spent X dollars I gotta recoup it some how!"
"I had these four people tell me my soap is awsome..." etc etc
"You" in the following represents "Suzy Soaper" (Anyone. Not anyone in particular)
Well lets put it into perspective, if you spent 500 dollars, on your buisness venture that MUST include the insurance and such that you have to have, so ....really you havent spent that much.
Lets adress the things that 'you' have in your favor, and counterpoint them.
"I have had family and friends tell you how great it is!"
Well thats nice. But I dont know many friends or family that would say "holy crap this stuff sucked." if it smells nice and they didnt die, they wont wanna hurt your feelings.
"I spent X dollars and I gotta make it back somehow..."
Perhaps you are not familiar with a hobby. It generally is a money sink done out of love.
Also there are others that spent FAR MORE and spent more time and they are not selling yet. The diffrence is many. Some do it for fun or love, others want to make a profit but know it takes TIME. I am currently at 987.23 in WSP alone. I have 2 stores asking me to sell things there, but the fact is: my soap is not ready. Its not tested long enough. I cant be SURE my product wont ruin people on handmade soaps. Maybe in a few months. but not right now.
"College dont pay for itself."
College takes 4 years to 'master' and putyour skills on the market (IE: Time.)
"Who cares if I do it and my soap sucks, it does not hurt YOU."
Yes it does, lets say you botch a batch and someone gets burned on it (extream case but run with me) They will never buy another handmade soap. I wouldent blame them. That means they wont buy your crappy soap or the good soap someone who put the time in, made. It hurts everyone.
"Why do you care so much about what I do? Get a life."
I care because someday I wish to sell mine and people giving it a bad name is no good.
There are more common statements but you get the point here. Don't be a suzy soaper. Suck it up and take your time. 500 bucks aint all that much for a hobby anyway. Look into RC racing sometime ^.^ (My old hobby)
Hope this helps.