heartsong
Well-Known Member
my sales rep is moving to florida and it is unlikely that she will be selling my soaps for some time, at least until after the new year-if at all.
it's time to figure out a new game plan! i would appreciate any thoughts or input you have on this line of reasoning.
MY BACKGROUND:
i am a truck driver and i'm on the road 2-3 weeks at a stretch. i'm usually home for 2-3 days. i can easily make 20-25 #'s of soap while home, and once i get my packaging streamlined, should be able to cut and wrap that much, too.
i also live out in the country-about 15 niles to a small town and about 50 to a major city.
almost everone i've given a soap to has asked how can they get more? i have no answer for that and this is my major road block!
my husband, tho loving and supportive (he's partially disabled), can only be expected to do only limited duties regarding my business. the best that i can expect of him is to check the mail, fill an order and take it to the post office. i know he'll be incapable of going online to figure shipping rates, etc. everything would have to be simplified-cut & dry for him.
both of us are computer illiterates-but he's worse.
one problem that i see is that while on the road i do not have daily internet access, except thru the house-with him at the computer. about 1-3 times a week i have access to a computer net thru only certain truck stops. (like right now)
MY GOAL:
to get out of this truck in 3 years or less. with the turbulent economy, and i believe it will get worse, i need my job right now, for the pay and the health insurance it provides.
it took almost 2 years, but we are now DEBT FREE!
(except for the usual monthly bills-mortgage, utilities, car insurance, etc)
we live simply, don't go out much, and save up and pay cash for anything that we need. my mom used to say "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." (my parents lived thru the "great depression")
since we're no longer paying off credit cards, i'm able to tuck money away each week towards my main objective-the farmer's markets, craft fairs and street festivals here in the south. i want to be able to buy or build everything thing i could possibly need for set-up and travel, including a little covered trailer. AND HAVE ENOUGH CASH FOR ENTRY FEES, TRAVEL & ROAD EXPENSES!
most of my life i've had plenty of time, but little money or had some money and absoloutely no time! :roll:
my goal is to remain debt free and save $3,600 (saving $25 a week) and to already have an established customer base before i get out of my truck.
ESTABLISHING A NEW CUSTOMER BASE:
as a truck driver i run the lower 48 states. i meet dozens of people each week. i've always given out my soaps when someone helps me out, or goes out of their way to be kind. (driving is a hard job on a good day! sometimes exhausting). there's a few places already that the gal's in the shipping office love my soap, and when i come in to load they place me as "next truck to load" instead of at the bottom of the list. for me that saves so much time instead of having to wait, and is well worth a couple bars of soap! (time is money, especially when you only get paid for each mile driven!)
THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS:
1. i still plan to give full sized bars away. (get them used to nice soap!) i will include an info/order blank inside.
2. i know if i can keep it simple, my husband can fill out an order and get it mailed.
3. my customer's average annual income $25K-35K, so i have to keep my soaps reasonably priced so that including postage it doesn't end up costing $5.00+ a bar. these are average working class families with kids, and a purchase from me would be a "small luxury".
4. i will make a quality bar of soap, but will have to use less expensive luxury oils. buying in bulk and using less expensive packaging. i'm trying to target below $1 per bar. i would like to keep the bars between $3.50-$4.00 (plus shipping)
well, what do you think?
it's time to figure out a new game plan! i would appreciate any thoughts or input you have on this line of reasoning.
MY BACKGROUND:
i am a truck driver and i'm on the road 2-3 weeks at a stretch. i'm usually home for 2-3 days. i can easily make 20-25 #'s of soap while home, and once i get my packaging streamlined, should be able to cut and wrap that much, too.
i also live out in the country-about 15 niles to a small town and about 50 to a major city.
almost everone i've given a soap to has asked how can they get more? i have no answer for that and this is my major road block!
my husband, tho loving and supportive (he's partially disabled), can only be expected to do only limited duties regarding my business. the best that i can expect of him is to check the mail, fill an order and take it to the post office. i know he'll be incapable of going online to figure shipping rates, etc. everything would have to be simplified-cut & dry for him.
both of us are computer illiterates-but he's worse.
one problem that i see is that while on the road i do not have daily internet access, except thru the house-with him at the computer. about 1-3 times a week i have access to a computer net thru only certain truck stops. (like right now)
MY GOAL:
to get out of this truck in 3 years or less. with the turbulent economy, and i believe it will get worse, i need my job right now, for the pay and the health insurance it provides.
it took almost 2 years, but we are now DEBT FREE!
(except for the usual monthly bills-mortgage, utilities, car insurance, etc)we live simply, don't go out much, and save up and pay cash for anything that we need. my mom used to say "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." (my parents lived thru the "great depression")
since we're no longer paying off credit cards, i'm able to tuck money away each week towards my main objective-the farmer's markets, craft fairs and street festivals here in the south. i want to be able to buy or build everything thing i could possibly need for set-up and travel, including a little covered trailer. AND HAVE ENOUGH CASH FOR ENTRY FEES, TRAVEL & ROAD EXPENSES!
most of my life i've had plenty of time, but little money or had some money and absoloutely no time! :roll:
my goal is to remain debt free and save $3,600 (saving $25 a week) and to already have an established customer base before i get out of my truck.
ESTABLISHING A NEW CUSTOMER BASE:
as a truck driver i run the lower 48 states. i meet dozens of people each week. i've always given out my soaps when someone helps me out, or goes out of their way to be kind. (driving is a hard job on a good day! sometimes exhausting). there's a few places already that the gal's in the shipping office love my soap, and when i come in to load they place me as "next truck to load" instead of at the bottom of the list. for me that saves so much time instead of having to wait, and is well worth a couple bars of soap! (time is money, especially when you only get paid for each mile driven!)
THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS:
1. i still plan to give full sized bars away. (get them used to nice soap!) i will include an info/order blank inside.
2. i know if i can keep it simple, my husband can fill out an order and get it mailed.
3. my customer's average annual income $25K-35K, so i have to keep my soaps reasonably priced so that including postage it doesn't end up costing $5.00+ a bar. these are average working class families with kids, and a purchase from me would be a "small luxury".
4. i will make a quality bar of soap, but will have to use less expensive luxury oils. buying in bulk and using less expensive packaging. i'm trying to target below $1 per bar. i would like to keep the bars between $3.50-$4.00 (plus shipping)
well, what do you think?
