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So other than being MIA from the forum for what feels like for.ev.er. My busy month of May has rolled into a busy June also for soap and non-soap life. I had two shows in May, one was a flop (I had sales, but still spent more than I sold) and the other made some good contacts. One is a very well reputed consignment boutique, so all of my stock is going there for the month of July.
June has been busy - I taught a basic soapmaking class at my church as a mini-fundraiser for our new building, and the class went so well! I amazed myself as to how much stuff I really do know, lol. We did a very basic "walmart" type soap, no fragrance, no color. About half the class (5 people) would like to do something for color and fragrance in July, so I'm working on gathering information to provide the simplest most accurate overview possible. The first class took me 3 months to prep for... Not sure that 7 weeks will be enough... good thing I have this forum as a resource! I'm teaching a second basic class in 3 weeks and have a waiting list for doing a third class.
Had a good show on the 2nd of June - it was only a 2 hour show but my highest sales so far! It was just a great night for traffic, location, and interest. I always had someone at my table shopping or asking questions. I have had two online sales generate from that show as well. This is a monthly farmers market type of show, so I will be doing it again in July before my stock goes to the boutique. I have a show on Saturday, and then another the following weekend, the mentioned farmers market, and then I am done with shows until the beginning of August!
I don't have much exciting going on for new soap.[sentence edit] I'm waiting for my avocado soap to cure - it seems to be taking a bit longer than my normal coconut milk soaps. I've done restocks of nag champa, cherry almond, and coffee scrub bars. My future FIL (OOOOHHHH!!! I got engaged this month too, lol) requested a salt bar, so I'll get a small batch put up for him and the (formerly bf) fiancée. I want to try the challenge this month, possibly make an ocean themed soap, and try to make cupcake soaps. In the meantime... I've ordered NaOH and more Shea Butter. Essentials Depot has 32lbs on sale for $49.95, and 5lbs unrefined shea butter for $14.95. Even with shipping the shea butter was only $1 more than I paid for the equivalent amount at the last WSP sale. Will see what I think of the quality as I have only used WSP. Oh, and last week I got a bunch of micas from Steph's Micas and More group buys - someone here had recommended her (but I don't remember who...) and I just wanted to say THANK YOU!! I've been doing a very in-depth look at costs and pricing this year. Most of the time it is the colors that push my soap prices up to the market threshold. (At least around here, more than $5 for soap is a hard sell. I live in South Dakota, so we generally have a lower cost of living compared to most states. My California customers think my $5 soaps are a bargain, lol.) Anyways, I am in love with these micas, the availability of color, performance, and price. I think my customers will be happy too with the range of new colors as well as the price changes.
Sorry for such a rambling post... I'm just so excited to have time to actually post something AND catch up on reading the forums! I've been missing y'all so much. (It seems so silly to say that, but true.)
June has been busy - I taught a basic soapmaking class at my church as a mini-fundraiser for our new building, and the class went so well! I amazed myself as to how much stuff I really do know, lol. We did a very basic "walmart" type soap, no fragrance, no color. About half the class (5 people) would like to do something for color and fragrance in July, so I'm working on gathering information to provide the simplest most accurate overview possible. The first class took me 3 months to prep for... Not sure that 7 weeks will be enough... good thing I have this forum as a resource! I'm teaching a second basic class in 3 weeks and have a waiting list for doing a third class.
Had a good show on the 2nd of June - it was only a 2 hour show but my highest sales so far! It was just a great night for traffic, location, and interest. I always had someone at my table shopping or asking questions. I have had two online sales generate from that show as well. This is a monthly farmers market type of show, so I will be doing it again in July before my stock goes to the boutique. I have a show on Saturday, and then another the following weekend, the mentioned farmers market, and then I am done with shows until the beginning of August!
I don't have much exciting going on for new soap.[sentence edit] I'm waiting for my avocado soap to cure - it seems to be taking a bit longer than my normal coconut milk soaps. I've done restocks of nag champa, cherry almond, and coffee scrub bars. My future FIL (OOOOHHHH!!! I got engaged this month too, lol) requested a salt bar, so I'll get a small batch put up for him and the (formerly bf) fiancée. I want to try the challenge this month, possibly make an ocean themed soap, and try to make cupcake soaps. In the meantime... I've ordered NaOH and more Shea Butter. Essentials Depot has 32lbs on sale for $49.95, and 5lbs unrefined shea butter for $14.95. Even with shipping the shea butter was only $1 more than I paid for the equivalent amount at the last WSP sale. Will see what I think of the quality as I have only used WSP. Oh, and last week I got a bunch of micas from Steph's Micas and More group buys - someone here had recommended her (but I don't remember who...) and I just wanted to say THANK YOU!! I've been doing a very in-depth look at costs and pricing this year. Most of the time it is the colors that push my soap prices up to the market threshold. (At least around here, more than $5 for soap is a hard sell. I live in South Dakota, so we generally have a lower cost of living compared to most states. My California customers think my $5 soaps are a bargain, lol.) Anyways, I am in love with these micas, the availability of color, performance, and price. I think my customers will be happy too with the range of new colors as well as the price changes.
Sorry for such a rambling post... I'm just so excited to have time to actually post something AND catch up on reading the forums! I've been missing y'all so much. (It seems so silly to say that, but true.)
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