Wholesale opens new doors for anyone in business. It allows you to move a lot of product with minimal effort. Yes, you get less money than retail orders, but if you work smart, you can still make a lot of money. Before going after the accounts, being prepared is the key to success. To do that I encourage:
Search Results for: wholesale
Do you want to sell wholesale? Be prepared!
We’ve been getting copious amounts of questions recently on the Soap Queen Blog, Facebook Fan Page and in customer service requesting wholesale advice. It’s been so long (over a decade now!) since I’ve sold my soaps wholesale, I thought I would reach out to some of my successful soaping friends to share some current best practices and advice with the Soap Queen readers. Today’s wholesale guest blog is by Debbie Chialtas from Soapylove (you’ll soon be addicted to her website)! Thanks for the tips, Debbie!
Anne-Marie
Guest Post by Debbie Chialtas
When I first started Soapylove I was just selling to support my hobby. I came up with my prices pretty randomly and didn’t have any real business plan or structure. Eventually, though, shop owners asked if I sold wholesale.
Interview with Julie of Soaperie + Co.
In 2015, Julie with Soaperie + Co. left her job in finance to spend more time with her kids. She started exploring creative outlets and discovered a love for soapmaking. Now she makes and sells beautiful cold process soap, lotion bars, candles, and more. Learn more about how Julie got started, what inspires her, and her soapmaking tips.
How long have you been making soap and how did you get started?
I’ve been making soap for almost two years and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it! The very first soap I made was the Relaxing Lavender soap from Bramble Berry’s Natural Soap Kit for Beginners. It was such a great way to start creating handmade soap because the kit comes with everything you need. I remember checking in on the soap as it cured and after a couple of hours, I noticed a crack on the top of the soap. In hindsight, I realized that I was just too impatient and I didn’t let my lye water cool enough before I mixed it with the oils, so the soap got way too hot. I’ve learned a lot since then, but I think that soapmaking experience is still one of the most exciting!
Soaperie + Co. really got started as a second act in life after I’d spent more than 20 years in a more traditional career. In 2015, I left my job in finance to spend more time with my kids and to focus on enjoying a slower pace of life. That first year after I stopped working absolutely flew by because I was busy helping my older son apply for college. Eventually, he left home to start school and that’s when I knew I needed something to keep myself occupied. I’ve always loved fashion and interior design, so it wasn’t a surprise that I began to explore my creative side. To me, making artisan soap is the perfect blend of creative and analytical, just like me. I loved it instantly.
What inspires you to create?
Fashion, interior design, cooking, and nature. Right now, I’m watching the latest season of the Great British Baking Show. I’m mesmerized by the unique ingredient combinations that go into the contestants’ truly amazing creations. Soapmaking has a lot of similarities to the cooking/baking world and you tend to see a lot of the same trends. I like to use what I’ve seen for inspiration.
What advice would you give to makers just starting their businesses?
Be patient, take it slowly, and learn everything you possibly can from more experienced soapmakers. I’m not a patient person by nature and I really jumped into this business quickly. There have been times that I’ve definitely learned “on the job” and that kind of learning can be difficult. I wish I knew early on what I know now. I think if I’d been a little more patient, there would have been fewer growing pains.
One of the biggest mistakes I made was being afraid to say no. Whether it’s a wholesale order that just wasn’t profitable or a time-consuming project for a friend, it’s easy to feel obligated to do something that really isn’t a good use of your time. When you have the courage to say no, it’s a really powerful thing. It opens you up to have the time to pursue the things that you really want to do.
What is your favorite type of product to make?
Cold process soap. There’s something so beautiful about the perceived simplicity, yet it really can keep you on your toes. It’s different every time you make it, even when you’re remaking something you’ve made before. The air humidity, the temperature of the ingredients, and the type of fragrance oil – it makes it impossible to control the outcome with exact precision. Learning to deal with unexpected problems is just part of the process!
How did you come up with the name for your business?
Naming your business is so incredibly personal. At the end of the day, I wanted a name that would convey my sense of style…simple, sophisticated, feminine, and professional. I also wanted to make sure it reflected that it’s a soap business. Instead of just using the word soapery, I tweaked it a little and made it “Soaperie” to add some flair.
There’s a funny story about the name Soaperie + Co. Recently, it dawned on me that people may read it as “Soap Erie,” as in soap made in Erie, PA. Someone commented on an Instagram post that they would love to have a bar of my soap because they’re from Erie and they’re feeling homesick since they moved away. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that sadly, there is no connection to Erie. I still love the name of my business, but this was a good reminder about how important it is to really think through your business name before committing.
What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
It’s impossible to choose just one. The Copper Sparkle Mica and Gold Sparkle Mica are both so incredibly beautiful, so much fun to use, and really give your soap a glamorous feel. I love to use them as mica lines in between soap layers or mix them with sweet almond oil and create a sparkly design on the top of the finished soap.
There are also so many amazing Bramble Berry fragrance oils. I honestly couldn’t live without Cocoa Butter Cashmere, Autumn Fig Harvest, Rose Quartz, and Tobacco and Bay Leaf. If you haven’t tried them, you’re missing out!
Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I’m originally from California and I graduated from UCLA with a BS in Mathematics. I’m also a CPA. It’s probably not the typical resume of a soapmaker, but I have found that analytical and problem-solving skills can be very helpful in this business. No matter what your background is, I think you bring your own unique perspective to soapmaking. One of my favorite things to see on Instagram is a photo of a soap that’s different than anything I’ve seen before.
What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
Right now, I’m trying to learn everything I can about photography. When I first started posting photos of my soap on social media, it was a disaster. I even had a professional photographer leave a comment on one of my Instagram posts suggesting I contact her for help. I still have a long way to go, but thankfully my photos have improved since then. Someday, I would love to graduate from my iPhone to a good digital camera.
I also love spending time with my family, playing fantasy football, watching good movies, watching bad reality television, reading, enjoying great food, baking, and traveling.
Have you ever experienced a soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Of course, there are so many fails that it’s difficult to choose just one. Once, I dropped my soap batter on the floor. I accidentally left my immersion blender sitting in the soap batter. I was using a plastic bucket for the first time (I had been using a glass container) and the blender was just too heavy for the container to support. When I let go, the entire bucket of soap spilled down the front of my cabinets and all over the floor! Luckily, I got it cleaned up quickly and no one was hurt.
If I learned anything from this fail, it’s just another reminder that soapmaking can be dangerous and it’s so important to be careful. Each time I introduce something new into the process, now I try to think ahead and assess the impact before a mistake happens.
If you were to give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
Right now, since it’s getting cooler and we all start struggling with dry skin, I would give them a Beeswax + Honey lotion bar. It’s made with beeswax, shea butter, and olive oil and it’s so incredibly moisturizing (and it smells great, too). They come in a small recyclable container that’s easy to throw in your purse and take with you on the go. One of my favorite stories about our lotion bars is from a customer who sells handmade knitted items. She likes to use our lotion bars on her hands before she starts knitting a project and says it makes the yarn smell so good. She’s even received feedback about the wonderful fragrance from her customers!
What is your number one soapmaking tip?
Try soaping at room temperature. For the longest time, I wouldn’t even consider trying it and I would spend countless hours trying to get my oils and lye water to within 10 degrees of each other. At higher temperatures, this can be time consuming. Soaping at room temperature has worked out well for me because Austin is a pretty hot and humid part of the country, so most of the time all my oils are already liquid at room temperature. In the winter I do have to heat up some of the harder oils. For me, it really simplified my life and I don’t spend so much time worrying about timing everything so carefully!
What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
Honestly, I love being a part of the soapmaking community and interacting with amazing customers. I’ve been so impressed by the incredible amount of support, guidance, and encouragement that I’ve experienced over the last few years. Artisan soap is a very saturated market, so I’m always pleasantly surprised by how many soapmakers are willing to share their techniques and help one another. I always encourage everyone to buy handmade items. You really help support a community of truly wonderful makers.
Talking with Toushonta of Scentsational Soaps
Toushonta Hogan started her company, Scentsational Soaps, in 2007. Scentsational Soaps focuses on using natural ingredients to create soap, candles, body butter, scrubs, and more. Toushonta sells her products in a variety of ways, including online and wholesale. Recently, several Target stores in California started carrying Scentsational Soaps! Learn more about Toushonta and her creative journey in the interview below.
How long have you been soaping and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for 10 years and got started after receiving a wholesale order after trying my hand at melt and pour soap.
What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I would advise soapers who are just starting their business to get involved in conferences, meet-ups, and Facebook groups. They are both beneficial and an awesome way to meet other creatives and develop lifelong relationships.
Toushonta Hogan, the founder of Scensational Soaps, creating a batch of cold process soap.
My favorite type of product to make is soap. It’s so therapeutic.
So many things inspire me to create. The weather, my atmosphere, colors, people, etc. I enjoy looking at things from a creative perspective and transforming it into soap.
How did you come up with the name for your business?
My husband and I randomly wrote a few names down and Scentsational Soaps just stood out to us. It had a ring to it.
Oatmeal Soap, made with ground oats for exfoliation.
You can find your products in select Target stores. Tell us more about how this partnership happened, and what you’ve learned from it.
I received a flyer from a dear friend (and was tagged by a few others) that Target was looking for local vendors. I filled out the application and unbeknownst to me, it was due the very next day. Of course, I said to myself that I wish I had more time. I filled it out and uploaded a few pics. A week later, I received an email inviting me to present my product to a panel. I was excited, nervous and blown away as I felt that I was not ready. It’s these moments where we have self doubt and it can really deter you from fulfilling your true dream.
Scentsational Soaps on the shelf at Target.
Set Your Goals for 2017
It’s tempting this time of year to double down and decide that we’re going to call our mom daily (hi mom!), work out every single day, and never eat sugar again. And this is why most New Year’s resolutions either (a) don’t get started, because why bother failing again? or (b) start out strong for about 13 days and then crash and burn.
The good intentions that propel us to discern what could make our lives more fulfilling also push us over the edge of trying to take on too much. We get excited by the idea of the person we want to become. We see ourselves overcoming our fear of public speaking and getting adulation from the crowd, or finishing the LSAT with really strong numbers. But what we don’t see is the trudge. The ridiculously painful, long, boring day in and day out stuff that actually turns into the foundation, scaffolding and last step of the achievement.
When we make goals or New Years resolutions, we often don’t think of the everyday trudge. But, that’s the foundation to achieving the goal.
I had just that experience for the last 12 months. I made a ridiculous goal of being able to do the splits. I had some vague notion that it would be hard but not “hard-hard“ and that if I could do the splits, it would mean that I was healthy everywhere else. It was like the splits were my canary in the coal mine (which sounds morbid … but you know what I mean right?) So, I started on my trudge: every night, 15 minutes of hip opening yoga. That wasn’t producing the results I wanted so I bought online courses, but still nothing. I took yoga classes, I went to a rolfer, and did 3 hour yoga intensives.
In about 6 months, I stalled out at like 4 inches off the ground. No progress in the next few months. Nada. Zip. I added in some crazy myofascial torture pain that called itself a massage. The last three months were painful trials of persistence. I kept track of my nightly stretching. My record for the year is 93% consistency of doing stretching for a minimum of 10 minutes. Ninety-three percent. That’s 340 nights this year that I spent stretching for 15 minutes or 3,400 minutes, over business trips, illnesses and lazy weekends. My wallet will never be the same again after the yoga intensives, thai yoga, the rolfer, the online classes, etc. I could have funded a small deep sea exploration submarine for the investment in those hips and my (foolish?) goal.
So did I reach my goal? Is this an inspiring tale of triumph or a fizzle of four inches? Below is a photo that shows some of my progress. The answer is technically … sort of? I did reach my goal (yay, high fives all around) but there’s zero chance I can hit the floor without an hour+ of yoga in a warm room to ensure my muscles are limber and stretchy. So, it’s a draw. When you’re setting goals for this year, start where you’re at and be realistic in your goal-setting.
While I did make some progress, all my stretching and classes did not result in being able to do the splits without an insane amount of prep.
My goals last year were centered around family time, physical (in this case, the splits), diet (no sugar), daily movement and continual learning (reading). From these yearly goals, came my quarterly goals and monthly goals and then weekly goals and finally daily goals. Goals become the North Star, the guiding light, for your entire year. They affect how you plan your day, your week and your entire life. They affect who you hang out with, how your spend your time and how you spend your money.
Because of this, making goals can feel daunting. Sometimes, it’s easier to figure out where you want to go personally and professionally in 3 to 5 years and then work backwards. For example, do you see yourself married with kids? Do you see yourself leading a team of people doing interesting and inspiring work? Do you see yourself walking across a stage with a diploma in hand? All of those visions mean different goals for 2017.
I categorize my goals into different categories including business goals, personal goals and family goals.
I’ve thought a lot about what I want to commit to for 2017 versus what is realistic for me to commit to in 2017. I am coalescing around personal goals, work goals and family goals. Some personal goals include:
- Twenty minutes of uplifting reading and/or planning per day.
- Three stretch sessions per week.
- Read 55 books.
- Actively improve myself by participating in a Mastermind Group of female entrepreneurs worldwide with a formal mentorship program.
Family goals for 2017 include:
- Two family trips.
- Continue saving for Lily & Jamisen’s college (note: this will get a specific number once we’re done with family budgets for the year)
- Research and save for a new (used) car for myself.
- Research schooling and childcare options for Jamisen and Lily.
Business goals for 2017 include:
- Run 4 fitness/nutrition challenges with Best Day Ever.
- Expand the wholesale line for Best Day Ever.
- Do a face-lift on Bramble Berry’s brand (design new brand, roll it out, upgrade marketing plan)
- Develop a bulk / large customer program tailored to unique needs of larger businesses
There are more goals for each category, but those are the top four. Each one of them has a purpose that will help get the business, my family and my personal life to the 10 year plans and working them consistently – daily – will help get to that next level of stability and success. It takes planning, but it’s worth it! Are you inspired? Do you feel daunted? Work on your own goals for the year; write them down and post them below. Let’s inspire and accountability ourselves to our best futures.
I’d love to sweeten the planning incentives by picking 3 comments to win some planning & soaping goodies: We have chosen the winners! They are Sherry, Ami and Andrea. Thanks to everyone who entered, we loved reading your goals for 2017.
– An Entry to the Best Day Ever January 16 Fitness & Nutrition Challenge + Paper Best Day Ever 42 Day Journal
– Bundle of Best Day Ever planning goodies (Best Day Ever Mug, Notepad – Official Listmaker + Notepad – Daily Scheduler)
Soapy Social Media Roundup
Happy weekend! Yesterday, I flew to New York for the NY NOW Wholesale Products & Innovative Designs Tradeshow. I will be here until Tuesday. Follow “bramble-berry” on Snapchat to see peeks into my trip, and to see what the Bramble Berry team is making back at the office. I can’t wait to see all the amazing items at the trade show. I’m here for the handmade portion, so I’m sure there will be some great bath and beauty products!
Speaking of small handmade business, the new Soapmaker’s Super Sampler & Business Kit launched this week! The team and I put a lot of time and thought into this kit, which includes ten “new classic” fragrance oils, nine colorants, an assortment of soaping tools and molds, a DVD and booklet full of business information. It’s an amazing value, and the kit ships free to anywhere in the lower 48 United States. Check out the kit here. Need some more crafty inspiration? Check out my favorite links from around the web!
Far left, clockwise:
- How adorable is this Milk and Cookies Cake? The light pink frosting and black polka dots are such a cute combination.
- While that cake is cute, this Raspberry Peach Smoothie fits into my diet a lot better. And it’s a pretty pink color too!
- I love the idea of dressing up ring dishes with personalized photos.
- The pink ombré in this Cranberry Soap by Empire Soaps is beautiful! The seeds on top are a great touch.
Instagram:
It’s hard to think about fall when it’s 80+ degrees outside, but now is the time to start your projects! This week I made pumpkin pie cold process soap with Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil. I used walnut shells to create the pie color and texture, and piped white soap on top that looks like whipped cream.
If you’re still holding onto summer (no shame in that!), this cotton candy soap may be more up your alley. It’s made with Cotton Candy Fragrance Oil, which doesn’t discolor dark brown despite its sweet scent! I made this soap live on Facebook a few weeks ago (see the video here), and have been meaning to get it up on the blog. But now with fall on it’s way…it feels a little too late. What do you think?
- I love the saying, “happiness is an inside job,” because it’s so true! How will you find your happy today?
- If you enjoy wine and subscription boxes, two MIT grads created the perfect subscription box for you.
- This Cucumber Mint Bath Soak Tutorial by the Nerdy Farm Wife looks so relaxing.
- Choosing the right e-commerce platform is so important for small businesses. Click here to read the pros and cons of five popular platforms.
- I’m writing a new book that’s not about soap and I need help picking the cover! Which do you like best?
I hope you’ve had a great weekend. To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, YouTube and Snapchat. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making!
20,000 Bars of Soap in 8 Weeks – Chatting with Revive Bath & Body
Caitlin of Revive Bath & Body started making soap in high school and continued to sell soap at farmers markets throughout college. After school, she turned her soaping hobby into a full-time job. Revive Bath & Body specializes in natural cold process soaps and other products including body creams, bath soaks and more. In addition to having great products, a portion of the proceeds go to HavenATL; an organization in Atlanta that works to help women exiting trafficking. Earlier this year, Caitlin and her team produced 19,392 bars of soap in 8 weeks to be sold at Hobby Lobby across the country. Read more about Caitlin and her incredible success story below! -A.M.
From left to right: Kelsey, Caitlin & Cara of Revive Bath & Body
How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
My soap making journey began when I was given a soap making kit in high school. I loved creating something that was useful. After a year or so, my parents encouraged me to sign up and sell my creations at a local farmers market. Needless to say, the soaps were a huge hit in my town! I went to Kennesaw State University where I studied business management and entrepreneurship. I sold soaps at markets all over town, which allowed me to graduate with no student loans! After my graduation in 2014, my parents again encouraged me to keep going with my little hobby and see if I could take what I learned in college and turn this passion into a business. I gave myself one year after graduation to see if I could create something sustainable. In that one year, we exhibited at our first trade show, and I hired my first employee! Revive is still growing, and I love that my hobby has turned into a business.
Revive Bath & Body carries a wide variety of cold process soaps; see them all here.
What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
Don’t let other people talk you out of going after your dream. When I was younger and soaping was just a part-time job and hobby of mine, there were some really mean things said to me like “You’re too young, you don’t know what you’re doing, this craft won’t amount to anything…etc,” which is just horrible! Even one of my professors in college told me to “get a real job.” I took those comments with a grain of salt and kept going. I even emailed that same professor after this Hobby Lobby order to let him know exactly how much soap I’ve been selling recently. He was quite surprised! So my advice is to just KEEP GOING.
You can find Revive Bath & Body products at Hobby Lobby locations across the U.S. Caitlin and her team only had 8 weeks to create nearly 20,000 bars of soap!
Your products are now being sold in Hobby Lobby locations across the country. That is so exciting! How did it happen?
The Hobby Lobby buying team found me at the America’s Mart trade show in Atlanta, GA during the January 2016 show. We work with a rep group and have our products in a permanent showroom at the mart so we are not in temporaries. A really sweet lady approached me and my products, so I began telling her all about the soaps, a few of the other products, and why they sell great in boutiques. Then I asked her what the name of her store was and she handed me her business card. I freaked out! She said she was totally interested in our products and particularly because they are a give back item. I got the sales manager for my showroom who now manages her account. Because of the rules of the showroom, I do interact with the buyer, but the sales manager does manage her account. It’s actually nice having that mediator since I haven’t worked with many key retailers before; I was able to ask questions to the sales manager that I had no idea about.
Once the January show was over, I sent samples of the requested items to the Hobby Lobby buying team. Once they got the samples, they let me know how many units they were interested in purchasing, and then we went into price negotiations for such a bulk order. Their initial order ended up being nearly 20,000 bars of soap (entirely handmade!). We negotiated on price, but they didn’t try to nickel and dime me for every single thing like I hear a lot of key retailers do. The buying team there is very fair and even though they do have 718 locations, I can tell they truly care about the individual behind the products. They paid me on time which almost never happens with big box companies. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them and couldn’t have asked to work and continue to work with a better key retailer.
Can you tell us a little bit about the process of making such a massive order?
Well, one thing I did learn in business school is about demand and capacity of a business. A business can only produce so many products per day based on their capacity. However, that professor also said when a big box store comes knocking, never say no and figure out how you’re going to get it done…and that is exactly what I did. Their order was nearly 20,000 bars of soap. I gave myself a goal to have that order completed in 8 weeks time. Then I had to break it down into how many bars per week and per day that my team and I had to make. Everything didn’t go as scheduled, there were bad batches, and there were times I didn’t think we were going to finish. But just like I mentioned above, I kept on going and going and we shipped all of their products on time!
A collection of Revive Bath & Body products, including cold process soap, body cream and bath soaks.
What tips do you have for somebody who wants to sell their soap wholesale?
I think a lot of people in general are afraid to ask for help. There are so many great resources on the web that help people prepare their craft for wholesale. Doing a little Google search, reaching out to local boutiques with questions, attending trade shows, and making sure your pricing is right is all very important. People want to to succeed more than they want you to fail – you just have to get over the fear of other people. Pick up your phone and call all your local boutiques! You can’t let fear overcome you. For every 10 no’s you receive, someone will say yes.
What is your favorite type of product to make?
Oh man, this is a tough one! I do have a team of people that are basically producing all of our products now while I take care of the business side of things. However, I love jumping in to create our essential oil blends. It’s so therapeutic to make something with your hands after spending most of the day doing paperwork and on top of that, mixing and working with the essential oils just puts my mind at ease.
Top, clockwise: Jasmine Rose + Sandalwood Natural Loofah Soap, Lavender Cold Process Soap Bar, Alfalfa Muscle Bath Soak
What inspires you to create?
Honestly, I think my it’s my community that keeps me going and creating. I’m an extremely goal-driven person, so when I set a goal for myself, I can’t move on until I accomplish that. One of my goals was to get my products into 250 stores…well now we’re in nearly 900! I also love looking for trends in the marketplace and thinking “that’s a good idea..now how can I do it better.” That also gets my creative mind going. We have some really exciting products coming up for later this year and early 2017.
There is something so therapeutic about pouring soap! Here, the Revive Bath & Body team pours Patchouli Litsea + Lavender Cold Process Soap.
How did you come up with the name for your business?
The name Revive was something I came up with in high school in a graphic design class. As I was preparing for my first farmer’s market, I knew I needed a ‘business name’ so Revive came to me – at first I used the name because it stood for ‘reviving’ people’s body care. Now we are partnered with a nonprofit that gives back to women and gives them the opportunities to work hard and provide for themselves. Revive has a much deeper meaning than just reviving people’s body care now…it also means when you purchase one of my products you are ‘reviving’ a girl’s life with opportunity.
Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
My parents always told me they thought I would be an entrepreneur. When I asked why, they reminded me of the business I started in 5th grade. Instead of giving my friends friendship bracelets, I created an order form and a business where my friends would actually pay me for the bracelets I would make for them. I would upcharge them based on the color of tread and the design of the bracelet. One day my 5th grade teacher found out my friends were buying bracelets from me with their lunch money and she shut my business down. But my parents always said since that moment, they always knew I would own a business.
Far left, clockwise: Natural Loofah Soap, Lemongrass + Ginger Cold Process Soap, Limited Edition Chamomile + Neroli Soap
What is your number one soaping tip?
Revive Bath & Body is also found in several retail locations, click here to see their retail locations.
Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Of course I have! About two years ago, I was rushing and soaped when my lye was too hot. It created a soap volcano alllllll over my floor. I just let the soap do its thing and threw the whole thing away. Sometimes it’s just better to start from scratch with a new perspective!
Soapy Social Media Roundup
Happy “pre-Thanksgiving” weekend! Are you preparing for Thanksgiving next week? I’m doing a little prep work today to relieve stress. My grocery shopping is done and I did a “test batch” of my Thanksgiving appetizer (see it on the blog tomorrow!). I’ve also got some easy kid activities planned for the day of to keep everybody busy, entertained and happy. I’m looking forward to having my family all together to enjoy a great meal next week. If you’re already planning for Small Business Saturday and you’re local, know that Otion – The Soap Bar has some great discounts planned so plan to get downtown on the 28th after Thanksgiving. =)
In more serious soapy news, Pete Sessions introduced H.R. 4075, “The Safe Cosmetics Modernization Act.” This bill is the latest development in proposed new rules and regulations for cosmetics manufacturing, and is better for the handcrafted industry than the previous bill crafted by Senators Feinstein of California and Collins of Maine. Click here to learn more about the bill. If you’d like to stay up to date on legislation regarding the handcrafted industry, join the Coalition of Handcrafted Entrepreneurs.
Now, back to our scheduled program of soapy inspiration and my favorite links via Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter!
Left to right, clockwise:
- I love the idea of giving small gifts at Thanksgiving, and these Free Thanksgiving Gift Tags & Note Card Printables would be perfect.
- This blog post on How to Wholesale Your Handmade Products is full of great information.
- How adorable are these Little Dog soaps? Designed specifically for small dogs, they are packaged beautifully. Little Dog also offers custom labeling!
- The colors in this Lemon Blossom Soap by I Am Handmade look amazing! It would make a wonderful gift.
Instagram:
Below is a little bath bomb experiment that turned out really well! I used the Disk Mold and Package to create the bath bombs, then painted the top with a mixture of micas and 99% isopropyl alcohol. Tutorial coming soon =)
The team and I have been working hard to bring in a wide range of new micas! Below are the 16 micas we decided on, I can’t wait to see what you all make with them. The new micas will be available next week =) The micas below are in clear melt and pour, but all work well in cold process with minimal morphing. Which one is your favorite? I love the purple on the bottom left!
- If your skin needs a little extra TLC from the dry winter air, this Fresh Avocado Face Mask is full of skin loving oils =)
- Love the look of freckles, but don’t have any? Freck Yourself creates temporary freckle tattoos. Check out the Kickstarter here.
- If you’re a parent (or even if you’re not) these comics by Brian Gordon will make you laugh out loud.
- Giving a toast while enjoying the company of friends and family creates a feeling of togetherness and celebration. Here are some tips for making a great toast.
- I love this list of 20 Things I Wish I Knew At Age 20 by Cupcakes and Cashmere. Some great advice here!
I hope you’re having a wonderful, “pre-Thanksgiving” weekend! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making! =)
Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Nov. 14th ~ 20th)
This week in Soap Queen Land (Soapqueenlandia?) was full of easy DIY holiday gift inspiration, like the Potpourri Gift Tag Tutorial. The gift tags add a special touch to any present. They are easy to make and scented with a warm blend of Cinnamon Sticks and Warm Flannel Fragrance Oil. You can also customize the bags with a stamp or marker. The best part is after the gift is opened, the tags can be put in a drawer or other space for a comforting holiday scent.
Chatting with Melissa of Hallowell Soap Works
Melissa of Hallowell Soap Works has built a name for herself in the soaping community with her gorgeous products. Melissa creates a wide range of stunning items, including cold process soap, lip balms, bath bombs and more. In particular, Hallowell Soap Works is known for their signature “strong arm swirl.” The swirl features a pronounced wave-like swirl that resembles a flexing arm. It’s absolutely beautiful! Learn more about Melissa and her soapy business in the interview below. -A.M.
Melissa’s beautiful and unique “strong arm swirl” in the Tall, Dark & Handsome cold process soap.
How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I started making soap less than a year ago, and fell in love instantly with the process. I couldn’t stop watching YouTube videos, reading Soap Queen blog posts, or purchasing everything I needed to make (what seemed) like every type of soap possible. Despite my business education, I am a creative person at heart. The process of choosing fragrances, colors, and oils felt like the perfect balance of science and art. Initially it became very overwhelming, and so I had to set limitations on what I could expect of myself.
A collection of Hallowell Soap Works’ gorgeous cold process soap. This photo was also a #SoapShare winner!
Interview with Marcela of Majestic Bliss Soaps
Marcela of Majestic Bliss Soaps creates gorgeous cold process soap with lots of color and intense swirls. Marcela’s soaps are not only beautiful, they also make a difference around the world. Every month a portion of the proceeds from Majestic Bliss Soaps are donated to world-recognized charity organizations. In addition to beautiful soap for people, Majestic Bliss Soaps also creates FUR PAWS, a line of soap created for canines. Read on to learn more about Majestic Bliss Soaps, including Marcela’s tips for selling wholesale and giving back to charity. -A.M.
How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I’ve been happily soaping since April of 2014. Majestic Bliss Soaps was created to help my clients extend their bliss beyond a therapeutic session. As a bonus, we saw the opportunity to extend assistance to organizations that help humans and animals thrive.
What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
Research all legal requirements in your area for establishing a business—whether it’s home-based or brick and mortar. Also, research and invest in good accounting software. These two steps will save you a lot of time, money and headaches down the line. And above all, don’t be afraid to experiment with ingredients. As is often said, “The greatest invention started out as the biggest mistakes.” Also, inform yourself on FDA labeling. Personally, we used and resort to Marie Gale’s book titled “Soap and Cosmetics Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English.”
From top to bottom: Guru Rinpoche, Soul Centered, Buddha’s Nature, Arhat Soap
Guest Post: Sherbet Surprise Bath Fizzies
Today, Holly Port from the Lotion Bar Café is sharing a fun and colorful bath fizzy recipe. Holly is a bath bomb expert and other of the book, Make it Fizz: A Guide to Making Bathtub Treats. This bath bomb tutorial involves making a mini bath bomb, and embedding it into a larger bath bomb mold. When placed in the tub, the fizzy has two layers of color. Holly also shares her story on how she got started making bath fizzies, and the tips and tricks she has learned after hundreds of batches. -A.M.
Hi Soap Queen readers! I’m Holly Port, author of Make it Fizz: A Guide to Making Bathtub Treats and owner of Lotion Bar Café in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mother of two teenage boys and married for 21 years to my f-bombing assistant (aka) fizzy bomber. I am a bath lover by heart and take one every night for as long as I can remember. For those that have boys can relate, there is not much girlie time left in the day. Bath time was and is my oasis. After being fed up with breaking out with store bought bath products, I looked into making products for myself and also for Christmas presents. Over 8 years ago I made lotion bars and people loved them. I was inspired to make more things. I learned how to make bath bombs and never bought store bought stuff again. My skin felt amazing, no more itchy dry skin or irritations!
I started making 3 to 4 batches a week and would get half to come out and the others went into a big bucket of failure. Either too dry, too wet, pockets full of unmixed dry ingredients. Ugg, the frustration was real! I learn to spritz, spritz, spritz and mix, mix, mix. I took notes over the years including information on the temperature and how much moisture was in the air. Was it raining or did I have a gremlin lurking in my soap dungeon playing tricks on me?
Instagram Tips and Tricks
Instagram has become extremely popular in the past several years. In fact, it is the fastest growing social site on a global scale. While I’m a huge fan of social media outlets of all kinds, Instagram (find me @brambleberry) might be my favorite! It’s easy to navigate, interact with others and is completely photo-centric. I could spend hours everyday scrolling through the beautiful and inspirational images.
Now that I’ve been using Instagram for several years, I have learned how to leverage its function for business. Instagram is a great tool for soapy businesses because soap is visually appealing. From in-process shots to final bars, soapmaking and photos go hand in hand. Instagram is also a great way to connect with other soapers, small business owners and potential wholesale accounts. Here are some of my tips when using Instagram, including how to take better photos, connect with others, and market your business.
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Central Soapers Workshop Round-Up
Even with all the fun and explosive (haha, punny!) personal drama lately, I couldn’t miss the Central Soapers Workshop. Man, what an amazing line-up of speakers! It’s been 4-5 years since some of us were in the same room together. It was great to catch up with friends. Soapmakers are the most warm and friendly community of people that you’ll find anywhere and hanging out with them is always a blast (sorry, can’t stop with the explosion references).
Big thanks to my amazing and always-patient husband for letting me leave him with the two toddlers, living out of suitcases in a friend’s guest room. He is a trooper and a strong support for me and our family.