Introduction from a soap artisan

[Bdasko]

Hello!

Just wanted to say hello to everyone My name is Bethany and I'm putting together a plan to start (restart) a business selling and manufacturing high quality soap. I've been in the lab since I was a youngin (about 10 years ago) and was selling for a while doing private label for a few companies but other-life-issues forced a time off.

I'm probably going to start back up next fall in time for holiday sales. I would love to do mostly wholesale to retail marketers but my target market will be fairly exclusive so I'm not sure how quick that will catch on.

I am great at making long-term plans, IE how I will market once I get a good size marketing budget and some cash flow going but in the meantime for the first couple years I am really drawing a blank. That's definitely my weak point - short-term plans. I plan on marketing to the mostly Sephora/Macys crowd and so the traditional craft fairs and farmer's markets that most of the businesspeople in this industry do really will not work for me. My other weak point is that I'm not a huge fan of sales, I'm more the mac scientist tinkering with my formula type

Anyway, I found this place and I am very excited, since there is a lot of great information and I am hoping to find some marketing inspiration. I am pretty involved in the soapmaking community but I think one thing I've neglected is being involved in an entrepreneurial community as well just generally speaking... and I am really hoping it will help me start thinking outside the box a bit

Bethany

[JRayers]

Hey Bethany,

Welcome to the forum. Plenty of useful advice in here. Good luck with your soap business!

[Alexishost]

Hi, lucas.
have fun at YE.

Do you need hosting service for your "restrat" business?

[Everly]

My name is Everly from Philippines
I joined the forum to share and learn
knowledge from you guys.

[Jake Worrall]

Hi Bethany, have you considered beginning in markets and the like, with a possible franchise if the business takes off?

[TL3M]

Hello!

Just wanted to say hello to everyone My name is Bethany and I'm putting together a plan to start (restart) a business selling and manufacturing high quality soap. I've been in the lab since I was a youngin (about 10 years ago) and was selling for a while doing private label for a few companies but other-life-issues forced a time off.

I'm probably going to start back up next fall in time for holiday sales. I would love to do mostly wholesale to retail marketers but my target market will be fairly exclusive so I'm not sure how quick that will catch on.

I am great at making long-term plans, IE how I will market once I get a good size marketing budget and some cash flow going but in the meantime for the first couple years I am really drawing a blank. That's definitely my weak point - short-term plans. I plan on marketing to the mostly Sephora/Macys crowd and so the traditional craft fairs and farmer's markets that most of the businesspeople in this industry do really will not work for me. My other weak point is that I'm not a huge fan of sales, I'm more the mac scientist tinkering with my formula type

Anyway, I found this place and I am very excited, since there is a lot of great information and I am hoping to find some marketing inspiration. I am pretty involved in the soapmaking community but I think one thing I've neglected is being involved in an entrepreneurial community as well just generally speaking... and I am really hoping it will help me start thinking outside the box a bit

Bethany

Sounds like you've a good head on your shoulders and you are working on a quality product. Let me know if I can ever be of assistance, I am not much on the soap making side but I can help you with the marketing and distribution if need be.