Life in Tee Harbor, Alaska

First Craft Show....

I would consider my first craft show a success!  I sold 69 bars of soap and 12 soap dishes - 45% of my stock.  Pretty good for my first weekend!  Here is what my table looked like:

I was so nervous Saturday morning, but after the show started I was okay.  I met many other crafters which was neat.  They are all really nice and look out for each other.  Out of 17 other tables, 3 had soap.  Two of them were glycerin soaps, the other was cold processed like mine, but she doesn't do all natural.  The lady who does the cold processed owns a store in town and asked if I sell my soap wholesale.  She sells other peoples products in her store and has people ask for all natural soaps.  So we will see how that pans out - that would be cool! 

My best sellers were:
1.  Energizing Citrus - Sweet orange essential oil with poppy seeds
2.  (tied)  Oatmeal Milk & Honey - Ground oats, goat milk, and real honey
2.  (tied)  Lavender Dreams - Lavender buds, lavender, patchouli and rosemary essential oils
3.  Kitchen Soap - made with coffee to help remove garlic, onion, and fish smells from your hands

The other crafters said that there were fewer people than normal and especially on Sunday when the weather was crummy.  As we get closer to Christmas, I'm sure there will be more people out and about.  I have my next show in two weeks at the Nugget Mall, so it will be interesting to see if there is more traffic at that mall.  I'll be busy every night this week making more soap for the Public Market show after Thanksgiving.  Since the first show went well, I'm just going for it now  :o)

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8:43 AM, Monday, October 22, 2007 .. Posted by Kitty

congrats on your success. My dd and I have always wanted to do something like that buy with her in college right now is not the time. You did really well for any craft show let alone your first. To sell almost 1/2 your stock is great.
Kitty

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8:53 AM, Monday, October 22, 2007 .. Posted by Sweetmama2

Wonderful! What a great success.
Sweetmama

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9:23 AM, Monday, October 22, 2007 .. Posted by southernbelle

Wow! You did great. And I'm sure you will sell all your products before Christmas. Your display is very eye catching. Congrats!

Woo Hoo - well done :)

9:24 AM, Monday, October 22, 2007 .. Posted by shekinah

Congratulations on the success of your first craft show and this will just get better and better - well done :)

Blessings
Page

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12:54 PM, Monday, October 22, 2007 .. Posted by haflinger

Great job!!! And again presentation is great. Your table look so nice .. I still don't have a clue how I'm going to display all my aprons. Clothes rack sounds good along with coat rack but I have so many sizes. I'm also having a bake table.. I'm still sewing like crazy..I'm so very happy for you.. Keep up the good work I should say hard work.. haflinger

Awesome Job!

3:03 PM, Monday, October 22, 2007 .. Posted by Andrea

I happened across your site while doing Random Search. How wonderful that you're making soaps! I love your blog and site!

There use to be a lady who lived in this area who did soaps like you ~ natural. I LOVED THEM! Unfortunately she stopped her business. I'm not sure why but it's great that your business is doing so well. I'll pass your information [website] around to the ladies I know in this area who just love homemade soaps. Keep up the great work. Hopefully you'll get some business from our 'neci-of-the-woods'. I'm going to stop, get some hot tea, and check out the rest of your blog. Stop by sometime.
Andrea

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10:25 PM, Monday, October 22, 2007 .. Posted by smmagers

Wow, you did great! I hope the next sale goes as well and even better. Do you sell on ebay? God Bless. mj

Hi mj: Thanks! I don't sell on ebay, but I do have my own website and I take online orders: www.homesteaderscache.com
~Michelle

Edited by mdonohue on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 9:44 AM

Soaps

7:31 PM, Tuesday, October 23, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Great display Michelle - glad you did so well at the craft show - that is great - used the oatmeal soap to wash this morning and the shampoo soap for my hair - I did use cream rinse too -- I think I will try tomorrow to not use the creme rinse and see how my hair does - Really like the soaps so far though. Love the smell of the oatmeal/honey one. Keep up the good work - I am sure you will do great - Mom