Life in Tee Harbor, Alaska

Soap, Soap and more Soap!

I've been keeping quite busy with my soapmaking business - Homesteaders Cache.  I have done 3 shows this fall and am pretty happy with the sales so far.  I've had some repeat customers already which is fantastic and others who come back by my booth to tell me that they love my soap. 

I've read a couple ways to guage how your sales are going.  One is that you should aim to sell half of what you bring to a show.  The other is that your sales should be 10 times the entry fee.  I think both of these are reasonable goals.  You definitely want enough stock at all times that your table looks full and customers have a choice - so I rearrange my soaps often and restock during the slow times.  Creating activity by your table attracts customers too.  I make sure to greet everyone with a Hi or How are you today? which usually slows them down and they start smelling the soaps.  It has been pretty interesting discovering which scents are most popular.  There are some that I would say are love/hate scents - either they love it or they hate it.  One of these is patchouli - that earthy scent from the 60's, the other is lavender.  Some people ask for specific scents - almond, amber, mint, cinnamon, sage - which is great for ideas for new soaps.

This Friday and Saturday I have a space at the Public Market Annex.  The Public Market is a big shopping event and lots of people show up for it every year.  I'm usually a shopper, so this will be my first year as a vendor.  I hope I have enough stock - I just counted the up and I have 270 bars.  I will have some cute gift baskets with a soap, soap dish, body scrubber/poof in an enamelware bowl that says Soaps.  I'm going to set up my table in the living room tonight and get things arranged since my space is 8' x 5' ($100 fee).  I'll only have one table, but want to bring mine since it is rigged up to hang my Handmade Soaps sign from.  My table is only 6' long.  I think I can make everything fit on there nicely.  I'll post a picture later and you can tell me what you think.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Untitled Comment

9:34 AM, Wednesday, November 21, 2007 .. Posted by Sara

How exciting for you! It looks like you've done your research and are doing very well. I have been discussing with my husband about selling soaps at our craft shows and around town. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing with me how you got started, where you order your lye and other soap making supplies from. I have been praying for a way to bring in some extra income and realized that I don't know of one place in our town that sells homemade soap. I'd appreciate it so much, as I'm just not sure where to begin. Thanks so much,

Sara