SunshineSundries

I have a friend that runs two shows a year and she "pays" for her space out of the time and effort that she puts into the show. She has her spot way in one corner (definately not "prime real estate"!). She has her kids run her booth (she just does informational stuff - catalogs and such) so it's a no brainer. Her eldest son helps run check-in and such, otherwise she's runnin' around helping people before, durring and after the show. She is a friend of mine but I still pay her atleast half upfront to "reserve" my space. I have never done a show where over half wasn't due at application time, if not all. Most of the ones that were half were ones that I paid for 9 months in advance and then the rest was due 3 months before show date. These were also shows were the booth price was over $150-200 for a space (3-4 day shows). I'd say have them pay - it would guarantee you a vendor and them good advertising and promotion (at least I would hope so!). JMHO... Life & Light! Tish

Two great things that I learned in my Sales/Marketing Mgmt school days that I will always remember: 1 - 1 grumpy customer will tell 12 of his friends the "bad news" about you company where 1 sweet customer will only tell 3 of her friends the "good news". 2 - the acronym K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple, stupid! Not calling you stupid by any means - your lables are simple and yet elegant. If all your contact info is on your bottom lable, then you've got it covered! Great job! I'm on my way to check out your label supplier - I've been attempting to use some on my laser printer and they simply stink!! Not so much as they are hard to line up but that the ink smudges off them no matter which way I print them! I've never had such a problem with clear lables! Best wishes and good luck! Life & Light! Tish

Could it have been their own small business?? Maybe they are just starting out or just don't have an internet presence yet... I know when I first started out it took me almost 6 months to get my web page up and get to be even on the first 5 pages of a google search.... Just an idea... Life & Light! Tish

Next time I'm up by the bookstore, I'll check for it. Thanks for the feedback on the "kit". I think between that and the info on the SBA website, I should be able to put something together to get a fire lit under my hub's arse! :rolleyes2 He's such a poop... but that's another matter completely! lol Thanks! Life & Light! Tish

I sent ya an email, hun... Life & Light! Tish

I must say I agree with the BC wicksticker dealie mabobbers... I've gone through probably 3000+ of their stickers and I've had *maybe* 10 come loose... to me that's pretty good stuff - way better than hot glue! Now if I could get my glue dots to stick like that when I put my tie tags on, we'd be set! lol I pour my soy fairly hot compaired to other soy users - not slushy at all (never had luck with the slush ). I've never tried any others though... I order first from BCN because the shipping is quick and less expensive for me since they are so close (couple hops, a skip or two, and one big jump!). If for some reason they don't have what I want or something, then I go else where... Life & Light! Tish - who has still to get the wicksetter rhythm going... :rolleyes2

I do have scented tealights in my line - do they sell for me... not really. I sell more of the unscented tealights (in the clear and in the metal) than any of my scented tealights. Usually what I do with the scented ones is bring them with when I'm doing my wholesale sales calls or hand them out as samples when someone places an order (especially if I have a new scent that I think they might like ). This is what has worked for me - I'm surely not the "norm" - maybe someone out there has them sell great. I just don't... HTH some... Life & Light! Tish

I really don't know how to answer this as it seems like you are second guessing my processes. Processes that I've been useing safely and effectively for several years. I'm not trying to come off as a 8itch here - but that's how I feel. I would NEVER sell an unsafe product to anyone. I test every batch before I sell them. Do I wrap every CPOP batch after 7-10 days? Pretty much - yes. Do I sell them after 7-10 days? Sometimes yes. I do I guess what you would call HPOP. These are bars of soap that I *cook* in the oven and they come out great! Most people that I've talked to aren't familar with this process so I generally refer to this as CPOP as most people understand this process - I just do mine for a bit longer than average. Do I tell people to wrap/sell their CPOP soaps after 7-10 days - no because I don't know what oils they are using nor how long they left them in the oven. Some batches I leave only in for a short period of time on heat - these bars I let cure for two weeks, then wrap, then sell after two weeks more. But my "HPOP" bars are safe to use right out of extended time in the oven (They are in my oven in the mold for 14 hours - only cooked for part of that time - and then cut then I heat up the oven again and put the cut bars in the warmed oven for another 12 hours - I only warm for area warmth - not to gel again - it's hard to explain...) but I cure them further so they can harden and as an added safe guard. These bars I wrap at 10 days and still usually sell after two weeks - but they are perfectly good bars at 10 days (after two days in the oven) to safely sell and use (they even have a good lather and smell wonderful!). Please next time before coming after someone about their methods ask them how they do their process. Or form it in the form of a question or something kinder. I have been told by my customers and fellow soapers alike that I make beautiful bars that are kind to the skin (heck - the reason why I make soap is because 3/4 of my family have *super* sensitive skin - not alot of FO soaps in our shower!). I know this is a message board and it's hard to tell tone of voice behind words that is why I chose to explain myself and my methods rather than get all pi$$ed off and blow up at you. I don't mean to sound condisending or 8itchy... just telling you how I make my soaps, how proud I am of them, and how your comments make me feel. I'm doing this publicly because you chose to air your comments as such. If anyone has questions on my process and would like to learn more - I personally love it - feel free to PM me. Now as for salt bars - after reading more about them, this isn't something I can "HPOP" but I'm still going to make a few small batches this weekend to use at a show in October - I think that is the proper amount of curing time from what I've read - maybe I will figure out a way to have them cure faster - maybe I'll hate making them and will never do them again... only time will tell... Life & Light! Tish

Thanks guys for all your input. After examining my personal life and my business life, I'm going to keep my business homebased. I am going to petition to my husband to finish out the garage (insulate, add heat/ac, and such) so I can move my "craft sprawl" out to one contained area. Even though I have the money and the desire to open up a store front right now, I want to make sure to have a larger and firm customer base (both retail and wholesale) and the support that I need before making the plunge into something bigger. I also need my personal life to settle down a bit. What I am going to do is work on a four year plan so in four years I can open up a b&m store and do so with atleast some confidence that I'm prepared to take on that kind of work load. Thanks again for all your input! (((HUGS))) I will not let this dream die as it is so much a part of me. And those of you out there that are ready - go for it... you will kick yourself much harder for not trying... Life & Light! Tish

I think the swirling faerie has finally visited me and bestowed her magick swirling abilities on me - well for one batch at least... The first pic is of my swirls *before* I figured out what I was doing - there were wonderful colors but I kept getting lil air holes no matter how much I pounded! The second pic is of my swirls *after* I figured out how to do this quickly so my soap stayed at an early trace... There has to be a method to the madness!! lol Scented in Mystical Musk and Witch's Cauldron... I think the faeries were finally drawn to me... Enjoy! Life & Light! Tish ETS - the second picture - the one with the multi colors - the greyish looking color is actually a dark green... my digital camera is MIA so I used my camera phone... I just cut these tonight and I was just so happy that something worked kinda like I wanted... lol

Thanks for the info! I have pounds upon pounds of fine sea salt and I use kosher salt to cook with (I just like it better than table salt). I figured I'd use 80% Coconut oil and 10% castor oil and 10% cocoa butter as these are the oils I have the most of and order regularly. If I'm reading correctly, I just do the same amount of salts as I do oils - mixed in after trace and plop it in my mold. If I remember correctly I can do up to 5% superfat and I don't want to do a water discount with these like I do my CPOP soaps... I just want to make sure I have all my facts straight before attempting this - my luck it will become soap on a stick and I'll need a saw to cut it! LOL I use log molds lined with thicker plastic (my own creation) so I may have to use the table saw! LOL JK I guess that's one way to get the saw clean! lol Thanks guys! I just love this board! Life & Light! Tish

I understand your confusion... it's confusing to even me! But to keep this simple and as least personal as possible, the money is "mine" not his and I would just be asking for an "advance" so I could get the money now... it's a long sticky story and hard to explain... and not something I want to broadcast here on the MB. As for the insurance issue - my *current* agent doesn't know I make stuff - I don't do enough sales to warrent the higher insurance - right now it's a "glorified hobby" like my husband calls it. BUT when I move to a store (or finish out the unattached garage - which is what I'm probably going to have to end up doing and forgoing the store for another 4 years - found out some bad news today after I started this thread - I guess I jinxed myself! ) I am going to tell my agent and get special insurance just for my store (or my garage -I've been told that since it's a seperate building, I can do this some how - don't ask because I don't know the details - I just called a seperate agent that handles the same provider). I guess I'm not so concerned with the money aspect of all this - I've got the money... I just need to know what to plan for like do I need a wash zone for OSHA or do I need to have a certain type of ventilation system... things that I haven't accounted for. Sorry for the rambling - lack of sleep and too much caffeine can really scramble your brain in a short period of time! LOL thanks guys... Life & Light! Tish

Thanks Eugenia! I wasn't sure if they needed a further cure or not - I've been seeing that people put these in the oven for an hour or so then cut right away and let them cure. I do CPOP most of the time and only cure my finished soaps for a week-10 days before wrapping/selling them so I wasn't sure if this was like that or not. How long should I cure them after I make them? Can you make these with fine grain sea salt or just table salt (I don't use table salt in my cooking so I don't have any just kosher and sea salt for BB stuff ). Thanks for the info! Life & Light! Tish

OK - call me outta da loop but what's the deal with salt soap bars? I really like the idea, don't get me wrong (just another thing for me to try ) but I can just see me trying to sell these to my customers... "why a salt bar?" the customer questions. "duh hu - I dunno," I reply in my best Bevis voice.... Now I know salts have good properties to them but why in a soap bar? Is it like taking a salt bath in the shower?? I personally don't like salt scrubs as they are too harsh for my skin... sugar scrubs are a bit better... could you make a sugar bar?? I dunno - I've got a show in 10 days that is known to be populated by a "trendy" crowd so I'm just thinking of stuff to make quick... Thanks for the educashon Life & Light! Tish

Left click on the picture and it will open up a new window with the larger pic on it... don't feel silly - it took me awhle to figure it out! :rolleyes2

I have a template but not from that site - going to the site now.. My major issue right now is how to figure sales... I don't have a clue as to how to realistically figure that... I don't want to just pull numbers out of a hat, ya know?? I know when I do shows I have to make a certain number to break even and a certain number to show a good enough profit to do the show again. I know how to come up with those numbers - is it anything like that?? The thing that helps me out the most with figureing stuff out is the building that i purchase will also be my home... so it will be HALF of the mortgage payment, a portion of utilities and all that... so I'll be sharing expences with my home - much as I do now, only a much bigger basement! lol Thanks for the info on the SBA - I didn't know they had templates and such... I may have to check them out more tonight... Life & Light! Tish

B&M is brick and mortar... a "real" store... I have my own reasons for using the equity in our house - it's a long story... anyway - I was thinking $200 a month for insurance. My homeowners insurance isn't $200 a month but I took what we paid and like quadrupled it. My insurance agent doesn't know that I make candles in my home - and as long as I have him as my insurance agent, he won't. There is another story here but I won't go into that now... anyway $200 was just an estimate... As far as utilites go, my phone/cable/cable modem combined cost me about $65 a month. I am on budget plans for my other utilites (gas & electirc) for my home and together they are $125 a month. I figured my home expences and doubled it... like I said these are estimates - I know more when I look at actual bills from the buildings. Water and sewer are part of the building maintance that I bugeted for. As for marketing - it depends on which papers I advertise in but I can get a decent size ad in the local paper for about $85... as for mailings, I only mail out stuff to my wholesale customers and the few retail customers that I have that I don't use email for. I email my newsletter to my customers - i get a better response that way and my customers like it thatway - no paper to recycle! My snail mail mailings are mostly to potential new customers - and those I only do 20-30 a month - only as many as I can follow up on... My business isn't only going to be candles - I do way too many things to have just that. Nor am I going to be just B&M but I'm going to have wholesale accounts (I already have three decent ones - and growing!) and a presence on the web and at markets/fairs/shows... I do thank you for your input though... you made me think about things and I am going to make a few phone calls and check out a few things that have to do with the buildings I'm interested in... Life & Light! Tish PS - I know it's not easy making ends meet with a store - my mom taught me that... not looking to make millions, just looking to make ends meet for my business (and finally love my job!) - my husband supports us just fine!

OK - we've all had our creative juices flowing - and not that I'm trying to put pressure on anyone... but when does this contest end?? Are you likeing what you see?? Feedback is the food of brainstorming... I'm just curious... oh and have I mentioned before that I'm not a very patient person! lol Whatchya thinking, realmarcha?? Life & Light! Tish PS - You guys did a great job coming up with names! I know who I'm going to when I get stuck!

Friendly and to the point... I think you did a great job. You didn't come off like some big jerk (atleast in the part that was copied here) and I hope they see that and decide to redesign... I hope they realize what a battle they are up against if they don't... copyrights are a messy business even more so when you are the one "infringing"... Life & Light! Tish

ok - here's the deal... I've been trying to get a business plan together and a list of things I would need to have (and their costs - either upfront or monthly) to open a b&m store. There are several buildings that have just come on the market that are within my area and are reasonably priced (my payment on them would be half of what rent would be!). But here's the deal - I'm not up against a bank for money.... much worse than that!! I'm trying to convince my husband to let me take out the equity in our house in the form of a loan to fulfill my dreams... the banks part in this will be easy... I can't say what we have in equity in our house but I can say it's a very substantial amount! We were at the right place at the right time and got a fantastic deal on our house 8 years ago. I know that if I had the space to grow, I know I could. I'm prepared for long hours and all the trials and tribulations that go with owning a store front. My mom owns her own floral shop and I see what she went through to get it and operate it. She won't tell me details though!! Don't ask why - I didn't! But that's why I come to you. I have a pretty good idea of what I need but I want to see if I'm missing something - because it sure feels like I am... OK - what I have so far: Building payment including taxes and building maintance - $500-600 Utilities - $350 Insurance - $200 - I really don't know what this number should be - I took our home owners ins. and rounded up then trippled it. Marketing - $100-200 a month - this is for ads in the news paper once a month and to pay for my newsletter that I mail out to all my customers. I've already got displays, a cash register, and TONS of supplies and prodcuts made. The only thing I'm going to need is a few supplies in total of about $2000 - most of this is wax as I'm down to my last box and I buy by the pallet already. I've been doing craft shows and such for years and I've got a fairly loyal customer base (but who couldn't use more customers right?) and I have talked to my friends about this and already have people willing to come help me out if needed. My mom runs her shop by herself with the neighbor girl coming to help out after school and such. If she can do it, so can I! My husband is all about the bottom line and how much money for this or that - darn Libra! lol JK I am too as I want to make enough to profit but this is *my* dream, not his so he's not as gung-ho about it as I am... Anyone have any advice?? I need to do something because my lil 10x10 space in my basement isn't sufficant enough! I keep hitting my head on stuff that I have hangin' from the ceiling because I'm running out of storage! lol I figure even if I can't get him to agree on a storefront right now - maybe I can convince him to let me finish out the garage so I can move out there - but that's "Plan B" and a little bit harder because that's going to require a lot more city meetings and permits and ug - government!! lol Sorry for getting so long winded - I'm just excited, nervous, scared, and happy all at the same time! My hub has never been very supportive of my business but he's never asked me to sell everything and quit doing it either... so here's to hopeing... TIA! Life & Light! Tish

yes - what did you say? I hope they remove it... bad blood can get so messy sometimes... I just don't understand why they used it in the first place if they knew it was yours - especially without asking your permission first... You can also look at it this way - copying is the highest form of flattery... I know it don't cut it but at least you can know in your heart that you are doing *something* right if they are willing to copy it... it's atleast something possitive to get out of this negative situation... Life & Light! Tish

I agee with Vicky also... This is a church show so I would expect to pay maybe $35-50 for a booth price with a 5-10% in sales going back to the church. Now if I was a member of this church, I would probably up the % to 15 or possibly 20 (it's for my community of friends after all), but that high of a % would be *my* choice, not theirs. The booth price is to cover expenses of opperating the church during the show and to pay for advertising. Now if they were putting ads in all the local papers and on the radio, handing out/posting flyers, and had *major* signage to help promote this first year show, then I'd think about it (especially if the church had a large membership - 700 or more). It's the % I don't rightly agree with - 10% is the average around here... but that's just MHO... The ultimate decision is up to you and what is "average" in your area. Around here (and in my experience), that show probably wouldn't be largely attended by either vendors or customers... Good Luck! Tish ETS - I didn't even think about the "jury fee" - I have never had to pay a jury fee for a church or school show... that to me just sounds crazy as everyone that puts on the show is donating there time - where is that $15 x number of vendors going to? Jury fee for a church show..... PA-LEEEZZZE!!! no disrespect but that's just sounding like they don't care about the vendor they just want their bucks because they don't expect it to be well attended... kinda puts me off....

dey look mahvolous darling.... I really like the green one - the crinkle cutter really makes it look even more wonderful! (I'm gonna have to lay my hands on one of those cutters!! ) I'm in love with the blue and white one too - it looks like clouds refected off of water... the pineapple one is cute too - and it does look like those candies my grandma always had around her house - I bet it smells as sweet!! You are braver than me to put blueberries in soap! I've got some wine in my freezer just itchin' to be soap but that's as close to berries to as I've gotten - it looks yummy!! Great Job, girl! Isn't soaping kind of therapudic?? I need some "therapy" too... I best get off my butt and make some, eh?? lol Wonderful soaps, hun! Keep up the fab job!! Life & Light! Tish

I'm sensitive to lanolin - I break out in a rash that itches like heck! And guess how I found out??? Yep - breastfeeding! So imagine me, sore nipplies, hungry baby, and a rash to boot... I used olive oil after I got done breastfeeding each time. I was low on cash and I used OO to cook with before (back in the day when I made my own spagetti sauce!)... Wish I had something better but between washing with just cool water, a warm wash rag before I fed (helps with milk "let down" so baby doesn't have to suck as hard at first), and the OO, I made it through four babies being breastfed - and if I can do it, anyone can! I'm a baby when it comes to pain... but just keep thinking that the benifit (not to mention the cost!) way out weighs the few days of achies and pain... I just wish I was making BB stuff back then like I am now... I'd have been one happy mama! Life & Light! Tish

Thanks for the heads up! I wasn't sure on the plexiglass that's why I was thinking of just using it to be a mold divider when I wanted to make two smaller batches. I may still try it but just wrap the plexiglass with something so it's not coming in direct contact with the soap - that and maybe just leave the oven on warm for 5-10 minutes after putting the soap in so it warms back up from being open but it's not a constant heat... make sense? I justdon't have anywhere to put a slab mold while it sets up anywhere else but my oven! lol Thanks though! Life & Light! Tish