nantes

Thanks for the reply. So, another question... If you do pour too hot, and it melts the chunks, does that make undefined spots of color in the soap? I have seen some where it looked like spots of color without the actual shape of chunks. I thought that looked pretty nice too. But, if it means the colors float and merge all over, then that may not be the look we are aiming for. Thanks again.

I was donated 50 pounds of m&p by a friend who is closing her soap making business. I wanted to play around a little with it and do a project with my 4-H club. I haven't worked with m&p before, so I was wondering when you do a loaf pan filled with different colored chunks and then do an overpour of clear m&p, do you spritz all of the chunks with alcohol too? I have read to do that for layers, but wasn't sure if you need to do it for chunks too. We are planning on doing loaves of chunks and some popsicle shaped ones too. I want to keep it interesting, but fairly simple too. I'm open to any other suggestions anyone might have too. Thanks for your help!

Thank you for all the replies. I have a lot more researching to do and a lot of thinking. I agree that the price is high. I may have to talk to her about just buying the equipment. I have made candles and know enough about soaps to know the soap makings may no longer be any good. I am looking for something I can do that will be creative but bring me some income too. Thanks again - I have lots to think about. nantes

I don't have all of the details yet, but I am looking at buying a soap business from my friend. She is selling all of her inventory, accounting material, equipment (she has 4 54 pound soap molds), website, barcode material, displays for markets and packaging materials for the soaps and for larger orders too. I know this isn't very detailed, but I will be meeting with her again in August to get more info - they are gone on vacation. She did say she has over $15,000 invested in just the soap making equipment. She had her business going pretty well, but had to quit due to her health. She hasn't been doing any soapmaking for the past couple of years. So, I don't think that I can count her clientelle or anything, because I would basically have to start from scratch on that. Plus, I want to come up with my own names and logo. Her stock of already made soap would probably be for my own use also, as I don't think I want to start out selling soap that was made at least 2 years ago - or doesn't that matter? She is asking $10,000 and I am just wondering if this is a reasonable price or not. She also said she would sell just the equipment for $5900. Again, I have only just started talking with her and I don't have many of the details - including what income she was able to make while she was working the business. My question is mostly if this is a good price and what other questions I should ask. She makes all natural CP soaps with essential oils. We use only her soap now, so I know her recipe is a good one. I have done some hobby soap making, so I know there is going to be a period of my making soaps before I would actually attempt to sell them. I have made candles in the past, so I also know about insurance etc. Any input would be very helpful. Thanks in advance. Nantes

Thank you everyone. She did really like it. I think I got some big auntie points this year. Christmas may be a let down for her as I poured all my creativeness into her birthday project!! nantes

It was recently my niece's birthday, and I decided to try and dress up an old record album cabinet. I am pretty proud of how it turned out, although it was an experiment for me from the start. I used some scrapbooking cut-out paper for the numbers. I found I liked doing this so much that I am on the lookout for the next project. Nantes

Does anyone know her website? Thanks, Nantes

If you do want to write them a letter directly, you can do a reverse number look-up for their phone number. I did it and you can get their address - they are in Anaconda, MT. hth nantes

Those sure do bring back memories for me! My mom used to make what she called "barefoot sandals" back in the 70's. I was actually allowed to wear them to church in the summer because I did have sandals on!! The ones she made were with the stretch cord but I think yours looks great! Wonder if I can pull the same thing now in order to wear them to work??!!?? Nantes

When I was young, every Christmas my mom and I would make bonbons. To make the chocolate dip, we would melt chocolate and wax (the kind they used to sell to put on top of jelly for canning). It made the chocolate harder so it wouldn't melt in your hand as easily and made it easier to dip with. Don't do it anymore, but just wanted to add that as an example where we eat wax. nantes

My husband has a lot of things delivered for his carpet cleaning business. He has had the WORST luck with Fed Ex and he won't use them any more. Things arrived beat up and broken and the boxes are hardly together anymore. I am sure that UPS has some poor delivery too, but we have yet to have any problems with them. The one time I bought some candle making stuff on ebay, she shipped it Fed Ex and the thing was so beaten up. The bag of wax was broken open and wax chips were everywhere. I could tell that she really packaged it well in the box, so couldn't complain about her, but the box was so beaten up that it was easy to see where the fault was. I would definitely complain. There is no excuse for that type of service. Good luck! nantes

This is just my two cents worth - but something that made me think a lot about this topic. Ok, soy candle makers who bash parrafin often say how it is petroleum based etc. So, what about the amount of petroleum it takes to grow those soybeans? And since so many of the soybeans grown here in the states are genetically modified, you should also think about all the chemicals used to keep all those nasty weeds out of the fields! Oh, then we can talk about the chemicals/petroleum that is used in the processing of the beans to make the wax! I think that each type of wax has its benefits and drawbacks. I refuse to do the bashing thing. I make soy candles because I like working with soy- quirks and all. When people come to me and start repeating some of that pro-soy stuff, I just usually tell them that it all depends on the quality of the candle and the correct combination of wax, color, wick etc. I even recently had a woman selling smelly jellies at a show bashing all candles because they were the number one cause of home fires in the US. She had a whole schpeel about the dangers of candles and boy, was her voice loud! I didn't turn around and talk about all the dangers of using the chemicals used to make smelly jellies or anything like that. I don't appreciate bashing and won't buy from someone who does. Ok, deep breath... nantes

I just recently did a show like this. My friend invited me to join and I was the only candle maker there. Actually, I was the only one who made my own, all the others did direct sales. It was a very small fee - only $20 - and we had a pretty good turn out. I actually did better than most of the others, although they probably did get names which will turn into sales down the road. I had a great time and sold over $200 which is pretty good for a 4 hour show! I would definately say go for it. My only warning is to avoid buying too much from the others! nantes

I make the traditional muffin shaped ones. I use KY votive blend because after testing that was the one I liked best. I would say that is what you will need to do too, test until you find what you like. I like the KY for its nice surface, wonderful colors and great scent. I also found some other containers that I have been playing around with for some change. I found an ice cube tray that makes little bullet shaped ones that I package in a cello bag. (my husband calls these suppositories!) I sell either two one-oz melts or the bag of melts. I have found it is good to have the choice. htp nantes

I too have had problems with finding testers. Seems like everyone is willing to try my stuff for free, but I have to hunt them down to get any feedback. And even when I do have them cornered and they are forced to talk to me, they haven't even paid attention to the things that I requested. All I get is "it smells good". I have gotten to the point where I do all my own testing and don't look for others. Of course, my business is pretty small and I can do it. If I had 100 different scents it would be a different story! I would try and contact them again. Maybe they read your email but didn't have time to respond at that moment and then forgot about it. I have been known to do that too:wink2: Hope you get some helpful info back from them!