adillenal

Sounds like more than a few of us ran into some competitors out making Christmas money by selling their first batch or soap and/or first candle.

I only make soap and I have been appalled at the competitors that have come out of the woodwork for the Christmas season. POOR quality soap and if someone buys one of them it will probably turn them off of handcrafted soap forever. I even had a customer tell me about a man at a show she had been to with AWFUL soap. (her description) At least my customers can tell the difference.

I only make goat milk soap and these are supposed to be goat milk soaps but they are chalky looking and cumbly looking and just not nice.

Oh well, they won't be back out until next fall so I can keep on keeping on until then.

I don't think you are being snarky at all. I have suffered through the same thing this year. Economy probably.

Those are adorable. I used to make crocheted animals for gifts for small children. Nothing safer in my opinion and the kiddies usually love them to death.

I really like the brown bear. Love his expression.

Welcome.

I didn't check for the one you are looking for but this is a good help sometimes when searching for a frgrance.

http://www.fragranceoilfinder.com/catalog/index.php

Very creative. Love it.

He was here one day and gone the next. No notice no nothing.

I love Rose Geranium from Aroma Haven. Now I only make soap and lotion but it is my favorite in both of those items.

I think I have tried everything and went back to the heavy duty ziplock bags. I prefer to fill after the lotion is cool. So the ziplock has been my best method. Nothing to clean either. Big pump worked but I was concerned with trying to clean it plus the lotion had to be poured into a gallon jug for the pump to screw on and of course that had to be cleaned too. I just went back to low tech and throw away.

I agree with sliverofwax. I have a lot of orders but I feel like I am organized this year. I am keeping up with my website and post "out of stock" the minute I sell out of something to eliminate having to make something quickly. And no, so sorry, I do not have a 2 oz bottle of blah blah lotion but I have plenty of this or that. No special orders at this time of the year.

I also made sure I had adequate boxes from the post office of all sizes this year and plenty of packing tape. Used my last medium flat rate this morning but I also received one in the mail Saturday so I can recycle if need be.

I do not sell candles though. Just bath and body.

Have had a great Christmas season this year. Way up from last year and I thought I did well last year especially with the economy woes.

I only use the Cedar Patchouli in soap but the soap sells quickly. Has even outsold Lavender this season. Dumb luck that I grabbed some while he had one of those short term really cheapie sales going.

Not only go to her blog but check out what you can get by supporting her youth groups.

I have three 3 ring binders with her info in them and I think I have the best resources anywhere. Go Swift.

I use 100% goat milk for all of my soaps and superfat at 5% with no issues. I actually used to superfat at 8% and I have a few bars from 3 years ago at that amount that are fine.

The only time I EVER had DOS was with a 100% olive oil soap. So who knows.

I do not want to sell any since I would then not be able to find any more for my own use. Sorry.

Plus you can always buy a base such as what BCS sells. I bought a gallon from someone that was selling out and keep it in the frig and use as needed for solid perfume. Not sure if I would buy it again at full price but it has been nice to use this season.

Now that I am home I have checked out the site. Uh, interesting.

It has videos. I am guessing that is why it got blocked from my work computer. I think all videos are blocked.

Anyway it has nothing to do with you site per se. Just thought it was funny that one day I could see it and two days later it was blocked as a security risk.

Not sure what to say. So I will just say good night.

Yeah. Gotta watch out for those subversive candles.

I can go to ecolightcandles but not eccolights

I have a sample and all I smell is the clove. Strange how different people smell different things from the same oil.

Well, I will have to pass on looking again since whatever you did now makes it a security risk from my work computer.

I use Pink from Southern Garden Scents but I only make solid perfume with it. It always sells out for Christmas. The people that buy it seem to think it is just like the original "Pink". I have never smelled the original so I have no idea.

I originally setup my own website at GoDaddy and it wasn't too bad.

After a couple of years I hired someone to do my website since I just did not have time to learn how to do a shopping cart etc. Finally had to admit I can't do everything.

There are many people that can do a website and host. I just happened to use Gone Country Graphics and have been happy with my site. The country theme works for me since I make goat milk products. The template is easy to use to add product and update my site. This will be my third year with Gone Country.

I have to agree about the black background. To me personally it is hard to read and all that black depresses me. Will check again later.

I received a vanilla sandalwood lotion bar in a swap that was nice. I only make OMH and unscented lotion bars so I am not much help.

Mine are also in transit and according to tracking at Fedx they have arrived in Texas. I should have them by Monday. Or tomorrow since FedX delivers on Saturday.

I don't know where to find the Cedar Patchouli and I am sure glad I took a chance and bought several pounds when he had it REALLY cheap. It has proven to be a surprise quick seller for me.

I disagree about harsh comments.

When asking for advice on a forum where there are many experienced people, please do not expect fifty responses that say how pretty your site is. You asked for feedback. I personally do not see any rude comments. More like truthful feedback.

If you are able to sell your product in your area for the prices that you have listed, I congratulate you. For my area, they are high. For M&P soap, over $2.00 a bar higher.

With the zillions of websites out there selling product, oftentimes the only online sales will come from repeat customers that have purchased from you locally or have received your product as gifts.

Good luck with your business and over time you will become a little less sensitive to constructive criticism and will learn to analyze and weigh the prossibilities that they may just be on the right track. It is always hard to hear that what you worked so hard on producing may not be as perfect as originally thought.