GrinningGoblin

Congratulations. I finally took the plunge and did some craft shows starting last month. There is nothing quite like introducing your own business to the world. It sure is a better feeling making money for yourself rather than busting your butt for a boss I gotta say. Good luck with your future shows!

If you haven't already arrived at an answer, I'd say it depends. Are you selling any stock or materials, or just the website and name? In general you would calculate the purchase price of your business by taking your discretionary cash flow and multiplying it by a modifier based on demand, reputation, and customer base. Discretionary cash flow is the actual, verifiable profit your business generates in a year less materials and expenses. Appropriate modifiers fall between 1 and 2.5 in most circumstances. To this number you would then add the price of any assets you are including in the sale. However, this all assumes that your business is profitable and up and running. If not then it is worth exactly what they are willing to pay for it.

Google "reusable cookie sheet liner". I bought a couple from a kitchen supply place here for $4 each that are made of teflon. They are pretty rigid compared to plastic or paper liners and once cut to size they can be inserted into the PVC pipe and hold their shape without any real help from me. The have worked for me for a while now with no issues, and are much easier than trying to get them out without liners. The soap just slides out and the liner peels off easily, though sometimes I have to still refrigerate the soap to make it a little more rigid before peeling off the liner if it is a sticky formula.

I started with home made wooden molds, but now I have some HDPE molds from http://www.etsy.com/shop/MRDORIGHT123 I have 2 of the 6# log molds and one of the 5# slab molds. I only line the bottom of the slab, and the bottom and sides of the log molds. I don't bother with the ends. I really like the silicone lined wood molds, but haven't shelled out the cash for one yet.

Thanks for the input folks. I now have a half dozen local craft shows / flea markets under my belt and gotten some good feedback. A lot of what I have found line up with what is posted here. Dragon's blood was far and away the most popular scent I had on the table. Others that did well were my teakwood & cardamom, sandalwood, unscented bastile, eucalyptus & lemongrass, and my spicy blend with anise, cassia, fennel, and nutmeg. I had a lot of requests for goat milk soap but didn't have any with me. I finally found a local supplier though, so I have a few batches made and curing now. I plan on adding lavender and patchouli to my line as those were the most requested scents that I did not have with me. I really like the sweet orange / yuzu bars and lotus bars that I had with me but didn't sell a single bar of either so I doubt I will mess with those again.

There's no liability for you to offer her bulk pricing regardless of her business practices. The only difference between a private consumer and a wholesale account from your perspective is only the wholesale account is able to avoid paying sales tax for goods they purchase for resale. The only thing you must do for her is charge sales tax if you would need to collect sales tax from her. It's the same thing Sam's Club does for their business members versus their private members. If dealing with her is profitable do it, just make sure you explain to her you'll have to collect tax from her if she is in state since she isn't operating as a legal business.

I have seen it done at a spa before. The proper massage candles are made with a blend of soy wax and the oils you mentioned and a small amount of body-safe fragrance. The wax is soft enough to put your finger through even at room temp like a lotion bar. Basically they light them up and let a melt pool form while you're getting ready for a massage and either blow the candle out or pour the wax out on a saucer to cool it slightly and then use the warmed wax for the massage. They're gimmicky but some folks want them and there is nothing wrong with them when made and used for purpose. It's the issue of ignorance on both sides of the aisle that lead to issues. One is customers who think soy = massage candle, and two is producers who want to cash in but don't want to spring for expensive materials or adjust their production techniques so they just slap a massage candle label on their existing soy candles.

My official response is: "Oils and lye are combined to create soap. Once mixed a chemical process known as saponification takes place and once the process is complete the lye is used up leaving none in the final product." If they get a weird look on their face about lye I respond with: "You can't make soap without lye. All soaps are made in this manner, not just handmade soaps. Indeed, if no lye is used in the process the FDA says it can't be called "soap". And if their eyes haven't glazed over and they want more info I continue with: "As a precaution against the possibility of lye making it through into the end product all of my soaps are “superfatted”, which basically means adding more oil to the batch than the lye can process. This extra measure of oil escapes saponification as the lye is used up leaving the soap extra mild. Commercial soaps are not superfatted which is why they can be so harsh. Superfatted soaps will gently clean your skin while replacing the necessary oils stripped away." The biggest thing is practice your spiel. If you can deliver it quickly and concisely then you sound like you know what you are talking about and you can get on with talking up the scents and ingredients. Practice on your friends. I know mine are tired of hearing about soap.

Sorry. CP or HP. I do them both. I have only sold to friends and acquaintances so far, but the most consistent interest I have had is in my bugg-off blend, sandalwood, lavender, and plain unscented bastile. I have made several other varieties and they have been mostly hit or miss. As my current plan is to begin attending 3 craft shows a month leading up to the end of the year I would like to narrow things down to 6 to 10 varieties that I carry all of the time and rotate out a few other seasonal ones. I'm just trying to collect some information on types that others find sell well to give me some ideas on scents to test.

I am just getting going with actually selling the soap I have been making over the past year, and so far the preferences of folks is all over the place. My question is, in general, if you could only sell 10 varieties or scents what would they be?

What kind of fragrance / essential oils did you use? Some can be a little rough at high concentrations.

Sorry, it's a craft show. I've got the table coverings lined up. Standard dj / catering cloths for standard folding tables. The go to the ground. I was thinking about writing prices on like a blackboard or something or maybe just have some brochures. Honestly I don't expect to necessarily be doing super brisk business so I kinda figured I'd have the time to chat with customers and tell them how much things are. I really wanted to avoid sticking tags or stickers on the stuff with prices for the reasons you suggested. The show I am doing is the biggest in the area, but in scouting I found it to be more giant garage sale than upscale craft show. There was a mix of folks selling vintage stuff (second hand crap) and a few candle sellers (mostly yankee / scentsy). I am sorta stoked because no one was doing soap the two weekends I went, but that may be because there is no demand for it. We'll see.

I am finally planning on doing my first craft show during the second week of Novemeber. I am splitting a space with a friend (it's outdoors and large enough for us to fit two tables). He sells hand crafted jewelry so our products don't step on each other's toes at all and splitting the cost for the space is always cool. I am a little curious about how other folks handle the nuts and bolts of setting up for a trade show. Do you label your goods with prices individually, or set up a "menu" price schedule for the table. What about bags / packaging to carry purchases? Do you folks worry about providing that or not. Would it be tacky if I recycled old grocery store plastic bags? Until now I have sold by word of mouth and semi-wholesale to a lady who owns a consignment shop, so I am a little giddy thinking about event.

Soybean and hazelnut oil are commonly used to cut EVO. Some do use pomace but soy is the most common adulterant according to several sources.

That falls back to things not changing until fake olive oil kills someone. On the practical side of things if someone is allergic to something they are adulterating olive oil with they'll likely experience a reaction from eating it, assume they are allergic to olive oil, and steer clear of it in soap. It's not a perfect solution, but you can't control it and really can't be held liable for it. Personally I have been using pomace. I have read that it is far more likely to be pure olive since it is the cheap "garbage" pressing of the olive there is not a lot of incentive to adulterate it. Since it's cheaper and soaps better it's win / win.