Lorrie Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Ok, I have been packaging my soaps with a cigar band around them. This year I decided to make the bars smaller because well, our economy sucks and people are tight with their $$. So I thought that by making the bars smaller I can lower the price and sell more. Now, I am in the dilema of what should I do for packaging? The cigar bands are to small and the soaps are about 2inches by 3 inches by 1 inch.So if anyone has any suggestions I would love to here them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scent Cellar Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Can you make your cigar bands smaller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorrie Posted November 10, 2006 Author Share Posted November 10, 2006 Can you make your cigar bands smaller?I tried that and they just don't look right to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 You could wrap them in corrugated paper and tie with raffia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindym Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Cello Bags with stetch bows or rapphia . Small organza bags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Man Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 Here is a site with great ideas http://www.pvsoap.com/how_to_wrap_soap.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasBrat Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 I have a hard time deciding what I want to do also. I just want soaps with no color and no packaging, that makes life easy. For now I have been using Dans Bands from MMS and those are not to expensive and you can put your information on a business card that includes ingredients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heirloomoriginals Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 I am switching from Boxes to the bands (using both Dan's and the regular sized ones from MMS). It seems to be much easier (as long as I don't overmelt them and they come off) and more economical.Good luck!Steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorrie Posted November 13, 2006 Author Share Posted November 13, 2006 Has anyone just gone to shows with naked soap and when a customer purchases it place in tissue paper w/ingredient label on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1 Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Has anyone just gone to shows with naked soap and when a customer purchases it place in tissue paper w/ingredient label on it?i have never done it, but a know of a few soapers who have. each one has reported sales doubling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Girl Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I started to sell my soaps Nekid at shows and my sales increased. For orders though, I always wrap them. At shows I have small, flat wax deli bags beside the soap displays and they pick out what they want and bag them themselves. They get a kick out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrown Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I have for the past year sold my soaps naked at shows until this past fall. I must say the sales on my soaps have always been good unwrapped. I have just had a few people walk by and make bad comments about the soap being upwrapped. So.........after talking with my DH we decided to shrink wrap our soap where the sides are still exposed and I always leave one of each scent unwrapped so that people can still pick it up to smell and touch. From my experience I think the unwrapped soap sales the best. I don't want to ever have to wrap my soap completely. I set my soap racks right outside my tent and as people walk by they smell. That gives them a reason to stop.Just my experience and Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I have for the past year sold my soaps naked at shows until this past fall. I must say the sales on my soaps have always been good unwrapped. I have just had a few people walk by and make bad comments about the soap being upwrapped. So.........after talking with my DH we decided to shrink wrap our soap where the sides are still exposed and I always leave one of each scent unwrapped so that people can still pick it up to smell and touch. From my experience I think the unwrapped soap sales the best. I don't want to ever have to wrap my soap completely. I set my soap racks right outside my tent and as people walk by they smell. That gives them a reason to stop.Just my experience and LOL..I use the same tactic. My husband walks around the craft area and spray body spray. Everyone says what is the smell, it smells good. Before long, folks are in my area. I am gonna give selling my soaps nake a try. Grumpy Girl, where do you get your bags. I searched by googling for bags that are not to big or too small. The only ones I come up with are the merchandise bags, which are just a tad bit too big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1 Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I think I found them. Some on ebay that I print on. I was using the wrong search terms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I don't think I'd buy naked soaps. I've watched too many people come up to my soaps and stick it ON thier nose and smell. It's so unsanitary. Yuck. I do like the idea of wrapping the soap and keep one out for sniffing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luci Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I've bought lots of naked soaps at craft shows. I've also bought wrapped ones. Just depends on how interested I am in the soap itself (and the fragrance). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I don't care for naked soaps either. I want my logo and contact information on the soap as well as the ingredients - especially for those giving it as a gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrown Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I want my logo and contact information on the soap as well as the ingredients - especially for those giving it as a gift. This is another reason we started shrink wrapping our soap.Edited to say that my DH loves the shrink wrap and seeing as to how he is responsible for packaging the products it makes his life much easier. It is much cheaper then buying boxes and the roll of shrink rap last forever. We also don't have to buy labels for soap anymore. We just use paper that already has designs in the background, print our company name, scent of soap and a few more informative things and just place the label on top of the soap.......place shrink wrap around it and use the heat gun. DONE . Much less expensive packaging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I don't think I'd buy naked soaps.... It's so unsanitary. Yuck. Um.. it's soap, not sausage LOL. OK, I get the thing about not wanting other people touching your soap, I kinda agree.Great idea to leave one out for handling... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmadness Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 LOL... it is just soap. One rinse under water the "germs" are gone anyway.I sell my soaps naked and I used to wrap in tissue with a clear oval label with my business name, logo and scent. I just changed to deli glassine bags as well... I stick my labels on and bag them when people choose what they want. Bagging them is much quicker than wrapping when people are waiting in line and looks really nice also. This is only when I sell them though, for my wholesale accounts I do have custom boxes that I had made.My business has more than tripled selling naked soap. (When I first started selling I was using a cigar band). Plus, shrink wrap looks really ugly if it sits for anytime at all- IMO.HTH.Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I use these from Nashville Wraps:They are resealable and you can smell the soap right through them. I put my soap in, fold the flap over, and then put my label on with ingredients, name, etc. The customer can still see the soap so I don't hide all my creativity and they can still smell it. They are super cheap, $4 for 100 of them. And come in bigger sizes if you want to sell combo packs, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsami3000x Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 The booth that led me to research online sold theirs naked. They had a line and it took a few minutes to get to the front of the area so I could sniff.They had risers with the clear shoeboxes stacked on them, one sample of each was set out in front of the shoebox. In the shoebox was the precut log of soap. You sniffed said I want this one, they pulled a fresh one out of the box and wrapped them in white tissue paper with a printed sticker. I didn't know any better then so I have no clue what they did about ingredients lists and such. They also had no banner, signs or anything that told me who they were. I do know when I looked online about the show it was a 350 booth fee for 12x12 of sidewalk for 1 day. This was walking distance from a Tiffany's store. I don't know what they were selling for but I remember it being more than I had in my pocket and I am sure they made booth+ that day easily.Sami Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmadness Posted December 20, 2006 Share Posted December 20, 2006 I didn't know any better then so I have no clue what they did about ingredients lists and such. I do not list my ingredients on the soap that I retail. Just label, business name and scent or type. You legally do not have to list it... but I do have a couple black chalk board signs that indicate ingredients and pricing on the table. The only questions that I get on a regular basis is, "Do you use animal fat?" As far as other ingredients I would say 1 out of 10 customers ask.I personally like the naked stacks of soap... When I vacation and buy soap from different regions I am always attracted to stores that display that way. Plus it is more environmentally friendly and there is a lot less waste.. plus the time that you spend wrapping and printing. I will never go there again!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Man Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 LOL... it is just soap. One rinse under water the "germs" are gone anyway.JenniferNot true, Have one of your used bars cultured and see how many germs live on soap & transfer from person to person.I don't like bar soap for hands or body, I only use liquid or foaming soap that I make from bases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmadness Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Not true, Have one of your used bars cultured and see how many germs live on soap & transfer from person to person.I don't like bar soap for hands or body, I only use liquid or foaming soap that I make from bases.Let me clarify if we are getting scientific here... there are germs on EVERYTHING. If people are paranoid about unwrapped soap and germs then don't touch a door knob, the sink faucet in a public bathroom, etc. While we are on the "germ" subject, you may never want to never use a sponge or a toothbrush.My point is that we all about comfort levels. I like the look of unwrapped soap and choose to sell it that way. I have never had a customer or possible customer approach me and state "Ewww, germs."From a marketing standpoint, unwrapped is the trend and the sales seem to increase when you sell it that way.HTH.Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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