To Sell or Not to Sell

A lot of people who get into a hobby, soon realize said hobby requires pricey supplies.  This usually leads them to find ways to make the hobby profitable, or turn it into a business.  Soapmaking is one of those hobbies that can easily be turned into a business if you have the desire and motivation to do so.

I have had lots of hobbies thus far in my life, most people who know me think of me as someone who is artsy.  However, I have only had one hobby that has been able to turn a profit to pay for its own supplies:  Photography.  Which is good considering how pricey equipment can be.  Some of my other hobbies are scrapbooking, jewelry making, soap making and painting.  Now, I have not attempted to make a business out of every hobby.  I enjoy them as such primarily.    I did try selling jewelry for a few years, I sold online, to friends, attended craft shows, etc. and that gave me the experience needed to be able to make choices going forward.  I still have my jewelry facebook page by the way.  I decided to stop selling it because I found I had lost my desire for it.  Instead of making things for the joy it, I was choosing designs based on what was most likely to sell, and it stopped being fun.

Should you sell your soap?  To find out, the first question you want to ask yourself is:

1. Do you want to make soap or do you want to sell soap? or both?

Because they are two very different things.  You could buy soap wholesale and retail it, if what attracts you is the selling part and not the making part.  For me, what I enjoy is the creative process, the making of the soap.  And I think that most people discover their creative outlet when they discover soap making, and that is one of the reasons why it becomes so addictive.  What if your answer is Yes to both?  Wonderful! I will put some resources below.

2. If you had, somehow, the extra money to buy the supplies you need (not necessarily want, but need), would you still want to sell soap?

In other words, examine your motives or the circumstances that brought you here.  I listen to the Dave Ramsey show sometimes, and usually people are in situations where they do not know what to do.  Sometimes the answer is easy, it just requires a reverse question.  For example, a couple inherited a house and now are renting it out, but they do not like being landlords and wonder if they should sell the house.  Dave would ask them a reverse question, like: If you did not have this house, would you go out and buy it to rent it?  They usually say: No! And the same reason why they would not buy it in the first place, is the same reason why they should sell it.  They did not choose to be in that situation.  So, unless you already had or now have a real desire to start a business, be careful of going into it just to be able to afford it, it is not the only way to achieve it.  I will put some tips below.

3. Can you see yourself making soap  (whether part time or full time) for the long run?

A business requires time, energy and commitment, to keep going despite challenges.

For myself, I have decided that I will be a hobbyist soap maker, at least for now.  I get bored of doing the same thing over and over, and I cannot see myself doing the same soap over and over.  Unless, I had the right motivation.  I do paint like 1,000 unicorns a year (ok maybe I am exagerating) when I do face painting at parties, but I enjoy painting and the free compliments from the kids.  If the idea of becoming a full time soap maker sounds thrilling to you, then perhaps you should explore it and make a plan to make it happen!

Now, if you would like to explore soap making as a business.  I would recommend these resources to get you started:

• Business Boutique:  This website has lots of good information for women entrepreneurs, I have also attended their conference and learned a lot!  Her blog articles and the success stories of other women entrepreneurs are So inspiring!
• Modern Soapmaking:  I have learned a lot from their blogs, and they also have a section dedicated for soap making businesses as well.
• The Soap Gal:  I have found most of her videos helpful.  She has lots of experience as she used to sell her soaps at Whole Foods and now does mostly private label soaps.
• Jon Acuff:  I have learned a lot from this guy that applies to any business or personal goal, check out his blog or latest book Finish. It shows you what prevents most people from accomplishing their goals and motivates you to to finish your goals.
• Saponification Nation: this Facebook group has several videos that I have found insightful; for businesses, I would recommend the ones by Aaron. Look in their video section. Plus, they have several books for soap selling, pricing, etc. in their website.

If, on the other hand, you would like to continue to make soap as a hobby, may I offer these ideas to make it more affordable:

• Keep it Simple: There is no need for fancy or exotic oils for soap making.  They are pricier and in a product that literally washes down the drain, they are not needed.  There are lots of lower price basic oils that make wonderful soap (Olive oil, coconut oil, lard or tallow)
• Buy in bulk: Once you know what oils you prefer in your soap recipes, buy them in bulk.  Especially the ones that are solid at room temperature, as those have longer shelf lives.  If you do an oz per oz price comparison, you will see that buying a larger volume will give you a much lower price
• Buy small quantities:  I know, I just told you to buy in bulk, but with Fragrances, my advice is to be very selective with your fragrance oils.  When I did a cost analysis of one of my bars of soap, I found that the most expensive ingredient I use, is the fragrance oil.  If you can buy sampler sizes, do that.  It would be money better spent than having 16 oz of a fragrance you do not like and therefore do not use. In the case of fragrance oils, only buy in bulk if it is a fragrance you love and could use over and over.

• Make smaller batches: If what you enjoy the most is the process of making the soap, but do not have a need for so much soap, work in a smaller scale.
• Experiment with natural colorants:  Micas are probably the second most expensive ingredient (in a oz per oz comparison) I use in soap.  However, natural alternatives, though not usually as bright or strong, are way cheaper and preferred by lots of people.
• Be Mindful of shelf life:  Oils go rancid at different rates, and fragrance oils have a 1-2 year shelf life.  Use this as the motivation to buy only what you need and could use within the year.  Be realistic and do not waste money on more supplies than you need. (Easier said that done!)
• Explore your addiction:  Your soap making addiction, I mean.  Like I said earlier, I believe it becomes addictive because it is a creative outlet most people did not know they had.  Though some people seem more creative than others, I truly believe we are all creative.  We were created that way!  Except some people associate creativity with an artistic approach only.  If you cook, you create a meal every day!  If you work in an office, you create reports, or maybe invoices.  Just because it does not have colors, it does not mean it is not a creative endeavor.  Discover what other things you could do that could give your creativity an outlet, not every hobby requires expensive supplies.  Learn to see, do and enjoy other activities as a creative outlet. Like baking!

Feel free to share additional ideas or tips below, perhaps if your own experience if you are in business, how you got started and/or suggestions.

P.S.  Funny thing, just a few days after posting this, I was encouraged by someone dear to me, to at least attempt to sell my soaps.  Mostly to honor her, as she walks that difficult line between life and death, I am reopening my online store with a few extra soaps I have in stock.