Can someone give me an example of a feasable hi-end bar?

[IanT]

Im looking to develop a recipe to possibly create a small line that is for the elite client etc (since Ill be promoting this through my massage practice...may encounter some people with caaaaash... so I want to be able to give them high -end stuff ... ) I also have diff biz cards to give them...black PVC with raised lettering... silver raised lettering...looks/feels like an Amex black card

Id have a small line specifically catered to those clientele ....

any ideas on where to start? Im not talking about a $100 bar...but something a little bit above what people would normally be looking for... I know 80% of it is in the marketing pretty much..but Id like to have high end oils or something different about these bars to set them apart


Thanks for whatever help anyone can give! I really appreciate it!

 

[kittywings]

I think what would matter most would be the packaging, scent and shape.

 

[carebear]

First off, you can use "organic" oils. And add such old lady skin loving oils like squalane and meadowfoam oils. I dont think they'll do us old ladies any good, but yo never know.

 

[IanT]

lol sounds good...


hmmm now what would say "High end soap" to you in form of packaging/scent shape etc...

obviously pungent scent...but got any examples of what youd think a high end soap would be shaped/packaged like??

Im thinking black labels with gold trim? or deep burgundy labels with gold trim or some type of packaging in that color scheme?... i figure stick to the colors that were used by royalty in the middle ages? lol.. deep red, indigos, violets?

and shape? lost on that one... i know beveled makes a bar look more professional!??

 

[xyxoxy]

A cool rubber stamp and some gold or bronze mica will make even the most ordinary bar look expensive.

 

[GoddessMama]

Adding a little gold dosen't always make something look classy, sometimes it can do quite the opposite. Its all about quality and not quantity.

Heres the worlds most expensive soap and $125 a bar http://www.bookofjoe.com/2006/06/cor_by_plank_wo.html

And another
http://www.truthinaging.com/body/review ... dult-acne/

The ubber rich look for something not typical, usually unatainable by the masses. It MUST be organic, or at the least not contain synthetic anything.

 

[kittywings]

Adding a little gold dosen't always make something look classy, sometimes it can do quite the opposite. Its all about quality and not quantity.

Heres the worlds most expensive soap and $125 a bar http://www.bookofjoe.com/2006/06/cor_by_plank_wo.html

And another
http://www.truthinaging.com/body/review ... dult-acne/

The ubber rich look for something not typical, usually unatainable by the masses. It MUST be organic, or at the least not contain synthetic anything.

lol, I was gonna say the same thing... it sounds a little early 80's glamour. 8)

I'd say simple and elegant is the way to go... the gold isn't feeling right.

Look at Neiman Marcus online or something and look at their soaps... maybe that will inspire you.

I'm still giggling at the black and gold, sorry Ian... I'm just picturing my husband trying to design something "fancy" and how it would come out... straight boys (tee hee)!

 

[kittywings]

AHAHHAAA!!! I just asked him how he would design a fancy box of soap and he said "well, definitely gold..."

I about died!

(sorry again Ian... it's not that you can't use gold, you just have to be REALLY careful!)

 

[BakingNana]

Emu oil.....wish I could afford it!

 

[dandelion]

Im looking to develop a recipe to possibly create a small line that is for the elite client etc (since Ill be promoting this through my massage practice...may encounter some people with caaaaash... so I want to be able to give them high -end stuff ... ) I also have diff biz cards to give them...black PVC with raised lettering... silver raised lettering...looks/feels like an Amex black card

Id have a small line specifically catered to those clientele ....

any ideas on where to start? Im not talking about a $100 bar...but something a little bit above what people would normally be looking for... I know 80% of it is in the marketing pretty much..but Id like to have high end oils or something different about these bars to set them apart


Thanks for whatever help anyone can give! I really appreciate it!

Does it make sense to start out trying to create a bar that justifies a certain price range?

Look at your current soaps, choose a target market and try to create a bar that meets the customers needs, not your needs. Then price accordingly.

 

[kittywings]

Look at your current soaps, choose a target market and try to create a bar that meets the customers needs, not your needs. Then price accordingly.

I think that's what he's trying to do, thus asking for advice... (just sayin')

 

[TessC]

Ian, what about something that's just a little bit exotic and maybe tropical-ish since we're in FL? Macadamia oil or butter, mango butter, something like that?

Packaging colors that seem upscale to me are the deep jewel tones, something like one of these:

I know a lot of people like the bright vivid colors, but the deeper and more muted tones have always seemed more "expensive" to me.

 

[engdom]

I'm not a soap maker but I'm a customer, and I've been lurking on this forum to figure out what's really best for my skin and the amount of thought that goes into making my products. I saw this thread and I was a little bothered by the context of the OP. I've been buying higher end products since college. When I was working minimum wage in college I was buying $15 bar soaps. I've moved on to handmade for soaps and scrubs since then and I've moved past minimum wage too. I think you'll find that rich people care a lot about where they put their money because if they can buy better, they will. You're looking at a discerning market. You're right that it's about packaging, but it's not appealing to the fact that they're rich (like a painting of a dead ancestor) It's about making them feel stylish and smart. People will pay all sorts of money to feel that way especially if it's got that it factor.

These soaps have no extras in them but the packaging is adorable:
http://www.henribendel.com/shop/living/ ... nted_soaps

These are a pretty simple design: sophisticated paper and a bit of strong but they'd look perfect in a CPW guest bathroom.
http://www.fresh.com/soaps/petit

As a handmade artisan soap I'd expect natural ingredients and I'd expect you to be able to explain to me how it would improve my skin. I look for palm free, a combination of butters, natural looking, muted colors, and sophisticated fragrance. not pungent. if it's too fragrant it's tacky like mall retailers. Beneficial essential oils are a nice touch but if I'm not already convinced a product is luxurious it's not a deal breaker. Although I'm curiously attracted to anything with seaweed extract in it.

One of my closest friends is wealthy and I gave her this soap: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?li ... d=27282217 which is a standard handmade soap for you guys and came packaged in a kraft box. She loved it but if it was packaged with a chic paper wrap it would have been guest bathroom material.

Unless your target demographic are all Donald Trump, I'd try a different approach for that caaaaash you're looking for.

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

Hi IanT

I do some I.T. work for a very upscale Safari Resort. We are talking over $1000 per person per day, so the guests expect only the best.

This is the product range which is supplied, and OUCH !!!!!!!
the packaging for the soaps is black and gold.....but with that being said, the individual bars are wrapped in white tissue, so the guests do not actually see the box

http://www.penhaligons.co.uk/shop/fragrance/fragrance-collections/quercus.html

This company actually makes perfume and that is what they use in the soaps too. I have one of these soaps and even after 5 years it still smells "expensive".

As for your soap, I would go for subtle, neutral colours. Fragrance, nothing OTT. Your target market is probably using some expensive perfumes, after shaves etc. and the soap should not overpwer or clash with those.

I agree with Tess re the packaging. Muted cobalt blue, burgundy or even white with silver lettering.

 

[kittywings]

Oh, I just remembered something that could help too. I worked for the "#1 Luxury Cruise Line in the World" (as they loved to say every 2 seconds... but they were repeatedly given the title by Conde Nast every year) and it also STARTED at $1000/day. They exclusively used BVLGARI soaps, lotions, etc. (which of course, we would jack from the stewardesses and use ).
You could look that up too. But off hand I can tell you that the packaging is white and green and very simple, and they had these BIG light green oval soaps with BVLGARI stamped in them. They're famous for their green tea scent... and... I had another point, but it's gone now.

Oh, not my original thought, BUT they used Alterna Hair products in the spa, la prairie in the shops, and Decleor beauty products in the spa.

 

[gekko62]

I'm in the understated elegance camp. Maybe organic, luxury oils,butters & eo fragrancing,plain packaging-unglossed off white card boxes,old style cursive font. If it's your massage clientele you're aiming for,then it's basically an upsell,& what a great finishing touch! Buying an extra special soap to bathe with after having had a wonderfully relaxing massage..yep,I'm sold

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

Oh, I just remembered something that could help too. I worked for the "#1 Luxury Cruise Line in the World" (as they loved to say every 2 seconds... but they were repeatedly given the title by Conde Nast every year) and it also STARTED at $1000/day. They exclusively used BVLGARI soaps, lotions, etc. (which of course, we would jack from the stewardesses and use ).
You could look that up too. But off hand I can tell you that the packaging is white and green and very simple, and they had these BIG light green oval soaps with BVLGARI stamped in them. They're famous for their green tea scent... and... I had another point, but it's gone now.

Oh, not my original thought, BUT they used Alterna Hair products in the spa, la prairie in the shops, and Decleor beauty products in the spa.

:wink: I won't even start on the Spa products, but the one thing that made me realise how far apart "their" world is from mine was the "home spray" bottles that were in all the Villas. I Googled it because I thought it smelled lovely and wanted to order some.......ACCCCCKKKKK!!!

At GBP 16 per 100 ml bottle I think I will just continue to spritz with my homemade infusions.

 

[IanT]

I really appreciate everyones replies!!!!

I'm in the understated elegance camp. Maybe organic, luxury oils,butters & eo fragrancing,plain packaging-unglossed off white card boxes,old style cursive font. If it's your massage clientele you're aiming for,then it's basically an upsell,& what a great finishing touch! Buying an extra special soap to bathe with after having had a wonderfully relaxing massage..yep,I'm sold

Exactly!

Im in the understated elegance category as well.. I like the olde-world feel.... was even thinking of a wax seal on the front with my biz logo (you know that red wax they used to use...) thats where I got the black/gold idea...real suddle, not overstated lol...

I will not go near any FO's even in my lower end stuff...strictly EO's...

lol, I was gonna say the same thing... it sounds a little early 80's glamour.

I'd say simple and elegant is the way to go... the gold isn't feeling right.

Look at Neiman Marcus online or something and look at their soaps... maybe that will inspire you.

I'm still giggling at the black and gold, sorry Ian... I'm just picturing my husband trying to design something "fancy" and how it would come out... straight boys (tee hee)!

Yeahhh sound like him and I would get along just fine lol...

Hey..when dudes think high class..they think shiny! and whats shiny!?!?! diamonds, platnum, gold and silver!! lol

Look at your current soaps, choose a target market and try to create a bar that meets the customers needs, not your needs. Then price accordingly.

I think that's what he's trying to do, thus asking for advice... (just sayin')

yeah what kitty said for real... did you even read the first part? If I am servicing high end clients I want higher-end merchandise to meet their elevated expectations.

Ian, what about something that's just a little bit exotic and maybe tropical-ish since we're in FL? Macadamia oil or butter, mango butter, something like that?

Packaging colors that seem upscale to me are the deep jewel tones, something like one of these:



I know a lot of people like the bright vivid colors, but the deeper and more muted tones have always seemed more "expensive" to me.

TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU! I like the more elegant deeper hues...

[quote:3s0fqmlu]I'm not a soap maker but I'm a customer, and I've been lurking on this forum to figure out what's really best for my skin and the amount of thought that goes into making my products. I saw this thread and I was a little bothered by the context of the OP. I've been buying higher end products since college. When I was working minimum wage in college I was buying $15 bar soaps. I've moved on to handmade for soaps and scrubs since then and I've moved past minimum wage too. I think you'll find that rich people care a lot about where they put their money because if they can buy better, they will. You're looking at a discerning market. You're right that it's about packaging, but it's not appealing to the fact that they're rich (like a painting of a dead ancestor) It's about making them feel stylish and smart. People will pay all sorts of money to feel that way especially if it's got that it factor.

These soaps have no extras in them but the packaging is adorable:
http://www.henribendel.com/shop/living/ ... nted_soaps

These are a pretty simple design: sophisticated paper and a bit of strong but they'd look perfect in a CPW guest bathroom.
http://www.fresh.com/soaps/petit

As a handmade artisan soap I'd expect natural ingredients and I'd expect you to be able to explain to me how it would improve my skin. I look for palm free, a combination of butters, natural looking, muted colors, and sophisticated fragrance. not pungent. if it's too fragrant it's tacky like mall retailers. Beneficial essential oils are a nice touch but if I'm not already convinced a product is luxurious it's not a deal breaker. Although I'm curiously attracted to anything with seaweed extract in it.

One of my closest friends is wealthy and I gave her this soap: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?li ... d=27282217 which is a standard handmade soap for you guys and came packaged in a kraft box. She loved it but if it was packaged with a chic paper wrap it would have been guest bathroom material.

lol seaweed extract!?! I know that this line of skincare stuff they sell at the spa i work at has all that stuff in it and people go APE over it...I think its called Phytomer...

I def feel you on the not pungent side of things..i dont want anything in the remote area of mall-tackiness popping in someones head when they see/smell my soaps..

I would have to say that I have not met many college aged people (myself included) who would spend over $5 on a bar of soap... I know when I was in school I would have bought maaaany other things that were worth $15 bucks but it wouldnt last as long as soap would lol....

Unless your target demographic are all Donald Trump, I'd try a different approach for that caaaaash you're looking for.

and yes... that is my target demographic... like i said in the OP, this particular line of products i would be making would be catered specifically to the higher end client... I have clients who drive around in Lambo's and Bentley's ..... My OTHER line of products would be priced towards my 'normal' target market...

Like a restaurant which keeps fine wines in stock...so shall I keep a supply of soap and othe stuff!

Hi IanT

I do some I.T. work for a very upscale Safari Resort. We are talking over $1000 per person per day, so the guests expect only the best.

This is the product range which is supplied, and OUCH !!!!!!!
the packaging for the soaps is black and gold.....but with that being said, the individual bars are wrapped in white tissue, so the guests do not actually see the box

http://www.penhaligons.co.uk/shop/fragr ... ercus.html

This company actually makes perfume and that is what they use in the soaps too. I have one of these soaps and even after 5 years it still smells "expensive".

As for your soap, I would go for subtle, neutral colours. Fragrance, nothing OTT. Your target market is probably using some expensive perfumes, after shaves etc. and the soap should not overpwer or clash with those.

I agree with Tess re the packaging. Muted cobalt blue, burgundy or even white with silver lettering.

WOW! that stuff is pricey!!!.... I agree on the subtle colors and fragrance..Im horrible with color matching... lol... the examples above are awesome though!...

Im wondering if I can make some scents using EO's that compliment a few high-end fragrances which are available at the market... then I could market it like pair this soap with this parfume...etc....

I won't even start on the Spa products, but the one thing that made me realise how far apart "their" world is from mine was the "home spray" bottles that were in all the Villas. I Googled it because I thought it smelled lovely and wanted to order some.......ACCCCCKKKKK!!!

At GBP 16 per 100 ml bottle I think I will just continue to spritz with my homemade infusions.

[/quote:3s0fqmlu]

exactly!!! and Ive seen candles that were smaaaaaaaaaaall pillar candles on sale for like $40 ..... on SALE!




Thank you all for the help and input! Keep it coming! ... Im going to have to keep tinkering with stuff [/i]

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

WOW! that stuff is pricey!!!.... I agree on the subtle colors and fragrance..Im horrible with color matching... lol... the examples above are awesome though!...

Im wondering if I can make some scents using EO's that compliment a few high-end fragrances which are available at the market... then I could market it like pair this soap with this parfume...etc....

The description that they give on the link I attached indicates that all the "notes" in their final perfume should be available in EO. I think there was only one that I did not recognise. Apart from my treasured bar of soap I also have a teeny 10 ml bottle of the matching cologne. It is gorgeous.

BTW, I don't know what vehicles these people drive when they are at home, but many of them arrive at the resort in their private Lear (sp?) Jets

 

[rszuba]

how bout jasmine and ylang, i love those scents and they always remind me of luxury, upper scale, seductive, relaxing, and classy.