But you are also selling a product that last the average of a month, plus it is an item that, while a necessity, handmade soap is not a necessity. The probable customer base out there is much smaller than the base of customers purchasing soap from Costco which is, likely, less than a dollar a bar. I keep records of sales in graph form and, I can positively say, when disposable income goes down, even due to gas prices going up, sales will fall. Handmade soap is not a necessary commodity it is more of a luxury, and trend. Trends tend to change over time.
Respectfully - I am not wrong, I respectfully disagree with your not being wrong. Like Shari (Shunt) mentioned, customers return for her product. I have many customers that will purchase only my soap, while it may have the ingredients of others it does not mean it is aged the same, same percentages etc etc. I have customers that purchase enough to last them long enough until I am at a show in their area. By doing shows within a 70 miles radius I connect with very large amount of potential customers. When they run out of product they know to email or text me. Again, handmade soap is Not a necessity, some cannot even use it
This is to supplement my retirement, and give me something I like to do, since I cannot travel due to life issues. Although I have crochet, I know they really only sell well in a hospital environment, so some markets I only put out a small sample of what I have. As far as the tennis shoe example I wear what brand does not cause excruciating pain in one of my feet. Could care less what brand it is. But today, with people who practically worship athletes, they think they have to have the shoes, that the big company with the huge advertising funds advertises on tv, radio, newspapers etc. Sadly most soapmakers do not have large marketing funds.