I was really condescended to today and I'm not sure how to deal.

[MelissaG]

A fellow vendor accused me of just being nothing more than a hobbyist because she says my prices aren't high enough. The thing is, last year I increased my prices by $1 and sales ground to a halt. Since 2018, in my state home insurance has gone up by up to $9000 a year, the average wage is $10-$12 an hour, groceries are twice what they were and sales taxes are supposed to go up to almost 10% in January. If I charge too much, my sales will stop and I will go out of business. I'm willing to adjust my prices as the market changes unlike most. I'll probably have to increase prices next year but charging $20 for a 4 ounce of body butter will just not sell it. I tried $9 last year and sales stopped. Decreased it to $8 and sold four in a week.

I'm a bit upset right now. I just felt the condescension dripping from what she said and now I'm questioning everything.

Any advice?

 

[artemis]

Is there a particular reason you care so much about this person's opinion? Is she a mentor? A respected friend?

 

[justsomeguy]

A fellow vendor accused me of just being nothing more than a hobbyist because she says my prices aren't high enough. The thing is, last year I increased my prices by $1 and sales ground to a halt. Since 2018, in my state home insurance has gone up by up to $9000 a year, the average wage is $10-$12 an hour, groceries are twice what they were and sales taxes are supposed to go up to almost 10% in January. If I charge too much, my sales will stop and I will go out of business. I'm willing to adjust my prices as the market changes unlike most. I'll probably have to increase prices next year but charging $20 for a 4 ounce of body butter will just not sell it. I tried $9 last year and sales stopped. Decreased it to $8 and sold four in a week.

I'm a bit upset right now. I just felt the condescension dripping from what she said and now I'm questioning everything.

Any advice?

You know who you are and what you are.

Ignore them. Hi. Hello. How're you. Goodbye. When you see them. No more.

 

[Firefly24]

Everything is supposed to be based on COGS. I have changed my prices at different venues to see how each market did. Some consumers don't see "Value" if your prices are to low. You know how much time you spend making your products, and the costs as well. I would have thanked her for her 2 cents and wished her a great day. Advice & opinions are different. Think about who is offering what and when. You got this and you know your target audience & your market areas.

 

[soapmaker]

How unfortunate, there will always be people who put down. I see jealousy here. If you were at the same market, perhaps she was afraid you'd sell more than her. I was beside a fellow soap maker at a market whose prices were much higher than mine. She politely said "Don't undersell yourself." The venue should never have put us beside each other. But we visited soapmaking, suppliers, and have remained friends.

 

[AliOop]

Loving all the previous answers! The person who treated you like this obviously has issues. Don't let her live in your head rent-free.

 

[artemis]

Loving all the previous answers! The person who treated you like this obviously has issues. Don't let her live in your head rent-free.

I suspect her issues involve a fear that people will think she is overpriced...

 

[akseattle]

@MelissaG , your fellow vendor’s words have ruined your day, so that's a bummer.

But, from a different point of view, @soapmaker ’s fellow vendor said “Don’t under value yourself”, and they have become friends.
So, not everyone is a good communicator. The vendor could have meant anything from “Yikes! How am I going to sell anything with such great prices next to mine??” to “Charge more so customers don’t think your ingredients are low quality.”

Your goal is to have a profitable soap business. To me, it sounds like you’ve been wise in your approach. You are adjusting your prices based on whether or not the market is responding. On this soapmaking forum, our goal is to be constructive and helpful in our feedback, but sometimes things come out wrong and we are misunderstood. Possibly that is what happened?

If you see this fellow vendor again, think of this vendor as one of us. Ask this vendor the same think you just asked us. Ask “Do you have some tips for me? About packaging, presentation or the sweet spot on pricing?”

I am a hobbyist and I give my soap to family and friends. It’s probably a good thing because if I saw a beautiful soap, or beautiful packaging, I’d probably try to copy it and get myself sued. But, the point is, since vendor seems willing to share their thoughts, pick their brain! Who knows, maybe you’ll become friends?

 

[MelissaG]

@MelissaG , your fellow vendor’s words have ruined your day, so that's a bummer.

But, from a different point of view, @soapmaker ’s fellow vendor said “Don’t under value yourself”, and they have become friends.
So, not everyone is a good communicator. The vendor could have meant anything from “Yikes! How am I going to sell anything with such great prices next to mine??” to “Charge more so customers don’t think your ingredients are low quality.”

Your goal is to have a profitable soap business. To me, it sounds like you’ve been wise in your approach. You are adjusting your prices based on whether or not the market is responding. On this soapmaking forum, our goal is to be constructive and helpful in our feedback, but sometimes things come out wrong and we are misunderstood. Possibly that is what happened?

If you see this fellow vendor again, think of this vendor as one of us. Ask this vendor the same think you just asked us. Ask “Do you have some tips for me? About packaging, presentation or the sweet spot on pricing?”

I am a hobbyist and I give my soap to family and friends. It’s probably a good thing because if I saw a beautiful soap, or beautiful packaging, I’d probably try to copy it and get myself sued. But, the point is, since vendor seems willing to share their thoughts, pick their brain! Who knows, maybe you’ll become friends?

I'm ok now. It's just when they did that, they made me doubt myself. It's very frustrating when everyone else things they know better but they don't know the area I live in. I explained what it's like living here and was still blown off. It's frustrating.

 

[akseattle]

@MelissaG , I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better!

 

[MelissaG]

Thank you. I'm just glad I had somewhere to go to bring this up where I didn't feel I'd be attacked for it. Thank you all for listening.

 

[MomInWA]

@MelissaG When people make comments like that, it's always about who THEY are. It has nothing to do with you at all! Love yourself, and let it go. We think you're wonderful!

 

[MelissaG]

@MelissaG When people make comments like that, it's always about who THEY are. It has nothing to do with you at all! Love yourself, and let it go. We think you're wonderful!

Aww, thanks so much.

 

[Deb's mess]

I think most soaps I see around town are greatly overpriced. I keep my bars at 8 bucks, and I sell to friends and family people for 7. I want people to use good soap that's chemical-free. It isn't a huge profit, but enough to keep me doing what I love. You do you!

 

[MelissaG]

I think most soaps I see around town are greatly overpriced. I keep my bars at 8 bucks, and I sell to friends and family people for 7. I want people to use good soap that's chemical-free. It isn't a huge profit, but enough to keep me doing what I love. You do you!

Thanks Deb.