It’s fine. I’m not freaking out. Everything is fine.
You got this.
Market Newbie
- Thread starter TashaBird
- Start date
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You got this.
KimW
Well-Known Member
Just do like @The_Phoenix and listen to Barry White whispering, "You got this, baby..." 
You got this, baby. @TashaBird
It’s dawned on me that I’m not only doing something totally new and outside my comfort zone. But, I’m going from almost total isolation and zero social life/interaction, to a very peopley event! I’m not sure I know how to people any more!!!
I just need to move some soap, so I can make more soap.
Been finishing up wrapping and labeling a bunch of new soap. Just made two batches of balms and one batch of lotion bars, 2 more prepped for tomorrow. Set up square. Tomorrow I’ll set up everything and the hubs and I will “role play” (his words
) a sale to make sure everything works.
I luv my little bathtub! Going to fill it with soaps!
I’ve got hella samples! I might not always keep it up, but might as well start generous.
I just need to move some soap, so I can make more soap.
Been finishing up wrapping and labeling a bunch of new soap. Just made two batches of balms and one batch of lotion bars, 2 more prepped for tomorrow. Set up square. Tomorrow I’ll set up everything and the hubs and I will “role play” (his words
) a sale to make sure everything works. I luv my little bathtub! Going to fill it with soaps!
I’ve got hella samples! I might not always keep it up, but might as well start generous.
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You’re going to do great! Go people your merry heart out. And geek out on soap with said people.
And that little bathtub! Adorable!
I was just talking with @Todd Ziegler about the reality that giving out samples and testers (aka, giving away some soap for free) is almost imperative for getting people to try your product without spending a fortune on advertising.
With so many soapers out there, and the fact that soap is such a personal product that people either like or don't like, you may need to do a lot of giving away to begin with. And if not, and if people are happy to buy without samples, then more power to ya! Just don't feel discouraged if there is more given away at the beginning. You make great soap, so eventually it will pay off.
With so many soapers out there, and the fact that soap is such a personal product that people either like or don't like, you may need to do a lot of giving away to begin with. And if not, and if people are happy to buy without samples, then more power to ya! Just don't feel discouraged if there is more given away at the beginning. You make great soap, so eventually it will pay off.
I was telling the hubs today that my sample offering plan is “shock and awe!”
I hope to give out as many samples as possible this Sunday. Probably not so many in the future. But, I’ve got quite the stockpile right now! If they like it, come back next month and buy some soap, or go to the website on the sample label.
My whole skin care line, and all my soaps, except my salt soap, is tallow based. So I know this will be a community outreach and education project. But that’s my thing so. Just going to see how it goes.
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@TashaBird I LOVE your display!! Very well stocked and colorful AND extremely organized. Just beautiful! Good luck on market day!
Catscankim
Well-Known Member
AGREED!! I've sold for MLMs for years, and in the past few years it was all handmade soap and natural products. I am a firm believer that you need to hand out generously to get customers to like your product. I am not big on "selling". I don't have the personality for that. But if I give something away and put some stuff on social media....I will get calls/texts. And soap scraps and bits given away cost nearly nothing. For my last mlm that I sold for...soap scraps cost $1.25 (per the company). So I used to cut up a bar of soap myself into chunks/hotel sized bars, and give it away. Now I just spent $8 and gained 5-6 customers. At the time I didn't even realize that they were scraps and ends that they were selling.
I would set up a "station" at the kitchen sink for a hand spa with our liquid soap and a dollop of scrub for a complimentary hand spa and sell tons of scrub and liquid soap. I had a two hour party and sold $1200 worth of product from the $12 + $16 jars of scrub and LS that I put at the sink that I purchased myself.
I did not come up with this concept myself. It was something I learned while selling MLM. But my point is...samples, even occasional full sized products, generate sales and repeat customers (a glass or two of wine helps generate bigger sales LOL)
@Catscankim I wish we could have wine!
@TashaBird fantastic display! Can't wait to hear how it goes; is it today??
If you are serious I can take some pics of some of my hats I have left. I still have a crate full.I love your crochet hats! I'll take one of each!
I personally found giving away samples just did not generate enough business to make it worthwhile. People love freebies and would pick them up whether they were really interested in handmade soap or not. When I was giving out soap I would ask if they happened to try a sample when I did not recognize a customer and usually the answer was, "What Sample,?" I would guess less than 2% of my sales were from customers returning after trying a sample soap. What I did do was have sample soaps if someone asked if I had a small sample they could try. Most people do not know a good soap from a bad soap and purchase for the smell, and a few purchase for colors.
In November of last year, a local salon approached me to carry my soaps in their salon. She also asked if I could provide sample bars for her to give to her clients. I cut 24 bars down into fourths, shrink wrapped, and labeled each and every one. The clients she gave the samples to LOVED the soap, and yet the wholesale inventory she has on-hand hasn’t budged much. She did confess to me, though, that she keeps dipping into her stock for her own personal use, which is encouraging.
I’m not trying to dissuade you from providing samples. I like giving away free stuff! Just to set a realistic expectation. More than your soap, it’s your personality people will remember. People buy from people they like. Come up with super catchy things to get their attention, “Do you bathe regularly?”
They’ll give you an odd look but it’ll get their attention. Then just strike up conversation. And don’t just dive into talking about your soap. Ask them if they go to the market regularly. Ask them if they’re as excited as you to be out and about with a feeling of normalcy. Make it about THEM, not your soap or you. Then, wait for them to start looking at the soap. And DO NOT say ANYTHING about price until they ask. THEN geek-out on your soap and talk about your passion.
I’m not trying to dissuade you from providing samples. I like giving away free stuff! Just to set a realistic expectation. More than your soap, it’s your personality people will remember. People buy from people they like. Come up with super catchy things to get their attention, “Do you bathe regularly?”
They’ll give you an odd look but it’ll get their attention. Then just strike up conversation. And don’t just dive into talking about your soap. Ask them if they go to the market regularly. Ask them if they’re as excited as you to be out and about with a feeling of normalcy. Make it about THEM, not your soap or you. Then, wait for them to start looking at the soap. And DO NOT say ANYTHING about price until they ask. THEN geek-out on your soap and talk about your passion.
Good point, Carolyn. I was honestly thinking more of situations outside of the market context, such as giving samples to family, friends, people we meet via work, etc. - kind of how CatscanKim does at her workplace.
You said it a lot better than I could have. Samples, other than lotion samples, did nothing for me.
Yup, yup, yup.... THIS!!
I will also add, I did a Wine Tasting in the city several years where my Friday night market was located. This was my largest market with an estimated over 5k attendance per Friday night. The point was this Wine Tasting was a huge yearly event bringing out residents from neighboring cities that did not regularly attend the Friday market. We poured wrapped and labeled 500 flower sample soaps, just under 1 oz each for giveaways. I would guess I maybe could count the sales I received on one hand.
I also stopped handing out cards and also made a sign to take a picture of, cards several years ago because they are expensive and I would find them laying in the street or in the trash. People ask for cards just to ask for something and make you think they are interested.
All markets are different and these are my experiences with selling in So Cal for over 10yrs, selling in 5 markets per week.
I also stopped handing out cards and also made a sign to take a picture of, cards several years ago because they are expensive and I would find them laying in the street or in the trash. People ask for cards just to ask for something and make you think they are interested.
All markets are different and these are my experiences with selling in So Cal for over 10yrs, selling in 5 markets per week.
Zany_in_CO
Saponifier
I am serious! Please post pics/prices in the Classifieds. I prefer acrylic or cotton. Wool makes my head itch.
Of the ones pictured, I like the multi-colored striped one in the front row, lower left and the pale lavender one in the top row.
