To start with soap is not moisturizing, it cleans. The issue is how stripping is is? Coconut Oil, Babassu, and Palm Kernel are the bubbly, cleansing, oils that can be very good at stripping our natural oils off our body. That is why I mention you need to take the time it requires to figure out how to make a body loving bar and balance the bubbles. Myristic and Lauric are the bubbly cleansing oils.
As for business, you need to spend the year going into the store and see how their business is, it is not always the way to go. In the present economy it would be extremely had to keep a Brick and Mortar going, with insurance, workers comp, utilities, rent, maintenance, then if you make the mistake of incorporating there are more bils and requirements to follow. When incorporated you cannot just shut the doors, and close the business if it is not going well. No peopl,e there is no great protection with a corporation now, used to be not now, do not ask how I know but believe me I know. I have to say I would never never open up a store for B&B, people that go in a store to purchase are mostly people wanting manufactured products are not ones that tend to like handmade. If they go to Lush type stores that is usually where they will continue to go. Do you have the money to back the business, that is a huge biggie. This is why I choose to sell in Farmer Markets, rent is paid if I go and my customers know where to find me or they can call me and make arrangements if they want something delivered. Keep in mind this is a hugely "Over-saturated" business, with to much DIY sites for making your own. We found scrubs sales have steeply dropped off due to customers making their own. I would not depend on Etsy for selling enough to pay for supplies. Paying for our own supplies is something we all have to deal with. I am fortunate my markets do keep my supplies going or I just do not buy whatever I am out of and re-tweak. You can certainly give away without insurance you can even sell without insurance, as long as you are not selling from a Brick & Mortar, or giveaway which is at your risk, but today most Farmer Markets require insurance, at least in California.
What do you really think a shop owner is going to tell you, whether in your type of business or not? I signed a lease, turned on utilities, acquired all permits and business licenses etc etc now I sit and hope someone walks through the door. Do your research. You "Cannot" start up a brick & Mortar on a shoestring, even 5 years worth of money backing will not necessarily keep it going. While I am not trying to discourage, I am trying to point out the realistic side of opening up a store. I did not mention even half the expenses that come with it. I forgot to point out the money you will put into stock sitting on a shelf and you worry about running tiny batches and wasting product. The big up-turn in handmade sales has considerably slowed down, that happend 8-10 years ago. If you cannot afford to back your hobby finacially you certainly Cannot support a business. Soaping is addictive and expensive. Many of us whether sellers or not give away as much as we sell. We all get failures that are not what we want to sell so they go to the local shelter, food bank, Clean the World etc. Point is, there is waste. Dreams are wonderful, but failures are extremely expensive and many small store owners fail. This is just a little more info to chew on
