Perhaps Controversial ? (s) for those that sell - Long

[Gramma Judy]

I just returned from vacationing at our cabin in CO. Several of the shops I was in, sold handmade soap. One of the suppliers of the soap was from Montana, another from Illinois and another from Vermont. My question is - How do you guarantee that your product will hold up in different climates?
I have read many posts about long-time soapers, and assume they also sell, that have had problems with a tried and true recipe. On another forum, a soaper was having problems with a soap not gelling with a recipe that has gelled many times previously. Something had to have been different. Does this person sell that batch, not knowing what the soap will 'do' five months from now? Also does climate play a lot in how certain oils behave in different parts of the country. I guess I am asking this because I have read several posts where DOS has been noticed in soap at shops. I am in Michigan - I DO NOT SELL. But, let's say I did. I have a tried and true recipe that I have made for several years. I wholesale my soap to a Florida shop. How do I know my soap will be stable in Florida climate? Is this all irrelevant? Good soap is good soap, no matter where it is sent to?
Another reason I ask, I see pics and questions of this and other forums with a problem in the soap, then lo and behold this same, possibly problematic batch is being sold on their etsy site.
Why is it some have problems with canola oil, same recipe, and others don't? Maybe climate, or the moon or if you are on your period or not. Who knows? My grandma would not can food when on her period, she said her jars wouldn't seal. Sorry so long. I guess I think too much about stuff.

 

[wookie130]

No, I do think this is definitely something for those who sell soap to think about...even for those of us who sell locally, and experience climate extremes in there own localities. In Iowa, we have bitterly COLD winters, and the air can be very DRY. Our summers can be extremely hot and humid. This can definitely effect our tried-and-true recipes and how they behave while curing.

I'm wondering if it wouldn't be wise for sellers to acquire as small "test" group in the regions or states they will sell in, prior to actually selling the soap there? Those that belong to the test groups can take notes and report back on things such as DOS, bars sweating, scent, etc.

 

[carebear]

test
test
test

I have shipped soaps all over the world and had them sent back to me - to test my packaging and my soaps and how they hold up to shipping. I have folks across the US with bars of my soap in various places and I have them shipped back to me on a regular basis. And for any outlet outside of my area I have a 3-month test period which I run with older bars.

even so you cannot be sure

 

[Guest]

How long have you been testing carebear and how much longer do you think it will be before you will be ready to sell your soap ? I have been testing for 9 months and I am not done yet . Just curious as to how long different people test . I am a little OCD with most aspects of soap making . I don't want any surprises after my soap is sold . Like you said , we still can't be sure but I will be happy knowing I have done all the testing that I can before it is sold.


Kitn

 

[carebear]

kitn I've been selling for ages

 

[Vinca Leaf]

^^^I think maybe what she means is how long did you do it before you started selling, CB.

I've got folks in every corner of the US in every climate it seems. Friends that have been with me even through the uh....very rustic soaps? Gotten some great ideas and advice from them as lay people, and I make sure I take good care of them because the feedback is PRICELESS. Soon, one of my friends is sending some to Poland...Poland? Wow. Never thought it would go *that* far!

As for me, maybe a year of test-sending?

 

[heyjude]

test
test
test

I have shipped soaps all over the world and had them sent back to me - to test my packaging and my soaps and how they hold up to shipping. I have folks across the US with bars of my soap in various places and I have them shipped back to me on a regular basis. And for any outlet outside of my area I have a 3-month test period which I run with older bars.

even so you cannot be sure

I am so impressed by your good business practices, Carebear. I wonder how many of the soapers we see on Etsy and other venues take the time to do what you are doing.

Interesting topic. Something I will wonder about the next time I order soap online.

Jude

 

[AshleyR]

test
test
test

I have shipped soaps all over the world and had them sent back to me - to test my packaging and my soaps and how they hold up to shipping. I have folks across the US with bars of my soap in various places and I have them shipped back to me on a regular basis. And for any outlet outside of my area I have a 3-month test period which I run with older bars.

even so you cannot be sure

I am so impressed by your good business practices, Carebear. I wonder how many of the soapers we see on Etsy and other venues take the time to do what you are doing.

Interesting topic. Something I will wonder about the next time I order soap online.

Jude

Me too! And Jude, I don't think a lot of etsy sellers do take the time to really "know" their soaps before selling it. In fact, I was in one of the etsy chat rooms the other night, chatting with two different soap makers who had hundreds and hundreds of sales, only to find out both of them had been making soap for hardly 6 months! I was curious why I wasn't getting any etsy sales when I have put SO much time, effort, and thousands of dollars into my soap, and these two ladies had already hit it big on etsy after only making soap for 6 months! It just irked me a bit!

 

[Rosey]

isn't that always the way it is Ashley? You have a wonderful product, no one buys it and then someone has a crappy one and they are selling left and right. It's like that for a bunch of products and it's not fair.

Yay for R&D

 

[carebear]

many fine soapers are on etsy - and sadly some less than stellar ones are in their company...

 

[MyNaturesArt]

Are you SERIOUS AshleyR????? I think I would have had a very hard time not freaking out on them!

 

[heyjude]

If those women have hit it big after only six months of making soap, I think they have missed their true calling - marketing!

Unfortunately, when looking at a picture, it's hard to tell if you are buying it from someone who really knows their stuff or not. :?

Jude

 

[MyNaturesArt]

LOL No kidding Jude!

 

[carebear]

Just for the record, my educational background is food science and my work background has focused on product development for B&B - so I have seen horror stories lived out among the public. I also know how companies test their stuff - but I don't have the capability to do accelerated testing and cannot force my will on shippers, etc., so I have taken the responsibility upon my self to try to test in all sorts of circumstances.

Also I've spent several years in consumer insights and marketing, and have learned the impact of bad product and poor customer service on a company - and I don't want to go there.

 

[waychie]

Wow six months and they were selling already? :shock:

Wow, I've only been soaping for 6 months I *think* I have a decent recipe..but still testing testing testing! There's no way I could start selling online that soon!

I've had friends and family test mine, then get feedback (My shower soap dish contains 6 different soaps )

I'm thinking at least another year or so before I even think of really getting my soap out there...but is that too soon? I'm still learning and have a long way to go... :shock:

 

[Rosey]

same here waychie. I haven't even started to send anything off but I will soon and get the first feedbacks. My soap dishes are also full and I love them!

 

[Gramma Judy]

I am in my 5th month and have just begun to send some out for testing to friends and family. I already know the batches I made in my 1st and 2nd month, were okay, smelled good, looked good and lasted. But I also know that my 3rd and 4th month soaps have more of the qualities that I am seeking for my soap. I have attached a full page test sheet to each bar and hoping for honest feedback. I have told everyone that I need good feedback, even if I don't want to hear it. I have not listed the ingredients on the test sheet. Just a name of the soap. I know which ones should be more conditioning/moisturizing than others. I want to see if the results on the sheets reflect this with actual product. I do warn about if they have any known skin sensitivity to certain oils, to not use. These are people I know so I hope I get good results. I am also thinking of testing totally unscented to begin to narrow my basic recipes to 3-4. Sometimes I think the scent gets in the way of the actual quality of the soap. Never, would I think of selling if I had not done all of this testing. Mabe next year, at this same time, I will be ready.

 

[Deb]

I just returned from vacationing at our cabin in CO. Several of the shops I was in, sold handmade soap. One of the suppliers of the soap was from Montana, another from Illinois and another from Vermont. My question is - How do you guarantee that your product will hold up in different climates?
I have read many posts about long-time soapers, and assume they also sell, that have had problems with a tried and true recipe. On another forum, a soaper was having problems with a soap not gelling with a recipe that has gelled many times previously. Something had to have been different. Does this person sell that batch, not knowing what the soap will 'do' five months from now? Also does climate play a lot in how certain oils behave in different parts of the country. I guess I am asking this because I have read several posts where DOS has been noticed in soap at shops. I am in Michigan - I DO NOT SELL. But, let's say I did. I have a tried and true recipe that I have made for several years. I wholesale my soap to a Florida shop. How do I know my soap will be stable in Florida climate? Is this all irrelevant? Good soap is good soap, no matter where it is sent to?
Another reason I ask, I see pics and questions of this and other forums with a problem in the soap, then lo and behold this same, possibly problematic batch is being sold on their etsy site.
Why is it some have problems with canola oil, same recipe, and others don't? Maybe climate, or the moon or if you are on your period or not. Who knows? My grandma would not can food when on her period, she said her jars wouldn't seal. Sorry so long. I guess I think too much about stuff.

I know hard vs soft water makes a difference too...I moved from Ireland to Lethbridge, Canada and between climate and water differences, i'm having to rework all my recipe's. Its the responsible thing to do.

 

[madpiano]

I am always a bit worried how my soap behaves ina soft water area. I live in a very hard water place and therefore always add sugar, castor oil and quite a lot of coconut oil to my soaps. They bubble fine here.

Trouble is, everyone I know, lives in a hard water area, so I haven't had a chance yet to get my soaps tested in soft water. I think I might have to send some to Ireland....

 

[carebear]

I have soft soft water - send some my way!