Reality Of My Soaping Journey:

[Quilter99755]

Making soap is FUN. When it stops being fun, it's time to stop making soap.

The bottom line for me, too! I want my hobbies to be fun...to bring me joy. It sounds like you and I have the same genetic makeup. Glad there are more out there that can say NO to the selling siren.

 

[TheGecko]

I hadn't planned on starting a business...I just wanted to make soap for my family. Then friends found out, went nuts wanted to buy soap and I thought...why not? I'm going to retire in less than ten years...a little something to keep me busy and supplement my retirement income. So with the full support of my husband, I wrote a 5-year Business Plan. Then came Covid and screech...everything pretty much came to a halt. Our 4-person office became a 2-person office and I was at home trying to keep the cats off my desk and doing the double the work (I tried doing everyone's but couldn't). I was more exhausted at the end of the 'day' than I had been with an hour and a half commute after eight hours. Didn't make much soap, didn't work on my website, hardly even knitted. And then I had to haul all that crap back to the office AND then it just got worse. Stress on top of stress with a double order of stress and a side of stress.

I'm still going forward, but at a much slower pace.

 

[Basil]

What a great heartfelt honest post. When I look at the 130 bars of soap I have in my basement it makes me happy. I have always suffered with anxiety and soap making is a great hobby that calms my nerves and makes me proud that I created something that my family and friends can use and enjoy. When I imagine selling soap the joy is replaced by anxiety and self doubt. To be honest some of it is just pure laziness and the fear of failure that prevents me from taking the steps it would take to sell. Also, the market is so saturated right now that I would rather keep to my one batch a week and hone my skills. Who knows, maybe one day I can get past the self doubt and take little baby steps towards selling, but for now I will continue to enjoy this forum and the people on it. Thanks @Peachy Clean Soap for opening this discussion. It is very cool to see everyone else‘s attitude towards selling versus not selling.

OHHHHH @SoapDaddy70 ! You hit home with me ... true confessions... I've been a nurse for over 40 years and actually a pretty good one if I do say so with humbleness. I came from a line that started with white stockings and a cap. Last year I kind of retired unplanned since covid hit. I had moved from working at a VA clinic to marketing for a Rehab Hospital as a clinical liason. Needless to say, marketing was put on hold due to covid- and unemployment became a reality. First time in my nursing career. With that, I figured maybe this is time for me to put my dreams into reality and start really working on my soaping skills since I have allllllllllllll these goats! With all of the help from this forum and individuals here, (a personal thank you @Zany_in_CO ) I started thinking selling could be a reality. During this time, I also learned some things about myself. Although I'm a great nurse, self direction in other areas seemed to be an issue. It's something I've thought about for years, but never really figured it out. I thought it was laziness, or maybe something in my brain was missing, anxiety or I wasn't good enough..whatever. I recently decided to get tested and almost 3 months ago was diagnosed with ADHD. ( my family wasn't surprised lol )Everything fell into place then. As a nurse, I don't allow diagnoses to label people, which would include me. But it did explain some things. So now I'm on medicine which is supposed to help me focus, stay directed, etc. I'm titrating up and we'll see. I actually do notice an improvement. I apologize for being so lengthy, but in response to your doubts and laziness, I understand. Maybe all of us love what we're learning, it gives us a creative outlet, we have something to offer and maybe some of us will make money from it and maybe some of us won't. But the support on this forum is so positive and I have personally learned more than just making better soap. Once again, with heartfelt appreiciation @Peachy Clean Soap, thank you for opening this thread and making my soaping journey more honest.

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

I hadn't planned on starting a business...I just wanted to make soap for my family. Then friends found out, went nuts wanted to buy soap and I thought...why not? I'm going to retire in less than ten years...a little something to keep me busy and supplement my retirement income. So with the full support of my husband, I wrote a 5-year Business Plan. Then came Covid and screech...everything pretty much came to a halt. Our 4-person office became a 2-person office and I was at home trying to keep the cats off my desk and doing the double the work (I tried doing everyone's but couldn't). I was more exhausted at the end of the 'day' than I had been with an hour and a half commute after eight hours. Didn't make much soap, didn't work on my website, hardly even knitted. And then I had to haul all that crap back to the office AND then it just got worse. Stress on top of stress with a double order of stress and a side of stress.

I'm still going forward, but at a much slower pace.

Covid has had quite an impact "Globally" I'm glad to see our lives becoming "normal" again.
Q. Did your soap sales increase w/ your website? I'm thinking a website would or could help soap sale's?. I didnt grow up w/ computers' Our "Dial Phone was hard wired to the wall and learning to create a website makes me stop in my tracks' though I think Websites' Social Media gives us a half winning chance at this crazy but so much fun soap business.

 

[SoapDaddy70]

I thought it was laziness, or maybe something in my brain was missing, anxiety or I wasn't good enough..whatever. I recently decided to get tested and almost 3 months ago was diagnosed with ADHD. ( my family wasn't surprised lol )

So crazy that you wrote this because for the longest time I have always had a creeping suspicion that I may have some undiagnosed issue like ADHD. Not sure why I have never been tested, maybe it is the fear of the outcome that has prevented me from doing so. I have a great life and am genuinely a happy person most of the time but my wife is always telling me that I should probably be medicated because I am all over the place and my mind is never at rest. It can be tiring at times but I never imagined myself as a person who needed to be medicated but maybe it's time to consider it. Thanks for everyone's honesty. This post sure is turning into a little therapy session!!

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

OHHHHH @SoapDaddy70 ! You hit home with me ... true confessions... I've been a nurse for over 40 years and actually a pretty good one if I do say so with humbleness. I came from a line that started with white stockings and a cap. Last year I kind of retired unplanned since covid hit. I had moved from working at a VA clinic to marketing for a Rehab Hospital as a clinical liason. Needless to say, marketing was put on hold due to covid- and unemployment became a reality. First time in my nursing career. With that, I figured maybe this is time for me to put my dreams into reality and start really working on my soaping skills since I have allllllllllllll these goats! With all of the help from this forum and individuals here, (a personal thank you @Zany_in_CO ) I started thinking selling could be a reality. During this time, I also learned some things about myself. Although I'm a great nurse, self direction in other areas seemed to be an issue. It's something I've thought about for years, but never really figured it out. I thought it was laziness, or maybe something in my brain was missing, anxiety or I wasn't good enough..whatever. I recently decided to get tested and almost 3 months ago was diagnosed with ADHD. ( my family wasn't surprised lol )Everything fell into place then. As a nurse, I don't allow diagnoses to label people, which would include me. But it did explain some things. So now I'm on medicine which is supposed to help me focus, stay directed, etc. I'm titrating up and we'll see. I actually do notice an improvement. I apologize for being so lengthy, but in response to your doubts and laziness, I understand. Maybe all of us love what we're learning, it gives us a creative outlet, we have something to offer and maybe some of us will make money from it and maybe some of us won't. But the support on this forum is so positive and I have personally learned more than just making better soap. Once again, with heartfelt appreiciation @Peachy Clean Soap, thank you for opening this thread and making my soaping journey more honest.

OMG Well said. Agree full heartily. though cant take credit' we all share this is what makes it great.
I loved the part after discovering you had ADHD ' Your Family Wasn't Surprised' classic glad the meds have helped. I bet you were a fantastic nurse' in every way. ❤

Update: I'm dyslexic & constantly correcting my grammar ugh such a struggle. I switch numbers & letters' ive learned to cope & adjust. Shhhh the secret
when my soap recipe doesn't turn out' I know Ive switched a number somewhere.

 

[Ugeauxgirl]

I've recently retired and I've been making soap- a LOT of soap. I love it, and I thought about selling. People have asked me to, but I think I'm not. And when I think about how much it costs, I just remind myself that it's cheaper than fishing or golf and maybe even gardening. Cost certainly hasn't slowed that hobby! I'll make it till I don't want to anymore then I'll do something else. I retired because I was tired of HAVING to do stuff. I'll donate it to church fairs and fundraisers when I run out of friends to give it to!

 

[Tara_H]

almost 3 months ago was diagnosed with ADHD

Congratulations! Hopefully now the hardest part is over. Getting on meds was the best thing that ever happened to me (apart from husband, obviously ) and being able to make complex plans just for me and carry them out is something I wouldn't trade for the world.

 

[Basil]

So crazy that you wrote this because for the longest time I have always had a creeping suspicion that I may have some undiagnosed issue like ADHD. Not sure why I have never been tested, maybe it is the fear of the outcome that has prevented me from doing so. I have a great life and am genuinely a happy person most of the time but my wife is always telling me that I should probably be medicated because I am all over the place and my mind is never at rest. It can be tiring at times but I never imagined myself as a person who needed to be medicated but maybe it's time to consider it. Thanks for everyone's honesty. This post sure is turning into a little therapy session!!

So funny, because the way you wrote the post made me think of me. The reason I got tested was because my daughter ( 37 years old) decided to get tested. She's doing her residency in neuropsychology and tests other people young and old. After seeing similar tendancies in who she tests, she decided to get tested herself for ADHD and found out she has it. She was all over the place as a kid and still is and very smart. Because of her results, I went to the same place and got tested. It does tend to run in families. It is tiring but it can be managed. As an example... I've got lots of calenders and notebooks for keeping me on track, ideas, etc. Doesn't work. My husband suggested a big white board for my soaping ideas. It works. @Zany_in_CO challenged me to figure out costs..I'm good at hyperfocusing when I get started and did 56 recipes lol... but I have a big white board calendar as well and when I look at it, I know I should start planning how to label soaps... there really are methods to madness LOL. Good luck , I'll continue watching your posts! Yes @Peachy Clean Soap, you have opened another door to the soaping quandary.

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

I've recently retired and I've been making soap- a LOT of soap. I love it, and I thought about selling. People have asked me to, but I think I'm not. And when I think about how much it costs, I just remind myself that it's cheaper than fishing or golf and maybe even gardening. Cost certainly hasn't slowed that hobby! I'll make it till I don't want to anymore then I'll do something else. I retired because I was tired of HAVING to do stuff. I'll donate it to church fairs and fundraisers when I run out of friends to give it to!

Excellent idea, No perfect Gift then soap.

 

[Basil]

OMG Well said. Agree full heartily. though cant take credit' we all share this is what makes it great.
I loved the part after discovering you had ADHD ' Your Family Wasn't Surprised' classic glad the meds have helped. I bet you were a fantastic nurse' in every way. ❤

Update: I'm dyslexic & constantly correcting my grammar ugh such a struggle. I switch numbers & letters' ive learned to cope & adjust. Shhhh the secret
when my soap recipe doesn't turn out' I know Ive switched a number somewhere.

I couldn't decide whether to laugh or love! IT's really both!

 

[Basil]

Congratulations! Hopefully now the hardest part is over. Getting on meds was the best thing that ever happened to me (apart from husband, obviously ) and being able to make complex plans just for me and carry them out is something I wouldn't trade for the world.

WOW!

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

WOW!

@Tara Wonderfull in-site .

 

[maryloucb]

I really feel like there's a lot of pressure from friends/family for me to sell (in my experience at least.) I'm setting myself up to sell in the future if that's what I decide to do, but I don't really have any pressure on myself to sell (except for the fact that my house will eventually fill up with soap ) It's also nice to think that maybe it can just be a self supporting thing, with sales covering costs.

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

I really feel like there's a lot of pressure from friends/family for me to sell (in my experience at least.) I'm setting myself up to sell in the future if that's what I decide to do, but I don't really have any pressure on myself to sell (except for the fact that my house will eventually fill up with soap ) It's also nice to think that maybe it can just be a self supporting thing, with sales covering costs.

Yes' if we can sale enough to cover cost' I'm a happy Camper'

 

[AliOop]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your respective journeys. It's great to see everyone supporting one another!

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

@AliOop Ditto That...

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

Thank you everyone for sharing your soap "Personally Journey's" what I'm taking away from all of your stories is we are more alike then different with our heartfelt vulnerabilities & brave enough to share them. I feel I know each of you on a more personal level & for that i'm so grateful.
Namaste ...

 

[TheGecko]

Q. Did your soap sales increase w/ your website? I'm thinking a website would or could help soap sale's?. I didnt grow up w/ computers' Our "Dial Phone was hard wired to the wall and learning to create a website makes me stop in my tracks' though I think Websites' Social Media gives us a half winning chance at this crazy but so much fun soap business.

LOL...my website still says "Coming Soon". I didn't grow up with computers either, we had typewriters and carbon paper. Around the time I turned 50, I had gone back to school and got a Degree in Website Design and Development...I wanted to get out of accounting and the daily grind and eventually from home. The program was supposed to be 'cutting edge' with the world going towards ASP.NET. Only by the time I graduated with my Associates Degree...ASP.NET was out and PHP was in and no one was hiring without PHP skills...so I went back to accounting.

Websites aren't the end all, be all that they once were. Most soap maker's websites are little more than 'shopping carts', simply a place to order their products from. Not to pick on Julie, but Welcome to Ophelia's Soapery ~ Handmade Artisan Soap is an example of what I am talking about. Where she 'sells' her soap...Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Myself, I'm not a huge fan of 'social media'. The thought of having to deal with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, YouTube, et al just absolutely boggles the mind. But at the same time, I understand the importance of 'social media' when it comes to marketing. Problem is, with a full time job, I don't have time for any of it. Hubby and I have been discussing make videos and him being my 'editor' since he is retired and isn't doing anything else with his day. He's trying to get out of it by saying he wouldn't know what to do as far as what to keep and what to toss...I said he would learn just as I would have to learn and I would give him reference videos. My youngest daughter lives with us (she's in her early 30s) and spends a considerable amount of time on the Internet so I told her she could become my 'social media manager'...a good way to pay for her soap and bath salts.

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

LOL...my website still says "Coming Soon". I didn't grow up with computers either, we had typewriters and carbon paper. Around the time I turned 50, I had gone back to school and got a Degree in Website Design and Development...I wanted to get out of accounting and the daily grind and eventually from home. The program was supposed to be 'cutting edge' with the world going towards ASP.NET. Only by the time I graduated with my Associates Degree...ASP.NET was out and PHP was in and no one was hiring without PHP skills...so I went back to accounting.

Websites aren't the end all, be all that they once were. Most soap maker's websites are little more than 'shopping carts', simply a place to order their products from. Not to pick on Julie, but Welcome to Ophelia's Soapery ~ Handmade Artisan Soap is an example of what I am talking about. Where she 'sells' her soap...Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Myself, I'm not a huge fan of 'social media'. The thought of having to deal with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, YouTube, et al just absolutely boggles the mind. But at the same time, I understand the importance of 'social media' when it comes to marketing. Problem is, with a full time job, I don't have time for any of it. Hubby and I have been discussing make videos and him being my 'editor' since he is retired and isn't doing anything else with his day. He's trying to get out of it by saying he wouldn't know what to do as far as what to keep and what to toss...I said he would learn just as I would have to learn and I would give him reference videos. My youngest daughter lives with us (she's in her early 30s) and spends a considerable amount of time on the Internet so I told her she could become my 'social media manager'...a good way to pay for her soap and bath salts.

Love your info' i'm the same regarding "social Media" not a fan' though by pure accident found SMF googling how too's & most thankful I jumped on here' haven't left.

I think youtube videos are a wonderful way of getting your product known, but having said this a website is wonderful so they can purchase your product.

Positive Feedback:
We had our garage door repaired last week' I gave him #2 bars of soap a Peppermint w/ a drop swirl and A fruity scented soap. He was happy & said his wife buys soap @ the flea markets & they love homemade soap, moving forward to this morning, Garage Door Repairman txt my hubby asking to forward msg to me " His Wife loves my soap & thank you so much" Aww this made my Day... .