Results of market yesterday

[cmzaha]

Finally no rain on market day so we were able to go. This is a quick summary how it went. Sales for soap were a grand total of 8 bars of soap, makes me wonder why I bother. Total of $96 in B&B products, and $350 in crochet hats and hoods... Sadly this has been fairly a fairly typical scenario in the last year.

Markets in my area of So Cal are slowing dying, especially for the handmade bath and body products. There was a time I could make $400-500 at my weekly Friday market, selling B&B products. That market changed management and is falling apart, vendors are barely making booth space and it is a market that is 25+ yrs old.

Fortunately my 2 weekend holiday show still goes well or I think I would quit this business. And then there is the fact I just cannot get motivated to make soap these days

 

[soapmaker]

Oh, I'm sorry. I have those unmotivated days too. But that dying market is sad. Maybe there's another one? But that was great sales on crocheted items! I sell from home, would that be an option? I went to our local Sat. morning market once,probably 8 yrs. ago when I was selling soap for 3.50 ea. and made $300. from 8:00- 1:00. Too much work these days. So I sell from home. Sometimes good, sometimes poor. January and Feb. this year is terrible. Hopefully you're all better from your flu?
ETA: Meant to say my MIL went to market with me with crocheted items and sold nothing!

 

[cmzaha]

Oh, I'm sorry. I have those unmotivated days too. But that dying market is sad. Maybe there's another one? But that was great sales on crocheted items! I sell from home, would that be an option? I went to our local Sat. morning market once,probably 8 yrs. ago when I was selling soap for 3.50 ea. and made $300. from 8:00- 1:00. Too much work these days. So I sell from home. Sometimes good, sometimes poor. January and Feb. this year is terrible. Hopefully you're all better from your flu?
ETA: Meant to say my MIL went to market with me with crocheted items and sold nothing!

The trick to the crochet is I am selling at a Kaiser Hospital , but B&B in the past were also good selling. I also sold well 8-9 years ago and did 4-5 markets per week so actually made decent added income. That started changing about 4 yrs ago and the booth costs keep going up with $50- 75 being the normal, with the markets not warranting the costs. So I am probably going to stick with bi-yearly and yearly multi day markets.

I am pretty much over the flu except the dizziness, it is driving me crazy

 

[dixiedragon]

I think right now the trend is "personalized" skin care systems.

 

[shunt2011]

Carolyn that stinks. At least you have your crochet stuff. I quit doing markets. They are just so overpopulated with soapmakers here. 3-4 at a market. I do mostly weekend shows in tourist towns and still continue to do really well. So, unless that changes, I'll keep dong them. If they go to pot I'll have to re-evaluate. I still really enjoy them so that's a good thing. Hope things get better for you. I was in a making drought for months and months. Finally got some made.

 

[lsg]

Sorry to hear that the market did not go well. I don't do craft shows or online selling of B&B products anymore. I once sold my B&B products on Etsy, but the market was too crowded. I still sell my paper products and cards on Etsy. I am wondering if you could try featuring your products at touristy-type stores. Just an idea

 

[SideDoorSoaps]

I’m at the same point! I have cut down on shows that are all day things because that time is so valuable. Even when I’m the only soap maker, I can barely eek out the show fee. I also sell out of a friend’s coffee shop and do pretty well there. I do sell more B&B than soap. I think it’s more trendy now than actual bar soaps.

Seems like our local area is pretty saturated with knit and crochet items as well and I don’t typically sell my items. I take special orders and do very well that way.

 

[amd]

Oh man, Carolyn, that's terrible about the market! I hope you find a solution for selling and the inspiration to continue making. I'm in the same boat for not wanting to make (although I think mine is more linked to just having so much 2018 and 2017 stock left to sell, that what's the point in making more??).

 

[SoaperForLife]

Oh man, Carolyn, that's terrible about the market! I hope you find a solution for selling and the inspiration to continue making. I'm in the same boat for not wanting to make (although I think mine is more linked to just having so much 2018 and 2017 stock left to sell, that what's the point in making more??)

You should do a sale if you have a venue or a website, to get rid of your old stock. I do one the beginning of December and sell out of most of my inventory.

 

[amd]

You should do a sale if you have a venue or a website, to get rid of your old stock

Yeah... I did that... still have stock! It will be ok, they're all still good soaps and scents are holding. If I don't make more soap then I don't have to spend more money ??

 

[cmzaha]

I really do not worry about old stock, afterall the bar of soap is so much nicer after a year. If it still retains scent I sell it. In fact I just sold out 2 that I have had for 1.5 yrs and scent was holding.

As for my crochet hats if I ever lose the market for whatever reason, I will quit with the crochet. This is a Kaiser hospital and Doctor offices I sell at, so lots of hats.

We no longer have a website at the moment. It was my daughter's site built by Yahoo and it was very expensive so I am going to try to get it up and running if it is not to late with Yahoo