Teach Soap

Hello,
My name is Gina. I am very interested in making my own soap. I have always had an interest in pretty soaps. Currently, I work at home doing data entry and freelance writing. I am always looking for different things to try as far as crafts and ways to make money. I went to a flea market and saw the cutest booth of homemade soaps. I decided to buy a small kit at Michaels and became hooked.

I am now trying to decided which way to go. I would like to get into it more. Is it possible to make a small business out of this?

Thanks and I look forward to learning and reading about your experiences.

Hi Gina and welcome! It sounds like you did the Melt & Pour type soap. Is that what you want to continue doing or will you be trying Cold Process too? It is possible to have a small business and there's lots of great info on this forum that will help.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Welcome!
Once you are done with the kit, get yourself some quality MP base. BrambleBerry, our forum hosts have excellent bases. People do make a business out of making soap, but it's a lot of hard work. Don't expect to make lots of money right up front.
I wrote this theread for CP soap, but it's relevant for MP soap as well. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3800

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Yes. Melt and Pour. I am afraid to try the Cold Process. Thank you so much for the welcome and thread.

Welcome to the forum, Gina! I agree with soapbuddy about the bases. I like SFIC-brand bases the best (Bramble Berry's bases are manufactured by SFIC). They are of higher quality than the stuff you get at craft stores, IMO. You can make a business out of selling soap, but it takes lots of patience and hard work. There are many threads about running a small home-based soap business here on this forum - if you do a search in the upper right corner, you'll find lots of info. Have fun soaping!

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- Jenny -
My soapy blog:
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Gina I have done M&P since 2004 and only started CP this February. Let me tell you, there is nothing more aggrevating, dangerous or wonderful than making CP. With M&P you can pretty much tell from the beginning of the process whether or not your soap will come out right. With CP you can only tell either in the pot or once you unmold your soap. I have had more disasters than successes but I keep coming back for more. I even have my 12 year old helping me design soaps. M&P is easier to make extravagant designs but I am much happier when one of my CP batches comes out the way that I want it to.

So keep at it and watch all of the Soap Queen posts on safety and baby steps. Business will come. Right now I am the sole provider of a massage oil and fragrance line for a message therapist in my area. I have been studying aromatherapy for years. And thankfully, I grew up in the country where the older generation would go out to their gardens and pick herbs for tinctures and such for us. Keep studying, reading and practicing.

Gina:

I would encourage you to visit the forums at Etsy as well, specifically the section on "Business Topics". While the conversations cover many types of art and craft, many of the issues are similar in terms of getting a small business off the ground. I was laid off from my job in 2009, and went through a phase of exploring selling my hand spun yarns on line. I spent many an hour reading postings...they are very informative and you can get advice from some very successful people. Lots of generous people willing to share their experiences.