What I Learned When A Basic Soap Recipe Led Me To A Home-Based Business
HOW I GOT STARTED: I started making soap as a young girl helping my grandmother, who is now 98-years-old. When I began making soap as an adult, I didn't do it with the intent to sell. I only wanted to do something that was relaxing and enjoyable. CHOOSING A METHOD AND RECIPE: For my first batch, I chose a basic recipe which called for ingredients I could buy at my local grocery store. Looking around my kitchen I found the needed equipment the recipe called for and I thought "Why invest in costly supplies that I may never have needed again?" My rule was keep it simple and cheap. The recipe called for 3 lb of shortening, 1 lb of coconut oil, 1 1/2 lb of olive oil, 3/4 lb of lye, 2 lb of water and 1 oz of fragrance oil (optional). I used Red Devil lye from a local hardware store and fragrance oil from a craft store. I now buy my lye in bulk from the local chemical company. EQUIPMENT I USED: A stainless steel stock pot, an 8 cup tempered glass measuring cup, kitchen scale, candy thermometer, wooden spoons, spatula, mold and a stand mixer. You can use a wand to mix your soap, but I find a stand mixer so much easier. WEIGHING THE INGREDIENTS: Most of the ingredients can be measured or weighed in pounds. This is how I weighed my ingredients, but still continue to do so. I put the empty measuring cup on the scale and noted that it weighed 3 lb. Into the measuring cup I added the cold water until the scale read 5 lb, then carefully added the lye until the scale read 5 3/4 lb. I stirred the water until the lye was dissolved completely and set it aside to cool. I then put the empty stock pot on to the scale and noted that it weighed 2 lb. Into the pot I added shortening until the scale read 5 lb, next I added coconut oil until the scale read 6 lb. Last I added olive oil until the scale read 7 1/2 lb. I then moved the pot to the stove and turned the burner on low to slowly melt the oils together. PREPARING THE SOAP MOLD: For the first mold I used, I inserted the top of a copier paper box into a kitchen trash bag, smoothing the trash bag inside the inverted box top and over the sides. Taping to keep neat and smooth. MIXING THE LYE WATER INTO THE OILS: Using the candy thermometer I carefully monitored the temperatures of the lye water and oils until they were both 105 degrees. Using a long-handled wooden spoon, I slowly stirred the oil while carefully pouring in the lye water using a slow steady stream until the cup was empty. I poured the mixture into my mixing bowl and set the speed on stir. Within a few minutes the soap looked like thin pudding. This is when fragrance oils should be added. When the soap came to a slightly thicker trace, I poured it into my prepared mold, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula. I placed cardboard over the top of the soap and then added a couple of heavy towels on top to insulate. REMOVING THE SOAP AND CUTTING INTO BARS: The soap needs to sit covered at least 24 hours to complete the saponification process. In other words for the mixture to turn into soap. After 24 hours I turned the solid slab of soap on to a clean work table and cut into bars. There are many methods of cutting bars of soap, but for this basic recipe I used a ruler to mark lines so that the bars of soap would be the same size and edges straight when I sliced them with a knife. CURING SOAP: I placed the bars of soap on their ends in a box and set on a shelf to cure for two weeks. Note: If any type of milk is used in the soap, the curing time is no less than 3 weeks. WRAPPING AND LABELING THE SOAP: There are many ways to package soap. I chose a simple method. Using colorful tissue paper, I wrapped the bars of soap like I would a present. Any dollar store carries tissue paper. For my cigar band labels, I bought a durable stationary paper from an office supply store. I designed a label that had the name of the soap on the front, the ingredients across the top edge and a little description of the soap on the back. THE DECISION TO OPEN A BUSINESS: I was nudged into starting a business by my friends and family. I contacted the Small Business Association for guidance. The first thing I needed to do was apply for a fictitious name since I was not going to use my own. After the name was approved, I applied for a tax ID number and business license. I would recommend a business plan with a clear idea of the direction you want your company to go and try to stay on track. I opened a business account at my bank, one that gave me a credit card. I also wanted a Logo, so I asked my sister to draw it for me. There are many free logo programs on the Internet also. SPACE: Since we have 3 birds and my husband has allergies, I designated a work area and storage space in my garage. My soap is kept in a spare room. I found that the dollar stores and discount stores had better prices on storage containers than the sales at my local hardware or super center store. I also buy in bulk when I can to include organic oils in 5 gallon drums. PLACES TO SELL SOAP: I started with flea and farmer markets and then a few craft shows. The overhead is usually more expensive at craft shows, so I was choosy. I joined an online craft site where I could display my soap for sale. I found three shops to carry my soap, one was on consignment and the other two I sold wholesale. I developed my website using Yahoo Sitebuilder, which was very easy to use and offered great technical support. A WORD OF CAUTION FOR PLACING SOAP ON CONSIGNMENT. I found that people never treat your products like their own. And when on consignment they remain yours until they are sold. I spent a lot of time replacing soap that had become unsightly and dirty due to being handled and/or dropped. WHOLESALE AND SPECIAL ORDERS: Selling wholesale can provide constant business. An agreement form is very important. Even if both parties seem to understand each other completely, a misunderstanding can occur. I write every detail discussed between my customer and I in the agreement No detail is overlooked when I start to process the order. When making a special order soap using a fragrance that a customer has requested, I tell them up front that when the soap has finished curing, it may not smell exactly as they expected. I will try my best, but I can't guarantee the scent. I give myself a realistic amount of time to process the orders. I never give false delivery dates in hopes that I can pull it off. Wholesale and Special Orders are to be paid in advance. I cannot afford to get stuck with a large special order that no one wants. PRICING: Usually wholesale prices are 1/2 of the retail price. Of course if I am wrapping and labeling, etc., my prices reflect those extras. There are all kinds of articles on the Internet that give ideas and guidelines for pricing soap. I looked around my community to see what the specialty and health food stores were selling their soap for. As with most handmade items, I will never get paid for all the work I put into making them. That is reality. In one article I read on pricing soap, by the time every aspect was added into the mix, one bar of soap cost almost $10.00. I don't know about your area, but the economy in my area would not support that price. I would have a lot of nice smelling soap sitting around my soap room. This is also why I make a small batch of soap when using a new fragrance. With new soap fragrances, I give my friends and family samples to use. If I get positive reviews then I may try them at he local flea markets. If the soap sells well at the flea market, then I may make it a part of my inventory. I also make soap based on the Season. Spicy for Autumn, floral for Spring and Summer, etc. A few soap makers have done real well, some have gone on to expand their businesses to include supplies for soap and candle making. I am happy to do what I love and if I make a penny, well that is just the icing on the cake.Loyce Henderson writes articles and reviews in her spare time. She works full-time, but also runs her soap making business. She and her husband currently live in Florida with their dog, two African Gray parrots and Rose Breasted Cockatoo. [http://www.grandmaandmesoaps.com]Wholesale Soap Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-I-Learned-When-A-Basic-Soap-Recipe-Led-Me-To-A...] What I Learned When A Basic Soap Recipe Led Me To A Home-Based BusinessComments [0]
