Meagan’s Siren soap. She was inspired by the original story of The Little Mermaid, written by Hans Christian Andersen. 

How long have you been soaping and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for a little over 6 years now. I’ve had a love for handcrafted things ever since I can remember. I once made my grandparents sit and wait for me while I watched a man make moccasins completely by hand, start to finish, from leather that he tanned himself.

So, almost 10 years ago I found a tutorial on soap making in a book that my grandfather had. It was full of other hand crafting tutorials, but something about soap making interested me. I spent years researching because I was so intimidated at the thought of using lye! I wanted to have all the information I could possibly find before I made my first batch, and once I finally took the leap, I fell in love.

Coffee soap, made with freshly brewed coffee and coffee grounds. 

What advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I would say to not be afraid of starting small or starting slow. You don’t have to come out of the gate with huge product lines and numerous scents. Have a vision of what you want your business to be in five years, in ten years. Think about your full potential. Keep your vision in mind and work towards it. Start with one product, don’t overwhelm yourself immediately.

Do your research on your products, get opinions from friends and family, and test everything. And remember, it’s ok to take a break! It’s easy to get a little burned out, especially after the holidays, so don’t be afraid to take time off every now and then to rest and regroup. You’ll be better for it, and your business will too.

Mad Hatter soap, fragranced with green tea and cucumber.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Soap is absolutely my favorite product to make. I enjoy bath bombs, body scrubs, and other products, but soap is my love. Every batch turns out different, even when I try to make them as similar as I can, it’s always a mystery. I’m always so excited to cut into a new loaf. What will the inside look like? Will it turn out like I planned, or maybe be something even better? It’s a fun surprise each time.

Georgia Peach soap, topped with leaf soap embeds. 

What inspires you to create?
So many different things! Sometimes it comes from books or movies like my Mad Hatter and Maleficent soaps. I have a huge list of concepts waiting to be made that were inspired by some of my favorite book characters. I pull inspiration from photos, from sunsets, from music. I have so many photos saved because the colors in them make me want to recreate them in soap.

Music makes me want to make things. A friend and I were discussing our favorite music from high school, and it resulted in my 80’s Baby Soap! Sometimes I have no clear plan when I order a fragrance, but the first time I smell it I immediately know what I want to make and what it should look like. Recently I pulled from my heritage and let Mardi Gras inspire me, and Voodoo Woman and Mardi Gras soaps were created.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
I wrestled with a name for the longest time! Nothing I came up with sounded right, and nothing my friends and family came up with sounded right either. So, I finally decided to name it after my children. My husband and I could only agree on a first name for our oldest, and we ended up letting my mother choose his middle name, so he’s Hayden Avery. When our daughter came along we found ourselves in the exact same position, agreeing on a first name but not being able to come to a compromise on a middle name. So again, we let my mother choose, and we have Adeline Grey.

Using their names was a way for me to bring three generations into one. My mother is a huge supporter, so it felt right to use the names she chose for my kids to name my business. I do this for me, but I also do this for my children. To set an example for them so that they know they can accomplish what they put their mind to. And naming something so important after the most important people in my life seemed a perfect start.

Maleficent soap. Scented with an absinthe fragrance and topped with Aurora’s crown and Maleficent’s staff. 

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I absolutely adore the Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil. It’s a little sweet and floral without being overpowering. It’s one of those fragrances that makes you stop and smell it every time you pass it on the curing rack. My husband and son asked to keep the whole batch I made with it! I’m normally not a big fan of floral fragrances, but this one won me over as soon as I twisted the lid open.

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I am an extremely forgetful person. I have reminders, calendars, sticky notes, and notebooks to remind myself of everything I need to do. And yet, I can remember every book I have ever read, and the words to any song I’ve heard more than 5 or 6 times. I have to wait years to re-read a book so that I forget enough of the details to find it interesting again. I also read extremely fast, and my average number of books I read a year is about 250. And when it comes to music, my sister and my son like to play a game where they play songs they know and see if I know the words. I always win!

Lovely Lavender soap, topped with pink Himalayan salt. 

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
Well, you know I love reading and music. I also like to quilt, knit and paint. I’m a bit of a craft-a-holic, I pick up hobbies left and right! History is another interest. I love to learn, especially about other cultures and ancient civilizations. I love to travel, and I’ve been to almost 40 states and 4 other countries. Montana is my favorite place (besides home), and I hope to one day travel to Greece where I can combine my love of history with my love of travel.

What is your number one soaping tip? 
Have a backup plan! Sometimes things happen, our batter thickens up more than we’d like, a fragrance accelerates, or a color morphs. Have a back up plan just in case so you can move seamlessly (more or less) from one plan to another. And don’t be disappointed when you don’t get to execute your original design. Sometimes a soapy design fail can be one of the most beautiful soaps you’ve ever made!

North Pole soap, created with Tussah silk.

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
I definitely have had a few horrible fails. For one of them, I had grand plans for a sea fragrance that I was madly in love with. I was going to have some complicated swirls, a textured top, oh! It was going to be gorgeous. Ha! The reality was that as soon as I added that divine fragrance I ended up with soap on a stick. Or several sticks really, as I had already separated my batter into 4 different colors. In the end I smooshed all four colors together in the bowl and crammed it into the mold. I’m pretty sure I could have won an “Ugliest Soap” contest with that one. But, I learned to always, always pay attention to the fragrance description and reviews. If I had, I could have had a successful, albeit plainer, soap.

Another fail I had was because of a fragrance. I had a customer request a custom loaf in unicorn colors. I grabbed a fragrance that I felt went with a unicorn theme and went to work. Well. It really helps to check and make sure your fragrance doesn’t discolor when you make a soap with pastel colors. After a few days the bars looked like I had made them with a camouflage theme. Definitely not the delicate unicorn colors I started with, haha!

Top left, clockwise: Rainbow, Tonka Bean Noir, Blackberry Magnolia, Plain Jane.

If you were to give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
If I could give one of my products to a stranger, I would probably choose one of my latest. Right now, I’d pick Voodoo Woman. The fragrance is one of my current favorites, and the colors are beautiful. It’s Mardi Gras, but a little dark and mysterious. I always think the last soap I make is my favorite. Then I make another and I think to myself, oh, this is definitely my favorite. So far, Voodoo Woman is holding out as a top favorite!

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love making people feel good, about themselves and just in general. Especially moms. I hope that when someone uses my products it brings them joy. That it helps them find a little peace in a day that may not have had any, or has had very little. I also love the complexity of creating new products. I have a notebook that is absolutely filled with recipes, ideas and concepts for one product or another. Putting together a concept from beginning to end, from the recipe, to the fragrance, to the colors and design is so much fun. And seeing it come to life is amazing. When someone loves something that I created, it makes me so happy!

Mustache soaps, created for a baby shower. 

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Simi of Muddy Mint lives in Colorado where she creates beautiful soap. She sells her products online and co-owns a retail space called Mud & Madder with a friend who creates ceramics. She utilizes the power of natural colorants and essential oils to create soap that looks amazing and benefits the skin. Learn more about how Simi got started, what inspires her, and her soaping tips. 

Turmeric & Carrot Soap topped with cornflower petals. 

How long have you been soaping and how did you get started?
I made my very first soap on May 5, 2016 (I know because I posted it immediately to Instagram!) It was the Beginner’s Cold Process Soap Kit from Bramble Berry and it was probably the easiest soap I ever made, which might have you scratching your head. To understand, you have to back up a bit. A few months before that day, I was looking up how to help alleviate dry skin and came across the idea that handmade cold process soap might help. I immediately turned to Etsy and bought some soap from two fantastic soapmakers: Mirasol Farm and Artisan Bath & Body.

After the very first use, I was hooked. My dry skin improved and the lovely new scents in my shower had me sniffing my skin all day. I started to obsess over the idea of making my own soap. This led me to binge-watching Anne-Marie on YouTube. I’m pretty sure I watched every single cold process soap video she made and then, finally feeling confident, I bought the kit from Bramble Berry. By that point, I felt I could make soap in my sleep, even though I’d never mixed lye or held a stick blender. When the time came, I was super prepared and found the whole thing very easy. So, I kept going.

A loaf of Oatmeal Milk & Honey Soap being cut into bars. 

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I would say, go slow and make sure you love what you’re making. Use reliable recipes and understand the simple concepts of soapmaking before you dive too deep.

When I first started, I had a recipe I loved (it was the Bramble Berry Creamy Orange Soap) and a recipe that my mom loved (my mom tested all my soaps early on and gave me detailed notes on each one). I opened an Etsy shop in August 2016 with only our very favorite soaps and as I continued selling soap, I made sure that several people tested my bars before selling. I also received so much incredible advice and encouragement from other soapmakers on Instagram. This warm and welcoming community has made a huge difference in my business by providing advice, keeping me interested, and injecting me with a huge dose of daily inspiration.

And, as with any business, customer service is the number one thing. Far more important than any other aspect of your business. Reply to your customers ASAP, package things well to make a good impression (don’t just throw your soap in a bubble envelope!), ship as quickly as you can or keep your customers informed of when you’re shipping, admit when you made a mistake, and be nice.

Top left, clockwise: Almond & Honey Soap, a stack of soap ends, Coconut Lime Soap, Vanilla Moo Soap

What is your favorite type of product to make?
All natural, cold process soap is by far my favorite. I went through a huge experimentation phase with my soaps in 2017 as I moved away from using palm oil and started formulating my own soap recipes. SoapCalc was my best friend and I spent countless hours trying out different combinations and doing research. It was so much fun, because researching and learning is at the heart of everything I love doing.

Every time a new recipe finished curing, I was so excited to see how it would feel and lather compared to the last. I also switched almost exclusively to essential oils, which was a huge learning curve as well (I’m still working on it!) and using all-natural colorants. There’s so much territory to cover that you couldn’t possibly get bored with it.

Charcoal & Tea Tree Bars and Sea Clay and Charcoal Facial Masks.

What inspires you to create?
As I mentioned earlier, the experimentation! I like to research different ingredients and think about how I can use them together and what properties that ingredient would bring to a soap. I’d say I’m more of a functional soapmaker (as opposed to an artistic one). For example, a few years ago, I accidentally came up with a recipe for a soap that became very popular because it didn’t contain any shea butter or tree nut oils. It was something I hadn’t really thought about before, but I had a lot of people telling me how great it was that I made a soap like that. It is now part of my main product line. I also did extensive research on my Charcoal & Tea Tree soap recipe to really try to make it a great facial soap. I tend to focus a lot on the base soap recipe and one of my challenges right now is that I have a lot of different ones and I need to streamline it quite a bit to boost my productivity.

Simi’s adorable soaping space in Colorado. 

How did you come up with the name for your business?
The name Muddy Mint comes from my mom’s garden, which has also been an inspiration to me. My mom is a fantastic gardener and she is very interested in growing native plants and herbs. She lives in Ottawa, Canada (my hometown) and I was thinking about how the herbs, like mint, look after a big rain. All splotchy and muddy and naturally beautiful. My dream is to live near her and have her grow all the herbs and plant-based colorants for my soaps!

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I have a lot of favorites, but the product I always have to have in stock is the Orange 10X Essential Oil. It sticks so well in cold process soap and has a gorgeous natural orange scent (and a beautiful natural color!) It’s fantastic for blending with both essential oils and fragrance oils (try it with Champagne for a Mimosa Soap!) I haven’t seen another 10X Orange Essential Oil anywhere else, so I’m always stockpiling this one.

Sweet Apple Cider Soap. The color from this batch came from exclusively from apple cider.

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself.
I grew up speaking three languages! French, Punjabi, and English. I have recordings of me as a little kid switching between all three. Sadly, I’ve lost all of my Punjabi and my French is pretty rusty these days, even though it was my first language.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?

I co-own a store called Mud & Madder with a friend of mine that makes ceramics. We have our studios there as well as a small retail space with our handmade products. It’s been a lot of fun to run a business with a physical space and to collaborate with another maker. We’ve met so many interesting people and I’m finding it very different to run a brick and mortar than to sell online. The rest of the time, I’m a mom to an almost 12-year-old boy, so we bike around, go for hikes, and play in the creek, since we live in beautiful Colorado. I also turn into a crochet addict every winter!

Top left, clockwise: Coconut Rose Soap, sample tins of soap being packaged, Champagne & Orange Soap, a collection of Simi’s soaps.

What is your number one soaping tip?
Try soaping cool, like under 100 degrees or room temperature. I feel like when I started doing that, things got much easier on many fronts. I’d also say, don’t be afraid to play with your recipes, experiment, and test out what happens. Take something you know works and tweak it just a little to see how it changes your soap. Then, keep going. Oh, and also, always write everything down, even if you think you’ll never make that thing again. Use a notebook instead of a scrap piece of paper that will inevitably get lost – I know from experience!

Yes! I’ve had quite a few failures, but sometimes when I cut the soap they turned out okay. But, I did get a mini soap volcano once when making a soap with pumpkin puree.

I was soaping pretty hot, as it was early on in my soapmaking, and I added the pumpkin puree to my batter and all seemed well. I poured my batter into my mold and was working on the top, when all of a sudden, the hot gooey inside of the soap started to ooze out the top! My white top was destroyed and I was spooning chunky batter back into my mold. Eventually it stopped, so it wasn’t too bad, and I ended up with a very rustic looking soap.

My experience with soapmaking is that almost everything is salvageable. The end result is still a soap that is made with amazing ingredients and even if it isn’t the prettiest soap in the world, it’s still a good soap. I almost always sell my “ugly soap” (although I’d never sell anything lye-heavy of course!) I also learned to soap cool after that incident and I have rarely had any issues since. But, I also don’t try to do a lot of complicated patterns, so my soapmaking is pretty basic compared to some soapmakers out there.

Simi’s naturally-colored soaps. From bottom to the top: turmeric, carrot juice, purple Brazilian clay, rose clay, activated charcoal, and madder root.

If you were to give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
Assuming they didn’t have any allergies or fragrance sensitivities, I’d give them a bar of my “Garden Mint” soap. It has oatmeal and crushed peppermint leaves for light exfoliation, a blend of peppermint and spearmint essential oils, which is really pleasant but also a little tingly, and it’s all natural, vegan, and palm-oil free.

For someone with very sensitive skin, I’d give them “The Minimalist,” which is a tree-nut free soap made with coconut milk. It’s unscented, but very creamy and wonderful in the shower. It’s one of my favorite soaps.

Left to right: Garden Mint, The Minimalist

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love the research and experimentation. It’s actually a little problematic as it takes me a long time to release a new product (non-soap product, that is), since I’m always looking for that perfect balance of simple, beautiful, and functional. But, if I don’t get to play and learn, I get bored, so I’m glad that it’s taking me a long time to figure stuff out!

Turmeric & Carrot Soap, scented with orange and clove essential oils.

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How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I started experimenting with soap making in March 2012. I was inspired to lead a more natural way of life and get rid of the toxic chemical products because of my best friend. She was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years prior and finding products that were natural was hard and most importantly, expensive. I wanted to do something to honour her fight and surviving breast cancer and wanted to have a line of bath and body products that everyone, including people with cancer, can use safely. I decided then that should I decide to do this as a business, the charity component to my company would be at the core of the company. I donated soaps and raised money for charity every year since I started my business.

I learned how to make soap by purchasing a soaping kit that came with a soap mold, lye and all the ingredients measured out for me so there was zero room for mistakes. I also watched a lot of YouTube videos, like Soaping 101 and Soap Queen as there were no soap making classes where I was. These two wonderful teachers make soaping look so fun and easy and after my first batch, I was hooked. I spent one year experimenting with soap making and other products like scrubs, lip balm and bath fizzies. After 1 year of just making and giving away soaps and other products to friends and family (I call them my human guinea pigs), I decided then my soaps are good enough and that I was then ready to sell my soaps and Scent and Sensibility Inc was born in October 2013.

This custom soap is made with turmeric, paprika, and cocoa powder for the pencil line.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I would say enjoy the process, read and research about the ingredients and make more than at least 15 to 20 batches before you even think about selling them. I have seen newbies who made maybe 2 or 3 batches and decided that they are ready to sell. That is not enough testing in my humble opinion. Also, don’t copy. You will find your own style after soaping for awhile. Be patient and you will get there. I see too many copy cats and these are obviously very talented soapers. Also, if you are unhappy with the way a product turned out, even though it may mean you would lose money, don’t sell it. Don’t sell a product that you would not use on yourself.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
I love to make soaps! Every batch is a challenge and I learn something from it every single time. Different ingredients, even different temperature…I also love to make felted soaps as it allows me to be even more creative.

Jolene loves felting soap because she can get creative with the design.

What inspires you to create?
Food…drinks…baked goods…change of season…art…everyday life. Many of my customers say that my soaps look edible! Haha. I also love to use food, like vegetables, spices to make my soaps. Very often, I am inspired by the benefit of a certain ingredient and will create a recipe around that ingredient so that I can use it.

You are constantly trying and perfecting new soaping techniques and designs. What’s a recent favorite of yours and why? 
One of my favorite technique is the Circling Taiwan Swirl. I love the wispy swirls that I get from simply using a chopstick.

This soap was made using the Circling Taiwan Swirl technique.

Your Instagram features gorgeous photos of those new techniques. What tips do you have for taking photos? 
I use my study table, which is made of wood, to take my photos. My table is right by the window where I get a lot of natural light. I think natural light is our best friend for taking photos. I don’t take photos at night or when it is grey and raining. The wood table makes for a nice background and makes the soap or other products look natural and rustic.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
Scent and Sensibility Inc – the Scent part comes obviously from the scents that one picks up from using essential oils and fragrance oils. Sensibility – because I use simple, sensible ingredients. Anything that is unnecessary will be omitted, like SLS, like paraben laden products. I do my best to use eco-friendly and sensible packaging for my products and many of them can be recycled. Hence, the name.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why? 
I LOVE your molds! Why – because they are awesome and so well made!!

Clockwise, top left: Glossy Lips, Flower Power, Body Nectar, and Not Your Usual Cherry Blossom Soap 

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I love to dress up! If I ever move to Japan, I will so take part in Cosplay! LOL

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I love to crochet, travel, dance and I LOVE OWLS and PIGS!!!

We love Jolene’s felted owl soap so much we featured it on the blog.

What is your number one soaping tip? 
Soap at room temperature and write down everything you did during the process. I had soaped at 110 degrees F when I started making soap as that was the preferred temperature of many soapers I watched on YouTube. But room temperature soaping gives you more time to play around with the oils, swirls and if you are using a new fragrance or essential oil, don’t do a water discount. Water is a friend of soap making. Curing the soap might take longer when we use more water, but it will save you a lot of heartache especially if the FO or other additives speed up trace. Writing down how much batter you used per color, etc, allows you to recreate the very same look if you follow your notes.

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn? 
Yes, many times! Sometimes, there is enough time to plop the batter into the mold and pray for the best. Other times, you just have to give in and note in your journal that the recipe or EO/FO doesn’t play nice. By making notes of everything I make, I can refer to them when I want to attempt the same recipe and know to add more water, or not to use the stick blender and adjust accordingly so I won’t be surprised again.

What do you love most about creating bath and body products? 
I love that I know exactly what I put in the product I make and that it is safe and not toxic. I can pronounce the ingredients that I put into my products and I know I am safe.

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The post Interview with Jolene of Scent and Sensibility Inc appeared first on Soap Queen.

How long have you been soaping and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for 10 years and got started after receiving a wholesale order after trying my hand at melt and pour soap.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I would advise soapers who are just starting their business to get involved in conferences, meet-ups, and Facebook groups. They are both beneficial and an awesome way to meet other creatives and develop lifelong relationships.

Toushonta Hogan, the founder of Scensational Soaps, creating a batch of cold process soap. 

Beautiful baskets of Scentsational Soap products.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
My husband and I randomly wrote a few names down and Scentsational Soaps just stood out to us. It had a ring to it.

Oatmeal Soap, made with ground oats for exfoliation.

You can find your products in select Target stores. Tell us more about how this partnership happened, and what you’ve learned from it.
I received a flyer from a dear friend (and was tagged by a few others) that Target was looking for local vendors. I filled out the application and unbeknownst to me, it was due the very next day. Of course, I said to myself that I wish I had more time. I filled it out and uploaded a few pics. A week later, I received an email inviting me to present my product to a panel. I was excited, nervous and blown away as I felt that I was not ready. It’s these moments where we have self doubt and it can really deter you from fulfilling your true dream. 

Scentsational Soaps on the shelf at Target.

What advice do you have for businesses looking to expand their wholesale business?
Be sure that you have your paperwork together. This includes line sheets, insurance, etc. Make sure that you have the manpower and the financial means to fulfill large orders as most large wholesalers will have a net 30 or more. Lastly, have the mindset to push through unforeseen circumstances. Things happen and you must be prepared to respond effectively.

Scentsational’s beautiful Lavender Soap. 

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I have so many favorite Bramble Berry products, so it’s hard to just name one but I will try. Activated charcoal is one of my favorites as we currently use it in our Charcoal & Tea Tree Soap. I love the rich color that it brings my soap as well as its soaping qualities.

Charcoal & Tea Tree Soap, made with activated charcoal. 

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I don’t know if I would call this unique or unusual, but I love to love on others and help. I wish there was no pain in the world and everyone was happy. Giving comes as second nature to me. Whether it’s a helping hand, a listening ear, word of encouragement, etc. I love giving back.

A collection of Scentsational Soap to be donated to a local charity.

What is your number one soaping tip?
My number one soaping tip would be to masterbatch. This has saved my life as it has made soapmaking so much easier and faster. 

A collection of Scentsational Soap products including soap, body butter, and scrubs. 

Coffee and Cream Soap, made with coffee grounds.

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love being able to choose different colors, scents and packaging, as well as the therapeutic qualities that come with creating each product. But most importantly, I love giving the finished product to the end-user and receiving their reviews.

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The post Talking with Toushonta of Scentsational Soaps appeared first on Soap Queen.

Preparing for a market can seem overwhelming. There are supplies to transport, displays to set up and potential customers to talk to. If you’re new to the market scene, we’re here to help. The following tips will help you prepare for whatever the event throws at you. Before diving in, make sure to check out the first post in this series, Are Markets Right for You? OK, let’s get started.

What to bring to the event
A list of the supplies you need is really helpful. There are quite a few things to bring, so jotting it down will help you remember each one. There are really helpful lists on Pinterest to reference, like these from StudioDax and Creative Income.

“Organization is key,” said Christie with Birchwood Botanicals. She’s been making soap and other herbal body care for about 37 years, and has been selling her lovely creations at the Farmers Market here in Bellingham since 2005.

Christie with Birchwood Botanicals showcases her products at the Bellingham Farmers Market. 

Start by breaking the list into three categories – products, display supplies and miscellaneous. You can use more or fewer categories depending on your personal preference. For the first category, write down what products you plan to bring and how many. Researching the event beforehand can help you decide what to bring. A good place to start is about 5-10 each of your most popular items. As you build up your customer base, you can adjust and expand your product line to suit their needs.

Samples and testers are essential. Shoppers can touch, smell and try the products, which will help bring them back for more. We all know once you try handmade soap, it’s hard to go back to store bought!

“For years I handed out soap samples in little Ziplocs,” Christie said. “I would give kids their own little soap and it made them so happy. They would hold onto while their parents shopped around.”

The next category, display supplies, will include items like tables, a canopy, a price list, a cash box or money bag with plenty of change, debit/credit card readers, calculators, a hammer and nails, bags for your customers, etc. Christie brings several card readers and an extra phone charger. Susanne with Passionfruit Island said an apron with a zipper is really helpful. She sold her products at markets for about 7 years and is now focusing on online sales. You can carry samples, cash, business cards, etc. in the apron and hand them out easily.

Passionfruit Island‘s beautiful display at a local market. 

The miscellaneous category includes anything else that’s helpful for you. That includes plenty of water, snacks, sunglasses, a hat, a coat, allergy medication, tissues, etc. Christie brings a portable office with her – that includes staplers, paper clips, extra pens, paper, tape, towels and cleaning wipes. That way she’s prepared for any possible scenario.

How to transport your products
Once you have the items you need, the next step is getting them from your house to the event. Christie recommends using clear plastic bins. It can be tempting to use cardboard boxes to cut costs, but clear bins allow you to see what products are inside so it’s easier to stay organized. As you put the items in your bins, make sure to check them off on your list so you don’t forget anything. You can use cloth, newspaper, etc. to protect your items. Susanne recommends packing the containers tightly so the products don’t jostle around in the car.

“Pack them as full as you can,” she said.

If you don’t have a lot of space in your car, you can pack your products in your displays. Susanne made shelves out of old wine boxes that were donated from a local grocery store. She was able to transport her products and display them in a fun and unique way.

Soap displays that double as storage, like these by Passionfruit Island, save space in your car.

Don’t be afraid to practice packing the items into your car so you know what to expect. You can also leave certain supplies in the car overnight. In the morning, all you have to do is load up the heat-sensitive items like soap and you’re ready to go. If you plan to sell at markets for a long time, consider investing in a trailer. Christie used to pack her items in an SUV, but now has a trailer where she keeps her props, tables, etc.

“That has made all the difference in our daily vending,” she said. “It’s kind of like a second room – we don’t have to unpack every single thing.”

How to set up your display
In many markets space will be limited, so Susanne and Christie suggest going vertical with your display.

“We cannot always spread out, but we can always go up,” Christie said.

Christie with Birchwood Botanicals creates vertical displays to showcase her products in small spaces. 

Sturdy, tall shelves are a great option for market displays. Susanne recommends putting the products at eye level so people can see them easily. Group your products in sets and have an easy-to-read price list so your display is organized and inviting. Make sure to take advantage of any leftover space on your table as well. You can display your products in cute baskets or platters, and it’s also a great place to put any testers or samples. Once you have an idea of what your display will look like, set it up at home. Take notes on how long it takes you. If you notice you’re having difficulty with a certain product or you don’t have enough space, you can adjust your display until it works well for you. When you’re finished, take photos so you can reference it the next time you set up your display. Get more tips in the Selling Success at Fairs and Public Markets post. Keep in mind your display may change based on the weather.

“I always think of the weather, that’s a huge factor in how I put my display together,” Christie said. “Be prepared to reconfigure and not display certain things.”

Tips for designing your display
An eye-catching display is a great way to attract customers. The thought of designing it can be intimidating, but Susanne said it doesn’t have to be.

“One of the things I wish I had known when I first started is that it doesn’t need to cost a lot,” she said.

She recommends not investing a lot of money on trinkets. Instead, opt for simple shelves, tablecloths and baskets. Not only will your display look clean and modern, but your products will really stand out against a neutral background. You can find shelves and other display items at thrift stores and garage sales. If you’ve got a knack for DIY projects, you can find low-cost or free materials and build the shelves from scratch.

Susanne’s colorful products really stand out on a simple market display.

Christie found a lot of her display items at second-hand stores. Over the years she collected plenty of props like lamps and picture frames. She also likes to bring a a selection of flowers like Lily of the Valley from the farm. They double as an item for display and an item for sale.

“It makes a beautiful, fresh display,” she said. “Even if we don’t sell them it sure brings a lot of ambiance and nature to the booth.”

If you’re not sure where to start, Pinterest and Facebook have plenty of ideas. Instagram is also a great place for inspiration, especially the #SoapShare tag. Don’t be afraid to ask other crafters on those social media platforms. The soapmaking community is really helpful and they have tons of amazing ideas.

Designing your display doesn’t have to be a chore – it’s a great opportunity to showcase the wonderful products you worked hard to create. If it’s not exactly what you want, keep tinkering with items until it is. The more markets you go to, the more you will learn about your display and selling your products.

“One important thing is to find inspiration and start being creative,” Christie said. “You will need to be patient and consistent. Finding out who your customer base is – that takes awhile. I sat at a market for one full year. I kept going whether I made money or not. I was determined and went there every Saturday … It takes a lot of work, but I love my customers.”

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Before making soap, both you and your husband were in the culinary industry. What spurred the change of lifestyle?
Soon after we got married we decided we wanted to change the pace and lifestyle (restaurant/food business) we had known for so long. We returned to the High Desert where my husband had grown up to be closer to family, slow down a bit and take time to figure out what we wanted to do next. The goats were one of the first projects we took on! We had big dreams of fresh milk, cheeses, yogurt and a small step toward self sustainability! Starting a small soap business was never the plan and happened very naturally and kind of overnight I’d say.

I’ve only just started soaping for about a year now. We started raising Nigerian Dwarf goats the previous year and had just began enjoying fresh creamy goats milk. We were excited about all things goats milk and started making yogurt, cheeses, caramels, you name it. Which led me to my first batch of goats milk soap!

How did you come up with the name for your business?
Ava & Snow are the names of our first two goats. We started out with just the two girls, Ava & Snow. Actually, their full names are Ava Jean & Snow Ball! Goats are a lot like toddlers, they are a little bit ornery, will get into whatever you don’t want them to, have escape artist skills, but are also very sweet creatures who will win you over! Snow is super sweet and a little shy. Ava is more serious and bossy as the herd leader. We really fell in love with them and soon we added Bingo who is our buck (he’s the daddy goat). We now have 6 goats, 2 sheep, 15 chickens, a handful of bunnies and a dog.

Danie named her business after her two goats, Ava Jean (top) and Snow Ball (bottom). 

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
For me the biggest challenge of starting the business was just standing out there behind my product and selling it! I had spent so many years “hiding” in the kitchen “behind the scenes” where the real action was. I’m terribly shy and an awkward introvert, so I was forced to come out of my shell a bit to share my product at farmers markets and craft shows. I still struggle with this.

I feel I’ve just started my business myself so I’m not sure I’m full of great biz advice, but I can say that this handmade community has really been amazing to be a part of! I’ve been lucky to find a tribe of amazing people who support each other, lift each other up, cheer each other on and are happy to share experiences and advice when it comes to running a small handmade business.

A gorgeous display of Danie’s cold process soap. I love her attention to detail and soft pastel colors. 

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Soap is my favorite product to make. I’ve just got into making sea salt bars and absolutely love making and cutting those bars! I like it because it allows me to make a product that helps people with different skin conditions as well as offer a product that is chemical free and natural. That’s why I made my first batch of soap really, I wanted to eliminate chemical use in my house and soap is a product I use everyday so it seemed like a good start.

What inspires you to create?
I think I’m inspired most by the season changes. I’ve always been challenged to create new dishes or desserts with the change of seasons. When I worked  as a pastry chef, what was in season was what was on the menu so I think it’s just ingrained in me to create new scents or flavors as the seasons change.

You make your soap with goat milk produced by your own herd. Why is producing your own soap ingredients important to you?
I think it’s what makes our goat milk soap special. The breed of goat we chose to raise may be the smallest dairy goat breed, but the milk they produce has a much higher butterfat content than others and creates a super creamy and moisturizing bar!

Top left, clockwise: Lavender Sachet, Lavender & Geranium Goat Milk Soap with Rose Clay, a display of various products, Lavender Goat Milk Soap

What’s your #1 tip for creating soap with milk?
Don’t skimp on the milk! Use the full amount of milk and don’t water it down. I think you want to get as much milk benefits as possible in each batch for super creamy, moisturizing, luxurious bar soaps.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I really love the Lavender Essential Oil because it smells so amazing!

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
Before raising goats and starting my soap business I had been a pastry chef and worked in the restaurant business for about 15 years.

Danie and a goat in her herd. Danie and her husband couldn’t consume all the milk their goats were producing, so started making soap with the leftovers.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I love to cook and bake! Also make goats milk caramel candies that I hope to bring to the market in the near future! Gardening/growing as much of our own food. We also raise chickens, bunnies and recently added lamb to our small farm.

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Once I must have had a couple large chunks of lye that didn’t get mixed into the milk and ruined the whole batch. I had to toss all of it but now I stick blend the milk and lye mixture really well before adding to the oils and actually think that it make the soap creamier.

Top left, clockwise: Danie makes caramels with her goat milk, a collection of cold process soap, Lavender and Eucalyptus with Activated Charcoal Goat Milk Soap, Love Spell bath bombs (limited edition)

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I really like the specific measurements and methods it requires. I’ve always liked organization and precision along with working with my hands. The process of soap making felt natural to me and very much like baking and pastry did. Following and creating recipes was familiar and comfortable to me.

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Photo courtesy of Old Whaling Company. Photo by Leslie Ryan. 

When you first start making soap, you’ll soon find you have more bars than you know what to do with. Many crafters give soap and other handmade products to friends and family. It’s pretty common for your loved ones to get hooked on those products and want more. Over time, people may ask about buying them. If that’s the case, selling your products is definitely something to consider. This post has more information on moving from hobby to business. Local farmers markets, fairs and events are a popular place to sell handmade products. But how do you know if that’s the right path for you?

Are markets right for you?
First things first, markets take time, money and effort.

Lauren with Single Barrel Soaps said it’s a lot of work to sell your products at a market. She’s been selling soap for about two years and does at least one market a month. Read our interview with her here. That work includes making the products from scratch, packing them up and transporting them to the event. Once you’re at the event, you need to set up your booth or table and sell products for several hours. At the end of the event, you have to take the display down, pack it up and transport it back. It’s a full day of talking soap and selling products.

Markets are also very social. April with Old Whaling Company said she talks about her products all day to multiple people. She started Old Whaling Company in 2012 and sells her products at the Charleston City Market every day of the week. People there are very curious about handmade soap.

“You have to be ready to answer a lot of questions,” she said.

Several of Old Whaling Company’s gorgeous market displays.

There are definite advantages to selling your products at markets. You have a direct line to customers. You can talk to them about your products, how you carefully chose each ingredient and why they feel so amazing on the skin. The products aren’t made in a factory by a large company; they’re personally crafted by the person standing in front of them. That’s one of the many advantages of handmade soap. Learn more advantages in this post.

“Selling at markets gives us a chance to get out there and meet our customers – to physically see their likes and dislikes and get feedback,” said Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm. She’s been selling soap since 2014 and does about 8 markets a year. “It also gives our customers a chance to touch and smell our product. We have a sign in our market tent that says ‘smells are free’ and most people that begin picking up and smelling a bar of soap will usually purchase it.”

If selling at markets sounds like the right path for you, the next step is getting started.

How do you get started?
Deciding where to sell your products requires quite a bit of research. Start scoping out markets, fairs and events in your area. Once you find one that interests you, go see it in person! Lauren with Single Barrel Soaps recommends looking at the booths there, talking to vendors, talking to the organizers and buying products. Take note of how busy the market is. She also recommends paying close attention to booths that sell handmade soap and cosmetics. If you find your products are similar, you may want to reconsider what to bring. That way you don’t step on any toes, and you also stand out from other vendors.

One of Single Barrel Soaps’ beautiful market displays.

April with Old Whaling Company said event fees are something else to research. If they’re expensive and you’re just starting out, you may want to find a different event. Once you have a few markets under your belt and a loyal customer base, you can re-examine the larger and more expensive events.

Once you decide on a market, the next step is figuring out what to bring. While you’re visiting the market, see if there’s a theme. Do you notice a lot of products with neon colors and fragrance, or do the products contain natural colors and essential oils? Is there a lot of soap, or are the vendors selling other products like lotion and scrubs? Don’t be afraid to take notes to help you remember. Tailoring your products to the shoppers can be really beneficial. For instance, when Lauren sold her products in Kentucky, the customers preferred fragrance oils. However, when she moved to Maryland, she found they preferred essential oils. She adjusted her product line to cater to those preferences.

There is also something to be said for trial and error. When Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm started going to events, she registered at local places and didn’t research each one.

“After that first show season we really started ‘vetting’ shows to see if it was a good fit for us,” she said. “If people from our target audience attended and there was significant attendance, we usually attend.”

Over time, Jamie learned that fall shows are better for them than spring or summer shows, so she focused on those. You may find the opposite once you have a few markets under your belt.

While you’re at the event, don’t be afraid to ask the shoppers plenty of questions. Do they prefer soap, or would they like to see bath bombs? What skin concerns do they have? What draws their eye? They can give you helpful tips so you know what to adjust or add for your next show. The more shows you do, the more you learn. That experience is extremely valuable and will help you be successful.

Tips for success
Shopping is a psychological process. People tend to buy with their emotions and rationalize the choices later. That means attitude is incredibly important. A big smile and positive answers to questions can go a long way. If the event isn’t going like you planned, try to put a positive spin on it. For instance, if people aren’t loving your products, you can say, “I’ve been getting great feedback on my products.” If the weather is too hot, rainy, etc., you can say, “It’s so awesome that people are here supporting small businesses even in this weather! I’m really thankful you’re here.” The positive answers really make a difference about how shoppers feel toward you and your products. Get more tips in this post.

Lauren likes to stand for the entire event because it’s more inviting.

“I love talking about soap and getting their opinions. I think that enthusiasm carries though,” she said. “If you wake up and you’re not in a good mood, put it aside.”

Little details like what you’re wearing can also help you be successful. A clean and comfortable outfit is ideal for events. If you’re not sure what to wear, ask yourself if you’re comfortable going to a casual dinner in your outfit. If not, consider other options. The Selling Success at Fairs and Public Markets post has more helpful tips. April recommends bringing snacks and tons of water with you as well. Staying full and hydrated will keep your attitude and energy up.

Hannah helping Old Whaling Company at the Charleston City Market. Notice the big smile and clean, comfortable outfit!

Passion and knowledge about your products is important as well. Make sure to highlight all the wonderful qualities of your handmade products and have answers ready when people ask about them. It’s also helpful to prepare answers for questions you may not feel comfortable answering. Some common topics include why handmade soap costs more than store bought bars, how you make your products, why they only use store bought soap, etc. This post has some common questions and suggested answers that still keep it positive.

It also helps to emphasize your niche. Learn how to find your niche here. When shoppers ask about your products, focus on what makes your products stand out. For instance, Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm makes moisturizing soap with milk from her own herd of Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Her display features plenty of goat milk branding. She is able to talk about the benefits of creamy goat milk soap, as well as the goats themselves.

Jamie with Whitetail Lane Farm makes soap with milk from Nigerian Dwarf Goats.

What are other selling options if markets aren’t for you?
If selling at markets isn’t right for you, there are plenty of other options including selling online and in stores. The Where to Sell Products post has more information. Markets can be something you avoid altogether, or revisit at a later date. The most important thing is doing what’s right for you, your schedule and your business.

What are your tips for selling at markets? Check back later this month for a post on how to set up your display.

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How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
As a frantically busy, trying-to-do-it-all-single mom running a household, maintaining a career as a court reporter, and raising my son, my nightly routine would always consist of a hot bath with my own special blend of essential oils to help me unwind from the daily hustle and bustle of life. Money was tight, and I was running low on my essential oils. I was looking for a way to incorporate my essential oil blend into my own bath products, instead of purchasing expensive brands in scents I really didn’t care for.

I made my first batch of soap about five and a half years ago, and I was hooked. Truth be told, I may have been a bit obsessed. At first I used whatever oils I had on hand in the house and makeshift molds I found at thrift stores or yard sales. I was gifted several gallons of olive oil and several pounds of lye by someone I didn’t even know simply because I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I was able to begin soaping without a lot of start up costs. I even soaped with rainwater, because we have lots of that during the rainy season here in Florida.

Can you believe this is all soap? Just look at the amazing detail! 

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” It’s important to have a business plan, which can change over time. The best thing I did was take a micro enterprise class, which even landed me in a commercial for the program. I learned how to write a business plan, figure costs and expenses, price products, pinpoint my target market, etc. I listened to guest speakers talk about how important it is to have a professionally designed website, business cards, labels, proper packaging, and ideas on how to promote and market a business.

I am very lucky that my aunt is a graphic designer, and she was able to help me with designing my website, company logo, etc. When I first started soaping, I was using handmade tags which I printed off the computer. I didn’t realize how unimpressive they were until I had a shop owner ask me to change them. Needless to say, it was a lesson learned. My aunt is now in charge of all of my printing which she does through her company. Ideally, you want your packaging and print materials (business cards, labels, etc.) to stand out above the rest, as they may very well be that “first impression” you only get one chance at.

While everyone may not have access to professionals, there are free and low cost resources available through the Small Business Administration or similar agencies depending where you live. Volunteers are eager to help you succeed in your new business, so take advantage of the resources available. It’s important to take a few extra steps to ensure your business runs smoothly.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
If ever a “happy place” exists, mine would be an English garden filled with lots of aromatic flowers, fancy teas, and an endless amount of pastries! I picked the name in large part because in the beginning, I wasn’t exactly sure where my soapmaking would take me. I wanted a name which wouldn’t limit my creativity to strictly one product. I am taking baby steps when it comes to my business. There are so many things I want to do in the future, and I am looking forward to growing.

Wizard of Oz Cake Soap, complete with ruby slippers, rainbows and a dog embed. 

We just love your soapy cakes, could you tell us more about them?
When I was pregnant with my son (who just turned 17), I took a basic cake decorating class at the local craft store thinking it would be nice to make birthday cakes for my soon-to-be bundle of joy. But just like the nursery rhyme, what I thought was sure to be a girl made of sugar and spice and all that’s nice, turned out to be a wonderful little boy made of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails. So my cakes ended up more more like Indiana Jones and dirt bikes than the Tinkerbell and butterflies I had originally envisioned.

Once I noticed the similarity between soap batter and frosting, the idea just came to me in passing. I really didn’t even know if it was possible to create a cake out of soap, let alone create some of the intricate designs which appeal to me. I was able to use a lot of my old cake decorating supplies which had been sitting around collecting dust. I used what I had on hand and I tested a lot of techniques and recipes until I came up with consistencies I was happy with. And although I make bar soaps and am drawn to the fancy swirls (which I have yet to completely master), I get the most satisfaction out of creating and designing a soap cake. I really try to push the envelope and am always excited to see the end result. Sometimes the finished product is very different than what I set out to design. It is very challenging to come up with packaging for my cakes. That is a work in progress right now.

Michelle’s Frog Cake Soap; the little frogs on their lily pads are so cute!

What inspires you to create?
There isn’t one particular thing which I draw inspiration from. I tend to lean toward the uniqueness and history of vintage items. It may be a pattern on a particular piece of vintage china, a beaded dress in the consignment shop, or simply something random. I love honey and use it for just about anything. I get mine from the beekeeper a gallon at a time! I really wanted to make a honey oatmeal soap, so I designed a cake entirely around honey bees and sunflowers for no other reason than I like honey. My flower pot soaps were designed around a painting I liked. Anything goes! And like most soapers, some of the best ideas come in the middle of the night.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product?
When I originally started soaping, I intended on only using essential oils and natural colorants. I finally gave into the temptation of Bramble Berry, and I’m glad I did. I was like a kid in a candy store. I use a variety of Bramble Berry’s products, including colors, fragrances and even the silicone liners — I hate creating unnecessary waste by continuously lining molds with freezer paper. But I would have to say by far my favorite product is the Plumeria Fragrance Oil. I love plumerias, and have several trees in my yard. During rainy season, I pick all the flowers daily and arrange them around the house. Bramble Berry’s Plumeria Fragrance Oil smells just like the real thing!

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Because I live in Florida, I’ve always limited myself to simply making soap. I’m happy to say that this week was my first time making bath bombs, and I love them. I can see myself easily trying several different recipes and taking lots of baths.

Custom ylang ylang soap created with a handmade stamp.

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
My exercise of choice is yoga, and I even have one of “those” yoga swings. I’m not quite where I want to be yet, but I’m getting there. Sometimes I hang it up outside and do some really deep stretches. I’m out there hanging upside down, so I’m pretty sure my neighbors think I am crazy.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I really enjoyed making ornaments for the tree this past Christmas. I collected pine cones, but I was especially tickled to find Shrinky Dinks in the store. I got such a kick out of watching them melt in the oven. It reminded me of my childhood. I do have a goal to learn to crochet one day. I want to make the intricate doilies.

This gingerbread house is made completely out of soap! It’s sprinkled with glitter and jojoba beads. 

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Sometimes I really want to make soap but get started too late when I’m tired. I did win the Design Mania contest, but also created a disaster in the process. I make a lot of hot process, and I make it in a pot in the oven. This particular recipe was a large one, and I couldn’t find the lid. I figured it wouldn’t be a big deal and was too lazy to look for the lid. Well, needless to say, most of my soap crawled out of the pot and continued crawling all over my oven. I learned it’s much easier to clean up the dried, cooled soap than it is trying to clean soap batter.

What is your number one soaping tip?
If you need to cool your lye water down in a hurry, keep the ice cream part of the ice cream maker in the freezer. Take it out when ready to use. Fill it with a small amount of water. Then put your lye water pitcher inside of the water bath. Your water temperatures will get cold very fast. It’s similar to an ice bath, but works at lowering temps much quicker.

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Tania in her gorgeous kitchen, along with a collection of her cold process soaps.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I started soapmaking on August 11, 2013. I know the exact date because I posted a picture on Instagram of the first soap mold I built. I was always fascinated by the process of making soap, and I even bought a soap making book years and years ago, but I didn’t try it right away because it seemed so intimidating!

After nervously making my first few batches, I was completely addicted. Soap making was basically all I did and thought about for the next year. I joined a soap makers forum, watched every YouTube video I could find, and read and read anything about soap I could. The really funny part is that I used to hate bar soaps! All of my friends were so amused at my obsession; they all knew how much I disliked soap bars. After I tried handmade soaps, I was hooked.

A beautiful Soapish display, full of soap, lotions and scrubs. 

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
The first bit of advice I would offer is to find out and follow carefully all of the labeling and insurance requirements in your area. Next, I’d say to get tons of feedback from people outside of your friends and family. Ask for unbiased thoughts and opinions on everything from the products themselves, your packaging, website, and your social media photos. That helpful advice can give you the perspective you need to successfully sell your products. Lastly, talk about your products to anyone who will listen and always carry samples. You never know when someone may be interested in having local, handmade bath and body in their shop.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Cold process soaps are my favorite! Although I only make them once in awhile, I really love creating complicated designs that challenge me. My favorites are scented with anything citrus!

Top left, clockwise: Sweet Orange Chili & Blood Orange Soap, Caribbean Swirled Soap, St. Patrick’s Day Soap, a collection of cold process soaps. 

What inspires you to create?
Everything around me inspires me! Flowers and plants, fashion, textiles, and photography are the top of my list. I love looking at color palettes and patterns that immediately make me want to recreate them in a bar of soap. I can’t get enough of other soap makers’ photos, because they inspire me to want to create too. I’m also inspired by a challenge or necessity. I’ve found that I’m at my most creative when I’m being forced to think outside of the box.

I love how clean and eye catching Tania’s packaging is. It really complements the soap!

How did you come up with the name for your business?
Coming up with a business name is not easy! Everything clever and catchy having to do with soap, bubbles, and baths was already taken by someone. I think it’s the Los Angeles in me, but I add “ish” to everything I say. That’s probably why “Soapish” just came to me one day. It was perfect because at the time I was starting to add lotions and scrubs to my product line, it tells people I make soap, but not only soap! Now I realize that my business name didn’t have to have the word soap or even have anything bath related in it: it just had to be individual and say something about me.

You share some of your soapy projects on your YouTube channel. What is your favorite thing about making videos, and what advice do you have for those thinking about making videos?
I love making videos because I love watching them. My favorite part about creating videos is that I enjoy teaching, and for those few minutes I get to teach someone something new or at least inspire them to try a technique or create. What I would tell anyone wanting to make good videos is that you don’t need fancy equipment to shoot them. I shoot my videos with my iPhone and edit them with an app right on the phone. My main recommendations for great soap videos is to always have good natural lighting, this means recording during the daytime which isn’t always convenient. I also use the editing program to cut down the long, noisy parts (that stick blender can be loud!) And lastly, always try to have a clean, uncluttered work space so your viewer can see what you’re doing without distractions.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
It’s really impossible to choose just one thing because there are so many that I can’t do without. If I have to choose just one it would be the Ginger Ale Fragrance Oil. It just makes me happy and it behaves extremely well for swirls and designs.

What is your favorite soaping technique and why?
My favorite soap technique is stripes. I love the modern look and I like the challenge of getting the lines perfectly even and straight. I also like that it makes a pretty soap, but not one that’s so fussy people won’t use it.

Left, clockwise: Tiny Triangle Embed Soap, Diagonal Cut Stripe with Swirl Soap

Your photos have such a distinctive look. What tips do you have for photographing soap?
I just try to clean up the soap bars and other products nicely and present them in a way that looks good to me. After that, it’s really all about that natural lighting!

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
People are surprised to find out that I have 4 kids; 2 girls and 2 boys. They pretty much run my life for now, haha. I’m also a power tool loving mama, and I love to build things. My dream girls night out is a stroll through Home Depot with a cup of coffee in my hand.

Top left, clockwise: A collection of Valentine’s Day Soap, Grapefruit & Bergamot Bars, “Hidden Mickey” Soap, Apple Picking Soap

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
In addition to soap making, I make and decorate cakes with sugar sculpted flowers and figurines. I love to cook and have dinner parties, and I’m also passionate about home renovating and decorating. My husband and I bought a new house a year ago and we spend most of our free time fixing, building, and painting.

What is your number one soaping tip?
My absolute number one soaping tip is to know your fragrance. A badly behaved fragrance oil can mess up even the simplest soap. I’d say that 95% of the batches I’ve botched were due to either accelerating fragrance or discoloring fragrance. Always read the reviews carefully. If you can see photos of test results, that’s even better! If in doubt, make a tester; it could save you a huge mishap!

Tiny Triangle Embed Soap, scented with Energy Fragrance Oil. 

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
I have definitely had a soapy fail! I think we’ve all had those batches that go wrong. There are batches that are so stressful you start sweating and then inevitably a drop of raw soap finds a spot of your skin that’s exposed, so you have to deal with that in the middle of the chaos. When I’ve had those moments I tell myself “get it in the mold.” If I can do what I have to do to get it in the mold, I can usually make something good out of it the next day. Either I can chop it up for embeds or sometimes it turns out better than I expected. And in the worst cases, my friends get a few bars of ugly soap. These experiences also remind me to wear long sleeves when making soap!

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love it when someone writes me a card or sends me a message telling me how my products have helped their skin. Being able to create these pretty things that are colorful, creative, pieces of useable art and knowing they helped someone…what more could you ask for?

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The post Talking with Tania of Soapish appeared first on Soap Queen.

Starting a small business can seem daunting for many reasons. There are so many numbers to crunch, and demands to meet. There are also the legal aspects of small business. And let’s be honest, unless you’re a lawyer or have access to one, it can be tricky to make sense of all that. One of the most common questions I get from soapers who are thinking about turning their hobby into a business, is how to make it “official.” Do you need to register somewhere, or need a license? Is a trademark essential? Let’s talk about it.

First of all, congrats! You have want to start a business, and have a business name. Sometimes coming up with a business name is the hardest part. Now that you’re ready to make it official, the first step is registering the business name in your state with a business license. This process ensures there isn’t another business in your state with the same name, or something extremely similar. To get started, I recommend searching around online to see if anybody else is using your desired business name.

A business license protects you from other businesses creating a business with the same name as yours (or something extremely similar). Many states have an online search function to check if a business name is already registered (for example, see Washington’s Business License Lookup here). Keep in mind, registering your business only protects your business name in your state. The process of getting a state business license varies widely from state to state, and each state has different rules and guidelines. To learn more about the state permits you need, find your state here.

When applying for a business license, you will need to choose what type of business you’re registering as. The Small Business Administration has an overview about the different types of business structures (corporation, sole proprietorship, cooperative, etc). A sole proprietorship is the most common type of small business. According to the Small Business Administration, a sole proprietorship is “an unincorporated business owned and run by one individual with no distinction between the business and you, the owner. You are entitled to all profits and are responsible for all your business’s debts, losses and liabilities.” Amanda of Lovin’ Soap has a great article that dives a little bit deeper into two popular business structures for new businesses.

Another piece of making your business “official” is quickly grabbing your website domain. Even if you don’t plan on creating a website now (or ever) you want ownership of your business name online. I also highly recommend creating accounts of various social media channels like Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. You don’t have to be active on all these sites (although I recommend it!) but that way you have the most control over your business name online. For example, I didn’t get on Snapchat early-on because when it came out, it didn’t seem relevant to business. Then when their focus changed it was too late to get the name ‘brambleberry’ and the person that does have it (a) isn’t using it but (b) also doesn’t want to give it to me. So, we are ‘Bramble-Berry’ on Snapchat. Moral of the story, if you have a name, grab it everywhere as soon as you can.

Make sure to register your name on various social media channels ASAP, even if you don’t plan on using it. 

After you have a business licence, the next level of legal protection is a trademark. A trademark protects a word, symbol or phrase on a federal level by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A trademark is not essential for owning and operating a business. Whether or not you get a trademark will depend on the level of protection you desire. Some small business names are sufficiently protected at the state level. But if you want exclusive rights for the name of your business or product in all 50 states, you need to apply for a trademark. A federal trademark is important if your business will do business across state lines. In terms of soap businesses, this happens often if you sell online.

While the process of registering your business name on a state level is usually fairly easy, registering for a trademark is trickier. It can take a long time, and can also be expensive. The process can be done online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). Get a breakdown of the trademark application process here. In general, obtaining a trademark usually takes about a year. Once you have a trademark, it is good for 10 years. After 10 years, you can renew your registration.

Although it’s not required, many applicants choose to hire a trademark attorney to guide them through the application process. I like Andrea Evans who knows soap and small business. Listen to her podcast with Indie Business Network here. When I first applied for a trademark for Bramble Berry, I went the DIY route to save fees on lawyers. This meant I did my own paperwork, and I did it wrong. The errors in the paperwork resulted in my application being denied. Afterwards I hired a lawyer, but it took more work and money to untangle the mess I had made. I definitely learned my lesson; DIY isn’t always the best route to take when it comes to legal processes. In the last decade, I’ve added several trademarks in multiple countries that Bramble Berry does business in, such as Australia, China and Canada.

During my early days of selling soap, I didn’t have a trademark. Many small businesses don’t obtain a trademark for several years.

So, which is right for you? This is a question only you can answer. It will depend on how “serious” your soaping business is, your plans for the future and how protected you’d like your business to be. If you are going to sell, you need to get a business license. It’s easy to do, and there are many benefits. One of the largest benefits, besides making you legal, is it shows you are serious about your business. Customers may feel more confident in buying products from a licensed business, and potential partners may be more likely to work with you. A business license also gives you a certain amount of protection, and is important for tax purposes.

Should you get a trademark? I’m not a lawyer (you should talk to a lawyer about any legal advice) so everything here is based on my experience. Many small businesses choose to get a trademark eventually (I did very early on, despite the hiccups on my poorly done DIY application). It may not make sense for your business in the first few months, first year, or even first few years of business. This is a decision that every business owner must make for themselves. However, I do recommend applying for a trademark for your business name or any unique product or product name that you’d like to make sure no one else will use. In general, when financially feasible, obtaining a trademark sooner rather than later is better.

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