soap and candle making advice

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Hello All, I will be starting a gift basket business and would like to make my own soaps, lip care and candles for my gift baskets. All organic, of course. I have never done anything like this, so I was wondering if it's something that will be easy to learn. I would like to incorporate fruit flavors. Is this possible? Can anyone please give me any advice or recommend a guide book they have used that works. Feel free to email me directly. Looking forward to hearing from you all. Trish

-- Trish (inspiringwords@excite.com), June 15, 2001

Answers

Trish, I would first reccomend reading this current issue of CS. Great information on home businesses. I have a home business. I make scented candles. Even though this home business is working (making a profit) I've had six of them in the past that have failed. There were many reasons those six failed. Many of those reasons are mentioned in CS's article. I would think about "why" you want to do this. There were things I did because I enjoyed them but they were either not profitable or there simply was no market in my area. The business I have now is working mostly because of the mistakes I learned from my past failures. Many of those mistakes were very expensive ones. If you read this article in CS and still wish to proceed, I would be very pleased to help you in any way I can. As I mentioned I currently have scented candles and I am expanding to include a bath and body line. I did a lot of gift baskets last Christmas. They are really fun to do because you can get so creative with them. And yes, they are profitable. I am debating however if I am going to offer them again this year because I already have a full plate and I don't want to over commit myself. The only help I have is my hubby who does all of my deliveries and runs my errands. Don't mean to just rattle on here but if I can be of help let me know.

-- Ria in Ky (MinMin45@aol.com), June 16, 2001.

Hello Trish,

A great place to start doing some research on products is soapnuts.com they are great people and have a good site for information. There is also a forum you can join where we all contribute help and ask questions. I have been making soap and balms...and some other odds and ends for quite a few years. If you would like to email me feel free.

Suzanne

-- suzanne wilson (mtsuz@hotmail.com), June 17, 2001.


Trish, Even though I do alot of natural growing and eating like my blueberries and garden, sheep, cows & chix, you can't sell soap that is organic unless you find a market that is willing to pay the price. For instance maybe you can get some of your oils organic try to find organic essential oils and that bar of soap will cost more to make and you could sell. I sell soap that is made of olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, castor oil or cocoa butter that an essential oil, sometimes with dried herbs and sometimes with sheepmilk. It takes a year to get it right. Start with one pounder then graduate to larger batches. Type in soap on the internet and you'll find all kinds of stuff. Sugar Plum has one of the best forums and those people are alot of help. Good Luck, I am selling about 150 bars a month now. Debbie

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), June 17, 2001.

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