Thank you PhotoLoveCat for linking to the Balance Wheel concept and EcoChildsPlay for highlighting our Eco Soap kit as a way to enjoy a crafty outlet with your children.
Commenter Katw0man suggested that I use today as a break to let everyone catch up on the last three days of homework. That seemed like a good suggestion since so much of the business kickstart takes significant amount of thought:
1. Research the market (www.teachsoap.com/forum and www.soapdishforum.com)
2. Identify your current customer and your ideal customer.
3. Do a SWOT analysis
Write it all down. Don’t worry about making it pretty yet. That will come later.
In other news, Bramble Berry has added a new fragrance: Marrakesh (spicy, warm and complex), a Liquid Soap Base sampler and our Grab Bags are here for a limited time. Look for Optiphen Preservative (just arrived) along with a new economical 10 pound digital scale, Lemon Verbena fragrance and our 5 pound wooden loaf molds with collapsible sides to be live on the site and ready to order in the next few days.
Things that caught my eye today: I enjoyed this blog post from Platypus Dreams with some simple soap packaging ideas. I’m researching chocolate making and liked this comprehensive supply site with a cool name, Chocolate Alchemy. This blog with babies, Fancy Toast, made me smile. And David’s blog about overpaying for sugar scrubs made me nod my head in agreement.
My favorite email from a customer today came from a soapmaker who gushed over a variety of things (which is always nice) and really loved our Lemon Verbena:
I have never been able to find a Lemon Verbena, that I could just fall madly in love with… They were mostly”Okay”… This one, however is to die for… It is multi layered, crisp, with nice soft edges… A fabulous almost classic sort of scent… I am totally in love with this wonderful jewel.
I’ll get back to business planning 101 tomorrow. In the meantime, get to work on your homework.
I am saving all my emails from you and will go back to re-read and do homework this weekend. I work a full time job and run a soap biz. on the side, right now I don’t have much time during the week to devote to the homework portion. I am totally committed though, I will be setting time aside this weekend, I promise! Thank you for doing this, it is a great idea and I am learning ALOT! Shannon from Casco Bay Soap Co. ~ Maine
Anon, I don’t see the link either but it could be an oversight on David’s part. I notice that he redesigned it recently. It’s good of you to notice and point it out.
Teresa, Oh my goodness. My green matcha tea truffles turned out horribly! I made a matcha tea ganache and tried to put that into my fabulous chocolates and what a mess! It didn’t even taste very good. So, I’m a little bit bummed but I’ll try again when my ego recovers.
Congrats on the mention, free advertising is great!
Thank you for the day to keep working on homework and catch up. I enjoyed to blogs you listed. Thanks for the break.
ohhh, I ordered one of those Grab Bags a few days ago… a little bit of an ‘exciting risk’! I can’t wait!
thanks for offering such great deals!
okay, back to studying!
I enjoyed reading the Bubble Roome’s post – but I have a question – why would someone have a blog and not link to their site? Or am I just blind?
I enjoyed the posts from Platypus and The Bubble Roome – thank you!
The Chocolate Alchemy site looks cool; I’ll have to show it to my ds#1 to see if he might want to try it (with his own money…hah). He’s quite a chocolate connoisseur at a tender age. Be sure to post photos of your creations, A-M!
And thanks also for the homework break! 😉
Gah! Can’t afford to expand current stock (cash flow is a definite weakness right now) but I’ve called a few friends to let them know (and hopefully take advantage of) about the grab bags…
M goi lei, Anne Marie!
My brain was hurting!
I am definitely going to try that Lemon Verbena and the Marrakesh.
Wow, chocolate! I had thought also about my second site….cassia confections…..mmmm
but not until we get control on a lo carb lifestyle!!!!!!
hugs!