Article 13 :Soap is Soap is Soap… Or Is It?

In today's competitive market, it's not just enough to be able to create a good product. It's absolutely essential that you create a product that is special - that is different from all the rest that came before it. There's so many factors to consider that not all of them can be discussed in this email.

Fortunately, all you need to do to be able to plan and create amazing soap product lines have been outlined for you in this book, "The Super Soap Making Book". It’s a personal favorite, which I consider to be a wonderful reference and guide for budding soap makers and soap entrepreneurs. Just take a look at some of the topics that it covers:

• How to make soap
• How to create your own soap recipes
• How to handle soap making chemicals safely and properly
• How to set up a successful soap business
• Creative ways to enhance soap
• How to use essential oils and fragrances
• How to choose soap making oils to achieve desired effect
• Inspiring ideas to package your soap

There's more! Get the full scoop here:

To learn more !

Now back to our topic. So, what does make soap special?

When answering this question, we can look at the physical benefits that the soap delivers, and we can also look at the emotional benefits that we get out of using soap.

The physical benefits that make soap special are very obvious.

Here's a list of what it could be:

• Some soaps clean better
• Some soaps smell better
• Some soaps are shaped creatively, which makes them very appealing and attractive 
• Some soaps have special properties that make them different – for example some soaps have a moisturizing effect on the skin, or some soaps also exfoliate while cleaning the skin, etc.
• Some soaps have soothing and curative properties - example are soaps that are meant to treat acne prone skin or eczema
• Some soaps have relaxing properties that allow the user to de-stress while taking a bath.

But to be able to truly create soap that stands out among the rest, it is important to understand the emotional benefits that we derive from using soap. These benefits are not directly a result of the features of our soap product - although they support it – but rather, this is the product of the overall bathing experience.

Here's a list of what these emotional benefits could be:

• Confidence 
• Desirability and Sensuality
• Calm 
• Energy
• Exclusivity
• Fun and Optimism

When planning your product line, think about the emotional impact that you want your products to have on your consumers. What do you want them to FEEL after they've used your soap? What situations or occasions do you see them using your soap?

Taking these into consideration can help you choose the ingredients that will go to your product. These will help you find ways to make your product stand out against other specialty soap products.

And not only that. If you create a soap that consumers believe to be more special than the other soaps out in the market today, then you'll be able to command a better price for them, too.

Once you've decided what benefits you want consumers to associate with your product, it's time to choose your recipe. For this, you can check out the book, "The Super Soap Making Book". This book contains soap making recipes and instructions to help you create a perfect batch of your desired soap. It also contains a saponification index of various soap making oils to guide you should you prefer to create your own recipe. You can check it out here:

To learn more !

Now, when it comes to planning your product, one important thing you need to consider if you intend to sell your products to the US domestic market is the FDA regulations that you need to follow. You see, the FDA can classify soap as either a soap, a cosmetic or a drug, depending on the properties that you plan to promote.

The FDA will define your product as soap if the only claim that your product will make is that it cleans. If your soap promotes itself as a moisturizing soap, then it's considered a cosmetic. If it claims to manage acne, then it's considered a drug. Depending on where your product is classified under, you will need to comply with various labeling rules.

To know more about the FDA rules on labeling soaps, cosmetics and drugs, check out this link:

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm074201.htm

In my next post, we'll talk about how trends can affect your business and how you can spot trends and take advantage of them.

Talk to you soon!

The Super Soap Making Book:
A Beginner’s Guide To Soap Making

To learn more !

NOTE: Picture (s) and content are original and should not be used without permission of the author - Christophe Leroy - aka cleroy61, Copyright 2013, All rights reserved.

All third party products, brands or trademarks listed above are the sole property of their respective owners. No affiliation or endorsement is intended or implied.

Article 12 : Is There A Market For Your Homemade Soap?

Aside from being a lot of fun, soapmaking is also a thriving business. Whether you intend to train people to make soap, or sell your own homemade soap and soap products, there is a proven market

out there. And the great thing about it is that the skills you need you can easily learn. (Check out "The Super Soapmaking Book" at To learn more ! or more on learning the skills you need and the steps for setting up a successful soap business).  

Soap is something everybody needs. For a lot of people, homemade soap is an inexpensive luxury they indulge in. For others, special recipes of homemade soap are a necessity because of their curative,

soothing or relaxing properties.

Selling soap is a business you can start from the comforts of home, with very little initial investment. The ingredients for making soap aren't expensive. And with practice, you'll be able to find a soap making method that works for you. With those in place, you are ready to create your product.

I would understand if you are a bit worried about the competition. After all, mass produced soap is available everywhere. They're inexpensive, they're not bad, and they advertise. What chance would

you have competing with those guys?

But I dare say that there is a market for homemade soap - and it's not the same market that the commercial soap products are after. This market includes consumers who are averse to commercial soap because they want something more. 

We are talking about people who are particular about soap scents, concerned with being unique, desire only the choice ingredients for their soap and are after the special properties that specialty soaps carry. These are the people who are willing to pay a premium for premium soap blends.

Aside from this market, you also have the gift market to consider. Soap is a wonderful gift item, that is easy to personalize and that can come in a wide variety of creative shapes, sizes and packaging concepts. It is also a popular party favor and corporate gift item.  

Before you launch your business, you need to identify the specific niche or the specific market you are targeting, You need to create a business plan and create a market strategy that will allow you to reach your market, to differentiate yourself and to beat the competition. Finally, you also need a pricing strategy that makes sense and will allow you to earn a decent profit.  

All of these will be covered in our 10-day mini course. And if you would like a more in depth discussion on the topic of setting up a soap business, as well as learn the skills that you need if you are a beginner soap maker, then check out this book called "The Super Soap Making Book". This book has all the information you need to be able to create unique soap recipes and to set up a successful soap business. You can look it up here:

To learn more !

In my next email, we'll talk about what makes a soap stand out in the minds of consumers. This is vital to understand when you're planning what kind of product you should create in order to appeal to your clients. 

The Super Soap Making Book:
A Beginner’s Guide To Soap Making

To learn more !

NOTE: Picture (s) and content are original and should not be used without permission of the author - Christophe Leroy - aka cleroy61, Copyright 2013, All rights reserved.

All third party products, brands or trademarks listed above are the sole property of their respective owners. No affiliation or endorsement is intended or implied.

Article 11 : Who’s Ready To Start Making Soap?

Dear Soap Makers,

For those who would like to learn how to make soap, but don’t have the faintest idea how to nor the time to attend a class, there’s good news!

I’ve recently discovered a new book on the topic of soap making that’s perfect for the modern soap maker. “The Super Soap making Book” is a super book researched and written by Sandy Simmons. It’s a complete guide for the soap making newbie and is guaranteed to keep you occupied with projects for months with its substantial collection of soap recipes. You can read more about the book here:

The Super Soap Making Book:
A Beginner’s Guide To Soap Making

To learn More, Here!

What I liked about this book is that it’s so easy to follow. That’s probably because it assumes zero background in soap making from its readers. Resources like lists of materials and equipments you’ll need depending on your preferred soap making method is listed, and basic soap recipes for your first few tries are available too.

Once you feel more comfortable with your skill level, you can then do the more complex recipes. The book also provides a saponification index table. This is a table that tells you how much lye you need depending on the amount and type of oil that you will use in your soap. That means, with this table, you can even customize the soap recipes she shares or create your own recipes!

And for the budding soap entrepreneurs out there, this book is just perfect! “The Super Soap making Book” discusses relevant and important topics such as what you need to set up a business, how to define your pricing strategy, how to find a market for your soap products and how to stand out from competition.

I encourage you to take a look at this amazing book. Click on this link to learn more:

The Super Soap Making Book:
A Beginner’s Guide To Soap Making

To learn More, Here!

Cheers,

cleroy61

NOTE: Picture (s) and content are original and should not be used without permission of the author - Christophe Leroy - aka cleroy61, Copyright 2013, All rights reserved.

All third party products, brands or trademarks listed above are the sole property of their respective owners. No affiliation or endorsement is intended or implied.