Hi both and welcome aboard.  I am sure you both will have lots of fun experimenting and lots grumbles and groans (or even giggles) at the total flops.  It will be wonderful to hear about your exciting new adventure as you go along the way and yes...  as pic queen (that would be Honey) has already pointed out, we do love to see pics.  I hope you find the boards useful and I very much look forward to chatting with you more  :buttrf: :buttrf:

Hi Guys ! Hope you enjoy it here.

Actually everyone on here is wrong, learning, practicing and reading about soap is not enough, you have to be completely obsessed with soapmaking, never think about anything but soap, never do anything but make soap, dream about soap, talk about soap until all your friend's eyes glaze over and they put their fingers in there ears when you start talking, have enough different ingredients and a head full over ideas and even if you lived 6 lifetimes you would never use all those things you couldn't resist buyiing snd never have time to make all the ideas you have. You will stuff your children with strange food because you like the shape of the container, you will come on here for a quick look and suddenly it is 3.ooam - and this is all just for starters!

Oh. My. God.  Loretta - that just about sums it up!!! Just read that out to my hubs and he said that it's all soooooooooooo true!

Brilliant!!!!  :mwaha:

 :mwaha: I totally agree, soap making takes over your every waking moment

Welcome from another new board member............this is a great board with loads of supportive friendly soapers you will learn loads from here!!!! LOL Loretta how funny I so remember buying my poor kids umpteen jellys (readymade type) because I loved the containers.............they made cute candle molds!!!!!!!

Hello everyone, nice to hear from you all
As for making a living from soap making I fully expect to take over the world by next tuesday !!! does anyone think i am being over ambitious?. We may start buying things in from Ancient wisdom as they do some fabulous looking loaves and we can learn as we go along but at least we'll be testing the market as we go.
Loads of fun to be had from experimenting in the meantime and thats probably the most enjoyable part anyway. As we progress i'll put some pics up and any help along the way with recipes would be much appreciated
Lisa

This is totally my opinion but lots of people buy in from AW.  Nothing special about their products at all - nothing that says "buy me".  They're cheap and cheerful but that's it.  And to make a good profit, you are going to have to sell truck loads. 

It really depends on what you want your business to be - what is your market, who will you be selling to? Do you want to start your business selling soaps like that.. is that what your brand will be? If it so, no problem.  But if you wish to place yourself in any other market, starting selling AW type soaps won't cut it because you'll have branded yourself already without realising it.  You won't get the type of customers who'll pay a premium for a quality handmade product buying AW soaps.  If you're not going for that market no problem though.  Check out your local markets and see what's selling - where is the gap? What could your niche be?

Do you have a business plan or a focus for your business? Is there a particular market you want to focus on? Remember, whatever you do you'll have to be fully certified and insured. 

Thanks for all the information everyone, all very much appreciated. Sadly my mam died on Sunday so i wont be on the boards for a short while, i will reply to you all when i can, Thankyou
Andy

 

Sorry to hear that. Take care of yourselves.

Sorry to hear that, Andy. Come back when you are ready.

Eire

Sympathies Andy.

We'll see you both later when you're ready.

So sorry to hear that, please accept my deepest condolences. Look forward to seeing you on here again when you feel ready.

so sorry to hear about your mum.