Soap Making, Oils and Recipes
OK, let me warn you BEFORE you click. If you do not like profanity then do NOT click this link. Shannon from Shannon’s kitchen gives a very down to earth low down explanation on Coconut oil
. Her opening line is – Is coconut oil for rubbing on your —-
Again remember if you don’t like swear words then don’t visit it for everyone else, interesting article with a more than interesting writing style.
Hey there, fellow soapers. If you’ve ever found yourself raising your hand because you’re neck-deep in questions and on a wild journey, this one’s for you! Yep, been there, done that – and guess what? You’re not alone. Let’s dive into a candid chat about the twists, turns, and bubbles of running a handmade soap business. And trust me, it’s a tale worth sharing. Before we get started here are some resources for anyone who is just starting out.
Choosing A Name For Your Soap Business
Thinking of starting a soap making business?
10 Things You Need To Know Before Starting A Soap Making Business
Soap Making Business Organizing Your Soap Lab
Been There, Done That: My Soapy Odyssey
Picture this: Over three decades of toiling away for others, navigating the stress-filled, hustle-bustle of a demanding job. Sound familiar? Well, let me tell you – I’ve been right there with you. And here’s the kicker – somehow, amidst all that chaos, I found myself evolving into a soap-making dynamo, crafting a business out of it. But let me set the record straight – this wasn’t my childhood dream, and creativity wasn’t exactly my middle name.
Confession time: I wasn’t the artsy, crafty kid. Nope, not me. I wasn’t painting masterpieces, stitching up wonders, or churning out mouthwatering cakes. Nope, I was more of a toy car than a doll kind of person. I was all about the great outdoors, spending hours in the garden, inspecting bugs, and unearthing slow worms from the compost heap. My teenage years? Welly boots and adventures with ponies and pups.
From Unlikely Beginnings to Uncharted Territories
Fast forward a bit, and here I am, a soap-making entrepreneur. How did I get here? Well, life has a funny way of evolving, doesn’t it? I stumbled upon my creative side later in life, just like so many of us do. And being the stubborn mule I am, I decided to make it work in my favor. Plus, let’s be real – the thought of escaping the grind of a 9-to-5 job was a pretty strong motivator.
But let’s get real – the journey behind the scenes has been a rollercoaster. Expectations? Oh boy, they had their own agenda. The reality? Well, that’s where things got interesting. So, let’s embark on a whistle-stop tour of what I thought it would be versus what it turned out to be. Trust me, the grand finale is worth the ride!
Great Expectations vs. Bittersweet Reality
Expectation: Running a soap business is a cakewalk compared to my day job. Reality: Soap business – challenging, multi-faceted, and definitely not your 9-to-5 gig. Sometimes reactive, not proactive, and often heading in unexpected directions.
Expectation: I can bid adieu to my day job and rock the soap-making business. Reality: Figuring out how to make your soap venture big enough to leave the day job? It’s like solving one of those crazy impossible puzzles!
Expectation: No more being tied to a desk – freedom at last! Reality: Newsflash – I’m still spending 75% of my time shackled to the desk. From social media to emails, blogs to stock control – it’s a desk-bound marathon.
Expectation: Fun, creative soap-making whenever the mood strikes. Reality: Practicing new recipes and creating products? Yeah, not as easy as it sounds. Time constraints? Oh, they’re real.
Expectation: Freedom to work flexibly on my terms. Reality: Without a somewhat structured work week, things unravel fast, and the ball starts dropping left and right.
Expectation: Craft shows – the highlight of my soap business journey! Reality: Craft shows = long days, sometimes not worth the effort, and feeling like you missed out on Christmas shopping. Plus, no breaks!
Expectation: Blissfully basking in the aroma of soap-making. Reality: Scent overload can lead to headaches. Not as fragrant as you might imagine!
Expectation: Turning my hobby into a business will be a breeze. Reality: Yes, you can turn your hobby into a business, but be prepared to put in the elbow grease!
The Highs and Lows, Oh My!
Now, onto the nitty-gritty. The not-so-glamorous bits that you might not hear about often:
The Toughest Bits:
The Brightest Bits:
In the End, It’s a Soapy Triumph
So, what’s the bottom line? Running a soap business is hard work – especially in the early days. But guess what? It’s worth every ounce of effort. I’m head over heels for my businesses. The customers, the stockists, the teaching – I adore every part of it. And here’s the kicker – even when I’m away for a few days, I’m itching to get back to the next challenge.
Feeling inspired? Ready to take your soap-making game up a notch? But wait, you might be wondering where to start, especially with all those UK regulations swirling around. Well, that’s where The Soap Business Boot Camp comes in. If you’re intrigued, check out the options right HERE.
So, there you have it – the behind-the-scenes soap scoop on my journey. A journey that’s been packed with highs, lows, sudsy messes, and a whole lot of heart. Here’s to embracing the chaos, celebrating the wins, and carving a path that’s uniquely yours!
Do you have a soap business story to tell? Share it in the comments below.
In real life I drop the f bomb a lot. I swear on a daily basis. This lady takes it over the top, obviously using shocking language as a ploy to get people to read her blog. I’ve read tons on coconut oil and never heard it called a superfood in the US. (Although I haven’t looked it up in the past year). It’s obviously a fat so it would never be called that by anyone with a reputable degree. Coconut oil has a lot of hype Bc it’s an all natural substance that you can eat, use it in beauty products, and use it for oil pulling-which has been reported to help “fix” tiny cavities in your teeth. If you plan on reading the article,which is just her opinion of another article she read and threw in the C word more times than I ever care to read EVER. Im not easily offended, but she hit a nerve. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t have a clear understanding of how the body really works, although she does give correct information on the structures of fat itself. She seems more concerned with dismissing it because others are hyping it up, mostly Bc it doesn’t contain Omega 3s. I just wanted to post a further warning Bc I expected to see a few swear words, but it’s excessive. It’s not necessary to excessively use profanity in like that, and I think it unfortunately discredits anything she has to say that is important. Which is SO hypocritical of me to say, but I guess even *i* have a limit, which is refreshing to know in a weird way. (I am an RN in the US so I do have the credentials to back up my opinion on her writing about fats-organic Chem and the effects on the body). She does have the ability to make difficult concepts more easy to read by the non-medical population, but that is totally clouded by her humor-by using shocking language and even more shocking comparisons to female genetalia. :/ I would say this to her, but I try not to troll people and by reading the comments she obviously isn’t going to change things or take any constructive critism seriously. Plus there are people who actually find her entertaining. i know I was warned 🙂 and it doesn’t change my opinion about this blog which I read almost daily.
Claire, thanks for your feedback, Yes her ability to put things into lay words is good. I wonder if her blog would get more traffic with less profanity? Not likely as then it would be the same as every other blog.
Maybe she is also a good business woman, as her blog post get’s a lot more traffic than any of my bath and body write-ups. Don’t worry though I am not going to start using swear words. 🙂 Everyone please remember there is a warning for a reason.
Thank you Shellie and Kerrie for your comments. After I read your post, i decided not to watch the video with all the swearing. Who needs more of this in your life. I can surely do without. There are plenty of other sites that are better. Thank You for warning ahead of the language.
I use some profanity and always thought I was liberal in my thinking. Also do not like to put down blogs, people etc.
But that article way over the top, and not in a good way. I didn’t finish reading the article bc of that. Too much good interesting stuff out there.
Lesley
I’m not a nurse, nor am I a nun… However, my thoughts on her excessive cursing and use of nasty slang terms are so irritating to try and read through. I throw f bombs around here and there, but seriously.. It’s not even amusing. It doesn’t offend me but it certainly doesn’t make me want to visit her blog again. Just saying!
I’m not easily offended either, but I actually gasped twice and stopped reading it. You did try to warn us, though. But it’s just not funny. It’s more shocking than funny or clever.
Wow, I work with truck drivers who speak better then that. Seemed to have great info. But so hard to drown out the cussing. Had to be done intentionally. Dispite my Mothers teaching I do drop a few bombs here and there. No one really talks like THAT do they? Guess bad attention is better than none.
Thanks for the warning, I won’t bother reading her article or blog. I wiill only blame myself if (and I think there is a strong possibility here) I get effed off by some-person-I-hardly-know’s language.