Expert: Terry Knorr - 5/30/2006

Question
Hi Terry, hope you are well and that the World of soap is still larthering your appetite for making soap and all that!
Two weeks ago I began making my first soap and have had a great deal of success making it for my friends and chums around Hereford in the UK where I live. Mrs. Perkins who lives at number 42 likes her soap to be in the shape of famous tv characters including Inspector Morse (which is a UK cop show about an elderly detective who drives around in a fancy Jaguar and drinks whiskey all the time) and the UK famous magician Paul Daniels who has recently appeared on Celebrity X Factor with his wife Debbie Magoo. Mr. Bender at number 34 likes his soap in the shape of shoes and Mr. Bourboncream likes his soap to be in the shape of famous buildings such as the Houses of Parliament (obviously not life size!) and popular buildings such as Trevor's House where Trevor Brooking used to live when he was young- people from all over the UK like to visit Trevor's House annually on his birthday as he is considered a national hero by most UK residents. Trevor Brooking is a famous ex West Ham player and West Ham are a well respected football team (you lot call it soccer) found near Derbyshire, just West of Dundee.
My question is, my orders for soap are ever increasing and my soap is becoming very popular across other counties. Orders are pouring in and I am now at the stage where maybe I should start my own business and build a factory (out of bricks and mortar not soap!). Do you think it would be wise to end my career as a Dentist Editorial Consultant or should I wait for soap to become popular across a wider region. I have asked people in areas such as Basingstoke if they use soap but they don't know what sopa is!? They tend to use facial cleansers such as surgical spirit and turps.
I hope you can help as my predicament is leading into a soapy diarray!

Graham


Answer
Hi  Graham!

It is difficult to answer your question.  I know very little about the culture and economy of the UK.  The best I can do is to tell you what I have found here in the US.

There are very few soapmakers here who can make a living just by making soap.  Even the big companies produce things other than soap!  Most people who are making a living from soap are doing it by selling other related items such as offering soapmaking classes and supplies.  My soap has been sold in 2 different states and on the internet, yet I still work a "full-time" job.  

For many people, using handcrafted soap is a novelty and a fad which wares off in a relatively short period of time.  The economy is another consideration.  When the economy is good, people can afford to indulge in novelties and fads, but when the economy takes a dip, they return to the mass-produced, (usually petrolium based) inexpensive "soap".  

The laws regulating a formal business might also prove a challenge to comply with.  Here in the US, The laws can differ from state to state and, to some extent, you must comply with the various laws to sell in those states.  The laws reguarding the manufacturing and labeling might also be prohibiting.

I am not writing these things to discourage you.  These are all things that I've learned (sometimes the hard way). I hope to prevent you from making some of the same mistakes that I've made.  

I would recommend that you also consider things such as:
Can you live on the money you are making right now from your soap?
Can you afford to advertise?
Can you afford not to advertise?
What will you do if your sales don't take off as you think they will?

Here in the US, most towns and cities have a Chamber of Commerce.  The people there are skilled in business and will help people make the right decisions concerning their business.  If you have a similar organization in the UK, I would recommed that you contact them.  They might be able to give you some very important information and guidance specific to your area and country.

I hope this is helpful to you.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions I can help you with.

Terry