So, in an effort to get this soap business a bit more streamlined, I’ve been making a few changes that have taken a lot of time up front, but in the long run should make my life easier, and benefit my customers as well.

1. I switched my newsletter service for my Preferred Customers to MailChimp. After I saw how the template could be adjusted to look more like my brand, and how it doesn’t cost me anything to send out the same number of newsletters that I was sending through my old newsletter service (which was costing me $10/month), I was convinced! There were several other factors involved as well:

a. I had several of my local customers tell me they never got my newsletters from the old service. They are now getting them with MailChimp.
b. MailChimp has a lot of great features that make it easier to use from the sender’s standpoint – that’s ME!
c. One word: autoresponders. Now, when someone signs up to be a Preferred Customer, it will automatically send out an email with the 10% off coupon. AND, it knows when your birthday is, so it can send out a fun birthday email asking you which lip butter you want for your free gift!

2. All orders are now sent out via USPS Priority Mail or UPS. First class mail has been discontinued due to erratic shipping cost calculations that were not in my favor. Even though it was nice to have a less expensive option for those smaller packages, Priority Mail has always proved reliable and faster.

3. Soap shapes are about to change again. While I am absolutely in love with my soap cutter “tank” that cuts up to 12 bars at a time in one fell swoop, I’ve never been truly happy with the 1″ wide bars. It took me awhile to realize that it was cutting my soap thinner than I was cutting it by hand, so my soaps were dropping below the 4 ounce size that I had been advertising. So I started making the soaps wider to make up the difference. This still hasn’t made me happy. I found out Willow Way aka soapequipment.com sells several different standard size cutters, so this week I decided to go ahead and get the 1 1/4″ cutter – and it’s scheduled to arrive TODAY!! Once I’ve determined that I love this cutter more than the 1″ one, the 1″ one will be up for sale. I can’t wait to have standard sized soaps again!!

My 1" soap cutter. You know you want it.

4. Packaging is about to change too. I love the way the smell-through shrink wrap protects my soaps and shows off their design, while allowing the fragrance come through! However, as my production rate increases, it is becoming less time efficient for me to wrap and label every soap. I am looking into some box ideas that will be custom printed and have windows to show off the fragrance and design – at least for my regular line that I keep in stock.

Example of custom soap box

The boxes seem so expensive compared to the shrink-wrap and paper labels, especially since I would have to get a custom size, but I have to keep in mind how much time (and toner) I’ll be saving! I’m still deciding if I should have some generic boxes that can be customized with sticky labels for my limited edition soaps, or continue to shrink-wrap them. I definitely still plan to have the smell-through shrink wrap available to sell to other soapmakers.

The last thing I want to do is raise prices. It may come to that at some point, especially with the way the cost of ingredients continues to rise. Other changes I’m considering include dropping product lines that aren’t selling as well. Handmade soap is and probably always will be my best selling product – because you can’t buy it at Walmart and it’s obviously what I’m most passionate about.

Yippee!! We have a new web store! The best news: our Grand Opening Sale is now in effect! Get 10% off your entire order through the entire month of April! The shopping cart will automatically figure your discount.

Here are some of the other wonderful features of our new web store:

1. It’s a streamlined, cleaner look. Easier to find what you are looking for!
2. You can create an account which will enable you to see your order history, and the best part:
3. Write reviews on individual products – or general customer service reviews. I would love to hear your feedback!
4. You can see what is in your shopping cart at all times. Just look in the left sidebar!
5. Quantity discounts are automatically applied once you reach a certain number. For example, the 4 for $20 Handmade Soap Deal will still apply, but now when you order 4 or more soaps, the price is still just $5. You don’t have to order in quantities of four! I’ve added new quantity discounts for lotions and lip butters as well.
6. Best sellers will be listed along the right side – up to 10 different products! As more people place orders, that information will be more and more accurate.
7. We are now able to accept your credit or debit cards directly. This is huge! And we have a secure certificate so you know your information will be safe. Paypal is still an option as well.
8. I will also be able to add slideshows to showcase product photos – this will be coming soon!

What’s missing:

1. I am no longer able to sell gift certificates. Not a huge loss since I think I’ve only sold 2 or 3 in the last five years!
2. I will no longer have a wholesale program. I believe this only affects one customer, and we are talking about working out a new arrangement.
3. Local customers no longer have the option to pay upon pick-up of their order. The cart just won’t allow it – sorry!

So you see, the benefits are tremendous! I am very excited about this change, and hope you are too! Click on the header photo above or HERE to enter the new web store. If you have any problems, please let me know on the contact page.

I made the Chocolate Strawberry soap last night, but I haven’t cut it yet. I promise to show it to you tomorrow! In the meantime, go take a look at the new banner and tell me what you think!

Go take a peek and let me know what you think! Good or bad…

I do have a special surprise planned for Cyber Monday. Can’t wait to tell you all about it!!