SOAP MAKING AND BUSINESS QUESTIONS - Q&A / Jerika Zimmerman
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- Опубліковано 20 лип 2024
- SOAP MAKING AND BUSINESS QUESTIONS - Q&A / Jerika Zimmerman
Thank you for all your support! If you're new to the channel, please like the video, subscribe, and turn on the notification bell for new videos about my small business!
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro
2:15 - How much money did it cost for you to start your business and what did you first sell when starting off?
5:02 - How many varieties of soap scents should a soaper provide when launching their new business?
6:11 - How long you wait to pack and label your soaps?
6:48 - How do you avoid soda ash?
8:19 - What supplies/tools do you advise to invest in when first starting on a very little budget?
10:17 - How do you come up with how to price your items for sale?
11:02 - What ingredients do customers ask most about?
12:43 - What are your top five soaps that people love and want to buy?
14:93 - How did you nail down your target market? And is it very specific would you say?
15:13 - What are some pros and cons to selling chapsticks?
16:19 - What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?
17:20 -Why do you give out your own personal recipes?
18:31 - What made you want to get into the soap business? Would you say creating soaps is a lucrative business?
19:51 - How do you ensure that you have produced enough bar soaps for your stock?
20:39 - Do you warm your soap in the oven after you make it and if so how long or do you put it in the fridge or sit it out to do its thing? And why?
21:42 - How to buy ingredients in bulk and stay in budget?
23:07 - How did Cale get involved? Did he need convincing or was he into all this from the beginning?
24:52 - What ingredients make for a CREAMY soap? Favourite scents? Where to buy fragrances?
27:08 - How did you get into selling at markets and how much do they charge you for a booth?
29:37- Most favorite and least favorite thing about owning a business?
32:20 - How to get the confidence for selling your products and your brand?
33:03 - Does dried lavender buds go bad
33:48 - What are the most popular essential oil combinations 2or more oil mixture that you sale?
34:29- How to make bathbombs without a blending machine..do the oils get mixed by hand evenly?
34:57- How do you make your bath bomb embed powder in bulk to get it to last?
35:42- How did you get over your products not selling?
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💌 Email Inquiries - jerika.zimmerman@gmail.com
💙 Shop Quench's beautiful hemp bath and body products here 💙
website - www.quenchsoap.com
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💙 Equipment I use 💙
Packaging 👉🏼
📍National Shrinkwrap System - www.nationalshrinkwrap.com/sh...
📍Laser Printer: amzn.to/2X2QrnX
Soap and Bath Bomb Making👉🏼
📍Bath Bomb and Soap Making Supplies (colorants, glitters, fragrance oils) - Fizz Fairy - Use the code JERIKA15 at checkout for 15% off your purchase: tinyurl.com/yc7k3jsw
📍Trays, Bath Bomb Press, Molds - www.bathbombpress.com
📍Scale - amzn.to/31X4A8S
📍Stick Blender - amzn.to/3mzdPUM
📍Glass Measuring Cups - amzn.to/31URZDa
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Spatulas: amzn.to/3oJL2P9
📍Measuring Spoons - amzn.to/3jIam4v
📍Mixer: amzn.to/34Yxt6U
📍Temp Gun: amzn.to/2I929JI
📍Latex Powder-Free Gloves: amzn.to/3mTtrCN
Vending and Markets👉🏼
📍Collapsable Risers: www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Portable...
📍Fitted Table Cover (6 ft, white): amzn.to/2VQIuSm
📍 6 ft Collapsable Table: amzn.to/3mVbnbE
📍Tin Buckets for displaying bath bombs: amzn.to/2VOxncp
📍Mini Chalkboard Easels for price display: amzn.to/39QXtE4
📍Chalk Markers: amzn.to/39OUZpv
📍Christmas Fairy Light: amzn.to/36SwLsz
📍Server Apron: amzn.to/3mOtQGW
📍Debit/Credit Card Reader (Square): squareup.com/i/QUENCHSOAP
Photography and Filming👉🏼
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M U S I C -- I -- U S E -- I N -- M Y -- V I D E O S -- (FREE TRIAL) - share.epidemicsound.com/3qnmgf
💙Suppliers Mentioned💙
📍New Directions Aromatics: www.newdirectionsaromatics.ca
📍Windy Point Soap Supplies: www.windypointsoap.com
📍OnlineLabels: www.onlinelabels.com
📍Hempola Farms: www.hempola.com
📍Fizz Fairy: www.fizzfairy.ca
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THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT! - Навчання та стиль
I love the open and everyone wins mindset!! It truly does go back around, and I respect you even more for it! Thank you for sharing
@@everettkamari3283 1, ingenious. 2, not very nice to have done it OR TO HAVE POSTED IT OPENLY ON THE INTERNET! NICE FRIEND🤬👹💩.NOT!!!
Scary thing I just saw a super said that she had to pay off a company because they said that she violated their copyrighted patent so people have to be careful of using certain phrases as catchphrases because they will get sued people are trolling videos and stuff like this and finding that there's easy way of making money off of someone who doesn't know that they have a patent
I wanted to add some advice for super new soapers. I started using cottage cheese containers as the containers, a $4 stick blender from the thrift store, a $6 hand mixer from the thrift store and old plastic drawer organizers for the soap mold that I would line with freezer paper. Those were 50 cents each.
I agree with you that you don't have to go overboard or put yourself in debt.
Brilliant!
You're an amazing couple. Love the community mindset. So unassuming, yet so open and full of firsthand knowledge. No wonder you have a successful business.
I would've loved bacon lip balm. Try again with real Canadian maple syrup 🍁
It takes three to five years to establish a profitable business. Thank you so much for all your information. I have been amazed by the openness of everyone in the soap making business. I fully expected to have to buy recipes. The fact that everyone I have seen has been so open, not many have indicated that they are not open to helping. I have always believed that what goes around comes around. Thank you again!!!
Was literally watching the small batch video and got the notification 🙂 I'm a newbie and your channel has been extremely helpful. I definitely consider you a mentor
I'm so glad!
I LOVE you guys! I appreciate your generosity, your honesty and your enthusiasm! You inspire me to grow my soap business, (and maybe go PT at my “real” job) and I am proud to be part of your creative community!
Sharing❤️is actually paying it forward and you two are a testimony of reaping back what you sewed👏🏻🙂
I love it because of the satisfaction of what you do as an artisan!!! I made that!! Nothing compares to it. I love how you both are so open and honest!
I love you guys mindset and helping those who want to start a soap business
Thank you so much for answering my question! and thank you for the advise and for your time for making this q&a it was very helpful 🌸
I’m here with my notebook taking notes. Huge value thank you for this.
You're so welcome!
Thank you for your videos Jerika! You deserve the world ♡
Thank you so much! Inspiring ❤️
Thanks for answering my question. 🙌🏾 I calculated a test recipe and adjusted my water discount. So far so good.🤞🏾
i make a campfire scented soy candle, it smells great and my customers love it.
Thank you for the q&a
Thank you for being so sincere and giving so much information. I love you so much
SO TRUE. WE ALL SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND ITS ARE SPECIAL ART AND CREATIONS.
You are amazing. Thank you for authenticity and love for your customers and viewers much love to you both!
Love the Q & A!!! It's so helpful to hear your journey.
Thank you so much!
So inspiring!! Thank you so much for sharing all this great information!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is why I love your videos it help new soap makers learn, kudos to you both !!!!!
Yayy thank you for responding! I’m in debate about gel or matte but your reasons are helpful!
I'm so glad!
Thanks a lot for all your advise and insight! I bought a display similar to the one you showed in the set up for your markets and it looks awesome! Many blessings to you and your business
Fantastic!
You both are so, kind and giving bless you.
Love the video guys! Really great advice, open & honest. I'm hooked.. 🤣 X
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love you guys! Thanks for sharing with us all info 🙂 💖 hello from UK
Awesome show thanks for the Info. Cheers
Thank you! Congratulations on your milestone!!
Thank you so much!
Thankyou again to you both a really informative video . be encouraged . very much appriciated from uk
Our pleasure!
I am in a couple bath and body groups on Facebook and someone mentioned one of your recipes and we got to talking about your UA-cam channel. What I am trying to say is it brings people to you channel and I would say they check out your website so ya good advertisement too.
Thank you for sharing. Thank you for the advices.
HELLO from ATLANTA ga. I love WATCHING you guys. Your AWESOME.
This was fabulous. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much!! ❤❤
Thank you for all you share! Best wishes for your business!
Thank you! You too!
Thank you so much for answering my question!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️ you guys are absolutely lovely people!
Our pleasure!
Thanks so much for sharing your insights!
My pleasure!
Thank you so much for answering my question! Definitely gives me a different way to look at it. I appreciate the time you guys put in to giving us this information !
Our pleasure!
Very nice seeing you both together. Thanks guys for the video.
Our pleasure!
This video was very helpful and informative thank you both for being so open about your business.
Our pleasure!
Hey, guys thank you for another great video. I have learned so much from you guys I can't wait until some amazing things start happen for our business.
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you for all your answers to our questions !
Any time!
Thank you. That was awesome and you guys are my role models.
Wow, thank you!
I love your videos so much! I can't thank you guys enough for being so transparent. I've only been soaping since June...but my sales have really been picking up, and your videos are like a business road map! Thank you! 😊
You’re so welcome! Glad business is going awesome!
Great video jerika 😍
I love you…Matt w you be richly blessed…for sharing and caring….it so resonates with me what you said about being an introvert and talking to a camera….I will dread this …you’re very encouraging…. Thank you so sooooo much for that…i am going to be as successful as you thanks to you….a million thanks you’d….❤️
Thank you you are a big help. :)
Thank you so much. I am so happy that I have found you. You have been giving me so much information and you are such an inspiration.❤❤
Great video! Its nice to know that soaping doesn't always turn out perfect!!! You guys are so cute together!!!
Thanks so much! 😊
This was very helpful as well as encouraging. Thank you for being so open and honest with your information. Continued blessings.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you both so much for making this video, it is so helpful to those of us just starting on this journey. There were some very useful nuggets of information in there. Congratulations on your success on UA-cam too!
Our pleasure!
Great channel - great content - great products and great couple 🥰 Hi from Scotland x
Thanks for watching!
Love you guys. Kale, cool colors look better on you.
Whoot! You answered my question!
Thanks!
Happy to help!
Thank you so much for answering my questions! I just ordered an inexpensive soap cutter (less than $100) because honestly, I cannot cut a straight line 😂 not even with a mitre box. Nowhere near ready for the bath bomb press, or the alembic still despite really wanting them ☺️
This video has been extremely helpful!
Oh, just had another question... Do you recommend doing something new or a new set of soaps for each release or do you recommend choosing a few to consistently restock and just experiment with a couple on the side? As a newbie.
I’m expanding my business this year as a matter of fact and your videos make me excited for how far I can get. Thanks for sharing!
You got this!
Watching your videos are so encouraging to me. I have been feeling so discouraged lately but In this video you described Some stuff that you went through in your past with your business that I’m going through right now and you just pushed through it...and you made it! Thank you for this ❤️
You've got this girl! Gentle perserverance. Love what you do first...then sell. :)
You can do it!
Thank you for your honesty and willingness to share all the information and your experiences.
Love the video's
Regards
Dee from New Zealand x
Thanks for making this video, it was such a pleasure to hear your honest thoughts and to listen to your journey. I'm experiencing the same situations as mentioned in the videos and your advice has helped tremendously with my business, Tonic Mercantile. Looking forward to leaning more from you both! Take care and happy soaping!
Please never stop sharing your talent and knowledge, you guys are the best, I’m learning a lot with you ❤️ THANK YOU 🙏🏼 kisses from DR 🇩🇴
Thank you! Will do!
I love how you mention that its now "we are the business owners." unlike before. More blessings to come.
Im definitely terrified to start my business but I'm trying to soak up all the little gems I can! Thank you!
You're so welcome!
Can you suggest any books to help get started in making soaps for myself? Thanks again. Love you videos.
Such an awesome video 👏🏽👏🏽.. I’m sad I missed the Q&As online 😭
More to come!
Thank you for this video, the video was extremely informative.
You're very welcome!
A very informative video for beginners👏🏽👏🏽
Glad it was helpful!
Jerika, I adore your channel so much. Like you my husband and I work together! I think it is best to share the work load and be passionate about what you do as a couple. My husband does a lot of the cleaning up soap bars and packaging. I do most the production. He is my backbone!
I want to say your recipe for bath bombs and your tips and tricks have changed my mind totally about the bombs, lol! I struggled and that drove me crazy! I use a simple hand press and you'll be glad to know your recipe works very well with a hand press. Been thinking of moving up to a bath bomb press, as my new bombs sell well. I hate the price, but what are you going to do! Money. Money, Money! (The Incredibles)!
Thanks for taking everyone's questions! 🧡 to you both.
Jill & Wayne
You'll find the machine pays for itself very quickly, especially since it sounds like your bath bombs are already selling well. Invest and get it! You won't be sorry :).
How do avoid your soaps from sweating? Love your videos! Thanks for them!
I cure them in a dark, cool room with a dehumidifier running 24/7
Hi I am a new subscriber! I have been making soap for about 7 years and the last two have been selling outside of fam and friends. Really want to get my soap biz going but find I have no room (soap is everywhere in my house and driving my hubby crazy!). We plan to move this year and that's when I will be able to expand my production. Right now I'm researching how to get started and came across your vids. I am finding so many similarities in your journey to mine! Like your campfire soap idea. I have thought the exact same thing lol. Love that smell! Good to know the outcome of that ;) Really enjoying the authenticity of your videos and the content, which has been really informative so far and different from what's currently available on youtube. AND I love that your in Canada sharing Canadian content! :) Look forward to following you, thanks for sharing!
Yay!!! Love meeting fellow Canadian soap slingers :) Wishing you luck in your business!
I love your work ethic and videos. will be rejoining your patreon group, Nursing is so stressful and I need to have more control over my finances.
You and your husband are a, awesome loving good team I enjoyed your vlog
Great video guys.
Thanks for watching!
Congrats on 12K subscribers💕💕💃💃💃🥳
They are growing in leaps and bounds. So excited for them. I started watching in November just a couple of months ago and they only had 800 subscribers!
@@melaniemorfitt2686 same here. It is because they are so unselfish and share so much. Stay safe. Love and greetings from Pretoria, South Africa 🇿🇦
Thanks for your work! Curious if it’s the French Lavender fragrance oil that you refer to and not essential oil from new directions?
It's the French Lavender fragrance oil.
Question: What are ways to sell as a side hustle? Thanks!
I just ordered 16oz of campfire 😅 haven't made any yet though. I wish I bought a smaller bottle!
Love ur vids glad I found u 😊 have a question shelf life on soaps and bath bombs if they just sit n don’t sell when do u know when to throw away?
I would give away as gifts to friends and family. But yes, discard them if they lost their scent or are discolouring.
I absolutely agree with the “sharing in your community” segment..... Over this last year I have focused in on the DYI community........ over and over again I have seen ‘the return’ .... the small businesses that seem to have taken off after building the firm foundation like You Two have.... expressing that sharing leads to community
Literally just started following you this weekend and love the content. I have a question: how did you develop your formulations for pretty much the rest of your products that aren't soap (only because I'm covered there 😂)? I've been trying my darnedest to find a great body cream/lotion recipe. Do you have any specific resources you can point me to?
I start with Soap Queen! Her blog has great recipes! also, humblebee and me has great stuff too.
I've been watching videos on soap, candles, bath bombs, and tons of other things I want to go in to business with for years now. So I looked up prices on shipping, packaging, and label supplies. Essential equipment, minor tools, shelving, safety gear, lye, oils, molds, liners, dry ingredients, and special additives.
Once I counted up all the needed materials, shipping, and labor costs I need someone to help me up off the floor.
yep, you definitely want to purchase things slowly overtime. It's 100% a big investment, but all businesses are.
Loving your videos and the way you make soaps. Looking at it make me wanna eat it😊
Do your soaps leave soap scum in the bathroom? Please advice me how to avoid it .
Thank you
Yep, they leave some scum. I believe all cold process soaps do.
Hi I'm in the UK. Over here we have to get a cosmetic safety report for every new product and variation. Do you have to do the same?
Hemp is 1 of the MOST MOISTURIZING ON YOUR SKIN.
I just booked my first farmer's market for next week. I'm very excited but also scared lol. Do you have any advice for a first timer?
Check out this video! ua-cam.com/video/D30u20m7gGA/v-deo.html
Do any of your products have an expiry date, once used or opened or right from the gecko? And is it mandatory to label it in Canada or no
I am about to start soap making and I'm wondering what purpose I could have with 600 peppermint tea bags. I have an essential oil for it but is there a use for the tea as an exfoliant? I made the mistake of getting side tracked with a repeating tea order. Suddenly, in the span of a few months, I became peppermint tea central. I can drink enough tea, raw honey and, lemon but that only goes through 60 once a month. Would someone on this website have a suggestion?
A quick question - as a beginning soap maker, I would like to make practice recipes resulting in less bars. If I cut a recipe in half or quarters, would the proportion of ingredients would be adjusted at the same rate? Also, aside from having less soap, are there any drawbacks to making smaller batches? Thanks in advance for any guidance. Kevin (NJ - USA & Buenos Aires - Argentina)
Check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/CcZ5QNGxCzQ/v-deo.html
Thank you soooo much for your information! UA-cam algorithm brought be here while I’m struggling starting a soap business as a newbie! Is it important to register for a trademark? I’m struggling whether I should register for one but it’s not a small cost💰💰💰( btw I’m also in Ontario 🙋♀️) But for sure I’ll register for a business name ~
If it's a really great name... maybe? Im hesitant to give any sort of legal advice. I have not trademarked anything in my business journey so far. I may in the future...
@@JerikaZimmerman Thanx for replying 💕 I’ve registered my business name two days ago and I’m planning to submit CNF soon ~ hope everything goes well 🤩
Please help me how I remove sweating from. melt and pour handmade soap
Where did you buy yout essential oils in bulk?
💕💕💕💕💕
Jerika saying.. I get a lot of my FO from..
ME: Windypointttt 😂
Me too!
THE soap that started me off was an "accident" I never intended to get into the business. I was just trying to make 2 different soaps. 1 for my youngest daughter who was born with unbelievably dry skin(so dry it was cracking at every joint to the point of BLEEDING)WHILE we where still in the hospital! So she couldn't even be bathed by using anything the hospital recommended. So before long my GRANDMOTHER gave me the recipe and directed me(literally standing over me as I stirred) on how to make soap from scratch...using lard...(which quickly changed to olive oil) and shortly afterwards lye was taken off store shelves..🙃and I had to go hunting...and learning...which is never a problem.😉🤷♀️ now that self same daughter has he own daughter who, surprise,surprise, has the same problem, multiplied, so has learned the art out of necessity, my eldest is somewhat sensitive on her own, so WANTED to learn, and has...the art, and business won't pass with me.😉
The other accidental soap was because my other half of the time was an "all'roundfarmer/handyman...who helped almost everyone. Unfortunately (for us, the rest of the family) was an older farmer he'd been helping for decades, but wanted to age at home with at least his dignity in tact. Do, that meant he needed help. LOTS of help, physical help, not just in the house. And he just didn't have the funds to pay for the upkeep on his house/barn/farm upkeep. So invariably the stablecleaner in the barn(older then my other half) would lose a paddle when in use every morning, and THAT had to be fished out before the machine could be restarted and the rest emptied. "Darling" would come home, wash and turn towards the table, thinking he'd gotten clean. Yeah, no.so I developed a soap that *would*take care of what sank through the first few layers of skin....without damaging him too badly.coffee grounds! Used coffee grounds retain just enough of the acid to cut through the grease that was coating his hands and arms...and the STENCH of the pig...leftovers(which, growing up in the country, I Am qualified to state, with confidence IS the worst! Both for STENCH and resistance to removal) so he gets the pig kaka smell got removed and the callous' generally were left in tact because he needed those for protection, but, still tok enough off that they weren't so nasty on my skin!😁😘🤷♀️🙂👏and his friends and relatives very gradually came to notice that their own hands were getting looks of askance from their own "special ladies," and so word spread. Then I had to go stay with my daughter for a while for cancer treatments, he'd come visit(she lived3 hours DRVING time away) the reason I stayed with her for the duration of the treatments rather than commuting...and every time he came, he'd request to get as much soap as I'd have made up....I never questioned it...should have, but didn't, turns out he was SELLING IT!🙄😬🤷♀️👏!(GOOD thing I'd already invested in a membership in the soap and candlemakers guild...which comes with it's own liability insurance) and he'd let his farm insurance company know he was selling something soap from a friend that made soap as well...so, as much as it seemed haphazard, we WERE covered.not that I recommend doing it that way!!
Good morning
I've been trying to get in touch with you regarding purchasing wholesale products from you. Can you please let me know where I can receive the information?
Where buying material and how to sale
Hello! My wife and I have a question that I was hoping you could help us with. We are working on getting a sales pitch together for various local stores to try and get a few wholesale customers lined up. Would you be willing to shed some light on how you figure up a wholesale price vs. individual sales?
I figure out my retail costs first based on how much it costs to make a single unit and add as much as I need to gain a good profit. Wholesale is offered at around 50% of that retail cost.
You both are so cute couple!
One thing I’m noticing...when I order products (like from New Directions Aromatics) there seem to be huge fees for shipping costs attached. For example, a single bottle of fragrance oil incurred nearly an additional half it’s cost in shipping! I don’t see offers like “orders over $100 get free shipping) or anything like that. How are you able to order larger supplies without going broke on shipping costs?? :o)
I Live nearbyish and I just drive there. I have a few suppliers in the area so I try to coordinate the pickups. But yeah, shipping is awful in Canada
@@JerikaZimmerman Well that’s the way to go! Let me tell you...I’m going broke having fun with fragrance oils. Amazon is good for a few things, but holy cow! I’ve spent $100 on shipping already, lol. I’m so sad that Candora doesn’t ship to the US!
@@JerikaZimmerman It’s awful here! Unless you use amazon...which jacks it’s prices up to cover the shipping costs, lol.