How to Start and Grow a Handcrafted Bath and Body Care Business

By Ololade Franklin

This book contains valuable information for the entrepreneur who wants to start or grow a handcrafted bath and body care or soap making business. Here is a look at what is inside this book: Why Start A Handcrafted Bath And Body Care Business? - a look at why a handcrafted bath and body care business is a great idea. Business Basics - information about government requirements, insurance and recordkeeping. Who Is Going To Buy My Products? - tips for identifying your market. Designing Your Product Line - ideas for what products you may want to sell. How To Start And Grow A Handcrafted Bath And Body Care Business also contains information on good manufacturing procedures, information on selecting the right recipes, information on buying supplies, tips for staying organized, suggestions on where to sell your products near home and tips to help you grow your business.

Please note that this is not a recipe book. This book is meant to give a brief overview on starting and growing a handcrafted bath and body care business.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257141128

Book preview

Why Start A Handcrafted Bath And Body Care Business?

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Avon® and Mary Kay®, long a standard home based business option for many people, now have a new source of competition in the form of handmade bath and body care businesses.  Many enterprising business people are starting tiny soap and cosmetic businesses right at home and are making and packaging their entire product lines by hand.  What is so attractive about handmade soaps, lotions, body oils, etc.? For consumers, there are many reasons.  Many consumers who have skin sensitivities prefer handmade body care products and will seek them out specifically, because they are natural, with most products being made from an assortment of animal and vegetable fats, dried herbs and essential oils. Other consumers purchase handmade bath and body care products because they know the individual who makes them and they want to support that person's business.  Still others are looking for something different than the norm. 

For you, the business person, a home based bath and body care business has many advantages: 

It can be started with minimal investment. The ingredients needed to make handcrafted bath and body care products are very inexpensive. Many ingredients are available at the local grocery store.  Other ingredients are available by mail. Handcrafted bath and body care products can be made using standard kitchen equipment.

It is flexible.  By making your own products, you can arrange your schedule around your family's schedule. You can start your business small, and then grow it as you need to.

It is a business where you will get repeat customers.  If people like what you are selling, they will come back to you for more.

Bath and body care products are items everyone uses.  Most people already know what soap, lotion, and bath salts are. So when you sell your products, most people will not ask What is this?  The kind of questions you will get are questions such as What makes this different? and Did you make this yourself?

This business will teach you skills that you can use for a lifetime. This is probably the best aspect of this business.  Ten years ago, when I needed soap, lotion, face cream, shampoo or any other cosmetic item, I would go to the store and select an item that contained ingredients I didn't understand.  Now, when I or my family needs these items, I make them myself. It saves us money, and our skin feels better using our own handmade products.

Are there some disadvantages to a home based bath and body care business?  There are a few.  When you run out of a product, you have to make it, package it and label it before you can sell it. You can't just reorder the finished product.  This takes time, and if you are short on time, you might be frustrated by this.  Another disadvantage is that your income is