Support your fellow artisan. Search out businesses/artists which support a good cause. (Sellers on Art Fire are supporting the environment by joining up).
Competitive Benchmarking is a must for keeping up with trends, and creating your niche in the world of B&B if you want to have some sort of success in this business
Lately I've been reading up on competitive benchmarking, and to be honest I've been doing that without knowing it since I first started soapmaking in 2005. I love seeing what other talented people are coming up with, if not just for inspiration and admiration! This is partially why I end up browsing several handcrafters' websites, and if the funds permit I buy! I believe you should support a fellow artisan in their business. And I hope people do the same for me one day!Even though there are some people who solely use my products (except shampoo and moisturiser for now), I have noticed that in most people's showers they use my soap in conjunction with a body gel, or a facial cleanser etc. So my aim is to come up with an entire line of products for the complete bathing experience. I've noticed that this is something a lot of handcrafters don't focus on. I totally understand why because in my opinion any reputable handcrafter that is selling will focus on creating good quality products and this takes a lot of time, dedication and research. If you are good at something, pour your heart and sole into it and make it awesome. Unfortunately with my attention span I'll never be able to do that when there are so many GOOD things to make (this could be my downfall though). Like my initial idea of going 100% natural (in my take on it, not making ANYTHING with preservatives or emulsifiers etc), and scenting with EOs only flew out the window once I started getting FO requests for special orders and really really enjoying the FOs. It adds to the creativity and diversity of the products I am able to make. So much so I cannot imagine going FO-free again! (Note: I do make a lot of EO-only things too!) I will stick with my motto of using as many natural products as possible... (except FO, emulsifiers and preservatives etc) ... as I am all for going green, and looking out for yourself and your environment, but I don't want to dampen the creativity by going 100% natural. I do want to focus on sourcing and using non-paraben non-formaldehyde preservatives, which is better for your health. I am currently in the search of non orang-utan-affected palm oil sources and looking into selling it to other conscious environmentalist B&B crafters in Australia. I've come up with a lot of these ideas through research and analysing (to myself) customer responses to businesses that follow these business mottos. But I digress...
This competitive benchmarking search has led me to Art Fire - A brand new(ish) place to buy your unique homemade goodies! And you can also feel good about buying from an artisan on this website.
"Art Fire works closely with Trees for the Future, an International nonprofit organization that is known for low administrative overhead costs and highly regarded for the impact made throughout the world in reducing the overall global carbon impact through planting trees and education. For every new member who joins artfire.com we plant a tree in a part of the world that is in ecologically crisis and turmoil."
So the more you buy, the more artisans will want to join and sell! Salesperson I am not, but I hope that it will encourage you to at least take a look at some goodies. I will be joining very soon!
Don't get me wrong, I love Etsy, there are heaps of cool things I have found on there, even my beloved bubble ring that I bought as a devotion to my art (soapmaking) and because it was handmade by a fellow handcrafter. Not to mention it looks pretty funky and no one else has one! but I do love Art Fire's environmental take on their business.
Plugging some Art Fire shops (ie good soap porn hehe):
Sagegold Soaps - Awesome soap design. I wish I'd thought of that. It leaves a lot of room for creativity with scents and colours!
Magic Hands Workshop - Magic Hands' website is definitely worth visiting. Love love love it. Very creative and inspiring work!
Simply Tempted - Their body scrubs look like they are to die for! Mmm .. chocolate
Patti Flynn - Because all her soaps are TDF!! :)
Dr SweetTooth - Some really interesting and creative products!! mmm marshmallow fluff cupcake soap.. lol
Sherri's Scents And Soys - Loving the colouring work.
GrumpyGirl - Another great shop! Death by Rasperry Cheesecake !!! lol ... love it :)
Please note I don't know anyone personally, nor am I associated with these businesses in any way, nor have I tried these products (yet). These are just some of the great Art Fire shops that came up when I did a search under the Bath & Beauty section.
Search and Enjoy! You never know what you may find, or what inspiration you could find to come up with your next Big Thing.
Oh, I forgot to mention H A P P Y N E W Y E A R and Merry Christmas - a couple of weeks too late :) I've been busy over the hols! The new addition to the family (Noah, a gorgeous kitten) has been keeping me busy along with family and friend commitments of course!
Best wishes to everyone, their families, and their businesses in 2009!
~JuS
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