Susan Svec of Susan s Soaps. Visit Her At:

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1 Susan Svec of Susan s Soaps Visit Her At:

2 Background Based on All-Natural Soap and Other Products Started Due to Experience with Eczema Common Beginning

3 Transition to Business Started Selling at a Church Event Lead to Business Deal with a Local Health Food Store Later Moved into Doing a Craft Show 6 7 Years in the Business Fulltime

4 First Steps to Business Set Up Set Up Business Structure Business Structure Options: Doing Business As (DBA/Sole Proprietor) Limited Liability Company (LLC) S-Corp C-Corp Partnerships

5 First Steps to Business Set Up Set Up Separate Business Bank Account Resale Number to Address Sales Tax Set Up Accounting Apply for Federal Tax ID

6 Starting On a Small Budget Improvise When Possible Use Inexpensive Plastic Containers as Molds Spend Money on Ingredients More Than on Equipment Buy Ingredients in Small Amounts Use Revenue From Sales to Fund Purchases Set Goals

7 Starting On a Small Budget Pros Minimize Impact of Experimentation Less Risk Determine Whether Soap Making is the Business for You Cons Slower Growth Lower Initial Income Less Money for Marketing

8 Biggest Mistake Starting Out Never Developed a Business Plan Business Plan Would Address Budgeting Distribution Marketing Growth Goals Steps to Achieve the Goal

9 Marketing & Your Soap Business Marketing is Essential Business IS Marketing Buying Decision Heavily Influenced by Marketing Gets the Word Out About Your Business

10 Marketing & Your Soap Business Advertising May Be Difficult With Small Budget Alternatives to Ad Campaigns Craft Shows Trade Shows Website Presentations About Soap Making Word of Mouth Various Publications

11 Marketing & Your Soap Business Always Get Exposure Can Have Both Immediate or Long Term Results Can Be Time Consuming Have to Budget Your Time There Are Always Things That Can Be Done

12 Marketing & Your Soap Business Effective Marketing for Susan s Soaps 1-2 Retail Craft Shows Trade Shows Publication Submissions Always Keep Expenses in Mind Travel Food Fees

13 Marketing & Your Soap Business Submitting to Publications Editorial and Article Submissions Can Discuss Your Products & Their Relationship to Various Topics Helps Give Your Business More Exposure Can Generate Interest From Store Owners Low to No Monetary Cost Can be Time Consuming

14 Marketing & Your Soap Business Product Presentation Logos & Packaging Effect Sales Try to Develop a Unique Style Observe What Works Well for Others Classes on Packaging

15 Product Development Initially Started with Recipes from Books Adapted & Experimented to Create Own Recipes Customer Feedback Research Other Markets Domestic & International Markets

16 Product Development Susan s Soaps Price Development Account for Expenses Compare to Other Products Increase Profits Efficiency Labor/Time is Biggest Expense Chose to Go Wholesale for Greater Efficiency

17 First Steps to Selling Start with Local Craft Shows Immediate Feedback Scents Packaging Appearance Website Not Instant Success Have to Be Seen Have to Bring People to the Site

18 First Steps to Selling Expected Profit? Depends on Individual Businesses Can Take A While to Generate Profit Costs & Product Positioning Determine Profit Planning Will Help

19 Common Mistakes Not Placing Enough Emphasis on Marketing Poor Packaging Haphazard Display Obviously Not Their Own Product Presentation is Everything Plan Image from Start Image Determines Success

20 Susan s Advice Do Research Market Research Product/Ingredient Research Competitor Research Will Always Be Challenges in Business

21 Thanks, Susan! Visit Susan s Site At: