Many of the season’s craft shows take place the first weekend of December. If you have participated in any craft shows this month you probably sold a lot of your inventory; however you may have some left over. I know I did. Rather than hold on to left over holiday soaps, here is an outlet that I’ve found…
Bring your beautifully packaged holiday soaps to local crafts galleries or specialty stores. Ask them if they would like to carry your soap for the holiday. Handcrafted soap are always well-appreciated gifts! I brought a container of soap that I had left from a craft sale in to our town’s local craft gallery. I sold more than 4 dozen soaps to them the day after a local crafts show, at my wholesale price.My goal is to move the inventory as quickly as I can, and if retail outlets can sell quantities, I am happy to offer wholesale pricing.
The gallery arranged the assortment of soaps, which were available either in cello bags with gold ribbons or holiday organza, in one of their beautiful wild-crafted baskets. The end result was beautiful, making a great holiday display. As I passed by the gallery today, I looked at the basket, and they had already sold quite a few soaps. I find that it is very gratifying to know that others are appreciating my products. A much better solution than storing them for who knows how long. Remember to look for opportunities to sell your products this season. Happy holidays and happy selling!
Monique
Monique Hodgkinson is a member of the HSMG’s Social Media Committee. For over five years she successfully marketed her handcrafted soap at small regional and large wholesale shows across the country. When not making soap, Monique spends her time as a marketing consultant serving small and medium sized businesses.
One Comment on “Business Focus: Holiday Sales Opportunities”
Good advice, Monique! Not only is that a good tip to move inventory, but also a great way for soapmakers to get their foot in the door with retailers. We can sell once to a store easily, but it’s the reorders that bring in the profits. May I also suggest dropping off your 2011 or “New Year” wholesale sell sheet with terms and conditions complete with Valentine and spring products? This way the retailer will have you in mind when early January – one of the biggest buying times of the year – comes around.
Happy Sales!