Soap making business tips: What to expect from customers & fellow traders at craft fairs & events

In today's video, we are following on from last weeks video where we discussed hints and tips for attending your first craft fair or event.
Today we are taking a quick look at the kind of people (both fellow traders and also customers) that you can expect to encounter at these events. We find that the event and trader community is a hugely supportive one and it is likely that you will make some new friends if you do the show circuit regularly. You will certainly encounter familiar faces once you have a few shows under your belt!
Customers are by and large also a wonderfully eclectic and supportive bunch of people! We absolutely love meeting our customers in person and having a good old chat! However, the more events you do, the more you will begin to realise that there are definitely some very stereotypical kinds of customers! In this video, we discuss a few customer types that you are bound to run into and we also talk about how to handle any comments that they may throw at you (please understand, we are not talking negative comments here, purely questions to be prepared for!)
We couldn't do what we do without the support that we have received from our customers (both online and offline) and we consider many of these customers to be friends now. but we just though that this video may help prepare some of you who are gearing up for your first show to know what to expect in advance!
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[@JK-ii6gf]

Great upload and commentary! Hahaha and I like the table ruffler (around 14:00 mark) talk as well.

[@Hilary_ClarbySoaps]

Fab tips! I’ve only done a couple of fairs and experienced most of your customers...luckily haven’t had a rude one yet. I was so nervous doing my first few fairs and wanted to get my stall looking just right. I was a bit disheartened when a fellow trader picked up on my nervousness and said ‘maybe you should have less on your stall as it looks like too much choice’...I looked over at her stall and she had hardly anything on there, it looked clean, minimalist and frankly quite bare. And I thought ‘ah well, too late, I’m set up now’. I had so many lovely comments from customers about how pretty my soaps were and most people bought 3 or 4 or more. The other trader had hardly anyone stop at her stall, probably not helped by her sitting there looking miserable. So, it’s important to trust your own judgement and also be engaging. It is exhausting...but very satisfying. I miss the fairs and can’t wait for them to start again. 💕

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Oh yes Hilary, I completely agree with trusting your own judgement! I am a definite believer in the "if it feels right, go with it" mentality! So glad to hear that you did well at your first fair and that you proved the other trader wrong! I know people say you can have too much choice, but we personally have never knowingly not made a sale because of having too much out on display (we do have quite a variety!)

[@betsydeath]

Blessed are the cheesemakers...Soap :)

[@mayyoke6101]

You are very nice, loving, understanding and caring👏👏👍👍😁😁 You taught me a lot! Thank you🙏🙏😁😁

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you so much May :-)

[@lovereigns4017]

I love the way you have laid the stall out, Anne and Wayne. It's eye catching, informative and stylish. Lovely.💕 Well delivered presentation! Iris

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you Iris :-) We will probably need a re-design for this season as we have so many new products and they won't all fit on the table the way we have it laid out now!

[@Weeflowerofscotland]

Thank you thank you thank you!!! As a very green newbie this has helped so much!! I have worked my whole life in retail and I know all about the difference in customers 😣🤣. But I have never done a craft fair.

[@EdensSecret1]

Enjoyable video.....you have a great positive attitude.....I remember those days well, I can't stop smiling because in just about every scenario you mentioned I'm nodding my head and smiling. Oh yes the shopper who loves everything but then walks away with nothing.... and yes "cheese" heard that a hundred times. P.S those who say they are 3 for a quid actually really do want your soap but they want to pay Poundstretcher prices.

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you so much :-) So glad we are not the only ones who get confused for cheese! It took us a good few months to get used to all the different kinds of customers and I have certainly missed them this last year!

[@bretthaley301]

Thank you for the lovely video. We do craft markets on a regular basis (when not on lockdown lol). I love the end with the cheese, we have signs up like you and we have people who come and ask "So what do you sell?"..... after having it being asked about 5 times in one day, I just thought in my head "So sorry we are sold out, what is on the table is for display purposes only", I could not help myself LOL!!! So yup no cheese confusion here in South Africa but a lot of people who don't read signs LOL!!!

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Haha, it is crazy isn't it! Some people just seem to miss all the signs, no matter how big and bold you make them!

[@karagrant5037]

🤣🤣🤣 cheese!!! 🧀 that’s hilarious! I love your tips and stances on the customers and accepting the table ruffles and kids touching things. My son loves smelling soaps and bath bombs, it really brings him joy. I wouldn’t want that to be crushed for him or anyone else. If and when I ever take my business to a craft fair I’ll definitely remember these videos and your tips and giggle every time I hear someone asking if it’s cheese.

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you Kara. Yes, I understand why some vendors ask kids not to touch, but honestly it is totally not in my nature to ask them not to and I really don't personally see a reason to ask them not to (pre 2020 of course!) I have two of my own and loved when they were little and wanted to explore everything (even if it was hard work to keep a constant eye on them!) I love seeing the expressions on the kids faces when they smell the soaps, some of them get so into it and it's so nice to see someone openly enjoying something that we have created!

[@unalikerose]

Yes 🤣🤣🤣I've had the "is this cheese?"question

[@spiralesdargent]

Brilliant! I definitely get the rufflers with my jewellery, usually the children who like to "swish" the necklaces about! But I'm like you it's fine and as you say its great when the children want to buy something (not usually my jewellery as most of its a bit old style for children) but when they buy some of my husbands artwork and really appreciate it, that gives us a little buzz. I've done over 800 events in my time, so I have had them all!! I'm looking forward to selling the soaps too one day. Oh and don't forget the customers that start looking at your stall and then some friends come in to say hi to them and then they spend the next 5 minutes having a full on conversation, totally ignoring you and your products!! A polite, "sorry would you mind moving to one side" is sometimes necessary.

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Wow, 800 events is impressive! We are probably around the 100 mark now. You really must have seen all kinds of customers! It does give a buzz when they buy something doesn't it. Children are also so honest, so you never have to second guess if their reactions are genuine or not! You are spot on with the customers who stop to have full on conversations with their friends, we have had a few of them in our time too! Latest one I can recall was 4 friends who did actually move away from our stand to hold their conversation, but one of them left her baby's pram in front of our stand, so for 5 minutes or so we had a random pram sat there while the parents chatted further away!

[@spiralesdargent]

@@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany we've been trading for over 10 years, at one point I was doing Glastonbury and Wells markets weekly and then doing a festival at the weekend! Thats hard work!! 🥴 lockdown put a stop to everything, but I'm hoping to fill up this summer with some great events. Just waiting for organisers to get back to me and get things booked, booking events is definitely my least favourite part!!! 😒

[@Hilary_ClarbySoaps]

Totally agree about kids and honest opinions...’what do you think of this one?’ ‘ Bleugh....retches...that smells yucky’...’ok what about this one?’ ‘Ooh yummy, yes I like this one mmmm’ 🤣. I love to give kids little sample bars for themselves...makes them feel special too 😊 xx

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

That is a lovely idea! I bet the kids love that! I remember giving a child a small bar for free when we had just started but for the life of me, can't remember what she did to charm me into giving her a freebie (we don't generally have samples to give away)!

[@crystaldawn8875]

This is so very helpful!!! Thank You!💞🙏

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you Crystal, I am glad you find it helpful

[@MrHerks]

HAHA I always get the fudge question, mainly from kids and i love it lol the moms that say "yea go head and try it" LOL

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

I spoke to a man at a fudge stall at one of our fairs recently and he said he always gets asked if it's soap, so I guess it works both ways! Haha!

[@gaynorwilloughby7658]

Brilliant information and so useful.

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you Gaynor

[@joykimbrough8128]

This is awesome! I am going to be doing events this spring and summer so I needed this!

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you and good luck at your events :-)

[@theterifox]

Thank you for all you do

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you Teri :-)

[@whitepetalspearlssoap9836]

I like your videos. Very knowledgeable. I've had 1 lady from an affluent retirement community come in and announce "she and her friends decided not to pay more than $4 a bar!" I suggested a bargain table near by. Then I've had people just cutting through my booth as a short cut instead of walking an extra 2 ft around. And I had another lady read Goat Milk on the labels and she yelled out "this booth smells like goats!" On the subject of kids. I disagree with my experiences. Parents let them come in and just touch everything. The problem is they touch displays and DROP everything and leave a trail of damaged products and displays. They must be accompanied by and adult and I don't let them go crazy on touching because they're not interested always about the product; they're just touching because mom or dad is. Especially bath bombs! Its not awful to ask them to please not touch. I try to divert with handing them something else. It really depends on the situation because I have had kids over 6 or7 that are buying for mom that's with dad etc. Every show is different. Good Luck everyone.

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you :-) I recognise some of those scenarios that you explain! We sell a Goat's Milk soap and have people who ask if it smells of Goat's cheese (before tentatively smelling it and realising that it doesn't!) but we have never had anyone shout out that our stall smells like Goat's before - how rude! Our experiences with the kids sound quite different as we generally get well behaved kids who don't seem to drop our bars any more than the adults do! It helps that almost all the parents keep a watchful eye and don't let them go too crazy. We aren't doing bath bombs yet though and I know they are particularly fragile! To be honest if we found that having the Children touching was regularly causing damage to items that we have for sale then we would probably re-think our policy too! I guess we are lucky with the kids that we get at our stall :-) You are correct when you say that each and every show is different and should definitely be treated on its own merits!

[@SudsNSkinNaturals]

Love your soaps

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you :-)

[@emilyfleischmann]

I've never had the cheese comment, but that's hilarious! What has happened, is I've had ESL students (adults) say my soap smells delicious and say "Can I eat it?" One even went so far as to say that if he ate it, inside he would be "bubble bubble bubble squeak Clean!"

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

That is so funny! "Bubble bubble bubble squeak clean" is perhaps the best definition I have heard so far! (Not that I would advocate eating soap of course!)

[@dualcyclone]

Lol, "is it cheese?", This weekend multiple people thought we were selling fudge, and also had somebody today who thought we were selling cheese 🤦‍♂️ we figured it was because we were displaying the soap in small glass display containers 🤷‍♂️

[@victoriarawlings689]

Ha ha so glad we are not the only soap sellers who get confused with cheese - why does it disappoint people so much😂 we were next door to a cheese seller last Christmas- it didn’t help! My only advise is to do what I did the previous year and make a cake shaped soap - then, predictably we had the same confused response but with cake!

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

I am glad it is not just us too! I spoke to cheese seller at one of our events last year and he confirmed that they also get confused for soap - and apparently people are just as disappointed when they realise his cheese isn't soap! :-D

[@GoodBlokeOutdoors]

another great upload.. informative but entertaining.. loved the acting 😂 especially when arnie turned jamaican for the 'i'll be back' line 😂 quality.

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thanks Liam, I have to say, my impressions are truly something to behold! You should hear my Michael Caine! :-)

[@codybrookehanson2346]

I love this too - as a mom of 4 kids in often doing the "hands off" routine as most people get rather irate with kids touching as kids do. It's refreshing when people don't get bothered by it, and yes, kids are brutally honest and enthusiastic. I'm so excited to try your tips and experience customers when the fairs start.

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you and good luck to you when the fairs start! Yes, if I was selling glass or china I may be more concerned with people touching (adults included in that!) but it is soap and the samples are there for a reason so if kids want to have a smell of it then that's great!

[@codybrookehanson2346]

@@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany kids like being involved and enjoy good smelling things too, even if they themselves don't always smell so good 😂

[@dualcyclone]

This is a great video! We've spent 2 days at "Christmas Craft Markets" the last few days, and we've done ok for our first try at selling our soaps at some local markets. Would love to know how much you expect to spend on having a pitch at a market. Like we spent £10 for a church market yesterday, and we did OK for an event that wasn't marketed at all. Today we spent £40 for a more local market that also wasn't marketed, and we barely covered the cost of the pitch.

[@sadafshah2893]

Hello I just find ur channel . You are so sweet . 😍

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Thank you and welcome to our channel :-)

[@HighTideSoaps]

How about the "lye/oxide/clay/essential oil isn't natural, so you can't say your soap is natural!" customer? Well it just kind of depends on your definition of natural I suppose! Not sure what else to call my soaps that are fragranced only with essential oils and coloured with botanicals, clays, oxides, etc. to differentiate them from the ones I make with fragrance oil and synthetic colourants...

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

I agree Sarah, natural doesn't have a specific definition that must be adhered to (unlike organic) so people's opinions of what it means do vary. I go with what feels right to me and explain this to any customers who query it. I am confident in how we use the term natural as I know all the time and effort we have put into researching and using plant based colours and clays and essential oil blends. I have seen others who use "natural" to describe products with micas (which I understand to a certain extent) and even fragrance oils, (which I find crazy) so if people query my own interpretation of the definition I can hand on heart say I have done what feels right and honest to me.

[@spiralesdargent]

@@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany love a video which gives advice/ examples on what we can and can't say the soaps can do/ are good for, with the restrictions we have in the UK, when we are serving on the stall, what do you say when they ask which one would be good for eczema for example, can we really just reply "they are good for cleaning"? This part of selling the soaps worries me when put on the spot at a fair, bit different when writing it for a listing description and you've got time to think about it!

[@tyeshadurant3298]

One that we have here in the U.S. is the dreaded "I-could've-made-this-at-home" customer: they look at handmade crafts and complain about how expensive they are 🙄

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Oh yes! Those customers who think it is just a case of throwing a few ingredients together and then selling the finished article. No thought towards the hours of research, testing and development and no idea of the actual unseen costs that go into creating something and then being able to sell it!

[@tyeshadurant3298]

@@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany Exactly. Makes you want to tell them to go ahead and try it then lol.

[@spiralesdargent]

@@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany I've had a lot of grannies say to their granddaughters, "Oooo you could make that dear couldn't you, your very crafty". Crack on I say, it's only taken me 10 years to hone my skills, by the time they are 18, if their attention span hasn't moved onto the next thing, they might crack it too!

[@triplegoddesssoapery]

This is fudge, right? Every time . 😂

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Hahaha, You'd think the smell alone would give it away wouldn't you! Apparently not though!

[@cauldronhillcraftworks]

Are cheese vendors common in the UK?

[@betsydeath]

Yes :)

[@TheSussexHandmadeSoapCompany]

Oh yes! There is normally at least one cheese vendor at the shows we do (and yes, they do get confused for soap - I asked one of them once and he laughed and said they get mistaken for soap all the time!)