Has anyone else done this? Job question

[Deleted]

Oct 1, 2015 17:19:24 GMT -5 daisy said:

Oct 1, 2015 13:40:43 GMT -5 steff said:

I'm making sugar scrubs, foot soaks, bath salts, bath bombs, and simple melt & pour soaps right now.  I sell at my town's Farmer's Market on Wednesdays, plus all the festivals my town throws.  I make between $75-150 on Wednesdays, sometimes a little more.  I fell into all this earlier this spring, so I'm still kinda winging it. 

Yesterday was our last FM, so now I'm just working towards the next 3 fall festivals.  during the "off season", I plan to do a lot of experimenting & learning.  I'll be trying cold press soaps, bubble bars and making 2/3 color giant bath bombs. 

For me it's just making me some spending money & giving me something to do now that my kiddo doesn't need me much anymore.  It did take off much more than I ever expected.  I'm constantly busy making more stock or making custom order gift baskets.  I sell to all the folks in City Hall & the mayor calls for special made soaps.  I sell to friends & family.  I give my screw ups away to friends and family too. Even kiddo's friends order gift baskets for their moms/sisters.  I sent samples of my glitter soap with my brother to his friends and ended up with several orders (I tapped the gay market there. lol)  I even put together "gym packs" with a small bath fizzy to put in the bottom of the shower (no one likes the smell of a gym shower) & small 1 or 2 use soaps.  Those sold well too. 

If I did more Farmer's Markets and worked more weekend festivals, I could probably make a good amount of money each week.  But this really did start out as a hobby/fell into it. so I'm just not to the point of being ready to do 3 or 4 places in a week.  I might be to that point next spring when they all kick off again.  This year, I've only done things in my town.  But I am surrounded by small towns that always have something going on weekends.  I have more people I could market to.









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I hear you!  If it were March I wouldn't even be looking for a full-time job...I'd just sign up for all the local farmer's markets and do craft/art shows on the weekends.  We have tons of markets around here and I'm quite sure I could easily replace my paltry full-time income with events.  But, one must think long-term I guess.  Sigh.

I too am surprised how quickly it has taken off.  My DH sold 4 bars to a guy at work today who said, "Your wife sells soap ? Where, when, how?" so DH pointed out my FB page and the guy ordered soap right then and there.  

My mentor gives a class on CP so that's what I jumped in with - if you have any questions please feel free to ask, I will help if I can.     And in turn I will probably ask you about bath bombs, I have never tried but they look like so much fun!  Bubble bars too, I just have to break down and buy the SLSA.  $75 to 150 at a market is  good - I'm upgrading to salve and EO rollers for next year - MAJOR profit in those and I'm sure I will see a big jump in income/profit after that.

Anyway, back on topic (it's my thread, I can derail it if I want to right?  ) - I had my Health Assessment at the U today and got a Flu shot and my TB test...making me feel more committed to this job..but I'm still gong to do the interview on Monday and see how I feel after that.

My tablet wouldn't give me a keyboard unless I quoted someone. Darth! I think y'all should star a thread about homemade soap so we can all see it. I'd like to hear about the benefits, and if I take not too hard to make it. I might even try it myself.

[daisy]

Oct 2, 2015 21:35:42 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Oct 1, 2015 17:19:24 GMT -5 daisy said:

My tablet wouldn't give me a keyboard unless I quoted someone. Darth! I think y'all should star a thread about homemade soap so we can all see it. I'd like to hear about the benefits, and if I take not too hard to make it. I might even try it myself.

I'd love to - may I do it here in YMOT?  Soap IS $$ in my household....

[Deleted]

and I spend a lot of $ making soap in my house. Happily though.

[Deleted]

Oct 3, 2015 9:54:12 GMT -5 daisy said:

Oct 2, 2015 21:35:42 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

My tablet wouldn't give me a keyboard unless I quoted someone. Darth! I think y'all should star a thread about homemade soap so we can all see it. I'd like to hear about the benefits, and if I take not too hard to make it. I might even try it myself.

I'd love to - may I do it here in YMOT?  Soap IS $$ in my household....

I'm not sure where it should go. mmhmm?

ETA: I tried to tag mmhmm, but I can't tell if it worked. This tablet gets on my last nerve when I post here.

[mmhmm]

It worked, @pinkcshmere! Let me take a look real quick. Actually, if preferred, it could go here in YMOT, I think. It is off-topic and you've been posting on it here, so why not keep it here. It could also go in Hobbies.

[daisy]

The other job interview went spectacular, in fact, I think if the HR lady was the decision maker she would have hired me on the spot.  She walked me out and stopped me in the hallway to shake my hand VERY enthusiastically and said, "I am SO GLAD you came in to interview today!  Thank you SO MUCH for coming in today.  I will be in touch VERY SOON"!  So I'm taking that as a positive.  

The department manager was very nice as well.  They are having second-round interviews so if I make the cut I will be going back for that and perhaps to meet the rest of the department.

Pluses are:  it is at least 20 minutes closer to home and I get to avoid most of the commuter traffic because I can take the expressway most of the way there.  It's one exit off of a main interchange so I can get in and out quickly.  The hours are better and the pay is better.  Now, I wait.

[debthaven]

It's awkward but there are many good reasons for refusing the first job. The commute would be a big deal to me. Plus the better hours and better pay ... frankly, it's a no-brainer.

Does the second job realise you are on a timeline?

My sister is much older than me, sometimes she's more like a "mom" to me. 

In your situation, I know she would tell me, explaining it will be difficult for about 5 min. But living with the alternative solution, i.e. a longer commute, worse hours, worse pay, will be difficult for MUCH longer than the 5 awkward minutes it will take you to explain why you are refusing the first job.

So just bite the bullet and do what you need to do.

So that's what I'm telling you, Daisy. 

Best to you! And kudos for nailing those two job offers, and having the choice to work closer to home, with better hours, for better pay!

[daisy]

Oct 5, 2015 17:28:13 GMT -5 debthaven said:

It's awkward but there are many good reasons for refusing the first job. The commute would be a big deal to me. Plus the better hours and better pay ... frankly, it's a no-brainer.

Does the second job realise you are on a timeline?

My sister is much older than me, sometimes she's more like a "mom" to me. 

In your situation, I know she would tell me, explaining it will be difficult for about 5 min. But living with the alternative solution, i.e. a longer commute, worse hours, worse pay, will be difficult for MUCH longer than the 5 awkward minutes it will take you to explain why you are refusing the first job.

So just bite the bullet and do what you need to do.

So that's what I'm telling you, Daisy. 

Best to you! And kudos for nailing those two job offers, and having the choice to work closer to home, with better hours, for better pay!

Thank you!  And yes, when I asked the timeline of the second job they said in the next week so that fits my timeline.  I can bow out of the first job before the projected start date.  I have a friend who is in her late 50's and she said the same thing...."YOU are the one who has to live with the commute, less pay, etc. so YOU make the decision based on what works for YOU".  In fact my own mom summed it up that way as well.  It seems to be a consensus.  NOW, I just have to wait for the job offer.     It will all be moot if they choose another candidate!  But at least I will still have the first job....