If you guys could throw out some more ideas and thought on this that would be helpful. My biggest concern is product packaging. Soap is solid and can be put it any container without worry of leaks or spillage.
Here's what was discussed to get the SOTQ ball rolling. May save a little time not going over what JoAnna has already said isn't practical, and may spark some new ideas and thoughts.
How about tubs like the TSD Wheat Cream comes in? In fact, if you wanted to keep things easy, you could just do different quarterly scents of the wheat cream. I haven't tried the wheat, but I hear it's pretty great.
I'd been assuming that it would be the Wheat Cream since I don't think JoAnna makes any other type of cream. I believe the issue with using the tubs that she uses for purchases of the Wheat Cream is that the quarterly club would get a smaller amount and she'd like to have something cheap to package it in. What about a container similar to what is used for the SOTQ, maybe a touch deeper, and make the label big enough that it would wrap over the sides and effectively tape the container shut? I don't know if this is feasible or not because I don't know how you make and apply the labels, but it would even have just 3 or 4 'tabs' that stick out from the basic circular label that fold over to 'tape' the container shut? Does this make any sense at all?
4 oz. double wall jar. sold here: http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/4-oz-Jar-Round-Base-pr-637.html lid sold here: http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/Lid-70-400-White-Dome-pr-635.html using the lid on the right would let you use a 2" sticker to help keep costs down. The English creams get shipped across the world in double walled jars. 70mm seal for 4 oz. jar. here: http://wholesalesuppliesplus.com/Pr...D=3604&ProductName=Press+&+Seal+Liner+-+70+mm What do you think JoAnna? Prepay a quarter ahead to cover the cost of materials? charge a bit more for increased packaging costs?
Yep, only make the wheat cream anymore. The SOTQ container wouldn't work for my peace of mind for a COTQ. There just isn't anyway to seal the dish soundly enough. But not a bad thought. Thanks! Wheat cream comes in a 4 oz double wall jar already. Low profile at that, so folks can get their brushes in the tub. SOTQ is 2 ozs. SOTQ is shipped 1st Class USPS. Remember members pay for 4 shipments, so being able to ship cheap is necessary. SOTQ ships in a padded envelope. I don't have to worry if the container breaks as the soap won't leak. I'd prefer to keep a COTQ in somewhat the same system so I don't get a case of
Maybe something like this would work: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=66258&catid=604 They're marketed as "crack resistant," and I like the lower profile design which means a larger opening and easier brush loading.
Is it in any way feasible to load it into tubes? I have no idea what's involved in making/loading cream into tubes. My initial, knee-jerk reaction to this (my own) idea is that it would be difficult and time consuming, but maybe the process could be easier than I'm thinking?
The wheat cream would be difficult to dispense from a tube. I'm not comfortable shipping a tub or tube in a padded envelope. I'd have to buy boxes, which adds to the cost. Boxes are more expensive than envelopes, and tubs/tubes are more expensive than the petri dishes I put the SOTQ in. I'll have to find the time to look into all these things to find a price, and I'm just not sure it will come out attractive enough for customers. I'll figure it out though.
Yes and no. Yes, you could put the cream into toothpaste style tubes...which would promptly burp out their contents when processed by the mail system. Remember, JoAnna would be mailing these in envelopes, not boxes. Not to mention the cost. Now a shavestick style tube has potential. dial it up, dip the tip of the brush in and go to town...http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/2-oz-White-Twist-up-Tube-pr-511.html you could load them with a pastry bag.
And Priority shipping starts at $4.90 (times 4 equals 19.60 for shipping alone). I think I'm good on suggestions for now. If I'm going to offer a COTQ, I know how I'm going to do it. Now if the price is reasonable is going to be up to those of you who are interested in a COTQ.
I started a COTQ poll and discusion thread here: http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/cotq-interest-thread.29076/
