I believe our flatline national economy makes conducting business very hard for small businesses. Every aspect of an artisan soap maker's expenses keeps rising. Just as we consider the price point of their product, they too, have a price point in mind. If they cannot meet theirs, then we will loose the artisan's contribution to our hobby. I try to look at the product as "what value is this to me-----do I like it,, do I want it, is there something similar I can replace it with, etc. My decision to purchase is based in my value of this product to me. Not what does it cost, I admit there is a breaking point for me as well, but remember the producer is a small business needing profit to survive.
Thumbs down - Catie's Bubbles new price point
- Thread starter Taborden
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Interesting comments in this thread. Czech & Speake Oxford refill-$34.00 for 90 grams.
I'm good with that. Never gonna buy any,that's for certain. But the free market system and capitalism are American precepts which are (and should remain) unshakeable. I have no problem with Catie's, Mike's, CRSW, Soap Commander, or anyone charging whatever they like. I'll decide if it's worth the asking price or not. It's that simple. It's that fair. It's that American.
I'm good with that. Never gonna buy any,that's for certain. But the free market system and capitalism are American precepts which are (and should remain) unshakeable. I have no problem with Catie's, Mike's, CRSW, Soap Commander, or anyone charging whatever they like. I'll decide if it's worth the asking price or not. It's that simple. It's that fair. It's that American.
+1[emoji106]
This is called hidden inflation and it's not new, it's been going on since I can remember and even before I was born. As for the new CB, I don't see the addition of a bit of shea butter being worth so much more and I certainly don't see a real boost in quality of the product for the extra price.
The original CB was one of my favourites and my account is that it isn't a huge improvement, if any, so IMO/IME this isn't a marked improvement.
BTW I noticed you are also from Ottawa and if you are interested in some good stores PM me, I might have a few you haven't found yet that are worth checking out.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
The owner of Tiki Bar (who apparently acquired Steambath Works) is a PhD in chemistry. I really like her products that I have tried so far.
Your points are well made, and I agree with you.
I would go even further and say that even if the product had not been changed to a harder and longer-lasting one, the price increase would still be justifiable. I'll never raise my eyebrows at an artisan for trying to turn more of a profit within reason.
I will raise my eyebrows at an artisan for claiming that his large 8 oz. tin is part of the "science" (or whatever it was at the time) behind loading and using his soap, only to discontinue the large tin and increase the price per ounce in small tins.
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Screw the chemistry and formulas....let's just say they wanted more profit.
Nothing wrong with that.
Nothing wrong with that.
Wait until Ver 1.245798756126789846241 comes out in an LE scent and a glass jar.
It's out now. It was released at midnight on Monday. I stayed up all night and managed to get the last puck. I tried it this morning for the first time and its my favorite soap ever. Its my holy grail. I'll never use another soap again as long as I live. Oh wait...I just saw on facepage its been discontinued.
Probably more the case, I know the Shea butter is a premium priced ingredient but I don't think it adds that much. The market will decide if Chris has made the right move.
It's out now. It was released at midnight on Monday. I stayed up all night and managed to get the last puck. I tried it this morning for the first time and its my favorite soap ever. Its my holy grail. I'll never use another soap again as long as I live. Oh wait...I just saw on facepage its been discontinued.
So Haslinger?
It's like the cheap parking lot I used to park at when I drive to work.
It was a short walk from work, but only $8 a day, always packed, had to fight for a spot. I noticed the past few weeks there were always empty spots as I cycled by. I took the car yesterday, pulled in, found my spot and went to pay....$12. The price had increased 50%, the spaces are the same width, there is no added security, still not covered and the place was 1/2 empty. I drove out and found alternate parking, closer to my building, better facility for similar price.
Now I know why I kept seeing all the empty spots.
[MENTION=69297]explodyii[/MENTION] has some great notes. I see other important points while reading through this thread about formula improvements, usage per shave on all of that, just enjoying the niche product. For disclosure, I haven't used CB so I can't comment on those changes. All of those changes also factor when determining whether or not to purchase a product. However, I'm left with a nagging memory of my last trip to the supermarket. Take any product and compare the 4 oz tub to the 8 oz tub. Rarely is the 8 oz version exactly twice the 4 oz version. As explodyii explained, it takes money to buy tubs, ship product, manufacture, etc. The 4 oz tub is simply going to cost more, for any product. I am no economist but I can obviously see the effect when shopping for whatever said product. Smaller packaging costs more per product amount.
What were we talking about again?
Essentially, $/oz is not as useful as say $/usage but the rest is cost accounting but there are a lot of errors in it (e.g. fixed costs are not the same as sunk costs and indirect costs but somehow they all are mixed together). Really it should be a case of :
Direct costs (ingredients, labour, container, processing, shipping etc) + indirect costs (equipment amortization, advertising, factory overhead, admin functions, finance charges, R&D, etc) if you want to do an economic analysis rather than a strictly financial analysis then you add in a normal rate return to see if you are making an economic profit or loss. The only thing that has really changed is that the ingredients costs and perhaps some processing costs have increased as well as some R&D, but R&D is a sunk cost and would show up across all product lines in a small business.
None of which really matters to us since we are only looking at how much it costs and if we think it's worth that cost. Obviously, some people have will willing pay a lot of money for soaps and creams while others want lower priced options. Those who look at the total cost of the soap may like the lower cost while others will note that the price/oz has risen and won't be so inclined to purchase the new line.
One of the biggest errors here is that the "s" in each equation is not the same so you can't treat them the same for algebraic purposes since they are not the same value. Price per ounce and cost per ounce is the evaluation that should have been used. Just saying...
Wait until Ver 1.245798756126789846241 comes out in an LE scent and a glass jar.
So true......makes you appreciate classics like Cella and Tabac even more.
All of these points and opinions being thrown around and not a single "YMMV" posted. Could this be the death of my most hated disclaimer?
Anyway, the owner of Catie's Bubbles runs his business as his full time job.
Anyway, the owner of Catie's Bubbles runs his business as his full time job.
YMMV should be whispered silently in your head after you read every post, no need to type it.
As for the full time business, it would make sense as to would increase.
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