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Are you a bath bomb enthusiast who’s been crafting fizzing, fragrant creations for fun, and now you’re wondering if you could turn your hobby into a business? You’re in the right place! The bath bomb industry has seen a huge rise in popularity in the UK, with more and more people looking for handmade, artisanal products.
If you’re thinking about making the leap from crafting for fun to selling for profit, let’s walk through everything you need to know about starting a bath bomb business.
Starting out: From hobby to business
First off, let’s talk about how to take the leap from making bath bombs in your kitchen for family and friends to selling them as a legitimate business.
Evaluate Your Skills and Passion
Before diving into business, it’s important to make sure you’ve truly mastered your craft. Have you perfected your bath bomb recipes? Do you have a signature style or scent that sets your creations apart? It’s worth spending time testing different combinations of ingredients, colours, and essential oils to come up with a product that feels unique and high-quality.
Set Your Business Goals
Do you want this to be a fun side hustle, or are you aiming for a full-fledged business down the road? Start by defining your goals. A simple business plan doesn’t need to be intimidating—it’s just a way to map out what you want to achieve and how you’re going to get there. Think about your target audience, your financial goals, and how you’ll manage your time.
Test Your Product
Before going all-in, you need to make sure people love your product. Give samples to friends, family, and colleagues to get feedback. Even better, set up a stall at a local craft fair and see how the public responds. This is invaluable for refining your product and figuring out what customers are really looking for.
Finding the right suppliers
Now that you’ve nailed your product, you need to think about sourcing supplies. Finding the right suppliers is key to keeping your costs low while maintaining quality.
Ingredients and Raw Materials
The basic ingredients for bath bombs include citric acid, baking soda, essential oils, and colorants. For quality products, you’ll want to source high-grade, natural ingredients. Look for suppliers that offer eco-friendly and ethically sourced materials, as these are becoming more important to UK consumers.
Packaging and Presentation
You know that old saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, people absolutely judge bath bombs by their packaging! Think about eco-friendly packaging options like biodegradable wraps or recyclable boxes. A beautiful package can set your product apart from the competition.
Recommended UK Suppliers
There are plenty of great suppliers in the UK, from bulk-buy options to smaller, more artisanal suppliers. Look for companies like The Soap Kitchen, Mica Mama, or The Soapery to get you started. They offer everything from ingredients to moulds and packaging.
UK laws and regulations for bath bombs
This is where things get serious. If you’re selling bath bombs to the public, you’ll need to make sure you’re compliant with UK laws and regulations.
Cosmetic Safety Regulations
Bath bombs are classified as cosmetic products, meaning they fall under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations in the UK. You’ll need to have your products safety assessed and registered on the UK Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP) before you can legally sell them. It sounds complex, but there are plenty of guides and consultants who can help you navigate the process.
Labelling Requirements
Your labels need to be spot-on too. Every product should have a clear list of ingredients, any allergens, and batch numbers in case there’s ever a problem with a batch. Labels are important for safety and to build trust with your customers.
Insurance and Legalities
Another must-have is product liability insurance. This covers you if something goes wrong and a customer has a bad reaction to one of your products. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Read our blog on the Laws of Selling Crafts
Expanding your range: Other crafts to consider
Once you’ve got bath bombs down to an art, why not expand your product range? Offering complementary products can boost your sales and attract a wider customer base.
Complementary Products
Many bath bomb sellers also offer soaps, bath salts, body scrubs, or candles. These are natural extensions of your brand and can be made in small batches with similar ingredients. This gives your customers more options and can help increase the average spend.
Seasonal and Special Edition Products
Who doesn’t love a holiday-themed bath bomb? Think ahead and create limited edition products for key events like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day. This keeps your offerings fresh and encourages repeat purchases.
Where to sell your crafts
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is figuring out where to sell your bath bombs. The good news? There are loads of options, both online and offline.
Online Platforms
Etsy is a popular platform for handmade goods, and Folksy is a UK-based alternative that’s great for British crafters. You could also set up your own e-commerce website through platforms like Shopify. Selling online allows you to reach a wide audience, but keep in mind you’ll need to invest time in marketing to drive traffic to your shop.
Social media is also crucial for building your brand. Instagram and TikTok, with their focus on visual content, are great platforms for showcasing your colourful, vibrant bath bombs.
Local Markets and Craft Fairs
If you prefer face-to-face sales, local craft fairs and markets are a fantastic option. It’s a great way to engage with your customers, get real-time feedback, and test new products.
Retail Partnerships
For those who want to scale up, consider partnering with local boutiques, salons, or gift shops. You could sell your products wholesale or on consignment. Just be sure to price your products carefully to maintain a profit after the shop takes its cut.
Pricing your products
Now comes the tricky bit—pricing your products. You want to cover your costs, but you also need to keep your products affordable.
Cost of Production
Start by calculating how much it costs to make each bath bomb, including ingredients, packaging, and your time. Don’t forget to factor in shipping costs if you’re selling online.
Setting the Right Price
Your price should cover all your costs and leave you with a healthy profit margin. It’s important to check what your competitors are charging and find a balance between offering value to customers and making sure you’re profitable.
Read our blog on pricing – Pricing your products for profit
Branding and marketing your bath bomb business
Your brand is more than just a logo—it’s your business’s personality. From the way your bath bombs look to how you interact with customers online, branding is key to standing out.
Creating a Brand Identity
Think about what makes your bath bombs special. Are they eco-friendly? Vegan? Are they designed with relaxation in mind or full of fun and colour? Create a brand identity that reflects your values and appeals to your target market.
Social Media Marketing
Social media is a brilliant tool for small businesses. Post pictures of your products, show behind-the-scenes shots of your production process, and engage with your audience by asking questions or hosting giveaways. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are ideal for showcasing the visual appeal of your bath bombs.
Building an Email List
An often-overlooked marketing tool is email. Building an email list allows you to communicate directly with your customers, sending them updates on new products, special offers, and promotions. It’s a great way to nurture customer loyalty.
Managing growth and scaling your business
As your business grows, it’s important to think about how to manage demand and keep things running smoothly.
Outsourcing Production
At some point, making bath bombs in your kitchen might not be sustainable. You can either hire someone to help or look into outsourcing production to a manufacturer. Just make sure your products remain true to your brand.
Automating Tasks
There are plenty of tools to help automate parts of your business, from inventory management software to online shipping solutions. These can save you a lot of time and headaches as you scale.
Planning for the Future
Finally, don’t forget to think long-term. Do you want to expand into new markets or launch new product lines? Planning for growth early on will help you stay focused and successful.
Get Crafters Insurance with Protectivity
Getting the right insurance will help protect you from claims that could significantly affect your finances, providing reassurance to focus on doing the work you love.
Protectivity’s crafters insurance is designed to support you as you grow your new business. Our specialist insurance includes public liability, employers’ liability, products liability and equipment and stock cover.
Find out more and get an online quote suited to your business.
Get Crafters Insurance from Protectivity
*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date.
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