Since my last post, much has happened...
I quit my job as I almost had a nervous breakdown in January 2015 due to authorised workplace bullying. If anyone wants to work for Apple - DON'T. Seriously, one of the worst jobs and the perks aren't that great. Since then I have been passed pillar to post around the workforce. Bullied in my next job and I am the one who gets terminated, not the woman doing the bullying. Next was a cash in hand job when the barely post teens thought they were better than me, lied to the boss and got me fired. Heck, what is it with me this year?? I am currently working a temp job that takes me on average 2.5 hours EACH WAY to travel. Not happy and I am suffering the consequences of no home life, just work, travel, bed.
In between all of this, I have finally moved. Back home to the house I grew up in. Now, it is just me, the man and the fur babies. Mum and Dad are now gone and the two greatest gifts I got from them was life and the chance to own a home. All mine, including leaky roof, rusty guttering and my now half painted lounge room in two shades of lilac with a ceiling that still needs to be prepped and painted. One day I will get to it, along with the other walls, bathroom and kitchen renovation and if we hit it rich, an extension for another 2 bedrooms.
Soap...well, I picked up a twice a month market in April and Sunday was my last day at the Berowra Fine Food Market. Expensive as hell per stall (could be worse) and I was barely making back stall fee. I have picked up another two markets with another organiser. Bella Vista Farms and now Cherrybrook. On the downside, there is another soap seller but she is selling non handmade soaps at a fraction of mine. I can't win. But the bellydance community has had my back with a great day at the Wollongong Bellydance Festival this last weekend.
My soaping time is very limited right now with new fragrances screaming to be tested and old favourites (9 in total) in desperate need of being remade. Yay for weekends where I don't have a market. I just need those winning lotto numbers to get myself rolling and have my store with soap, corsets and all things girly and luxe.
I do still feel the need to mention a bad experience. A few people know about this and know the woman involved...
A woman came to my stall about 2 months ago desperately wanting my soap to sell alongside her aromatherapy line. She came, she saw, she sniffed, she selected, she paid and then proceeded to tell me that all my EO blends were wrong and only she knew how to blend as she is a qualified aromatherapist. She then also proceeded to tell me that she was repackaging my soap to sell as hers with no mention of the maker. Whilst I was quite annoyed, I kept my mouth shut to be polite and an agreement was made that we would not venture to each other's markets. Well, she broke that agreement almost immediately as she turned up the next weekend at one of my regular markets. She has then proceeded to tell all and sundry around her how bad my product is how it is problematic and how DARE I turn up at HER market. She also bad mouthed a friend who makes a healing balm accusing them of using a premade base and not making it from scratch. She has also told her customers not to deal with me, fellow stallholders not to deal with me and again, remind them just how bad my products and I are. This lady has also bad mouthed me to a fellow soaper who sent me a copy of the email with said slander in it. She uses a thyroid problem and her autistic son as an excuse for not remembering our agreement that was reiterated on at least three occasions the day she purchased my stock. She is one of the reasons why I am leaving Berowra market as she threatened me that if I miss one market, she will take my place. And she has. For any Aussie soaper, you may know who she is, if not, message me if you would like to know. She is difficult and plays the victim well. Even market organisers that I know are wary of her. 'Nuff said.
Back to soap... Bath bombs have been added along with foot bombs. I really want to add more to the line up but I have several things running against me - time, money and will anyone buy the product. I have had solid bubble bar ice cream scoops just sit for months without a peep. Prices are fair for a huge scoop that you would get 4 baths out of. I may need to reconsider packaging, again. I am stumped.
Anyways, back to soaping this weekend and I will try to attempt, weather permitting, to clean out and tidy one of two sheds. The smaller for soaping, the larger one I will have to do later when I have the $$ to hire a skip bin for the years of built up junk.
Soapy love and light
Kayla
Coming soon: an open letter to market organisers
