Gift Ideas Under $25 - Handcrafted Soap Bars from ManHands

A hearty welcome to ManHands Soap - the newest addition to my line package.  I don't normally take on new lines this time of year, but I'm so excited about this one that I made an exception!

ManHands Soap is the manly scented soap company that you need in your shop immediately - especially in your men's gift section. 

The line was born one day when founder Adam Anderson went to wash his hands and noticed the only soaps he could find in the house were a bunch of girly scents - scents no man should ever have to smell like! 

Among the unique, manly scents are such evocative names as Bacon (#1 seller - no surprise), Cash, Cedar Log Cabin, Pine Tar, Pizza, Zombie Repellant, Lumberjack, Corn Chips and...well, you get the idea.  There are many more.

Bacon is the #1 selling scent

Each 3-oz bar is handmade individually and tested on dudes, not animals.  It is a glycerin-based soap formula that is palm oil-free and vegan. 

Retail each bar for $6.00.  Opening order minimum is only 50 bars, so let's get these in your store right away so you can delight your customers with the gift suggestion for the man who is so hard to buy for.

Gifts Ideas Under $25 - Hand Cremes from Lollia

Hand cremes from the Wish and Breathe collections

Luxury hand cremes from Lollia are always a welcome gift.  For your customers seeking a thoughtful gift that is not too personal, make Lollia's hand cremes your go-to suggestion this season.

Available in seven distinct, romantic fragrances, each hand crème is a rich formulation of shea butter, aloe and avocado oil.

Lollia is well-known for beautiful packaging, but it is also an exceptional product.  Each collection also includes an eau de parfum, a shower gel, bath salts, bubble bath and a soap.  Because each one is a consumable, users will return to your shop when they need more.

Relax is Lollia's #1 selling giftable fragrance collection

Still not convinced this is an ideal gift suggestion?  The hand crème is such a popular item that Lollia offers it in 3 sizes:

• Full size (4-oz) - retail for $25
• Travel size (1.25-oz) - retail for $15
• Petite Treat size (.33-oz) - retail for $7.50

Not sure which scent to get someone?  Relax (pictured above) is Lollia's #1 best selling giftable fragrance collection.  It's hard to go wrong with this lavender & honey based fragrance.

Keep in mind that the smaller sizes are also great impulse items, so fill a jar or vase with them to promote multi-unit sales.

If you're not currently a Lollia retailer, it's not too late to get the collection in your store for holiday sales.  All you need to choose is which 3 fragrance collections to start with (and I'm here to help you with that), and the opening order assortment is already set.

Holiday Gift Ideas $25 & Under - Aromatherapy Shower Bursts

Shower Burst Variety Packs - Signature, Wellness, Pure Essentials, Lifestyle & Citrus Collections (left to right)

Shower Bursts are the signature item from Hydra Aromatherapy and will quickly become a must-have item for your shop.  They are popular products because they are like a bath fizzie for use in the shower, are handmade with pure essential oils, come in fun packaging and are consumable - which means customers will return to buy more!

Shower Bursts are sold both individually and in boxed variety packs (pictured above).  The variety packs are an easy way for your customers to try different blends to discover their favorite.

Each variety pack includes 4 different scented shower bursts, a sachet that enhances the aromatherapy experience, and instructions for use on the back of the box.  Sachets help shower bursts last longer by allowing them to dry between uses.

To use, unwrap the shower burst and place it on a dish or in a sachet.  Wet briefly to activate.  As it dissolves, aromatherapy oils mix with the rising steam to provide a true spa experience.

Retail the variety pack for $20-$22.

If you order with me before the end of the year, I can offer you two promotions:

• Order $300 or more - receive 1 FREE case of individual shower bursts (your choice of fragrance)
• Order $500 or more - your freight charges are capped at 7% (in addition to the free case of shower bursts)

Let's get these on your shelves.  It's the unique gift that keeps your customers supporting you as a local, independent retailer.

Heat up summer sales with FinchBerry

This was originally posted May 31, 2017 at my old blog.

Are you looking for simple ways to light a fire under your summer sales?  Then we should talk about FinchBerry.

Whatever your shop's focus, soaps are a smart addition to your product mix.  Scented soaps are interactive, inviting your customers to smell each one and identify their favorites.  FinchBerry's bright colors and unique 3-dimensional textures excite the senses and will keep customers in your shop longer, increasing the chances they will make additional purchases.

Whether your business relies on locals or tourists, here are some features that make selling Finchberry soaps a good idea:

• Impulse item
• Functional (you never have to answer "what do you do with it?)
• Self-purchase as a vacation treat that can be used at once
• Gift purchase as a souvenir to take home for the dog sitter or neighborhood teen who mowed your lawn
• Retails under $10
• Consumable item that will be used up, encouraging repeat business
• Merchandising options that give your display focus and keep it tidy

Promote multi-unit sales by pricing them at $9 each (which allows you some extra margin) and then offer 3 for $25.  All soaps are sold as individual bars so you don't spend time slicing and packaging them separately.

Moxie's scent is a pleasing summer blend of watermelon & cantaloupe

FinchBerry soaps are handcrafted in their North Florida studio which is filled with piping bags, baking racks and dough mixers.  It looks as much like a bakery as the soaps look like baked goods!

Each individual bar contains natural, food-grade ingredients, sports a unique and decadent appearance, and produces a lush gentle lather.  All soaps are gluten-free, vegan-friendly and made without any harsh chemical preservatives. 

FinchBerry soaps are not just cleansing bars but a sensory experience your customers can savor daily.

So let's get these in your shop right away.  Ordering is simple - order 9 different scents with a free set of display trays OR choose 12 scents for a free 2-tier tabletop display with FinchBerry signage.

You'll want to see and smell before making a decision, of course. Just say the word, and I'm glad to come see you with samples of all the soaps!

Neptune & the Mermaid

This was originally posted April 14, 2017 at my old blog

Brand spanking new from Tokyo Milk (a Margot Elena company) is the Neptune & the Mermaid fragrance collection.

Your customers will discover surreal fragrance notes in the Eau de Parfum (pictured above) in gilded bottles and housed in a keepsake storybook box. 

There are 3 fragrances to this collection:

• Song of the Siren No.49
• 20,000 Flowers Under the Sea No.31
• Anthemoessa No.21

The collection also includes Margot Elena's signature shea butter handcreme, perfumed mini soaps and a lip balm.

It's a beautiful addition for current Tokyo Milk retailers.  Early best-seller buzz is for Anthemoessa!

Lollia - new for 2017

This was originally posted January 4, 2017 at my old blog.

Dream is the newest addition to the Lollia collection

The Margot Elena product collections are an exciting addition to my package for the new year.  I'll post about each one separately, but today's focus is Lollia.

Lollia is an elegant library of fragrance stories with romantic names like Wish (the top seller), Dream (pictured above), Breathe, Relax, At Last and others.  Each collection consists of classic, beautifully designed boudoir luxuries made from superior formulations in the USA. 

Hand cremes in Wish, Breathe & At Last

Lollia is known for its iconic look that is decadently luxurious while feeling sweetly familiar with signature mix-and-match patterns and fresh-picked color palettes.  The packaging attracts attention, and the quality of the product has created proven customer loyalty that brings you high repeat business.

In each collection you will an eau de parfum, a shea butter handcreme (pictured above), perfumed shower gel, bubbling bath and a beautiful fragranced luminary candle.

Make sure you are stocked for Valentine's Day gift giving and then beef up your inventory more as we approach Mother's Day.

Illume - new for 2017

This was originally posted January 2, 2017 at my old blog.

Sweet Hibiscus - one of Illume's new fragrances for 2017

First things first - I'm your new sales rep for Illume starting in 2017.  I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier, but professional courtesy still means something.

Having said that, Illume is rolling out its collection-based business concept for the new year.  There are now five distinct collections - each with its own buy-in.  The company has also worked hard to create a new shipping infrastructure to improve on-time delivery.

Sweet Hibiscus (pictured above) is a new scent for 2017.  It joins 9 existing fragrances in the Essentials collection - Illume's core group.

Coconut Milk Mango is a best-selling fragrance in Go Be Lovely

Go Be Lovely is the other collection continuing into 2017.  Both the fragrances and packaging are unapologetically flirty and feminine, and there are 2 new fragrances - Sugared Blossom and Golden Honeysuckle.  Also new is a demi hand cream as a companion to the best-selling demi rollerball perfume.

New collections include Brim & Bright with fresh, vibrant patterns paired with best-selling fragrances - including fragranced citronella candles! 

Narrative is another new collection that includes both home fragrance and body care items.  It's a premium collection with sophisticated packaging that incorporates some best-selling fragrances as well as 2 brand new ones - Copper Rose and Magnolia Blossom.

Grey Lavender candles from the new Collectiv collection

Collectiv is a new collection that includes home fragrance, body care - and new home care products!  It has 4 new fresh and simple fragrances with Scandinavian-inspired packaging.  There are 2 candle options pictured above, both in Grey Lavender.

Candles and body care remain strong categories for independent retailers, and I know you're always looking for something new and fresh to offer your customers.  Illume is a veteran player in the business, and you don't stick around this long unless you know what you're doing!