How TsunamiSuds got started
Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?
Dennis and I started Anderson Soap Company about 15 years ago. We ran that company for many years, then closed it down for roughly 2 years. After being closed for 2 years, we missed it so much that we reopened and rebranded as Tsunami Suds Soap Company. Starting over from scratch, we donated every product we had left over from the final sale to a local homeless shelter and helped a new soapmaker start out by giving her all our raw materials. We now sell on our Etsy website here , and we also have our own personal website here. Our products are made in a small studio space in our home, and we support local business by buying raw materials from local shops and farms.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
This is hard! My current favorite items are without a doubt the sugar melts; they are magical! The exfoliating qualities of the sugar wash away the dead skin, and the butters and oils stay on after you wash the sugar off, leaving my skin feeling amazing.
My favorite bar soap these days is the Renaissance Olive Oil Soap Bar.It's a little girly, but the scent is a dream.
Dennis loves the Spiced Mahogany Olive Oil Soap Bar.The poppy seeds work as a mild exfoliate, and the scent is an earthy, unisex scent.
Our products really ebb and flow with sales. It depends on the time of year, and our customers are all unique, so desires for specific items really vary. The most popular overall would be our beer soaps! I mean, how could it not be—great beers made into amazing soaps.
Getting sales on Etsy
How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?
Our shop was originally run by Dennis, and I backed him up. Over time, we have shifted roles. Our first sale was in 2007 after listing. Dennis made lots of community friends, and they goof around in the forums. From there, we started making treasuries, and we learned how to take photos that looked good and were on many front pages, which gave us lots of exposure. These days we use Instagram, but we don't post often enough (we're working on it).
Managing TsunamiSuds
How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?
We do it all! Creating the product, labels, mailing lists, and shipping We currently have an independent website in addition to Etsy; we ship from Etsy or our website and deliver to the local post office. There are lots of hats, but we really love what we do.
The future of TsunamiSuds
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
continue to grow, and hopefully have a little shop for people to visit. We hope to showcase our products locally at markets again in the next year.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
It's not easy, but don't give up! Presentation was our biggest helper; pictures and packaging can help draw an eye to your shop. Be helpful to your clients and listen to the needs of your base. Some of the funniest things we've created were inspired by our customers and conversations.
TsunamiSuds
⚓Tsunami Suds ❤️ Lather up
