this post is about to seduce you and introduce you to the wonders of bars and codes. No, I am not talking about codes that act like tags when it comes to perfumes. Like white musk=”inoffensive little thing for the office”, or spices=”for men without really being spicy” or other funny notes that actually do not exist except in the mind of some PR guys. On the side: If you feel like writing the ultimate perfume PR, make sure to visit Now Smell This and enter your contribution to the “PRIX EAU FAUX 2012″. I like this competition a lot.
No, I am talking serious codes. Bar codes. I got mine since a while, but never used them. Or better said: I am registered with GS1 in Switzerland and got my Tauer bar code with a set of 1000 numbers. Thus, there is still some room for new products. The bar code is a 13 digit EAN-13 code. The code for the air du désert marocain, 50 ml , edt you see in today’s picture. Bar codes come in handy for many things. And some retailer need them and want them. Like Jovoy in Paris, where you will soon find my brand, and where I will travel a couple of times this year. Which is nice (both) and for sure worth a few more posts in the future. Right now, I do not print the code directly onto the packaging labels, but as I am completely changing everything, or rather optimizing a few packaging issues within the next 12 months, you will see the bar codes on new labels in about a year from now. For the time being, I have individual labels printed. I got all the bar code pictures yesterday, and made all sticker bar code pictures ready.
And had the computer crash in regular intervals. Time to get a new one, I fear. Or rather hope. I want a Mac.
Ah, and yes, this post is about more bars. Soap bars. A much more sensual thing that bar code. I was fiddling for quite a while on a fragrance for a special, very special soap bar. In the mean time, the fragrance mixture is a perfume by itself. Not that I will start selling soap bars. No way. But I wanted a scented soap bar that is a little bit beyond the ordinary. For a special occasion. I think I got the formula right and stable now. The soap bar with the fragrance was stored for a while, and is in use since a few days in the house of tauer. I cannot pass by the bathroom without smelling. Fingers crossed that all goes like we plan it and that the soap bars will see the world beyond my bath room.
Notes are: Rose, Jasmine, Tuberose.
I’d gladly be the test subject for that soap
But Andy, why do you say ‘no way’ to introducing soap bars to your brand? Too expensive? Time-consuming?
Congrats on your bar codes, btw!
Hi Dusan, so nice to see you here! Yes, you mentioned the right reasons. Right now, I make any soaps (X-mas soaps, give-away soaps,special soaps) myself. It is rather time consuming and from a commercial point of view not super interesting. But if I would sell them only in my shop it would be sort of ok. I might end up needing to hire someone for the soaps, though. But then the soaps would be even more expensive
But the real problem is the shipment. the shipment of these is soooooo expensive. 20 Francs to the US, one piece of 100 gr., 14 within Europe (because the parcel/envelope gets thicker than 2 cm. Thus, the product would be really expensive to get shipped from Europe.
Shipment logistics would be difficult. I would need to make sets of three or four. but still….
Although; I know… there would be a market. But I cannot do everything
Yes, I’m afraid I knew that was going to be your answer. It’s a shame about all these shipping constraints as there definitely would be a market for Tauer Soaps. But then, as you say, it’s also a time-consuming process. Oh well, we’ll just have to make do with your fabulous perfumes, then
Best to you, Andy!
Congrats on the bar code Andy & hope this pushes distribution.
Just… no matter how much your business grows (and I hope it does; a LOT) please keep creating the perfumes you like and not what you think the market wants
(Rothko or Lloyd Wright did what they liked and created extreme beauties, as you do now!)
I will give my best, Khalid. Actually, I think it is quite a vain mission to create what the market wants.
I honestly do not know the market and what it wants. I guess Chanel does. That’s why their Blue is so successful. But then, I do not want to create a Chanel bleu.
Talking yesterday of soap with Tubéreuse, and today of bars and soap and why it won’t be feasible to commercialize that, I propose a solution: Take the wonderful Tubéreuse note of the soap and create a full-blown perfume our of it. Another avenue the reach heaven.
Nor would I want to wear one (LOL)
My solution to the problem – shower with a good unperfumed soap, then do a small spritz of L’Air du Desert Marocain before dressing. Just like a perfumed soap but without the hard work and expensive shipping. It’s what I do all the time.
That’s a good one, John!
Greetings, Stephan, believe it or not: I am wearing a drop of the soap fragrance concentrate. It would need some fixing and a hint here and there, but it would be a wonderful extrait
or edp…
I appreciate your stance on the issue. Really. As much as I’d enjoy the chance to buy more Tauer products, I appreciate that you aren’t pushing Marocain shower gel, lotion, talc, body spray, drawer inserts, etc. (Whoo! You’d be able to smell me coming from half a mile!)
When you’re no longer the one making the product, just scenting it, it loses some of the sincerity and charm of your brand. I admire your commitment to keeping all your production within your arm’s reach, and you should only make and sell things that make sense for you. If you find a way to make soap work in a commercial sense (or figure out a great way to make and ship drawer inserts), I’ll line up with credit card in hand. But until then I’ll just hug my perfume bottle tight.
I see what Kirsten is saying but at the same time, there are so few quality perfumed soaps out there. Sure in principle they seem to be a dime a dozen, but how many actually live up to our expectations (permeating scent, nice texture, silky lather, moisturizing etc etc)? I for one would love to have the option of buying a Tauer soap–although I do see now why it is easier said than done.
“.. it would be a wonderful edp ..” My nose will be waiting to listen to your telling a story about that most emotional scent of the Tubéreuse flower.
Mr. Tauer, could you envision for the future this type:
A purse spray and a piece of soap in a gift set of your famous bestsellers ?
I would love a gift set of Miriam purse spray, body lotion Miriam and soap cake or shower gel Miriam.
But, this is dragging Marketing much too far into the future ??
Fragrant greetings Kirsten,
indeed, I think these flanker products can be dangerous. They might take away some of the sincerity, appeal, of a fragrance, its aura in a sense. But then, there are examples where it works nicely. For instance Malle does a wonderful job with the body butters….
I guess it all depends on perspective
Well, Ursula, to be honest: This might indeed be a bit too much
But never say never, right?
Good evening, Jen and thank you for your comment. Yes, indeed, a good point. Good soaps are not that easy to get done and get. But now that you mention it: I need to retest the lather