What's the point of a Limited Edition soap?

[insomniac]

I don't get Limited Edition soaps. Custom order, sure. Group buy for a custom scent, OK. Even seasonal I can understand.

But Limited Edition? If the soap is extremely popular, a soapmaker isn't going to make more?

 

[maxman]

Unless it's flaked with gold I don't get it either.
It doesn't seem like good business to have a consumable item be a limited edition.

I suppose people will buy anything.

 

[cpeter47]

I was thinking about this exact thing earlier today. I was contemplating claiming a PIF in the never-ending-pif thread but decided against it because if I do like it, what happens when I can't order it anymore? It seems like a gimmick more than anything.

 

[TheVez2]

Gimmick maybe. In the case of RazoRock's new LE offering, maybe it's just an experiment. Try somehting new out as a limited trial and see how it sells and what the reviews are.

 

[insomniac]

Gimmick maybe. In the case of RazoRock's new LE offering, maybe it's just an experiment. Try somehting new out as a limited trial and see how it sells and what the reviews are.

I think that's a valid reason (using it as an experiment.) But in a way all products are like that. If an artisan made a soap that got bad reviews or sold poorly, I doubt they'd continue making it anyway.

To be clear, I'm not referring to Joe since other artisans have produced LE soaps as well. I'm just curious as to why artisans do it.

LE seems to be the rage nowadays - colognes, brushes, next we'll see LE blades.

 

[seizure]

LE seems to be the rage nowadays - colognes, brushes, next we'll see LE blades.

I'm going to visit an Alpaca farm and shave a few. I'll be offering LE Alpaca knots soon.

 

[xraygun]

In my experience artisans might call a seasonal soap a limited edition, or if it's a new soap that they are testing the waters for. Or maybe they got a deal on an expensive or hard to find essential oil and don't know when they'll be able to get more. I doubt that a business person would refuse to make more of a limited edition soap that became popular, unless the fragrance had been discontinued or prices had shot through the roof, making it unprofitable.

THIS

I think it makes perfect sense if a soap maker got a special deal on an essential oil and/or a fancy presentation.

Just for instance, I have a fantastic LE Rose Cream (I think of it as a soap, it's similar in consistency to MdC) in a heavy glass jar that I doubt the producer (an unpopular vendor) made much money on. My silver bell with stag topped plate of MdC is limited as well, just not advertised as such.

 

[Alphonse]

Limited Edition is what makes this truely "artisan". Can't believe this has to be explained... here of all places.

 

[neilz4]

The artisan could be flexing his business skills and creating long-term demand that he knows he will be able to satisfy during a re-release of said LE item. Though the other ideas above (especially the one by eyebright) make more sense, I thought this was possible.

 

[xraygun]

Limited Edition is what makes this truely "artisan". Can't believe this has to be explained... here of all places.

By that theory you are stating this isn't "artisan"?

I beg to disagree. It's a friggin masterpiece.

 

[maxman]

It seems that Limited Edition has maybe lost some of it's meaning nowadays.
You wouldn't put something out there as a trial calling it Limited Edition.

Limited Edition items are of higher quality, using top grade ingredients and other special care that isn't in the regular run products.
Well, usually that is the case.

Nowadays it's just changing the colour and sticking a new sticker on the front that says Limited Edition.

 

[ayodh]

I think its trying to sell to people who like having things that others don't!

 

[Austin]

Limited Edition items are of higher quality, using top grade ingredients and other special care that isn't in the regular run products.

^^^
This.

Some of the razors, brushes and watch offered by B&B were limited editions never to be offered again.

 

[Austin]

I think its trying to sell to people who like having things that others don't!

Yep! We are a bunch of elitist.

 

[xraygun]

I've encouraged some of our producers of products to make the distinction between "limited edition" which specifically implies there is ONLY a certain number available, preferably a disclosed and labeled number, and "special edition" which implies extra care, rare materials, and perhaps not available from all sellers.

 

[maxman]

Yep! We are a bunch of elitist.

I wouldn't have it any other way!

 

[Austin]

I wouldn't have it any other way!

Amen brother!

 

[shaverjoe]

By that theory you are stating this isn't "artisan"?

I beg to disagree. It's a friggin masterpiece.

+1. One of my favorites from QCS.

 

[BeeSeeDub]

I don't get Limited Edition soaps. Custom order, sure. Group buy for a custom scent, OK. Even seasonal I can understand.

But Limited Edition? If the soap is extremely popular, a soapmaker isn't going to make more?

It's a way of increasing sales over the short term - a revolving series of LE items keeps customers interested and buying more.

 

[pdillon]

Just throwing this out there, especially in response to some more cynical suggestions: Perhaps it's a way for businesses to create a product for their most dedicated customers. Maybe the LE products are at a lower profit margin so they don't offer them permanently.