Why Prices Are Rising at Wild Venus This April – A Transparent Update
At Wild Venus, I've always been honest and upfront with you.
That’s why I want to be completely transparent about the price increases coming this April. It’s not an easy decision, but I feel that it’s important to explain why it’s happening and what it means for you.
Why Are Prices Going Up?
Over the past year, the cost of producing these handmade products has been steadily increasing. While I've done everything I can to absorb these costs, it’s reached a point where I need to adjust the pricing to continue offering the quality you expect from us.
Here’s what’s been driving up costs:
Raw Materials: The price of key ingredients like olive oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter has skyrocketed due to supply chain issues and global inflation. I've been weathering out these high prices for over a year with the hopes that it would be temporary, however, the prices seem to have stabilised now and aren't coming down.
Fragrance and Essential Oils: The specialist oils that give our soaps, wax melts, and balms their unique, luxurious scents have become significantly more expensive.
Electricity Costs: With rising energy prices, the cost of running our workshop – from melting wax to blending balms – has gone up across the board.
Specialist Ingredients: Ingredients such as Olivem1000 which is used in our cleansing balms has become harder to source and more costly to import.
Insurance: As a market trader with an online shop, this was a very reasonable price. Now with a bricks and mortar location, this is another cost which has grown exponentially.
Scaling Back – Why It Wasn’t Enough
To try and offset these rising costs, I’ve already made some changes which many of you have already noticed.
Over the last year, I scaled back the number of products I make to reduce waste and cut costs – but it wasn’t enough. While this helped to a degree, the ongoing increase in material and operational costs means that a price rise has become unavoidable.
What This Means for You
Starting in April, you’ll notice a small increase in the price of several products, including:
Soaps – Our artisan soaps, made with rich butters and essential oils, will reflect the higher cost of ingredients.
Wax Melts – The price of our soy wax melts will rise slightly due to increased fragrance oil and electricity costs.
Cleansing Balms – The nourishing oils and specialist ingredients in this formula have increased in price, which will be reflected in the new pricing.
Magnesium Balms – These balms are labour intensive and require a long time heating which causes spikes in the electricity usage.
Why I’m Committed to Quality
One thing that won’t change is my commitment to quality. Our products will continue to be handmade in small batches, using the finest vegan ingredients and carefully tested for performance and safety. We believe in giving you products that are not only indulgent but genuinely beneficial for your skin and home.
In fact, you’re going to see the quality and consistency go up from this point onwards as my new soap workshop is giving me the space to produce better batches in a much more comfortable environment.
Thank You for Your Support
I know price increases aren’t easy, and I haven't taken this decision lightly. Your support means the world to me, and I hope you’ll continue to love Wild Venus products as much as I love making them for you. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out – I’m always here to chat.
Thank you for being part of the Wild Venus community. I’m excited to keep bringing you the best in handmade skincare and home fragrance – even as the world around us changes.
With love,
Naomi
Founder of Wild Venus ❤️
Sources:
Many of the suppliers I use give updates as to the why we have had so many price increases. Additionally. I've found some great articles including these two.
The Independent - Why olive oil is suddenly so expensive and what to use instead.
Chococo - Why cocoa prices are rising crazily fast. (Cocoa Graph comes directly from this website).