The INKubator Series:

I'm taking you along the chaotic behind-the-scenes of launching henna & temporary tattoo kits. 

If you missed it, here’s Email 1, Email 2 , Email 3, Email 4,  Email 5, Email 6, Email 7 + Email 8.
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Hey ,

So, we’re launching temp tattoo & henna kits this summer. 

And because finding the right supplies is an Olympic sport, I’m spilling the details - where we got our supplies, how much we spent, and whether I regret my life choices. 

(Spoiler: Not yet, but maybe soon?)

This isn’t going to be just a box of jagua or henna cones with a “good luck” note. Nope, this is a kit that you can use & re-use with designs, tutorials & inspirations.

We wanted to make it stupidly easy for anyone to create cool body art, whether you can barely draw a stick figure or you’re Michelangelo.

We’re testing the waters with 100 basic kits. 

Are they fancy? Nope. 

But are they good enough to start? We sure think so...

What’s inside the first kit?

• 1 jagua cone (sealed in a weather-proof safe bag)
• 2-3 stencil sheets (for those of us who still struggle with tracing)
• Laminated practice sheet (because making mistakes on paper > making them on your skin)
• 2 sample designs (so you don’t have to Google "cool design ideas" in a panic)
• Ballpoint pen (for tracing)
• Instruction card (with a step by step guide)
• QR code for video tutorials (for visual learners)
• Tissue paper (purely for ✨aesthetic✨ purposes)

Where did we buy our supplies?

🛒 Amazon – Boxes, stencils, pens, tissue paper 
🖨 The Print House, Toronto – All printed materials 
🔖 Staples – Custom logo stamp 
🌿 Local Toronto supplier – Jagua cones 

How much did it all cost?

📦 Packing Boxes – $150
🌿 Jagua cones – $1,000
🖨 Print materials – $700
🎁 Tissue paper & foil bags – $100
📜 Stencil sheets – $45
🔖 Logo stamp – $140

💸 Grand total: $2,135

Now that's just the cost of kit production, there's still another layer of costs when we come to ship & market the product - but more on that later.

All kits are individually hand-packed by us.

Which means a whole lot of sweat-equity, so there's that hidden labor cost too. 

What’s next?

• We’re pricing these beta kits lower than the final version (to penetrate the market & encourage early adopters to buy & provide feedback).
• We’re hiring a finance expert to best guide us on how to price & project a growth plan.
• If this takes off, we’re thinking of a subscription box for monthly tattoo & henna designs, tutorials & inspo. (Would you be into that? Let me know!)

That’s the tea. Thoughts? Questions? Existential crises? Hit reply—I’m all ears.

Sending Good Vibes,
Nadine

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Nadine Daff, 65 Gloucester Street, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1L8, Canada

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