Striking out at the local market

[Sebleo]

Regarding Amazon...they changed their policies last year. To sell on Amazon you have to be a trademarked business. Your trademark can not be pending. I guess that is why they added Homemade. From what I have read they have honed their policies because they had a lot of scam accounts. 

[TallTayl]

Regardless of where you intend to hang your shingle, you need to find “your” story.

 

Why did you start making your craft? Why are you selling it?

 

People can sniff out in a hot second Sellers just ou to turn a quick buck versus those who truly love what they do and would continue making their wares even if they never sold another one ever. 

 

Potential customers lock onto stories that resonate with them and will quickly become loyal patrons. Your branding evolves to tell part of your story. Packaging, labels, product names, etc. all pull together as you grow into your brand. 

[Sunday]

15 hours ago, Hopie said:

Was surfing Amazon, and this seller has really nicely packaged candles. At 383 reviews, you can bet they are selling a lot....I'd guess only about a quarter of buyers actually leave reviews (if not less!) 

I agree Hopie, they do have nice packaging and I think it makes a world of difference. I would love to have some great boxes..now where do you go for that??...I think its less of a learning curve and more of a learning mountain!

[Hopie]

On 4/17/2018 at 6:23 AM, Sebleo said:

Regarding Amazon...they changed their policies last year. To sell on Amazon you have to be a trademarked business. Your trademark can not be pending. I guess that is why they added Homemade. From what I have read they have honed their policies because they had a lot of scam accounts. 

 

As far as candles go, i was unaware of this, as I never sold candles on their site. Do you mean that the candle itself has to have a trademark? Or any business on their site? I don't know how to go about getting one, or if it's an expensive endeavor. However, there are 10,000 listings under their homemade section, so that may be a good start until one does have a trademark. Good post, @Sebleo! 

[Hopie]

On 4/17/2018 at 8:01 AM, Sunday said:

I agree Hopie, they do have nice packaging and I think it makes a world of difference. I would love to have some great boxes..now where do you go for that??...I think its less of a learning curve and more of a learning mountain!

 

There are several places online that carry gift boxes if you want them, here is one I found: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-10626/Retail-Boxes/Gift-Boxes-3-x-3-x-3-Kraft-Pinstripe?pricode=WB0250&gadtype=pla&id=S-10626&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIytyx0OrE2gIVBsNkCh034wQqEAYYAiABEgJId_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

It might be a good idea to have them at Christmas shows, for sure! I would also compare prices by doing a google search on them, and what the minimum quantities can be purchased to test market. Never buy a "lot" to test market at first, buy the minimum and test out the reaction/sales levels before you buy a bunch of anything. (ask me how I know this!) 

 

Don't let that learning curve dissuade you, if you have tenacity and drive to realize your dreams, you can DO THIS! When I first started out online, it took me three YEARS to start to generate enough to quit my job. I got all excited when I accomplished just ten listings at ebay....before I knew it, I had 200 listings, and had expanded to Amazon and Bonanza!

 

One of my work colleagues at the casino I was working at when I first started selling online was mocking me behind my back about how I wanted to eventually quit my job and work online full time.....until I DID IT! I'd love to have seen her face when I was able to put my two week notice in? 

[Sebleo]

2 minutes ago, Hopie said:

 

As far as candles go, i was unaware of this, as I never sold candles on their site. Do you mean that the candle itself has to have a trademark? Or any business on their site? I don't know how to go about getting one, or if it's an expensive endeavor. However, there are 10,000 listings under their homemade section, so that may be a good start until one does have a trademark. Good post, @Sebleo! 

 

If you want to sell on Amazon now the items you sell have to have registered upc codes. (I may be getting that name wrong, but it's the federally registered bar code that is unique for every item sold.) Those are insanely expensive. 

 

Or you can get branded on Amazon, then you are exempt from needing those codes. But to get branded, your business has to be trademarked. That is the policy they changed last year. Somewhere around April 2017. I think anyone already selling before that time was grandfathered in. 

 

I had been researching it and had all the info for selling in 2016 and when I went back to double check everything last summer I saw the changes. Ugh! Missed the deadline. 

 

Getting a trademark can be easy and inexpensive up to needing a good attorney and lots of dough. It really depends on how many classes you would need to file and what you are trying to trademark. 

 

[Sunday]

Ahhh

11 minutes ago, Hopie said:

Don't let that learning curve dissuade you, if you have tenacity and drive to realize your dreams, you can DO THIS! When I first started out online, it took me three YEARS to start to generate enough to quit my job. I got all excited when I accomplished just ten listings at ebay....before I knew it, I had 200 listings, and had expanded to Amazon and Bonanza!

AHHH Hopie you give me hope...slow and steady...After making candles on the stove for 2 years I broke down and  bought two commercial melters along with tons of containers and fragrances  from someone giving up their business...I don't really need two but they are fun to look at !  Since my husband has allergies I can't make anything  in the house...I'm fortunate enough to have a separate  cottage studio on the property but at the moment its filled with a second hobby/business. So I'm busy trying to figure out how to liquidate all that ... Tried setting up an etsy account but it was right when we decided to move and now going back to look at it 2 years later I find it overwhelming!!....why is it so much easier to bring things into the house and so much work getting rid of stuff!! In the meantime I just plan ...research and plan some more 

I just loved your story about quitting your job...I agree it would have been great to see her face...bet they had to pick her jaw off the ground  tehe 

[Hopie]

13 minutes ago, Sebleo said:

 

If you want to sell on Amazon now the items you sell have to have registered upc codes. (I may be getting that name wrong, but it's the federally registered bar code that is unique for every item sold.) Those are insanely expensive. 

 

Or you can get branded on Amazon, then you are exempt from needing those codes. But to get branded, your business has to be trademarked. That is the policy they changed last year. Somewhere around April 2017. I think anyone already selling before that time was grandfathered in. 

 

I had been researching it and had all the info for selling in 2016 and when I went back to double check everything last summer I saw the changes. Ugh! Missed the deadline. 

 

Getting a trademark can be easy and inexpensive up to needing a good attorney and lots of dough. It really depends on how many classes you would need to file and what you are trying to trademark. 

 

 I used to use these: https://cheap-upc-barcode.com/ 

[Hopie]

13 minutes ago, Sunday said:

Ahhh

AHHH Hopie you give me hope...slow and steady...After making candles on the stove for 2 years I broke down and  bought two commercial melters along with tons of containers and fragrances  from someone giving up their business...I don't really need two but they are fun to look at !  Since my husband has allergies I can't make anything  in the house...I'm fortunate enough to have a separate  cottage studio on the property but at the moment its filled with a second hobby/business. So I'm busy trying to figure out how to liquidate all that ... Tried setting up an etsy account but it was right when we decided to move and now going back to look at it 2 years later I find it overwhelming!!....why is it so much easier to bring things into the house and so much work getting rid of stuff!! In the meantime I just plan ...research and plan some more 

I just loved your story about quitting your job...I agree it would have been great to see her face...bet they had to pick her jaw off the ground  tehe 

Wow, I'd love to have just ONE melter! You really hit the jackpot on that one! You can produce a ton of candles with those! I'm jealous 

I once opened an account on Etsy, but it was still in it's infancy, and I did not make sales there, so I just abandoned it. These days, however, it may well be a great place to list your candles. I cannot say, not having been an active seller on that venue.

 

What was your other hobby/business? Maybe have a sale to liquidate it? I used to say to my younger brother who became overwhelmed  "How do you eat an elephant?" Answer:  "One Bite at a Time" 

[Sunday]

...I just kept my eye out on craigslist then one day there was an add...I was super lucky finding the melters Hopie.  Lucky too to have a hubby that would drive for two days to pick them up with me...and he didn't ask any questions when I told him the price . ...for now I have not even tried them out yet!

The other business is a Vintage wedding rental company...so I have more china teacups etc. than I will ever need!! I was hoping to sell those on etsy...not looking to sell candles on etsy...I have enough local markets to keep me busy if I want....the rest of the rentals I think I can sell through craigslist...one bite ate a time 

[Sebleo]

2 hours ago, Hopie said:

 I used to use these: https://cheap-upc-barcode.com/ 

 

In all my months of scouring over amazons seller central I have not seen anyone mention this site. There was much talk about buying them on ebay or doing the GS1 registration yourself. 

Thank you for the information! 

 

[Hopie]

1 minute ago, Sebleo said:

 

In all my months of scouring over amazons seller central I have not seen anyone mention this site. There was much talk about buying them on ebay or doing the GS1 registration yourself. 

Thank you for the information! 

 

 

You are truly welcome   I can't tell you how many of these UPC codes I've purchased over the years, lol! I do remember when Amazon required them, so I researched just how to get them, and I found that site. Once attached to a certain product, you just keep changing your inventory levels as the items sell out. 

 

Again, I don't know about the trademark thing, I just know what I did when I sold there and how I personally did it.

[Sebleo]

3 minutes ago, Hopie said:

 

You are truly welcome   I can't tell you how many of these UPC codes I've purchased over the years, lol! I do remember when Amazon required them, so I researched just how to get them, and I found that site. Once attached to a certain product, you just keep changing your inventory levels as the items sell out. 

 

Again, I don't know about the trademark thing, I just know what I did when I sold there and how I personally did it.

 

Well, you only need your business trademark if you don't have upc codes. And I was under the impression you had to buy direct from GS1. And I definitely can not afford that! You have just shaken up my world!

[Hopie]

Just now, Sebleo said:

 

Well, you only need your business trademark if you don't have upc codes. And I was under the impression you had to buy direct from GS1. And I definitely can not afford that! You have just shaken up my world!

 

Awww...I am SO VERY HAPPY to have been able to help! They send you the codes immediately via your email after you pay for the quantity of codes you want. After recieving the codes, I used to just copy and paste them from my email into Amazon's listing page...lol. Be careful to only use each code once for any given product. When your inventory level goes to "0", not to worry, do not delete the listing, after you have more in stock, all you have to do is change the quantity on that page, and you're back in business 

[Sebleo]

Well, happy dance over. Just thought I'd post a link to an article I found last night for anyone else who may be interested in selling on amazon. 

 

Apparently in their move to clean things up they are now checking to see that the upc code is registered appropriately with gs1.

Spent some time on the seller central last night and between that and the article it looks like old sellers using 3rd party upc are not having problems unless they list new items but new sellers are being checked and denied. 

Getting selling privileges revoked from amazon is no joke. 

 

Seems the routes to go are handmade to circumvent all of that, or spend big bucks on gs1, or get trademark. It says you can apply for an exemption, but that seems to only apply if you are not the manufacturer.  If you are the manufacturer then you would have to register your brand which brings you back to either gs1 or trademark.

 

Article from Jan 2018:

https://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/amazons-new-upc-policy/#/

[TallTayl]

Getting a trademark is not hard. Walk through the screen guides at legalzoom.com.  Mine cost $495 last year. It is a very good exercise to run through.

[Sebleo]

57 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

Getting a trademark is not hard. Walk through the screen guides at legalzoom.com.  Mine cost $495 last year. It is a very good exercise to run through.

 

It was the waiting time to become active that I was concerned about. The uspto site says it takes 18 to 36 months on average to complete the process. How long did yours take? Or is it still pending?

[Hopie]

4 hours ago, Sebleo said:

Well, happy dance over. Just thought I'd post a link to an article I found last night for anyone else who may be interested in selling on amazon. 

 

Apparently in their move to clean things up they are now checking to see that the upc code is registered appropriately with gs1.

Spent some time on the seller central last night and between that and the article it looks like old sellers using 3rd party upc are not having problems unless they list new items but new sellers are being checked and denied. 

Getting selling privileges revoked from amazon is no joke. 

 

Seems the routes to go are handmade to circumvent all of that, or spend big bucks on gs1, or get trademark. It says you can apply for an exemption, but that seems to only apply if you are not the manufacturer.  If you are the manufacturer then you would have to register your brand which brings you back to either gs1 or trademark.

 

Article from Jan 2018:

https://www.webretailer.com/lean-commerce/amazons-new-upc-policy/#/

 

Ah, I see...this is recent and didn't apply when I sold there. However, when I did a search on the Handmade, there were 400 pages of handmade items, which leads me to believe it's still a viable option for selling there. Sorry about spoiling your happy dance. 

[Sebleo]

1 hour ago, Hopie said:

 

Ah, I see...this is recent and didn't apply when I sold there. However, when I did a search on the Handmade, there were 400 pages of handmade items, which leads me to believe it's still a viable option for selling there. Sorry about spoiling your happy dance. 

 

Yes, handmade is definitely an option. I am sure it gets less traffic than the regular listings. And I do want to start off slowly. Just did not want to have to wait 2 years (average) to be able to have regular listings. 

 

I order on Amazon weekly and have tons of subscribe and save and I just figured out last night how to find the handmade stuff!

[TallTayl]

4 hours ago, Sebleo said:

 

It was the waiting time to become active that I was concerned about. The uspto site says it takes 18 to 36 months on average to complete the process. How long did yours take? Or is it still pending?

I put it on hold temporarily until I incorporated a different brand. A couple of months was about all. I have found that if unchallenged, the process for both incorporating and for trademarking are far less than the estimated times. If you’re totally original, and nobody challenges, things slide right through.

[Sebleo]

53 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

I put it on hold temporarily until I incorporated a different brand. A couple of months was about all. I have found that if unchallenged, the process for both incorporating and for trademarking are far less than the estimated times. If you’re totally original, and nobody challenges, things slide right through.

 

That is encouraging to hear, thank you!

[Crafty1_AJ]

Chiming in late, but sales may pick up if you consider offering a different type of scent.  All of the scents you listed fall into the "fruity" category.  What about offering a floral?  Some fresh, clean types?  Earthy?  Herbal blends?  A good vanilla?  Etc.  You'd increase the possibility of someone finding the type of scent they prefer.  I like to offer a variety of genres.

Edited May 21, 2018 by Crafty1_AJ

[Clear Black]

Also coming in late on the barcode issue. I use all mine from https://www.barcodesmania.com/   The prices are good and it was instantly available to me. I cannot confirm yet, but they also are registered with G1 to work instantly on Amazon.  I was referred to them by a friend who had been using them for years with no issues.

[Hopie]

Thank you, Clear Black! I may need these if I plan on going back on Amazon, which I probably will some day. I never had a problem with the other site I used to use, but this site may be better! 

[se2653]

Anyone have any experience using the Handmake Store from WSP website?  Just happened to see it, and made me curious. 

 

Thank you all for the information- this forum is such a wealth of knowledge and experience!  Truly an inspiration for me!  I'm just making lotion/wax melts and firestarters for me and friends, but would love to sell at some point. Have looked into Etsy, ebay, may check amazon now.  Need a creative outlet in my life- something keeps drawing me back to wax and scent products!

 

TT- I love your advice to find your niche, and I needed to hear that it can take some time to find that. I think many of us need to be reminded of this. Still searching and maybe I have to just jump in and sell, and hang on for the ride!  thanks again everyone- you are awesome!  I don't post very often, but I look and read often!