Mei-Mei

I really hope you get it. I would love to be on QVC. You should start practicing your QVC schtick. "Oh, yes Marsha, my candles would be lovely in your bathroom, in your living room, in your RV....."

I hope you sell out of everything and spend all next week making special orders!

That's a really good idea. For instance, Lake Country in French is Pays de Lac. Now I don't recommend that name because the word 'pays' is hard to say for some Americans, but something like that would be neat.

It took awhile. I wanted something a little abstract and upscale. Then I started thinking that chandlers were a little like alchemists and I used an alternate spelling of the Greek word for alchemy.

I can tell you what isn't the best selling soap for me. Lavender. *sigh*

Hey, that's a good idea! I'm going to borrow it. Thanks!

I try to do all sorts of things with my M&P. I add oils and herbs and use different molds to make different shapes. I experiment constantly. As I said in another thread I make a three butter melt and pour bar that is really popular. Next month I'll be doing a local crawfish festival. I found a lobster mold (looks like a crawfish) and I have some crawfish FO!!! So I'm going to make some 'joke' soaps scented in crawfish and I'm going to make some 'serious' soaps as well. Who would buy crawfish scented soap? Well, I guess we'll see.

OMG!

Trademarks are specific to a product is what I'm saying. The Sweet Pea trademark refers to sweet pea candles, and not anything else. So other products wouldn't be affected. Trademarks aren't granted automatically. Sometimes they'll be denied. The whole point is that the consumer not be confused. Trademarks on words like vanilla and rose would normally be denied because they are so common. I'm surprised Sweet Pea made it through. My atty. explained to me that most big companies who get those sorts of trademarks start out with a local trademark. If it is accepted than it's easier for the trademark to be accepted nationally. But it is still specific to a product. So if on the off chance you are able to trademark Vanilla for your candle you still couldn't sue Betty Crocker. That company doesn't make candles. Is that clearer?

I do all the time. I add all sorts of stuff to my M&P. I have one called Trois Beurre that has three different (secret) butters in it. It's a big seller for me.

The answer to that question is that they trademark a common name in reference to a product. In other words they have trademarked the name Sweet Pea for a candle. If you decided to go out and make Sweet Pea Cupcakes or Sweet Pea Automobiles then you'd be fine. See what I mean?

You're right. The cold throw on Pacifica candles is really, really great. I was very excited to burn the one I had. But there was almost no hot throw. Weird.

Yes, it's the 28th of April. I'm now really freaking out because I found out that the company did charge me for the first order. So I've made two orders, been charged for both and haven't received a single confirmation email.

Hope this post is in the right place. I have a show coming up on the 28th and a few weeks ago I placed an order for some bottles/jars from a supplier I've used in the past and have no problems with. A few days passed and I realized that (a) my credit card had NOT been charged and ( I hadn't received a receipt. So I thought, "Stupid me, when I placed the order I obviously messed up and didn't press the submit order button. I'll do it again." So I placed the order again. This time my credit card was charged and I relaxed. But I still haven't received a copy of my receipt. So I called the company. Well, I've called several times now and no one ever answers the phone. I'm really starting to worry about my order. I'm not sure I'll get it in time if the company is having some sort of problem. If you were in my shoes would you just buy the bottles with someone else and take care of business with the company later? My hubby says I can try to sell lotion out of my hands; the customers can just take a scoop. He's reeeeeeealy funny.:rolleyes2

Exactly! If they don't protect their trademarks then they will absolutely lose them if they should have to go to court. It's not about squashing the smaller chandlers. it's just a matter of good business.

I am lucky enough to have my next door neighbor as my business and patent attorney. He tells me that though 'type' may work, it's not good enough. This was news to me as everyone seems to use 'type;' i.e. Clean Cotton Type. He says that the best thing to do is to (1) change the name completely and/or(2) refer to it as comparable to the name brand. For example Cotton Fresh by Mei-Mei compare to (comparable to, a dupe of, whatever wording you wish to use) Yankme's Clean Cotton . He says it's important to put the TM part in. But the best thing to do is to change the name and not even mention the Yankme part.

Okay, I've got some suggestions: (a) I really like the banner colors, but I think the banner needs to be bigger. The flowers are pretty! ( I like the fact that customers are obviously your #1 priority, but I'm not sure I would put pictures of them on my website. I believe you need their permission and some customers frankly couldn't care less what your customers look like. Sad but true. I personally think your slide show is awesome, but I would fill it with product pictures. © This is going to sound petty, but on the first page of your website it says 'hi beautiful.' The vast majority of your customers are probably women and some of them may feel it's sexist to be referred to in that manner. It's better to be safe then sorry and just have a general 'hello.' (d) I like the 'about me' page. It lends a nice personal touch to your website and lets your customers know who they're working with. I even like the old 70's picture. It reminds me of pics of me and my sister when we were little. (e) The page with the slideshow is a little confusing. Lots going on. I think you need to use the standard three column layout (like what is used on this website). It's a great start! I can't wait to see what you do with it.

Got mine this morning. Doing the happy dance!

It doesn't sound selfish at all. If your gut feeling is telling you 'no' then there is probably a good reason for it. Sometimes you want to have something that is all your own and special to yourself. Even if you never make it into a business it's something YOU can do. The reason I got into candlemaking is because I wanted to be able to do something creative with my hands...something just for me!

I guess I'm the only person who doesn't think it's stupid to buy a $120.00 candle. Heck, as much research and time as I've put into my candles I would feel perfectly content to charge $200.00 for them. Of course, my customers might feel different. The fact of the matter is if people are willing to pay high dollars for candles then that is their choice. I think a lot of chandlers really undervalue their time and effort when evaluating their candles. I spent two years of research before selling a single candle, and of course I research every day. I think that's worth something. Maybe not $120.00 but I'll be danged if I sell them for cheap.

I thought it looked like a cow! It has horns right? Whew, I'm not crazy. It's very cute. That latex mold builder sounds like cool stuff.

That's a good idea. Send them a sample size of something since people always appreciate a freebie.

Oprah has plugged smaller chandlers. One of her staff bought a candle at the French Market here in New Orleans and Oprah loved the scent so she gave one to all her audience members and mentioned the business on the show. The candles cost $12.00.

LOL....I'm going to go broke!

I tried it. I pretend-ordered a 'Cool Citrus Basil' in 'Maple' color and stuck it in my cart with no problem. Then I did a couple more. No problem at all.