Mei-Mei

Mei-Mei, I am just north of the lake from you and I order from Just By Nature, Lonestar, Cajun & Peak's.

Goodness, I forgot about Peak's and Just by Nature. I don't know how I forgot Peak's~~they make some of my favorite FOs:o

I've never ordered from Lonestar. Now I have to add another website to my list of favorites!

Sadly, because of lawsuits and the way things are today, manufacturers have to take into consideration the misuse, or potential misuse of their products when they design them.

It's just like the caution labels on blowdryers--"Do not use while bathing." Who in their right mind would do that? Obviously, someone did and that's why you see that warning label on every blowdryer on the market today.

The point is, that insurance is necessary if you think about selling to the public because if anything can go wrong, the consumer will look to you for compensation, even if it's due to their own foolishness. A money hungry lawyer, or a defiant insurance company will find ways to prove your materials or your process was faulty, or you didn't adequately warn the consumer against improper usage.

Should people take responsibility for their own actions? Absolutely, but if there is a chance a buck can be made off of a tragedy, there will always be someone willing take advantage of the situation.

I've got a friend in the construction business who does a lot of restoration work to homes that were damaged due to fire. In the majority of the burned homes he works on, they are due to grease fires. He told me it amazes him the number of people who leave pans of grease on the stove, and he wonders how many times people do it and it's actually arson, because they dream of remodeling or getting some quick insurance cash, but it always is reported as an accidental grease fire. Like he says, "there's no law against being stupid."

Very good post. As I've mentioned before I had a friend of mine mention that she left a candle that I'd given her burning in her living room while she went to the grocery store. Nothing happened, but I had nightmares about it.:undecided

For me insurance is peace of mind. My husband has always had his own business with lots of insurance and the first thing we did when I started my business was to get another policy.

Yep, been there. I just order new wax & start retesting. I hate it, but seems that wax is never consistent from one batch to another. I noticed you are from New Orleans, I'm in NE Texas. Was wondering if there are any suppliers that I don't know about in the area. I order from Cajun, Wickwares, BCS amoung lots of others.

PamR

I order my wax from Greenleaf Candle Supply~do you know that supplier? It's in Texas. I have ordered from Cajun and BCS, but those are the only suppliers I know that are in the Texas/Louisiana area.

Now that I have my own store and I'm doing fairs I've started to reconsider my wax. I'm happy with the wax; it's not perfect, but what wax is? My wax is only carried by one supplier (it's their house blend). I began to think, "what if they (a) go out of business, ( run out of stock at a crucial time, © go up a lot in price? Maybe I should start working with a wax that is carried by many suppliers?

Anyway, I know that's a personal decision, but I was wondering if that's a consideration for other chandlers out there. Did you choose your wax based on universal availability (as well as other qualities)? Have you considered what would happen if your wax just wasn't there anymore?

You don't like those??? I think they are awesome! Really pretty, and the display is just gorgeous.

I've been doing a little bit of research on trademark law and anything that has the "TM" next to it is trademarked but not actually registered as a trademark with the USPTO. In other words, the trademark is there but not necessarily backed up by federal law. The "R" symbol marks a trademark that is registered with the USPTO. Strangly (to me) Bath and Body Works has a registered trademark for Sweet Pea. I'm not exactly sure what the law is, but a trademark can be on the name, color, and smell, so one would need to make sure their product could not, in any way, be confused with B&BW product. So making a pink candle, in a round jar, with the name "Wild Sweet Pea" or anything like that could still be infringing on the trademark. I am very surprised that they were able to trademark the name of a flower, but now I'm going to have to revisit my naming

- Kevin

Well, they trademarked the name in reference to a candle. In other words one could probably get away with making a cupcake called 'Sweet Pea' but might get in trouble doing it with a candle. Trademark law is very weird and complicated. I too am surprised they were able to trademark a common name like that.

Be sure to watch it in the microwave. The first time I worked with it I zapped it too long and it turned into a souffle! Weirdest thing I ever saw~~it puffed right up!

You might want to check with the secretary of state in your area before getting your heart set on that business name. I google'd and found lots of 'cutie patootie' businesses. I know the spelling is different, but sometimes the sec. of state will not register a business name if it is that close to another. The whole goal is that the consumer not be confused.

Another reason they may want a copy of your labels (not just warning labels) is to make sure you don't make claims that open the insurance company to liability. For instance:

Such-and-Such Country Candle Company

Our candles make you fly!

They make you the most popular person at the party!

They make your breath smell like sunshine!

That's a big exaggeration but you know what I'm getting at.:smiley2:

Those are really nice. I've never heard of them and it seems like something I'll have to try. Beautiful!

In addition to what Top said you'll find that if you ever want to sell your candles 6% of FO is much, much more economical. I think you'll be surprised at the difference in your wicking if you try pouring at a lower FO percentage. It's really amazing and some of the fragrances throw much better.

I agree with Cindym. I would go and be sure to hand out tons of brochures and free samples. Also, if they didn't specify bar soap I would bring liquid soap, foaming bath soap, etc. (after the proper testing of course). That way you'd have several products and you'd still fit in their guidelines.:smiley2:

:smiley2:

I opened my candle store this past Tuesday (it's actually in a Yoga studio~my friend teaches Yoga). I just made my first sale ever five minutes ago (an 11.5oz candle scented Tiare Blossom and some foaming bath butter). I was getting worried that no one would ever buy anything.

Yeah!

I agree with Top, but I'd like to add that I think the color is very pretty. Not helpful I know, but I wanted to mention it.:embarasse

Most companies want you to let them know if they've made an error. It's certainly worthwhile to contact them and explain the problem.

Thank you everyone and I love the link WV....

this stood out to me..

She told me what would be covered, but I don't want to rehearse... I know if I do I'll mess up and run off set....*l*.....

I can't wait to tell you all how it went....

Congrats! I'm sure you'll do fine. You don't want to wear red or white or anything with a too fussy neckline. Be sure to look at the reporter, not the camera. Just relax and have fun with it.

I google'd Serenity and what came up was the movie and a line of incontinence products. I'm sure you don't want your soaps associated with either of those.:embarasse I liked Serenity Shores at first, but for some reason it's making me think of a funeral home.

But I like the word serenity! How 'bout Serenita (serenity in Italian) or Serendipity (which starts with the same letters)?

A strangely shaped suppository for hemmorhoids could be trademarked so that you could be the sole purveyor of ass tarts and all others would have to be content with selling ass melts even if they're shaped like a dessert.

Ass melts......

I checked into "protecting" a product of mine once about 1 1/2 years ago. And to trademark something, you have to apply for it, and it, then, cost about $300.00 (give or take) I never did it, but if I ever did, it would have to be something I was serious about keeping around a while. I just didn't have the money at the time. But it is a good idea.

Jamie

It depends on where you live. A trademark in Louisiana costs $50.00.

This might be a dumb question, but can bath salts be stored in tins or would the oils in the salts cause the tins to corrode?

That's a very good observation. If I made a really delicious chocolate cake I could say, "made from real cocoa beans" but that doesn't preclude my using cocoa powder or artificial flavoring. I think you hit the nail right on the head.

You know what's sad? I would spend about $500.00 at your booth even though I can make bath salts and bombs myself! Everything in your booth looks so clean and inviting. I especially like the bath bombs and they way they are marketed. I'm not surprised you had such a great weekend; you really deserve it!

I love Black Canyon with a burning passion, pun intended.

I hope I can save you some agony. I got some palm wax once that would not come out of the molds no matter what. Palm stearic, mold release...nothing helped. I was actually crying over that Palm wax. It ruined my molds.

I got another batch from a different company and the stuff virtually flew out of the molds. So I went back to the first company, placed another order and tried again. The stuff slid out of the molds just as nice as you please. I think that every once in awhile one gets a bad batch of palm. I'm convinced of it. Try ordering a small bag from another company and see if it helps.

That looks great!