Clear Black

If and when you do make the trip back home to us here in Maine Trap...You, LittleMissSunshine and I will have to meet up for some coffee and have a nice chat about how much we LOVE soy ;D

Ya ok. I took pottery class in high school and only then realized the skill level it takes do this sorta thing. That turned out beautiful and I’m sure the others have as well!

Is the 2# six wick candle something you make TT? Or is it sold by somebody else

Do any of you folks make a "jumbo" special edition or holiday only candle? I went to a fair last year during winter holiday season and a candle maker there had a series of 64 oz mason jar type candles only offered in 4 scents. All 4 were of course Christmas themed scents. The thing is he sold everyone of them, I think around 20, his first day. So its got me thinking rainy day thoughts here and wondering if anyone here does anything similar? Thoughts?

God dang thats a crappy spot to be in. If that print shop has no issues running an order for another company that has blatantly infringed on another products idea, whether trademarked or not, then I would also have no issues cutting ties with them. No issues at all.

Ya, Ive been looking through this Amazon Handmade and not exactly what to make of it yet. I guess its another avenue to sell at for sure, but you cannot possibly tell me that Yankee Candle belongs in the "handmade" section https://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Candle-Large-Strawberry-Lemon/dp/B019PN2DX4/ref=sr_1_66_sspa?s=handmade&ie=UTF8&qid=1520641685&sr=1-66-spons&keywords=Candles&psc=1 Stumped on that one ya

650!!!??? Daaaaang. Ok, I will take my 350 and swallow that and say no more

100% correct, I also think candles are gender neutral, but my co-workers sadly do not. Im not all that worried what they think tbh, once I leave that place and come home that place or those people never enter my thoughts. Its just a good paycheck and thats all.

Goldie, those fragrances look fun to make a limited run with and maybe once I could get past SoS's rather high fo prices I may give a few a shot.

Very true indeed. Good point

Ya you definetly are lucky. I tried looking over Legal Zoom like TT suggested, and for an LLC in Maine its looking like $350 just for starters. Then to file more stuff with the state itself

Do you have any links to your branding/products? Im curious at this point. Ive spent near 2 years working on my branding and to have someone mimic it would be heart breaking. Im not sure I would take it as lightly as you are

I guess I was asking because I do not know the difference between the options. I was thinking of going LLC, because of the reasons you state, but am wondering what the process is to get that. Is there a website I need to apply to or a local agency that I need to visit?

Dam, I envy you to the moon and back for being able to do that and be successful and most importantly HAPPY. My biggest issue at the moment is support. People around me seem to think this is just a silly way to waste my time. I am a guy, a guy who drives a GIANT semi truck too. I work with 30 other guys who do the same thing. I made a huge mistake by opening up to a few of these co-workers and explaining what I do with my free time. HUGE MISTAKE. At 42 yrs old, I get teased daily because I make candles. They have all sorts of choice descriptions on the idea, I will spare you the details. I am a guy who like to make candles. And to them and other family members it seems a bit feminine to them. (Please dont shoot the messenger, I dont pigeon hole genders into workforce roles, EVER) There are two people who have stood by me and given me the fuel to continue. My daughter and my dad. Both of whom are my best friends. Its just been my daughter and I since her birth and we have grown to literally be best friends. The father/daughter dynamic is non-existent, same for the dynamic between my dad and I. Dam, starting to tear up a bit

Oh I believe in it! The problem is I BELIEVE it will take a very long time to get there but I am ok with that. Thats the part that seems rediculous lol. Thats k though as I am not in this to get rich quick, I actually have a passion for making candles thats goes back 25 years now. I am amazed I am even at the stage I am at now. Amazed, and slightly proud but I am a humble person generally so I try not to get too proud

If someone like me needs a tax ID which type should I be filing for? Sole proprietor? LLC? Corporation? The business is owned by me but I also have my daughter listed as owner as well on our business cards. She helps me when she isnt in college and during the summers. But for all legal purposes I am sole owner of the business. Thoughts?

I think we all admire how well her business does. Others here not on ETSY but do just as well I admire the heck out of too. I know TT and others as well do this for a living, which is a dream for me that seems rediculous at this stage lol

Can you please explain to us how Amazon Handmade works? Like, why would I sell there versus Amazon flagship. From what I understand AH is a seperate site from Amazon flagaship and does not share the same customer base. Ive always wondered about this site and how people like us would do on Amazon Handmade. That is if you dont mind and have the time AJ. Cheers

This exactly. THis forum is a place to come and learn from others with many many many years of trials and errors. I knew NOTHING before coming here and thanks to people like TT giving us this place to LEARN I would be nowhere. This IS NOT a get rich quick type of message board amd many people here will take offense to that. I even bet you that people on this message board have become friends over the years. This is a place of fun and learning, not how to import cheap crap and flip it for a profit.

“ The successful do 1 of the following -import -are actually social media companies selling generic products -automate “ see to me that is passing off your opinions as facts, when in reality many hard working people in this message board are none of those 3 things you claim can only be succesful. I guess I am just looking out for the new folks and not have them potentially get misguided by false information. Im not trying to single you out in any way, but in the first 30 seconds of your video on Youtube you claim that candle making is “easy” “you just stick a wick in a jar, add wax and you are done” This type of mis-information can get someone hurt. A lot of your information is great and can help people indeed, but some of your information can really really mislead somebody into making a potentially dangerous candle and this is what I am asking you to be careful about thats all.

I beg to differ with you on this mate. Branding is not more important than your product. IN MY OPINION branding and product development should be paired together 50/50. Of course, I dont have any scientific or hard evidence to support this claim so I wont give it an arbitrary 95% claim of anything to back my argument up with. Of course, do what you will with your own products. If branding to you is more important than your product then thats entirely up to you. But I strongly urge you not to pass off your own opinions as facts to others without solid evidence of said claims. A lot of these new folks joining this board may take that information and run with it and potentially do more harm than good. I suggest if you want to help people, lay it out in a way that it is your opinion on the matter and nothing more. Just my $.02 on this topic. Moving along now

I have to agree with here on this. I think the majority, like myself soon I hope, are selling on ETSY to supplement an already existing income. Would I like to make enough to support myslef 100% from ETSY like Frostbeard does? Heck ya. Will it ever happen? Not likely in the slightest. Im just looking to help put my daughter through college (single parent with one income her entire life. She knows all about just scraping by like we have done since she was born)

Yes, those are hella cute and would be a good idea if they would work with my container. Sadly they wouldnt. But maybe I can custom create my own like you said, hmmm

@GailC Wow, those are cute as all heck! Good job on those red jars, very classy!

Hey Trap! I am currently in the process of packaging and shipping my last batch of candles off to a place that does professional product photography. I tried to do it myself with a light box, and lets just say I will leave the photo stuff to the photo people lol. That whole process will be a month or so til I get the photo files in hand and them if I can build up the courage I will share them here. Im a bit private, but more nervous of sharing my work as I am not a product designer by any means. Just because I think they look cute doesnt mean others will so I tend not to share most of anything *shrugs* But when/if I do, I will make sure you are the first to know