dandytea88

When I had purchased Bulk Apothecary's Body Mist/Room Linen Spray months ago, they didn't have this ingredient listed on the website for the product, but when I got it in the mail, the last thing listed on the label was Benzophenone-4. You could email/use the online chat to confirm that still use it, in case the product page isn't updated. Hope that helps your search!

That's a lot! But will do!

Thanks for the tips Candybee!  Ive never bought packing peanuts before, I'll go check them out. I get so many when I order FOs, looks like I should hold on to them!

Heehee! That makes sense! Fortunately I did order some USPS boxes a week or so ago, maybe I'll stay with those I was thinking too since I have bubble wrap already is to buy poly bags/envelopes instead of bubble mailers, then I can be happy with how they are protected by doing it myself instead of relying on a bubble mailer and hoping for the best!

Poor thing. I hadn't heard of Tennessee Candle Supply before joining the forum, but she sounds like a tough cookie, persevering with the business through such a difficult time. I admire her strength very much.

I have been wanting to try some of their FOs, especially their version of Lucky Charms *drools* But I've only ordered once and when I received it (body mist base), it had an extra ingredient which was not listed on the product page. Needless to say I haven't gone back but since their oils have some good reviews, maybe I ought to give them a try again.

Hiya Tyler!

I have been driving myself crazy searching Amazon and Etsy and maybe someone can help? I'm planning to sell 2 oz samples of lotion/body butter (in about 8 scents to start with) and I have no clue whether to get different size bubble mailers (depending on many a customer orders) or just get the mailers all in one big size that can hold a lot (hypothetically if someone were to ever buy all 8 scents) or be folded and taped down if need be... 

I started to look at boxes too, but the problem with finding the right size!

Hi Brigit! Nice to meet you and congratulations on starting your new candle-selling journey I can only imagine how beautiful those favors were!

2 hours ago, Jcandleattic said:

I don't color my lotions or sprays but I do my bath bombs. I don't think in my area colored lotions would go over very well, but the bath bombs for me don't sell if I don't color them. I don't make many but when I tried selling just white ones scented in different colors people wouldn't even look at them, just the colored. 

How interesting! When I saw the bath bombs at Lush, the colors added so much of a pop! And there were so many, it's like they had different personalities. I can't even imagine now if they sold them with no dyes

What a neat idea for a thread chevril I don't make candles, just B&B things, but when I saw your post, I thought it probably is similar for lotions and such. I really want to dye my products but haven't been sure if picking some up would be worth it. Looks like I might need to stop by TKB Trading!

Ooh! I love to see everyone's favorites! I agree with Moonshine, it's super hard to narrow my choices down!

Some of my favorites would have to be: Birthday Cake (Aztec International, Fragrance Buddy, VA Candle Supply, The Flaming Candle, Rustic Escentuals, I like all of their oils of this scent), Blue Banana (Save On Scents), Fruitopia (Save On Scents), Gummy Bears (VA Candle Supply), Jolly Rancher (VA Candle Supply), Juicy Watermelon (The Flaming Candle), Peach Nectar (CandleScience)/Georgia Peaches (Fragrance Buddy), Sugar Cookie Royale (Fragrance Buddy/The Flaming Candle), Vanilla Sugar Waffle Cone (Just Scent).

Some of my least favorites are: Fruit Medley & Mandarin Orange (Rustic Escentuals), Fruit Loops, Starfruit Mango & Watermelon Hard Candy (Save On Scents), Monkey Farts (Fragrance Buddy), Kiwi Strawberry & Tropical Cooler (Bitter Creek North), Cake & Passionfruit + Guava (CandleScience)

Hi there Jane I don't have any recommendations for the type of oils you're looking for, but I did want to welcome you to the board!

7 hours ago, Candybee said:

LOL I'm 62 going on 10!! Let's just say I have been around long enough to know that to truly live a wonderful stress free happy healthy life is to follow your heart!

One of the best things in life is when you can chuck the 9-5 world and become your own boss!! Working your own hours and doing exactly what you love. A crafting business for me is like a bonus because it allows me to explore my creative side. Something I enjoy a lot.

So when I got tired of my website and the tedious shipping that took up my production time and nickle and dimed me to death I stopped. Best thing I could have done at the time. If later on I am ready to start selling online again I will do it. But for now, no way!! no thank you!

That's very understandable! I know it's not quite the same but when my Mother-In-Law retired after her job and it's daily grind nearly ruined her health, she says it's the best thing ever!

1 hour ago, ThisLittleLightOfMine said:

Dandy is it squareup.com that you can do a website AND get a card reader? I looked and can't see a spot for a website? Am I just being dense? Lol

Heehee! No worries! Yup, it's SquareUp! I think they are known too as just Square. Here is the link for the card reader, I hope it's okay to post

https://squareup.com/reader

5 hours ago, justajesuschick said:

Dandy and Candy (hee-hee you chicks sound like my granddaughter's My Little Ponies-Dandy you even have the pic) you PERFECTLY illustrate my point to the OP!

What are your goals, what do you enjoy, what makes you unhappy (or shudder!). 

It will vary so much from person to person and company to company.

Dandy, I am also in a technology role in my day job. Will be eager to hear what platforms you will consider for your site!

 

Heehee! I'm such a kid at heart I'm 28 and not afraid to say I'm ga-ga over My Little Pony! So far, I like Wix.com and my runner up is probably Square and Jimdo gets a somewhat honorable mention too. I really like the templates Wix has. I was frustrated with the site until I realized I had chose a template that wasn't a good fit for me. Once I found one where the overall design layout I was much happier with, you can customize it so beautifully! Even those who aren't the graphic design type can make a stellar website because the editor is easy to use (to some degree there's some drag/drop action too). I normally create websites with Adobe Dreamweaver but the site I'm working on with Wix I admit looks better than anything I've made because it's so streamlined, professional and crisp (if that makes sense!). There are some little things I'm not a fan of, but I'm more than willing to overlook them.

But YMMV . I love Wix so far and the pricing doesn't seem to bad either. I did sign-up for a handful before going back to Wix, so I'd definitely say it's worth a looksie! For what it's worth Square comes with a card reader for your mobile device if you sign up with them, in case anyone wants that tool for their store. They mail it to you for free. But I had to verify my SSN upon signing up and they kind of pressure you to add a bank account quickly so you can accept payments. When trying to update the site I was constantly bombarded with the bank account alert despite clicking "Later" and grew tired of it really fast!

Hi Dee! I'm a fellow Californian too, from up North  It's nice to meet you! Isn't this forum awesome!

I agree with thinkr and justajesuschick  I haven't launched my website yet, but from what I have been reading about starting a business it's helpful to research different avenues of selling (think about the pros as well as cons). Also, find one or two sources of revenue and focus only on those; don't stretch yourself thin  Maybe there's one that better plays to your strengths? I'm a designer and I'm total techie so a personal/e-commerce website is perfect for me! I'd be horrible at Etsy (I'm not competitive in the slightest) and selling in person at a craft fair/booth *shudders*

I was wondering why there was an error when I stopped by earlier! I'm a fan of the new look

Hi Andrea! Nice to meet you as well!

Thank you Sherry!

I never thought about that! Duh! I feel so stupid, it never crossed my mind that lotions/creams are generally reapplied. Thanks for the post I definitely will remember to keep that in mind from now on!

I will then! Thank you for the recommendation! It sounds delish!

I know right! One of my favorites at FB is .25% and another is 2% at RE. I have all the IFRA percentages for all the scents I've bought where they are available. Most aren't too low, but maybe 1% in a lotion is stronger than I think?

Thank you for posting I've wanted to make my own blends, but I'm not brave enough! This chart gives me some new found hope! It's also neat to see how scents are categorized