MilosCandles

Any one hire someone to do Search Engine Optimization for them?  I know enough to be dangerous but not enough to truly get it done.

I am using Word Press and Woocommerce.  I know there are plugins which I am using, but there is so much more than that.  I am not very "CRAFTY" with my words.

I would NOT put the weight rather maybe burn time.  I got away from weight right away, and just went with Small Medium and Large, and tell burn times.

Just know you melt points and avoid direct sun light.  I do shows all year round in Buffalo, NY.  If we get a streak of 90 degree days that is a lot.  It is somewhat of a gamble.

@Moonstar At 1st I was going to agree with you.  And YES according to USPS website that is accurate, only $50 of insurance.  BUT

If you ship with Etsy, you get "Insurance: Parcels include $100 of insurance from the USPS."

https://www.etsy.com/shipping/us/help/us-priority-mail

And I actually use www.pirateship.com which also included $100 of insurance from USPS.

You did make me second guess myself.

So I do BOTH for various reasons. 

On Etsy I want as many products to show up in search as possible.  Having more products gives me more of a chance that it will appear multiple times on multiple pages.  Now I also have a single listing showing many products and scents, I pay more in Ad's for these listings so they tend to show up first.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MilosCandles

On my website I have mixed feelings and not 100% sure what I want to do.  Currently I have it setup like ETSY, but the one thing I like about my WooCommerce (Word Press) site is that when you select a Product, it will actually show you the item.  They site has not been around long enough to truly see how Google will index it.  

Also I can create "TAGS" on my site to account for "Fruity" "Fall" types of scents.  I just created a separate page with all the scent descriptions.

In 3 years on Etsy I had 1 person order candles and ask if they could return it.  I had them pay for the return shipping and I refunded sale.  Otherwise any of the complaints are that one of the candles came damaged.  I ask for a few pics, open a claim with USPS and then send them another one.  USPS insurance claim process is very simple.  All priority mail comes with $100 of insurance.  I submit a claim for the cost of the candle plus shipping.  A week or 2 later I get a check in the mail.

@Faerywren Take a look at my site and you will understand - 716candleco.com

@Trappeur Yes this is an area of concern for me, and I am sure if it ever went to court I would lose.  Saying that, there are numerous local breweries that I do work for that all love my candles in their cans and bottles.

@Paintguru Thanks for the compliment.  I am glad it appears that way.  LOL, it was 3 years in the making. 

I like the dye chips from CS.  I only color a few of my candles and it works great.  I tried the die block from NG but did not like them.

2 Chips in 52oz of wax.  I make 2 of these candles at a time.

I use CD10's is my 444 Wax in my 8 oz Tins.

I do not color my candles.  My biggest issue (ie Vanilla) is that it turns yellow.  I try to keep the lid off to encourage people to smell it.  So there are only a few scents inhibitor in.

@Laura CThanks.  I bought it for something else, but I use it for so much now.  I love it.  Was one of those purchases I was 100% sure about, but now use it for everything.  LOL 

So I cleaned out my melter last night.  OMG it was a disgusting mess inside. SO MUCH BETTER.  Clearly I need to empty and clean it out like every 6 months.

I wish I could describe what some of it was in there.

The pic I attached reminded me of cardboard shreds.  Was a ton of that.  Then when I emptied the last bit of wax out, it looked Oil, and Vinegar.  There was a dark liquid in the bottom that just clumped together.

All of it was just so Bizarre.

@jerryThanks

I could even find anything in my town code that talks about this. Hmmmm

After talking to some people about Vinyl Banners and letting them know how much I paid, everyone seem surprised.  I thought I would share where I get mine form.

http://milweb1.com/banners/custom-size-banners/99-vinyl-banners-by-the-sqft.html

I only pay $0.99 a square foot.  Few extras for a couple items but nothing crazy and they have always come out great.

Here are 2 samples I have made

72"x24"  $17.88

108"x11"  $12.29

Plus shipping

Sept 2015,  just hit my 3 your anniv.  I love looking back at my pics from when I started.  Can you see the difference.  LOL

I am having a similar issue with Golden Wax 444.  I have a 100 pound wax melter.  1st pot of each night (after refill) is full of debris.  I am going to clean out the melter hopefully this week and see if the problem continues.

You can see all the debris on the pot.

@Quentin Thanks, But the 716 is really no mystery, it is our (Buffalo) Area code.  People in Buffalo, NY really embrace "Buffalo".  Totally riding a wave and embracing it.

@Laura C @Quentin I ordered from here - https://www.thestampmaker.com/  

"We make custom rubber stamps up to a maximum stamp size of 3.75" x 6", or 6" x 3.75"."

@Laura C Yes they are on my website now - https://716candleco.com/shop  I was amazed how much better my pictures looked with this setup.  

@Jeana I just wanted a little something.  Nothing over powering,  I use the white base, and the wood back ground.  Easy to keep it consistent and easy to reproduce.

I use pirateship - https://ship.pirateship.com/  Love them.  Integrate with both my woocommerce store and etsy.

I use a combination of First Class Mail and Priority mail.  I bought large rubber stamp and I can stamp all my boxes with my logo.  LOVE IT.

Learn the in's and outs of Regional Rate A and Rate B boxes they can save you some money if your understand. Most USPS supplies can be ordered right online for free.  Many of which they do not offer in the post office.  Flat Rate Bubble envelopes are my friend also.

Sometimes I but them in a box and then a USPS box, sometimes just in one or the other.  

Knowing I was about to update my website and all my pictures I know what I had in mine.  I saw an amazing deal on this studio setup 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074W61JRL/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I paid $65 for it when it was on sale.  CRAZY

I also bought this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O7ELA3G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I then when to Joanne's and Michael's bought a few props and so excited how my pics look now.

I sell mainly at crafts shows and festivals.  I have business cards but what I make for every show is a a little sheet of paper with a list of all my upcoming shows and my website.  I can usually fit between 6-8 of them on a single sheet of paper.  I have a paper cutter that I cut them up with.  I usually hand those out as people what to know where I will be next.  

So I was on Facebook the other day and saw an ad for "Payment Ninja".  Does anyone use them?  Has anyone heard of them.  It seems to good to be true. - https://payment.ninja/pricing/

I am currently using Stripe and Paypal (Pay Here).

I use Stripe on my woocommerce site - https://stripe.com/us/pricing

I use Paypal Pay Here when I am out and about - https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/merchant-fees#point-of-sale

Sometimes I use Square also.

What are some of your fees and what do you use?

Until about 2 months ago I just used Etsy Shipping to print labels for USPS.  I was comparing some E-commerce sites and noticed a website called Pirate Ship - https://www.pirateship.com/ So Iooked into them.

First unlike Shipstation, or Stamps.com or ANY other shipping website they are 100% free. You can not just pay per package, you need to deposit money into you account and then pay from your account.

Their rates are cheaper than Etsy and they integrate with Etsy. (Double Bonus) (Also integrate with Shopify, Ebay, WooCommerce, CrateJoy)

It is not as easy shipping directly from ETSY, but it does save me some money.

I basically ship everything priority mail, some candles first class.

Chad