Quentin

5 minutes ago, Quentin said:

  3 hours ago, YellowButterfly said:

I also like logos where the name is the logo itself, lol.

P.S.--- A little closer to our business, a good example of what you're talking about would be:  candlescience 

2 hours ago, YellowButterfly said:

I also like logos where the name is the logo itself, lol.

Interesting you should bring that up. Back around 1999-2000, I was involved with an organization that was fighting for a certain contentious piece of legislation in Mississippi. We had a shoestring budget (actually we had no money at all) while the opposing side was receiving money from all sorts of celebrities and out-of-state interest groups. The question of how do we get publicity to counter all that. The answer to that turned out to be amazingly simple. Reporters will interview anyone. Especially if you write the story FOR them, as in the form of a press release. But they were a little more reluctant to give contact information for our organization when they published their articles. They would put our organization name in there but not much more. The press was not on our side.

The guy leading our group talked around to lots and lots of people and told them our dilemma. He finally had one guy tell him, "That's simple. You just make your website the name or your organization". One and the same. When reporters would ask you the name of your organization, you would simply tell them www.***************.org   Then they had to print it. We put it on all our literature, banners, signs, everything.  What was the result? We won the ballot initiative. We took the vote 65% to 35% statewide.  You can't imagine what a joy it was to beat the fat cat entertainers, corporations and out-of-state bullies with thick wallets.  It wasn't an original idea. It just never occurred to us.  Remember when everyone used to say "I bought it on Amazon.com"?  Now all anyone has to say is Amazon.

4 hours ago, Sebleo said:

One thing to consider with your company name and logo. Do you want to trademark just the name or the logo too? I know I have seen pillar candles being used in logos before. Doesn’t mean you can’t use one too. 

 

I would recommend before going forward with this logo to try and make sure you aren’t infringing on a claimed mark. And that it’s available for you to trademark. 

 

You can can do a search on Us pto.gov.  Go to trademark then do a TESS search. 

 

Trademark names are easy to search, but it think it’s trickier to search for logos. 

 

 

Oh man! So many details keep popping up. It's maddening. Thanks for passing that one on to me. You're right that candles appear in lots of logos. I think it all comes down to how you configure it. For example, lots of furniture stores might use a chair or bed as part of their logo. Still, I better look into it. I guess the next question would be, where do I start when it comes to getting a registered trademark on the name in particular. Supposedly, the logo company did a search of some sort. I better double check with them. In the meantime, if anyone knows please let me know.

20 hours ago, aptommo said:

It's just a local athletic booster event in the school cafeteria but they had about 1000 people last year and have 75 vendors this year and nobody else selling candles or melts so I may have some success. I figured it would be good to just dip my toe on and see how it goes. I've read the threads here on all the suggestions and tips and I feel I'm as prepared as I can be! I'm sure it'll be a learning process but fingers crossed I sell a little bit! I've been preparing for well over a month now! If anyone is interested in offering suggestions, I can list what I'm taking and tell you my setup. I don't have a display ready to show you because I'm renting a table for this first event. I'm really nervous but really excited too!

I will be good practice. Being apprehensive is totally normal. Even the the top athletes get nervous (butterflies in the stomach) before the game. The reality is that none of the people passing through that day will know it's your first time, unless you tell them. 

16 hours ago, Arch Rock said:

No charge for this because their benevolence is repaid ten-fold once you start making money and filing income taxes on your biz.

16 hours ago, Trappeur said:

Oh I love that one by Sebleo about 7 secret ingredients......I'm sure you could come up with 7 secrets Quentin....or how bout 7 steps to make your candles?

 

Trappeur

Just like Colonel Sanders and his secret blend of 11 different herbs and spices. No one knows all eleven, but you can be sure that sodium chloride tops the list!

23 hours ago, YellowButterfly said:

you know what the business is just by seeing the logo. 

@YellowButterfly You're right about that and I wish I could take credit for that idea. It never occurred to me until I read your comment.  When I see the downward curved arrow, I automatically think Amazon. The image of an apple with a bite taken makes us think Apple and all their related businesses. UPS COULD leave their company name off all their trucks if they wanted to do so. That shade of brown would be all they need. If asked, many people wouldn't be able to tell you what the initials UPS represent. The list is endless. You've introduced a very interesting topic. 

1 hour ago, Shari said:

It's going to vary from state to state maybe even county to county.   Check with your City Clerk office.  I just had to pay 25.00 and they run a check on the business name.  You are then yourself doing business as.  I didn't have to get an IRS EIN#.  I file with  my personal taxes.   Insurance is a must as well.   I had to also get a Sales Tax ID# and pay them yearly.  Again, it will vary depending on where you are.

1 hour ago, Shari said:

I didn't have to get an IRS EIN#.  I file with  my personal taxes.

This is how I'd prefer to do it.

When you say they "run a check on the business name", what exactly do they do? I have a friend about 60 miles away that was always in business for himself. I could ask him all this, but he'll talk about it for at least two hours. Anything I can find out here will minimize that agony.

19 hours ago, Sebleo said:

i have ocd and do everything in 7’s, 7’s,7’s,7’s,7’s,7’s,7’s !

...then check 7 more times to make sure everything was done in 7s, 7s, 7s, 7s, 7s, 7s, 7s. Check  behind me Sebleo and make sure I got that right.

1 hour ago, Arch Rock said:

I like it too.  Spoiler alert:  better get your fictitious name registered in Mississippi and get an EIN # but you probably already knew that.

Uhhhh. Didn't think about that. I just told a lie right there. I have thought about it but have been trying to ignore it. I think you're telling me I'm not going to be able to fly under the radar? Tell me where to start, please. I'll get on it.

2 hours ago, Sebleo said:

It looks great! Very clean and simple. Without being too simple. I like it a lot!

 

and when people ask you have the opportunity to get creative:

i was born with 7 toes

 

i have ocd and do everything in 7’s, 7’s,7’s,7’s,7’s,7’s,7’s !

 

there are 7 secret ingredients/steps to making my candles

 

i thought of many more but I don’t feel they are appropriate to post here! Lol

 

 

Just the kind of stuff I think about. 

6 hours ago, Candybee said:

So far this year my credit card sales are averaging a little over 40% of my total sales. That's a big increase from recent years when they averaged 30 to 35%. Has anyone noticed an increase this year in their CC sales or is it just me?

 

If there were any way to break it down, we would probably see that most of that is actually coming from debit cards. Used to be that many merchants would only take debit cards on sales of $xx.00 or more. I never have a penny in my pocket anymore. When I go to the drug store and my copay is 73 cents I automatically whip out my debit card. 

But there are many more credit cards appearing everyday from the least likely places. Even the major credit bureaus are in on the game. After they finish telling you that you don't want to have too many cards but you don't want too few, they finish their message by offering me THEIR credit card. 

Does anyone know of a place where I can order accessories like candle snuffers and wick trimmers? I need something that I can buy low and sell high. I'd like to be able to retail them for just under $10.00 if possible and still make a healthy profit. Most of the places I've seen them sold are just the regular places selling at retail prices. I need to add some accessories to my line. The money is always in the add-on items, like the $2500.00 sunroof on a car.

2 hours ago, Candybee said:

One thing you are going to run into and that is being constantly asked what the 7 is for. Its not self explanatory so unfortunately if you keep that name you are stuck with continuously explaining it. If you don't mind go for it. But be prepared its gonna happen a lot.

True. However, think of the publicity opportunities. Suppose I get interviewed on the Today Show or Fox & Friends and I'm asked that question. Just answer with a sly grin and say nothing. Keep em wondering. I'm not expecting either of them to call in the immediate future. Of course, all of you here know what it means but you're sworn to secrecy. 

4 hours ago, kandlekrazy said:

You might add that story to your about me or about us page

Good idea! I might do that. I sort of like the mystery, though. Reminds me of puzzling logos and brand names like Arm & Hammer baking soda. Where in the world did they get that idea? Or the controversy a few years back (which still resurfaces from time to time) regarding the Proctor & Gamble logo that many people claimed was a Satanic symbol. I don't think anyone at P&G really knows where the logo came from or what it originally represented. You would probably have to ask Mr. Proctor or Mr. Gamble that. Unfortunately that is quite impossible at this time. Thanks for the advice.

I forgot. @Trappeur No, I don't make just pillars. I make containers too. I think "Pillar 7 Candles" rolls off the tongue a little better than "Container 7 Candles". 

On 11/22/2018 at 10:42 AM, Trappeur said:

If you don't mind me asking.....what does the number 7 mean in Pillar 7? 

On 11/22/2018 at 11:59 AM, Candybee said:

I am also curious about the significance of 7?

The number "7" actually means nothing at all to me. I started out calling it 10 Pillars Candles because my old labels and old company logo had a background of ten candles. The 10 candles was merely by chance, but it cluttered the label and I never really liked the old company name. I thought 10 Pillar Candles might make people think that I had a set of 10 principles that I ran the business by. So I switched it to Pillar 10 Candles. The double digit number just didn't sound right to me. Then I remembered Pier 1 Imports Store. I picked the single digit "7" simply because people associate that number with good luck. I don't believe in luck, but millions of others do.  Then when I saw Pillar 7 Candles come back to me in the proof, it looked great to me. So the rest is history.  

I should also mention that I didn't construct this new logo. I went online and stumbled across LogoJoy.com. You answer a few questions, type in the name, pick out a stock image and primary color. They design it right while you're waiting. It's not free but it's not really high priced, either once you see all the other stuff they throw in the package. You get 4 different file types that come in different sizes for different applications. Ready to go for Facebook, eBay, Etsy, business cards, T-shirts, etc. You download it and it's yours. No recurring charges, unless that was in the fine print somewhere that I didn't read. 

On 11/19/2018 at 11:43 AM, Forrest said:

That is the hardest part. I always get bummed out when I think it's been two weeks and I look at the date and it has only been one.

I'm just glad I didn't randomly pick 4 weeks as my curing time! I alway put them in their own box along with all the notes, put a date sticker on the box (always lined up perfectly) then put them in a closet. That's how I avoid the temptation to burn them early. The intimidating sticker says: ! Do Not Burn Before xx/xx/2018  I spend more time doing stuff like that than I do actually making candles. 

I have a new company name and logo. A website and online store are in the works. Check out my new logo and company name here:

https://logojoy.com/s/22958473

I'll take all the feedback you can give. Good, bad, horrible. Hit me hard. I don't think I misspelled the name of my own state, but check behind me just in case.

@Laura C Sorry to take so long to respond. Somehow I missed your response until just now.

On 4/14/2018 at 1:02 PM, Tokoo said:

After letting my soy candles cure for a month, I took them to the local market to sale. They are 8oz jars, and due to not having pretty labels, I was more worried about making my money back instead of a profit. I priced them out at $6, I went 2 days so far, and my results were not good. I also took a pound of individual melts for $1 each. I sold 1 candle, and 5 tarts in 2 days, I figured with Mothers Day, around the corner, and only one person in my area that sells candles I would sale at least 4-5.  I have 5-6 different scents, like fruit loops, butt naked, blueberry, monkey farts, and love spell. Very few people even looked at them, but the ones that did told me how awesome they smelled, but thought they were to high. Not sure were to take them now, but I don't think I will be able to sale them at that market, I guess I could try online, but their not really pretty enough for that I think. Any suggestions.

Every market is different, blah, blah, blah....    I don't know anything about melts, but the $6.00 on the 8oz jars sounds reasonable to me. On the subject of your labels, who told you they weren't pretty?  Probably the same person that keeps telling me that my labels aren't what I want them to be. 

On 11/18/2018 at 7:08 AM, Arch Rock said:

If I get a new child client with ADHD, I encourage parents not to start him/her on a medication until I treat them with therapeutic play for six weeks. 

That is definitely wise. My psychiatrist irritates me sometime because he will never change but one drug at a time. I know he's right. As the patient though, that waiting period can be sheer agony. Then if that still doesn't work, I end up facing another waiting period.  I just made two test candles following the advice that @Forrest gave.  As a candle patient in the candle maker's hospital, mustering the patience to wait for the two weeks I've set as my standard curing time drives me up the wall. I just have to find something else to do in the meantime. It's so tempting to break my own rules and just sneak across the room, light up the test candles and see what happens. After all, no one would ever know.

17 hours ago, TallTayl said:

Try the metal heat ducting or car exhaust tape for sealing pillar molds.  (Not duct tape).

 

The metal Tape meant for hot pipes holds much better at high temps. Really burnish It down, though, to ensure a tight seal. 

Well now. Why didn't I think of that? That will probably take care of those problematic high temp waxes like the IGI 6028 I mentioned. I'm going to make a couple of assumptions from your suggestion. 1) Ditch the putty completely and just use the high heat tape with that wax, since it will go through the putty anyway. 2) When you say "burnish" it down you're saying rub it down really nice and flat over the 1/2 inch of wick that protrudes through the hole. 

17 hours ago, Simon-RSA said:

wax temperature,  will decrease typically 5 degC, immediately after adding cold FO. If you know your pouring temp, heat wax to 1within 5 - 10 degC  of target pour temp, add FO and stir. Pour when you hit your target temp. Adjust temps as required (yes heat or cool as required).  Temperature is the most important condition to satisfy. Here is a general rule that works: Wax congealing Point (A) + ambient room temp (B) = T1. Calculate the value (A) - (B) = T2.   Now add T1 + T2 = T3. T3 is then be your wax melting point target. Be sure to compare and adjust to manufactures recommendations.  Add FO around 10 degC above your pouring temp.  You will find a lot of consistency built into your process. It takes care of the various temperature differentials.  Try it and let me know if this works for you.

This makes sense, but I've been told here and read elsewhere to make sure you heat your wax to somewhere around 185-190 F and then to add the FO and the dye. Are you saying here to throw that general principal out the window? Perhaps I took the 185-190 F rule to apply across the board when I shouldn't have. One wax in particular that I use is IGI 6028 Single Pour Votive/Pillar blend. A "hybrid" is term the seller uses, I think.  Information on this wax is pretty sparse. I've inquired with IGI but they've yet to respond. The only guidelines are those I've gotten from the vendor. They say heat that particular wax to 200-210F and pour at 200! When I've poured it at that temp, it is so hot that it melts the sealing putty on the mold and the wax pours out of the wick hole. One day I decided to throw caution to the wind and didn't pour it till it was around 150F. The wax still found its way through the putty. Things like this may have been what you were referring to when you said:  "Be sure to compare and adjust to manufactures recommendations".

15 hours ago, Simon-RSA said:

Here is a general rule that works: Wax congealing Point (A) + ambient room temp (B) = T1. Calculate the value (A) - (B) = T2.   Now add T1 + T2 = T3. T3 is then be your wax melting point target. Be sure to compare and adjust to manufactures recommendations.  Add FO around 10 degC above your pouring temp.  You will find a lot of consistency built into your process. It takes care of the various temperature differentials.  Try it and let me know if this works for you.

This is something with some real substance here. I'm the type that likes to have an instruction sheet or an owner's manual. I'm also the type that actually reads them and follows them step by step. I start by ripping out the parts written in foreign languages. That immediately makes the task seem much less formidable. I'll do the same with what you just gave me. This is one I'll print off and use. I might even laminate it. 

On 11/16/2018 at 9:21 AM, Jcandleattic said:

Well, you won't go wrong with 4794. I LOVE that wax for votives and melts.

The only thing I don't like about it is that when it shrinks during cooling, it REALLY shrinks. Ends up extremely concave. I then have to use the heat gun to level it off. Since I try to keep my votives at 1.75 oz, topping off isn't an option unless...  I thought about this the other day. I suppose I could pour it a little short like 1.6 oz and then do a second pour to bring them up to 1.75 oz.  Do you think that might work?