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Hopie

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Posts posted by Hopie

    What do you think of this meeting?

    in Business Side of Things

    Posted

    I hope this phone call/visit goes well. Tell them in no uncertain terms that you are no longer willing to "do business" with them due to their sneaky, devious ways. Tell them to "have fun" trying to duplicate your candles, because they will not be successful...because they are not YOU!  I would also pay a visit to you local accounts, and tell them...without too many details...what has occurred with these people. No one wants to do business with a SNAKE! 

     

    I remember at one venue we used to do that there was a couple that saw my incense and body oils on the tables. A few months later, THEY had incense and body oils. I stopped by and mentioned, "Oh, I didn't know you sold incense TOO?". Yes, he said, we've made and sold it "for years". Ummm...NO. What they had was manufactured stuff that you can find online anywhere, and I knew where they got it. Soooo...as time went by, it had no effect on my sales...because mine was a better product! Same thing happened at another venue, who started selling the "berry company's" incense. They disappeared after only a few months. WHY? They had the product in the open air, not packaged in plastic (which is totally necessary to preserve the oils, or they dry out!) 

     

    I ran into that first guy about a month ago, and guess what? He was no longer selling incense and his cheap, stinky body oils, LOL! As a matter of fact, his booth was directly across from ours at this mountaintop craft show! He sat there, alllll day...watching us BAG a ton of merchandise, while he made only $100 lousy dollars the entire day! Karma is a Bellatrix, 'eh? 

     

    So, I would relax, Trappeur, and do the lovely things you do, have no communication with those vile people, and Karma will happen...you won't have to lift a finger. AND, Karma is divine! :)

    What do you think of this meeting?

    in Business Side of Things

    Posted

    11 hours ago, ShelleyF said:

     

    lol I will have to do that. I do tell people it's my secret but something about Grandma might work better.

     

    I haven't renamed Lavender yet but how about Soft Lavender if it's a lighter one which I have some lighter ones or Loud Lavender lol or Bold Lavender if it's very overpowering. I'm grasping at straws here lol

    I renamed Nag Champa The 1960's

     

    Just a quick note about renaming Nag Champa...I wouldn't. People seek Nag Champa, and I sell a lot of it. The 1960's doesn't tell them what it is. 

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    What do you think of this meeting?

    in Business Side of Things

    Posted

    11 hours ago, ShelleyF said:

    I know it isn't happening. I haven't been doing it for years but I've done lots of research and many mistakes. I have my wax formula finally right and people want you to tell them your secrets. No way. Why would we do that? One lady had nerve to ask what supplier I got my Love Spell from so she could buy the oil to just diffuse it instead of buying melts. I told her there are many suppliers that sell it. Most  Love Spell are similar and grapefruits but I love the one that isn't. It's magical the one I've found and I tried 7 different ones before finding it. I was upset because she bought one and she picked right and got the right one the first time. Yes you guessed it. She only diffuses now and doesn't buy melts. Said she loves it and is saving money. I was so mad and sad that someone could do that. 

     

    If she's THAT cheap, she isn't your customer anyways :lol:

    • Like 2
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    What do you think of this meeting?

    in Business Side of Things

    Posted

    Well, the NERVE! :mad:  When I get those type of questions from my incense customers, I just laugh a little and tell them that it's a well guarded secret how I make them :)   I did create my scent and dpg mixtures myself, through trial and error, just like I do with candles. Thus, I disclose NO mixtures, formulas, suppliers, waxes or any other thing that goes into it with a potential customer. Period. Same answer.

     

    They do sound like they are trying to cut you out, or duplicate what you make...which is ridiculous, because without YOU, they have no candle line that's of the quality THEY already determined you have. No more answers for them, except for "do let me know if you'd like to place an order with me" with a smile :) Glad you brought this to the board. I'm always happy to help another candle maker out (with what I consider limited knowledge), but in this circumstance it sounds like they are trying to steal your business!

    • Like 2

    Is it just me ? Busy Season & Stress

    in Business Side of Things

    Posted

    I can relate to "show stress", but once we're set up, I just relaxxxx. I bring a thermos with my favorite fresh ground Starbuck's Verona coffee. I find that if I have something to look forward to, like a BREAK...I whizz through the set up just so I can sit down and have that yummy cuppa' Joe :yay: My dear David has to drive another hour after setting up my three booths, to a farmer's market, then set up two MORE booths. So, you can imagine that he's like a nervous chihuahua!

     

    After 32 years in the food and beverage management business, there aren't too many "emergencies" I haven't seen (and some you'd really have to see to actually believe! 16 years in Las Vegas, baby!). Due to that, I'm usually the calmest person in the room during stressful moments. I'm accustomed to "organized chaos", lol! 

     

    Take a deep breath, and take it all one step at a time. After all, "how do you eat an elephant?" One bite at a time :cheesy2:

    • Like 2

    What Is This Technique Called?

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    38 minutes ago, grama said:

    The only problem I have found using 1274 & 1343 is that as the pillar burns it starts to bulge out and you have to steady keep hugging it to keep it rounded.  I use 4625 with the same rustic look & like others said put mold in freezer and I pour real cool, like around 135-140. Edited to add you can add stearic to the 1274 or 1343 and it will help with the bulge but with the mottling wax to much and it doesn't mottle good.

     

    Perhaps the ones that bulged need a bit of down wicking? I've had to go all the way down to the 21 flat braid to get them to burn better. Still testing these, though. I found that in our hot, dry heat, a lot of wicks seemed to burn like tiki torches and created that same bulge you speak of. Going to do some more burns soon with the 21 ply to see if that eliminates the bulge issue...

    Odd Topic - Heat Sources!

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    LOL! Hey, can you imagine doing this in an RV?? They probably think I'm "Breaking Bad" in here! :lol:  I did give a few of my prototypes to the office manager here at the RV park, and she's loving test burning some of them for me! Even though I have at least one burning in here 14 hours a day, I do need help with all the scents I'm messing with. She and her husband went CRAZY with the pyramid and owl candles, lol!

    • Like 3

    What Is This Technique Called?

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    I've been playing with mottling wax for a few months now, and Pam W. was kind enough to tell me that rubbing the outside of the metal mold with ICE will give you the rustic look I was after. She was SPOT ON! Thank you, Pam W. for the tips! :)

     

    I wick the mold, then place it in the freezer until the wax is melted...add dye then FO...then take mold out of freezer and pour the wax at about 150-160 degrees. After letting my first layer set a bit, I'd pour my second layer, then rub ice cubes on the outside the molds (very carefully). Lovely, rustic finish when unmolded. A few of them I did are in the Old Style Candle Gallery if you wan to see the effect I got.

     

    I hope this helps? :)

     

    OH, and here is a link I found right here on Craftserver, I would LOVE to get these STUNNING effects one day...I'll keep on pouring until I can create these beauties!! http://www.craftserver.com/topic/3041-frosty-layer-pillars/?tab=comments#comment-33957  :drool::drool:

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