KristineG

don't know if you wanna go this route but Kangaroo Blue offers an online basic lotion class. You buy the kit...log in and get the step by step.

I always add beeswax to my MP. Seems to harden and allows it to last longer. I've never added water to any MP recipe. I agree, that could be it.

I often see requests from people looking for insurance. I received this email from: Where the Shows Are. I HAVE NOT looked into this. I'm just posting a link for those that may want to inquire. http://www.homebusinessprotection.com/qualify.asp

I am in FL also. Brevard County. I had to get a resale license from the county and an occupational license. It was pretty cheap if I remember...$30 or $35. In FL, if you do more than 2 craft shows per year, you must charge and pay sales tax. Craft shows, Farmers Market, Flea Market organizers submit your info to the county when you complete the vendor application. I'm also incorporated and have an EIN number, insurance and all that good stuff. I think to Incorporate was around $120. I did the incorporation myself online at: http://www.sunbiz.org HTH

(deleted) wrong response to the question

I don't know if this will help. When you mass mail or mail out something expecting something in return, plan on a 10-15 percent return. I learned this in sales way back in the day, played around with it and tested it to apply to my candle business. It seems to work and be the rule of thumb with anything I do with this business when expecting a return. I only apply this to anything I send out that is cold and not from a referral source. HTH

I've read through this a few times. Did I miss the ferry? Why even respond if it offended you so much? You seem a bit touchy. What's the big deal? Why would you track her IP address? Ya know, some people are just like that. They might not think there's anything wrong with asking. I would take it as a compliment, respond politely, and apologize for not being able to divulge a trade secret. It's really no different than when you bought someone elses and tore it apart, played around with it and tweaked it to your perfection. In a way, back then you bought that product without any intention of doing anything but trying to figure it out so you could make one. She just wasn't slick enough to do it that way or too lazy to research and just asked. Oh, and by the way, if you sell on the internet, it doesn't matter that the person whose idea you used is across country. The internet has no boundries or state lines.

The whole TM, Copywrite, Patent, issue is all sooo confusing. I've tried and tried to learn as much as I can and then transfer that to this board in the easiest terms possible. The USPTO site and all the issues surrounding TM's is not very user friendly. I've been on the phone with them and corresponded through emails. I'm communicating with their Chief of Staff, Sr. Advisor and not a "customer service" rep and I'm still confused but I know more now than I did 2 weeks ago. I want to try and help all of us but I don't have all the answers. I did get the answers to 2 of the questions asked previously. 1. They are not waiving the 300.00 opposition filing fee. 2. The answer they gave me to the timeline that we have to stop using a TM'd fragrance name was very cloudy. I may schedule another conference call with them next week to have it deciphered unless of course, a fellow CT'r is an attorney and would review the answer and help us out here for free? I don't think there are enough of us on this board who are really interested in forming a group to learn more about this, educate the USPTO or come together as a whole to opppose a registration. I've had a few(3) pm's from others offering help. I thought about calling the legal departments of Yankee and B&B Works directly. Why? I don't know...lol...that's how confusing all of this is becomming. But, at the same time, I don't want to give up. I want to know what I can and cannot do. I don't want to receive a C&D letter because that means, once you're under their sights, you'll always be there. Christine

Doesn't it just drive you crazy that you work so hard to make a nice clean burning superb QUALITY candle and you consistently have to try to sell this to the consumer who comes back with "I can buy the same thing at walmart for less than 1/2 the price".

Ok...got my order in without any problems...whew...I just read my last post....sounds so frantic...lol

Wait!!! I just tried to order something and it won't let me add it to my cart. It keeps asking me for a Gift Certificate Value. Did I miss a newsletter???

I finished testing all that I bought. They're fantastic! Tropical Fusion, Pink Pepperberry, Lemon Tart, Breeze in the Keys. I not only use them for candles, but on car fresheners, and scented rock salt. I only listed Tropical Fusion and Lemon Tart on the website and sold the others at the Farmers Market every week....They are all a big hit. I'm adding the the rest on my website next week. Not only did I test in the shop but I put Tropical Fusion to the test at an outdoor Farmers Market that I do every week in an 8oz Jelly Jar. People were coming over to me wanting it! They said they could smell it all over the market!

You're welcome. I felt bad posting the results...lol...didn't want to rain on the parade but I wanted them too! Hey, we can all get together and buy a bunch wholesale, take out the contents, wash the jars and re-use them? But with all the fuss about TM's lately, probably not such a good idea...lol

I contacted Debbie May, WSP and engaged her help in trying to help us find this jar...as well as the possibility of carrying it for us.....she told me that this jar is custom made in China for Hanna Candle Co.

Maybe this will help. The actual "kiss design" was registered by Hershey in 1983. You will see all types of things that resemble the Kiss. The ones that are legal are licensee's of the Hershey Foods Corporation. In other words, you can make a candle in the shape of a Hershey Kiss IF you obtain a license from Hershey allowing you to do so.I think. That's the way I interpret it. As far as the little chocolate chips...the size you use to make cookies, how and the heck can those be registered? Who wants to call Hershey corporate legal dept. and just ask them...lol...great way to get the right answer and a free lesson?

You can always contact the company you purchased it from, offer to send it back to them for a full refund since they infringed on a trademark? Just a thought.

It's all your fault!!!....lol....got me addicted to their FO's. I just finished up the last of my testing on the last batch I bought because of one of your posts....lol. Their FO's are really great. I can't wait till next week, but I will.

I'm not going to do B&B anymore but, I have a TON of recipes. Alot from here and who knows where else. Some are so old and most of us don't use the old preservative methods but....I figure you'll know what to substitue with. I have no clue where I got them so I won't be able to give any credit. I feel that I should give back to this board and that I should share them with everyone here even though alot of them may already be here. I really don't want to search the board or the archives to see if they've already been posted. Is it improper for me to post them in the B&B recipe section without being able to give credit to where I found them? Edited to add: I won't be posting the obvious ones that we all use and are still currently posted.

Sorry, I've been busy in the Classies and pouring orders. Here's how to search for TM's on a fragrance name: Open your browser and go to www.uspto.gov Once there, click on the link "Trademarks", it's on the left side of the page. The list will drop down. Click on "Search Trademarks" Once that page opens, in the center is a box labeled "Select the Search Form". Click on the third option down "Free Form Search (Advanced Search). Once that page opens, go to the box labeled "Search Term". In this example, we'll search for Buttercream with regard to candles. So, in the Search Term box type: Buttercream[bI] & candles[GS] ****Make sure you capitalize the first letter of the scent. Use square brackets not parenthesis and the GS must be capitalized. No space between Buttercream[bI]. Then "space" then the ampersand sign then space then candles[GS]. No space between candles[GS] again use square brackets, and capitalize GS. BI stands for Basic Index, GS stands for Goods and Services. If you want to search B&B fragrances, replace candles with beauty. Then click submit query. It appears Buttercream Frosting is not coming up for candles but Pink Buttercream Frosting is coming up for Jaqua and Buttercream for Yankee. We're still be able to use Buttercream Frosting for Candles for now. On the B&B side...it's a different story. HTH

This was also a question I asked in my email to them. As soon as I receive the reply, I will post it.

I like the jar. Do you know what the jar is called? What is the name of the company that produced the candle? I'll try to help find it.

Here it is: http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48514&highlight=hershey

If the actual mold is trademarked like the Kiss mold is. We discussed Hershey trademarks in the candle section not too long ago. Let me see if I can find it

The actual "kiss" mold is trademarked. So, you can't even make one and call it something else.

I'm not sure. I've already sent another email asking for specific information including your question. I guess the question I would like to ask is how many of are seriously interested in stopping other companies from trademarking the fragrance names we use? For instance, all of us have been making products using Buttercream Frosting FO. Jacqua claims they first put it in use on 3/30/2003. Maybe they did. If so, fine, then it should be theirs exclusively. Is there anyone here that used it prior to? I know Yankee trademarked Buttercream for candles prior to that. I have an idea that might help all of us but I can't do it alone. I am one person. If you're sincerely interested in doing your part with very minimal cost if any, please let me know. This includes Candles, Bath & Body. TOP: I'm not ignoring your post, just haven't had time to absorb your comment/questions and respond. Promise I will. Thanks Christine