Janette

I'm not sure I quite understood your post as far as your retail and wholesale price, but here is how I work mine out. Wholesale is the lowest price I can sell a product for and still make a worthwhile return for my labour and investment. My retail price is double my wholesale price. When I retail my products myself, they sell for the same amount as they would in a store (providing the store marks up 100%, some mark up higher). HTH Janette

Hi Mightymouse, http://candlewic.com/store/category.aspx?q=cTaper+Dipping+Equip. This link may help you with your project. This link will show you dipping frames that are used to dip tapers. The wick is strung on the frame and the whole frame is dipped in wax. The frame allows many candles to be made at one time, also keeps the candles nice and straight. The number of times the candle is dipped depends on the desired diameter of the candle. The process is not difficult, but does require some patients and a reasonable amount of equipment. In addition to the frames, you would also need a vat large enough to dip the frames in. HTH Janette

you cannot compare every candle to 1 yankee. And ANY candle will burn like a smoke stack if burned improperly by a moron that can't read the safety instructions.

Just because you cannot see something does not make it better or safe. It makes you a nimrod for ignoring it.

JMHO

Dat

Question: If all that is true, why doesn't Yankme and others go after the soy candle makers claiming no soot, no carcinogens, etc with all their hot shot lawyers? Seems to me they do more damage to Yankme than going after business owners using the word "tart" as was discussed on another forum here. Could it be:

1. they can't prove it's false.

2. they don't care as the soy market isn't hurting them.

I don't get it. I see plenty of soy sites claming no soot and we all know that is false, anything combustable emits soot. I only saw one site in the past 6 months of looking that actually admitted that. And that is what I tell people. I have been verbally tongue lashed at a craft fair by a paraffin maker for using 100% soy (and that's all I use folks) when I had NOTHING on my table stating anything bad about any other waxes. There was someone else there showing pix of a sooted jar (paraffin) and a clean jar (soy) and she gave him hell. Whatever. My point is if the soy press is ALL WRONG why doesn't someone sue over it??

A good deal of "Marketing" is false, and most is never legally challenged. Perhaps the big companies aren't concerned about soy marketing as long as they don't make claims against any particular brand of candles. It is a lot cheaper for the "Big Guys" to defend their copyright than it is to challenge the claims of soy marketers. Also, if a company doesn't defend it's copyright, what is the point in having it? Janette

I like the 3rd one the best. Personally, I would move the e-mail address and a phone number, maybe on a seperate label, and make the oz. smaller. If you don't move them to a seperate label, I would also make the e-mail and phone number a little smaller than the rest of the wording on the label.

I just poured Coconut Lime from BCS. OOB it is mostly coconut, in wax it is a good combo of both. I really like this one. Janette

Pourette has a sandcastle that could be what you are describing. www.pourette.com. HTH Janette

Years ago, 60 minutes did a test with citronella candles to see if they repelled pests. In the end, 60 Minutes claimed that citronella candles were really of no use in repelling mosquitos.

Studies show that people like to pay for odd numbers. So, I would charge $7.95 at the lowest. I recently marked my square masons up to $8.95 with no balking from my customers. I would never sell that jar for $5. Maybe a jelly jar, but not the square mason. Stick to your guns and buy in bulk when possible, but don't sell yourself short. You are making a quality product and people should expect to pay for that. All it takes is getting a few customers who spread the word too. And there will always be cheapskates who won't buy no matter what your pricing is. Plus, once you set your price, it is incredibly difficult to raise it later. Start higher and then give lots of discounts when you first start to offer. Always offer a "2 for __" price or buy two get one free or something like that. And you can give a new customer discount, refer a friend discount, it's Thursday discount, free gift with purchase (I do this and people love it) etc . . . Your pricing won't turn people off so much when they think they are getting something for free or at least gettin a great deal.

For pineapple I love Peak's Juicy Pineapple. Janette

If you are planning to do lots of shows then consider having some method of receiving credit cards. If you are just selling from your home to friends and their freinds then maybe accepting cheques will be enough for you now.

If you do open Merchant Credit Card Accounts, check with you local chamber and see if membership with them will get you a break on the fees from Merchant Services.

Janette

With Chamber membership here, both Mastercard and Visa reduce their discount rates to 1.5%. This alone is a huge savings. Without the Chamber I would be paying 5% for credit card discounts.

Janette

Royal Aromatics

Janette

I use the White Ginger & Amber from RA. I struggled with colour for this one, as I don't find earth tones sell well for me. So I ended up with four shades of green (Chunk). There really is no rule about colour/scents combos.

Hillary- is your FO from RA also. I found that the sample I received from them threw stronger and was better OOB than the 2 lbs that I later received. Just curious if you found the same.

Janette

I found the clamshells at Village Craft and Candle, 35 cents, with shipping likely around 40 cents (per 100). My first though was that this would put material cost aroung 1/3 of retail @$3.00. This seem high, definately couldn't wholesale these at that rate. But I plan to give them a try for my own retail sales.

Thanks for your replies.

Janette

As long as you are using the same formula: wax, additive, dye, etc. you should see same results with the chunk as you would with a regular plain pillar. I use #1 Sq for my 3" chunks.

Janette

Love the Zig Zag candle. How do they burn?

Janette

I also make my own labels and hang tags. I have had them printed by a print shop in the past and it is cheaper in the long run. But I don't live near a city and making them myself is simpler for me.

Janette

It must be my nose or my wax, but I finally got around to putting this one in wax this week and it is just the same as OOB to me. I smell a little peach but the dominant scent for me is something awful, almost like celery salt or something. It almost makes me feel sick. Wish it smelled good to me.

Janette

Thanks Patsy. I was thinking of the $3 range. You are right about the savings of labour, probably makes the cost worth while.

Janette

Just wondering if you would share your pricing with me. I'm thinking of adding clamshell melts, but cost of clamshells seems high. What do you charge for yours. Do you find that they sell well for you, or are they more popular in the US market. I really haven't seen melts outside of the Dollar Stores.

Thanks

Janette

I also love Nature's Garden for their service. They are smart, if they keep us happy, they make more sales. Word of mouth is the best advertising, and they seem to understand that.

Janette

I agree with the others. I have tried loads of scents that have had great reviews from others and often find they didn't work for me or that they weren't popular for me. Smell is just too subjective. I will say that both Peak and Nature's Garden are two suppliers that I have had good results with. They both have good customer service.

Janette

I too would refuse the charges on the credit card. Clearly this company doesn't want to stay in business, and sounds like they shouldn't. Just my two cents.

Janette

Well done....they all look great.

Janette

http://www.vccandle.com/categories.asp?cID=75&mtc=GAW-1

Village Craft and Candle, they are in Ontario.