Brenda (OH)

You sign up for an account at USPS, UPS, Fed Ex, etc to get the link to plug into your shopping cart program. All shopping carts are different but with mals-e you must have the premier account. Each product you sell needs weighed and entered into your website program. Then your site will calculate the actual shipping costs for your customers to choose from. I have found that USPS is VERY accurate. I am considering adding UPS and Fed Ex but haven't gotten to it yet.

4630 will work for wickless but for tarts I would try blending the pillar wax with it to firm them up. I blend 6228 (a pillar wax) and 4630 for my tarts. They are a nice consistancy and melt well in an electric and t-light warmer.

I plop into the pour pot "as is" - mine was LouAnna's 76* coconut oil and it will melt quickly. What I meant when I said you may not get the results you were looking for was because CO is subjective to results an individual is looking for. I found it to help the HT with the SS container parasoy , but as Stella stated it didn't help her HT much in C-3. You are working with 464. I agree with it helping with frost especially when the wax isn't tempered. Just try plopping a 1/2 or 1 tsp per pound and see how it works for you in a comparison test. Good luck and let us know what you think

Are you using the USPS shipping calculator? Shipping charges were always a struggle for me before I signed up with it. I used rates that I thought would fall into a certain $ amount but it never failed that I was shorted, or I over charged the customer and felt I needed to reimbursed them. I gave up on that and went to a statement that actual shipping charges would be charged when the order was complete. That was a real PITA since it was so time consuming for me. I also felt that my website wasn't "professional" to the consumer. With the real time shipping calculators it has taken the questioning and hassle out of shipping costs. You are right, the USPS calculator doesn't calculate flat rate boxes, if I can use them I do and adjust the total. This makes the customer happy to see the reduced cost. Also, for lighter weight products 1st class shipping is an option for the buyer (under 13 oz). That would work for your little 4 oz tins if they only wanted to buy 1 or 2.

I don't sell many wickless either but do offer them (for the time being). I got a couple regular customers but other than that the sales are very low to the general public. I use the 8 oz wickless tins and charge the same as a wicked candle.

Since 1313 is a higher melt point wax and you want to make wickless you may need to begin by blending the 1313 & 4630 with different % and test on your warmer to assure 1) it melts completely and 2) that the scent throw is what you are looking for. Wickless candles can be made without blending with pillar wax and using container wax alone. The choice would be yours depending on what you are trying to achieve. I would only use vybar is the FO load doesn't incorporate into your wax thoroughly since vybar is known to bind the scent reducing HT.

I would recommend adding it to the wax in your pour pot as you add you FO and color. When adding CO in your melting source (presto, turkey fryer, etc) it may break down and not give your the results you are looking for. Hope that helps some . . .

I don't think it is taking it too far, at all. You can pretty much do whateva . . I carry white cake but also sell it in my line as Birthday Blessings, I also do this with a few others too. Mulberry for instance doesn't sell well for me but I have a couple regular customers who would have a fit if I discontinued it so I renamed it and carry both scents, as well. The renamed out sell the supplier name and I can keep everyone happy. ETA: I will color them different colors and most customer's don't pick up on it . . .

If you do a search there are lengthy discussions on this topic with different opinions. I have found it to be helpful with some waxes . . .

I found the HTP 104 & HTP 105 are VERY close to the same when testing in parasoy. Both worked in the same jar size. I haven't tested them in 4627 so I'm not much help there.

Yep - savvy indeed !! I have had great scents in my line and they didn't move due to the name Renamed they sell like hot cakes . . .

Hey, glad to help Good luck with your SPRING FLING

Gosh I didn't include my beverages, sorry . . .I keep a pot of coffee going and have a pitcher of ice water and iced tea. I have also served punch but usually that doesn't get touched so the last open house I grabbed some 2 liters and that went over much better. Another note on the folks who are elderly and are leary about my stairs . . .I tend to those people one on one and will bring product upstairs at their request. Yup, got insurance but like you said . . .you just never know! I have also helped them down and up the stairs. There really aren't many but there has been 1 or 2 in the past.

I have done two types of fundraisers for Relay for Life. One group wanted to purchase candles upfront and then re-sell them as cash and carry. Then another wanted to take orders. For the fundraisers where they are taking orders I offer smelly samples with the order forms and do not charge for them. I figure it to be a benefit for more sales and I don't required they return them. Usually the smelly samples get used and abused from people sniffing them by the end of the order taking time. All my info is on my labels for future sales so I exclude the business card.

I do a contract but not really sure if it is necessary. I have done exempt and non-exempt fundraisers. If the people / organization is not exempt I simply add a column to my order forms so they collect sales taxes, then I report them. I only allow 10-12 scents maximum and I do not buy anything until the fundraiser orders and cash is turned in. Then I figure how much of everything I need to complete the job. I let them know upfront that I ask 3 weeks for processing and most generally the orders are poured and delivered much sooner. I do this for the "just in case" scenarios.

I do this annually in the fall and also considered one for this spring as well. I hold mine in my refinished basement, also where my work shop is. I just make sure everything is cleaned up and organized then throw sheets over supply products that I don't want to disclose to the nosy folks. Most people are intrigued and excited that they got to visit "candleland" - lol. Specific questions about the process are not disclosed but all in all most my customers are excited to see the "bare bones" of the production area. Then again some people don't even pay attention cause they are too busy shopping. On a side note . . .my biggest concern was customers going down the stairs. Although I have a hand rail, I am always afraid children attending with their parents or the elderly may fall. Cringing at the thought . . . Oh and for food, I serve finger foods . . .cheese ball & crackers, cookies, tortilla pinwheel things, nacho dip & chips, etc

I have a batch that is very hard to cut but it is not cracking nor does it have wavy tops I am blending mine with 464 and pouring around 145* - 150*. ETA: I got mine from The Candlemaker's Store

I thought the same thing but the store is a young teen designer consignment store that also offers tanning. There isn't always someone at the register counter so she didn't feel comfortable with not packaging them in something a bigger. WSP has the lip balm display boxes that I thought was cute and convenient but that wasn't something she wanted. I am going to suggest Scented's suggestion - possibly bundling them in 2 or 3 packs.

I would try the 60z . . .I don't use the apothecary jar so I can't help with actual testing info for you but that is where I would start for a single wick.

This question may be a strange one but I thought I would ask anyway . . . I have a private label account who sells my B&B products and they are interested in lip balms but she is asking for some type of packaging that people wouldn't be easily tempted to steal them, since they are a smaller product. I have looked for the clamshell type packaging that chap stick uses but to no avail. Any packaging ideas for me to check into?

Love Spell gags me . . horribly . . .but it is one of my top sellers SO with that being said I received a sample of Peaks and compared to other suppliers it seemed "off" to me. More bitter or something, if that makes sense.

I personally don't like double wicking . . . I try to single wick or move onto another jar. Even candles I have bought that are double wicked I don't care for. They either burn to quickly or one of the two wicks mysteriously just go out.

Thanks for all the opinions. I am weak, very weak when ordering and I am glad I asked here before ordering a bunch. I may get a couple for gifts and to check them out. Thanks again !

Da lime and da coconut

Love Spell Butt Naked HIS Essence Very Sexy for Her Dream Angels Heavenly