Katcameback

I use paper towels too. My husband and kids now know that they are not to touch my paper towels, lol. I tell them they are MY paper towels, and if there is a spill on the floor, they can use their shirt to wipe it up, but they are not allowed to use MY paper towels! My husband thinks I have gone nuts....

I can use a Turkey Fryer?? Oooh....my hubby is gonna hate me! I just him a turkey fryer for xmas....let's see how long it is before I confiscate it for my candles..heehee.

I am attempting to make a 6x6 3 wick and was wondering if anyone had any hints or suggestions on what I should do. I made it once, and didn't like it, so I melted it down and am trying again. This time I heated the mold a bit and instead of using the wick pins, I just tied the wicks. Are there any tricks or tips to making 3 wicks?

I've been thinking about making soaps too, lol. Well, right now I am on the second attempt of making a honeydew 3 wick. My first try at a 3 wick. It turned out disastrous the first time, so I am hoping it works this time. I am also making some jar candles for an order, honesuckle, burnished leaves and cinnamon buns.

What temp do you normally pour at? I have been pouring at around 150*F.

By primed, do you mean that the wicks have a wax coating? That is the way I get them from the supplier, should I be doing something else with them once I get them?

Thanks for the info. I have never tried votive wax, mainly because the supplier nearest to me (5 hours away) doesn't carry it, but I think I am going to order some from somewhere else to give it a try.

About the tealight wicks, it isn't the wicktab that moves on me, it's the wick itself. The wicks keep falling over and I am constantly trying to make them stand up until the wax has hardened. They become "limp" for lack of a better word, lol. By the time the wax has hardened, the tealight looks crappy because of the wick being propped up so much.

Am I pouring the wax too hot? Should I wait a bit longer before putting the wicks in?

I am curious what most people use for wicks for tealights and what kind of wax? I was using a combnation of about 25% pillar and 75% container wax, but someone told me I should be using 100% container....what do you guys think? Also, about the wicks...I seem to have a heck of a time with the cotton wicks or premium wicks to get them to stay standing when I out them into the tealights before the wax has set. Are zinc wicks ok? I mean I have used zinc wicks before, and I likle that I don't have to fuss with them, but I don' t like all the mushrooming and wonder if they get too hot. Maybe I am just paranoid, lol.

Ok. Should have some sort of terms of agreement? I'm not sure if there is anything that they can do that will turn out bad for me, lol. IS there any kinds of rules and regulations that I need to folow, or terms I should havbe them agree to?

Thanks for the compliment on the site. I dabble in web/graphics design. I have a fetish for purple I think, lol. I have made about 4 or 5 websites.

Hi Kat,

I agree that this could be a good opportunity. Do remain vigilant though. If it were me I would ask for payment up front. Often times with wholesale, the buyer is given 30 days to pay for the order. This doesn't have to be the case. Since it is your first dealing with this buyer and this type of sale, prepayment could save you a lot of worry. Once you are paid, what he does won't really matter to you. Hopefully he will do well and re-order. If not, at least you were taken care of.

Wholesale is normally 50% of your retail price. Be sure that you know for certain what your costs are and be sure your wholesale price is possible for you.

HTH

Janette

PS- I like your site.

Hi Kat,

First, this sounds like a great opportunity to "cut your teeth" in the retail biz if you do your homework, take it slow, and know your limits. Who knows where this may lead!

My only caution would be that this person "cold called" you and there is no prior relationship, so be on alert.

Good luck!

I think that is why red flags came up for me. They have never even seen my candles, so how do they know what they are like? Also....they never gave me any kind of info at all.

Thanks. Because I have never done this, what things should I be wary of? What kinds of rules should I have? How much less should I wholesale for? Percentage wise? Sorry for all the questions, I just don't wqant to gedt burned, lol.

This was their reply when I asked where the "mall" was:

Its called the USA flea market, don't let the name fool you its 350000sq ft large with 1100 venders, I have been there for ten years selling water equipment

Steve

I have only been selling for about 8 months, just mainly to friends and co-workers of my hubby abd the odd online sale. I haven't been putting alot of effort into selling because I don't want to freak myself out until I know what I'm doing, lol. Anyways, someone emailed me today, and this is what they said

"I would be interested in retailing your candles in the mall. Please forward a price list and case lot info."

I sent this person a copy of my catalogue. But I have no idea how much to sell them by the caselot. Also.....does anyone have any good advice on what to do or not to do about this kind of thing? I feel that this person didn't even give me enough info about anything. I don't even know where this mall is, if it's even in the same city as me!

Anyways, any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ok, thank you all very much!!

Someone had just sent me an email and wants to know if I can ship to the UK? Has anyone ever done this? Is it possible?

Well, I found out that this small town outsisde of the city is doing a cratf show in November. It's $15 to rent the table, and I'm waiting for more info.

I'm nervous. I've never done a show. How much product should I bring? Should I bring samples of all my scents or just a few? I sell votives, tealights, container candles and pillar candles. Should I bring a few of each thing? Or just mainly votives and tealights, because I am assuming those would sell the most.

AAAHHHHH!!!

They are the only US supplier I order from, and I love all their scents that I have.

That's what I was thinking too. My sister in law lives in a s,all town about an hour away, and I was thinking of asking her what I would have to do to do their annual craft show

Ok, thanks for the info. I will go and scope out the show this weekend, lol.

thanks!!

I also learned alot from this thread too. Thanks to all who commented.

Thanks for the info....who is KY? I know BCN is Bitter Creek North, but I'm not sure of the other 2.

I just had someone ask me if I carry Sweetgrass and sage scent...not seperate, but in one scent....is there any suppliers out there that has that? I did find one (in Canada, where i am) that has each scent, but not together

I have been been thinking about doing a craft show, but don't know where to start. I don't want to get intimidated by doing one of these huge ones at this time of year, but I know that there is a place near hear that has a "Flea Market" every Sunday, so I was thinking of trying that out. Any suggestions on what to do for a beginner? Should I light some candles? Should I bring some Pillars? I have seen others use coffee beans to reset the nose...is this true? SHould I do this? How do I find out about other craft shows in my area? I'm sure I will have more questions, lol.

Floral or perfumey scents tend to get me. But I knew that before I started making candles, lol.

I usually include a tealight with any orders. If it's a big order, then I give them a couple of tealights. Also as a way of saying thank you for the order.

You can buy chunk molds?!! Whereabouts would I find that?

Your candles look great, btw!