Indescent

Oh Please, allow me...

Cybele,

Again, I thank you for your interest in my products. I would love nothing more than to have exposure and gain a new customer base. However, your policies are not agreeable to my current marketing plan.

Allow me to make some suggestions-- perhaps you would be able to review more products if you, like all of the other larger magazines such as Lucky (as you listed), Essence, and Marie Claire, would approach the review from the standpoint of a consumer. Most of the larger publishing houses with beauty editors purchase the products without the knowledge of the company and then review. Subsequently, it is the positive review of the product that then makes the company take out large ads in the magazine. In turn, it creates a mutually beneficial relationship. While you may have experience under your belt, unfortunately, your request makes you appear like a neophyte with a hobby in her fledgling newsletter. You may wan to consider changing your method of reviewing products.

It becomes increasingly apparent that perhaps maybe you don't know what you are doing. That is okay-- we all have to start somewhere. I had to read your email several times to make sure that you were not trying to defraud me out of products. I am sure that other businesses have or will feel the same way. You may be alienating yourself before getting yourself in the door.

Of course I could be wrong, but your story has taken on several faces in the past few hours of our correspondence. First, your e-zine is a successful newsletter, yet you don't have the funding to pay for shipping (which could total to a maximum of $7.70). Nor do you have the resources to invest in a system that would allow you to routinely review products for your e-zine (e.g. a budget to allow for purchases.). Moreover, you cannot guarantee any placement for my company. I find this absolutely ludicrous and incomprehensible when you are asking me to shell out product and money for shipping.

That is my position. Again, I wish you much success with Cybelsays.com. I am listing a few professional beauty editors you may want to get in contact with; perhaps they can give you more information on producing a symbiotic and successful column.

Mikki Taylor (Beauty and Cover Editor) of Essence can be reached via Diane Weathers at editorinchief@essence.com

Please consider this my last communication with Cybelsays regarding this matter. If you ever change your policies regarding reviews, please feel free to contact me again.

Sincerely,

you.

PS-- any further comments can be directed to yourlips@mybutt.com

what is the error message?

I thought that you couldn't use those names for FOs to name another FO, that it wasn't applicable to candles or bath products since its not in the same (for lack of a better term) genre?

Can some one clarify?

Everyone's sites look so great!

Michelle-- I am so in LOVE with your site!

Danielle, I have always thought that your site reminded me of Red Envelope too (love it!)

You guys have done really great jobs (Robin yours is so calming )

And you probably won't LOL

She's probably thinking "Cripes! She's on to me!" and she'll move on to the next noob who just got a soap and candle kit from Michael's yesterday and opened up their webstore today.

I've searched the Geocities site and Becca's but I can't find anyone who carries this-- can any one help. Apparently, I used my mom's last sample shower gel, and before she skins me alive I need to replace it with a sugar scrub and body butter (according to her).

LOL you got it guys!

The Lay-You-Out World tour is coming to a city near you!

(I will need 10lbs of full sized product and travel and accommodations) LOL!!

You just have to stop people in their tracks. I can't stand it for someone to piss on my leg and tell me it's raining. What really got me going about this chick's letter is that she acted like she was doing Biz a favor by putting her in her newsletter. Gimme a break! Which one is it-- you want my products to review for your successful magazine but when I say you would have pay (of all things, shipping-- what's that, $3.85 to $7.70?), all of a sudden your successful e-zine is Chapter 13 status.

Get a dog. Name it life, so you'll have one.

All that Who-Shot-John is ridiculous! Then she tried to get smart about it-- "Oh you don't want to let me scam you out of a whole line of products? Fine! My six readers won't know about your products then!"

Hey, anytime! You are more than welcome! Sock it to her; tell her you're cooking and all that's on the menu is humble pie.

Sorry, but her response to you kinda ticked me off.

Sounds like a something-for-nothing scam to me.

While it could expose you to a market that you otherwise would not have access to, a person who openly solicits you and then refuses to meet you halfway is just looking to stock her shelves in her opinion. If you had contacted her about testing your products for a possible review, I could understand her point-- however you didn't. If you can't afford to send her full size samples, then don't.

Don't beg or compromise for exposure. And don't be pressured into it either-- how free is it if you have to give over full size samples and pay shipping (since this is what bothers you)?

After I'd tell her to kiss me where the good Lord split me, I'd probably send her an email like so:

Dear Cheapskate (or real name),

I apologize that we could not come to an amenable agreement regarding your testing and review of my products for your publication. I would be more than happy to send you generous sized testers that would accommodate your desire to try my products. The testers are of course samples, but plentiful sizes of product, that will invite you to a full experience of the of my pampering spa line.

Another option I have is to send you a full size tester of one product and I will pick up the shipping. Although it is only one item, it would give you the opportunity to try the product a few more times than the testers.

Your solicitation (call a spade a spade!) to review our products is most welcomed. However, to send you full-sized products at no cost in addition to our payment of shipping is too much of a risk for our business at this time when you cannot guarantee a review in your publication. The aforementioned options are set in place for our Beauty Review Program. If these are not amenable to you, I do apologize and wish you much success with your publication. (give her two options. Now she will have to piss or get off the pot. You work for you, not for her. And your business certainly doesn't revolve around her or her publication)

Should you wish to work with us under one of the above conditions, I look forward to hearing from you again. If not, please feel free to peruse our site and make a purchase to experience what our customers call the best __________________________ on the market! (Let's her know that whether she accepts it or not, the world still turns, the sky is still blue and your mama still loves you, and you can and will move on without her; back to business as usual)

Signed,

You.

If you use any of that, be sure to take out the bold stuff LOL. Be firm--this is your business. If you give any semblance of being a meely-mouthed pushover she will talk you out of hundreds of dollars in product and you'll find yourself screwed.

Good luck with whatever it is you decide to do.

Thanks Robin, I didn't even think of those

SHUT UP!!!

Kim, girl..its official. You rock.

Unfortunately, the only place I've seen them is in NO. I will have to ask my dad how to make them-- its like funnel cake type dessert. Serve with the deepest, richest coffee and gggggiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrlllllllll

Cures hangovers too. LOL

Wow, Mer, they sound like awesome combos

Yankee

Midsummer's Night

Roses of Cliffwalk

Christmas Eve

Cinnamon Toast

Christmas Cookie

White Christmas

Amber Sunset

Apricot & Honey

Autumn Wreath

Buttercream

Chocolate Chip Cookie/Buttercream

Clean Cotton

Farmstand Fresh

Farmhouse Apple

Fresh Comfort

Harvest

Home Sweet Home

Island Mango

MacIntosh

Meadow Mist

Mistletoe

Mountain Fern

Rain Washed

Splash of Rain

Storm Watch

Sunflower Days

Sunwashed Linen

Vanilla Sandalwood

Wedding Day

White Birch

Witches' Brew

Products:

Tarts

Pier 1

Spiced Pear

Products:

Glazes

Village Candle

Sugar Cookie

Cinnamon Buns

Products:

Car Candle

Simmerblends

Lumi-Lite

Products:

Cake Candle

Merry-Go-Rounds

Country Fixins

Bundt Delight

Cake Crumbs

PartyLite

Discover

Glade

Angel Whispers

Clean Linen

Lavender Meadow

Melon Burst

Mountain Berry

Rainshower

Refreshing Spa

Strawberries and Cream

Suddenly Spring

Café Latte

Elegant Evening

Garden Bliss

Mom's Apple Crisp

Tahitian Dream

Berry Picking

Day at the Seashore

Evening at Home

Sweet Angel Blossoms

Dewberry Dreams

Spiced Rose and Vanilla

Orchid Oasis

http://s9.invisionfree.com/Suds_and_Flames/index.php?showtopic=170

I have a list on the other board...I will get it for you

Thanks Scented

If you've never had Creole Beignets, honey, you don't know what you're missing

Thanks for the suggestions...I remember Krispy Kreme all to well. They were great through out pregnancy.

Is there a mixed FO like this? I'd like a Creole Beignet type scent. If not a mix, can anyone suggest a good Doughnut type scent (I've seen all the great Coffee FOs in the other thread).

Sounds like its Tequila and chocolate cake time!

Big hugs, Michi...I hope you get it worked out soon. I know your daughter will be proud of you

Keep us updated!

Hi Heather

Thanks for the input-- I just looked at the tester again, (I set it aside) and it is very loose and creamy. When I rub it on my hand, I can feel the sugar, but only when I rub and its not noticeable at first touch. She (my tester) said she didn't get a chance to use it when I first arrived back in town, so she put it on her window sill until she could.....

So now I'm trying to get a hold of my testers to see if they had the same problem or if it does this as it gets old as a result of me adding too much butter, oil, etc.

Angie,

That sounds HEAVENLY!!

Came back to say that I played with SweetCakes' Tide and Longwyck's Fresh Linen (call it Laundry Day) and it is AWESOME. Fully intend on making a smelly jelly for my laundry room-- its great

Tart,

You will love it! It is such a rich and deep fragrance; I'm still trying to play with toning it down b/c I want more of the sweetness to come through. Otherwise it is a very sexy scent.

Top!

We are on the same wavelength!!! Now we need one for Sexy MF LMAO

LOL you are too much!