hometowncandles

Ok, I wish you guys would stop coming up with so many great ideas. I would have never thought about using a smoothie maker. I'm off to Wal-mart later to p/u my dd & ds birthday present so I will be trolling the small appliances isle for a smoothie maker. It has to be easier than using a pastry bag, I too tried the ziploc baggies, and boy what a mess. I'm clumsy by nature anyway, add a bag full of squishy, gooey, stuff that I have to hold and squeeze with one hand while trying to steady a bottle with the other hand and well, that just reaks of disaster. LOL

After reading this thread, it seems that there is always something going on with them. Until now I thought it was just me. I ordered some sniffies about a year ago from them, I was charged right away, and paid throug paypal instant transfer, but didn't receive my order for nearly 6 weeks. I had to e-mail them at least three times before I finally got a response. And then I was told the order had been shipped, they didn't know why I hadn't received it. As for them not responding to my two previous e-mails, I was told that their server had been down and they had lost alot of their e-mails in the process. I did finally receive my sniffies, which I thought were really good, but not good enough to go through that mess again. I can ceratinly understand a company that may have technical difficulties, I know most of us has wanted to hurl our computers through the window at times. And I certainly have sympathy for someone who has a loss in their family, but there seems to be too many excuses from this company. I would add them to a buyer beware list. JMO, for what it's worth Jennifer

Bugtussle and I weren't the only ones that seemed to think you were on an impossible quest, so did so-soy and candlebuddy. Which is where at least half of your responses have come from. And I don't think anyone has implied that you don't know what you are doing, we don't know you. You may have just started this business and you may be a seasoned pro, who knows. I was just saying that it doesn't take a person very long being in this business to realize that you can't rely on just one or two suppliers unless you only plan to offer limited scents. Each one offers their own unique scents and may smell totally different than someone else's of the same name. Maybe you shouldn't post if you are going to become so offended. And maybe if you would ask for Clarification first you wouldn't become so offended so easily. Jennifer

I need the sew on kind, I am going to sew one piece to my table skirt and then I can use some type of glue to put the other strip around my table. Hancock fabrics looks like they are really reasonable, a 15 foot roll is only $3.35, but it's the sticky back kind. I'll have to search further and see if they have the sew on kind. Thanks everybody Jennifer

I agree with everyone else. If you have been doing this long enough to be selling, then surely you have realized by now that the perfect supplier does not exist. I use 7 or 8 suppliers so I can get the best quality oils for my customers. I have had really good luck with most all of my oils from Peak, JS and Ky. They each have really great f/o's but, I may like a particular scent from one place better than the others and vice versa. And sometimes a supplier just doesn't carry everything you are looking for. I know these aren't the responses you wanted. But I have tried a couple of places who say they have lots of f/o's and they were mostly "miss". Just my $.02 Jennifer

Finally got onto Joann.com, it does seem a bit high to me. They are offering 50% off through the 28th but even with that it's much higher than Sam's including shipping. BTW-never thought about looking at Sam's thank's for the suggestion. 30' for 21.49 delivered, can't beat that. Thanks Jennifer

I am trying to make a table skirt and cloth for my display tables. I need about 12 yards of velcro, but my local wal-mart no longer sells it by the yard you have to buy it in packages. If I buy it this way it will cost me almost $30.00 and that's more than I paid for the fabric to make 2 skirts and cloths. I tried to check out joann.com but their site must be down because the page wouldn't load. I don't sew or craft alot, so I am sorta clueless if wal-mart doesn't carry it. I am looking for the sticky kind in white and I need both sides. TIA Jennifer

I have both the Nucar from Taylored and the Genuine Leather from Peak. They smell similar but different, if that makes any sense. To me the Nucar smells just like the air fresheners you can get at Wally World but the Genuine Leather smells better. How much did you need? I have about 1/2 ounce of the Nucar and 1 ounce of the Genuine Leather. Or if you just want to try them out before ordering any just pm me. Jennifer

If you go to the "Business Side of Things" section and do a search on liability insurance, you can find quite a bit of discussion on this topic. I have been looking for cheaper insurance also. Liability insurance through my current insurance company is $711.00 per year. I have checked with auto-owners and it is quite a bit cheaper but they won't write it unless I move my homeowners policy to them, which is quite a bit more there than where it is now. So I'm going to pay about the same total either way, but if I should ever choose to stop selling candles I'm going to be stuck with higher homeowners if I change, so I'll just stay where I am until I can check out other options. HTH Jennifer

I also used a peppermint foot lotion when I was pregnant, and it didn't seem to cause any problems. But then I read a couple of posts on here where it was unsafe for pregnant women to use. I'm glad to hear that it's ok. Peppermint is the only thing I could find to soothe my feet. Thanks soapersworkshop

Sorry I couldn't help, Good luck in your search.

I have a 1oz sampler bottle of raspberry from JS I'd be willing to part with if you are interested. I'm not sure how close it is to real raspberry but if you want to try it just pm me Jennifer

Hey all, I have 3 good friends who are mommy's to be and I would like to make them something special. I have done some searching and have found some wonderful recipes and ideas, but was wondering if you guys had some good recipes that you wouldn't mind sharing. I would like to make a cooling foot rub and a belly balm. I had thought about using a good lotion recipe and adding peppermint eo, but I read in a couple of the posts where peppermint eo shouldn't be used if you are pregnant. Are there others that shouldn't be used as well? I don't want to cause the babies or mommies any harm. TIA Jennifer

Didn't you say you were internet based? What are your most popular items now? You may want to start there, maybe take 10 or so of your most popular scents purchased online, in a variety of your normal sizes, and maybe take some brochures or handouts about your site and your company's ability to custom make products to your customer's specs. I am mainly home based which is good in a sense that I don't have alot of overhead, but also bad because some people are apprehensive about coming into someone's home to purchase items, especially if they don't know them. I have found shows to be a great way to get out and meet people, showcase your items and get repeat customers. Once people get an opportunity to try your product, they won't want to wait until the next show to buy more, so they will often call and either want to come pick up items or have me meet them somewhere in town where I normally sell and get their goods. HTH ~J

Ok, I have managed to make a few of the suggested changes, but more are still in the works. I have also been reading through some of the other check out my site posts and have found some helpful info from them also. Thank you all for taking the time to help me. It is so hard to critique your own work. Still have lots more to do, finding time to do it is the hard part. I am going to get up with my cousin this week about taking some pics for me. I have a pretty good camera, it's just the cameraman (or woman in my case) that's not so great. LOL There's definately no future career in photography for me. Well, just wanted to say thanks again, let's go tweek some more. ~J

I know the feeling, it seems like everytime I get in a hurry or decide to do something at the last minute, I screw it up. And I am forever out of ink on my printer. I swear, I don't know where it goes. I think there is a little gobblin' living in my candleroom stealing my ink when I need it most. He makes me soooooo mad. LOL

I got mine from scalebargains on e-bay. I have a 55 pound digital scale for my wax and my f/o's and I purchased a jewelry scale to weigh my dye flakes. I have both for over a year now and although the larger scale is now wax coated, I have never had a problem with either.

Thank you so much. I think I'm going to "bite the bullett" so to speak and buy one. From what I have read on past posts and what you guys are saying now, I'm convinced that this will be a great printer. I'm sure there are better ones out there, but I don't have a couple of thousand to drop on a printer. DH would have the big one. I just wanted to do a quick check and make sure people were still happy with this model and there hadn't been something better come along. I'm practically a tech dummy, so I like to ask around to see what has worked for others. Thanks again Jennifer

Thank you, this is the one I have definately been leaning toward. I have read several posts where people loved them. And you're right they are alot less expensive than most of the lasers out there. I was just hesitant to buy another hp. Thanks for letting me know that there is a big difference in the quality of hp's inkjets and lasers. Jennifer

I agree, I also have 4 sizes, 5, 10, 16, & 26 apothecaries. My pricing structure is 5=$1.00 per oz 10=$.60 per oz 16=$.57 per oz 26=$.42 per oz But, where I use the same style jars, just different sizes, that makes a difference also. There's only about $.30 difference in jar cost from my 5 ounce to my 26 ounce. I know it's nice to offer a variety, but you may even want to consider using your more costly jars for your smaller candles and less expensive jars for your larger candles. That way you don't have to mark your larger candles up so much to make back your money. JMO I just like sticking to the same thing, it's easier on the brain. I don't have so much to figure.

I been looking through past posts, and noticed that alot of you use the HP2600n Laser Printer for you labels and print jobs. Do you guys still like this printer? And what dislikes do you have with it? I am in real need of a new printer, I am so frustrated with my ink jet that I could just chuck it out the window. I had been using an Epson and loved it for labels and basic printing, but it's so out of date that wal-mart doesn't even carry the cartridges for it anymore. So my dh bought me an hp all-in-one for Christmas, and I have been using it, but I can not get my labels lined up correctly. Each time I print it seems that I have to adjust my margins, even when my margins are set to the label mfgs specs. So I swore that I would never buy another hp as long as I lived, but it seems that many of you prefer the HP2600n. Is it that much better than the inkjet? Oh yeah, one more question, can you send documents to the printer without being connected directly to it if you have a wireless connection? TIA Jennifer

Yes, you have to condiser twice the wick, twice the heat. Plus my 10 ounce jars are quite a bit larger in diameter than my 5 ounce jars, nearly 2 inches, so the double wicking with a larger wick is necessary to prevent tunneling and hang-ups on the side. I have not been real happy with these jars, so I am thinking about discontinuing them. But alot of my customers like them for warmers, so I may just use them for wickless. I still haven't made up my mind yet.

I agree, I use the cd wicks, I thought I was getting a better deal once. Boy was I wrong. I got more wicks for a cheaper price, but I didn't get the quality. I now stick with the same supplier. Lesson Learned the hard way.

Thanks guys, those are all great suggestions. It's so easy to look at someone else's stuff and know what you would like to see or what you don't like about it, but when you are trying to critique your own stuff, man it gets hard. I will post a link to my site below, DUH!! I think my brain is still fried from trying to get all of my buttons and links to work. So far I need to do away with the intro page, add a candles n tarts button, add a scents description page, and have better photos of my candles, I think I got it. I have a cousin who takes really great professional like photos, I think I might see if I can work out a trade, candles for pics.LOL AJ~feel free to use my siggy anytime, I'm sure that applies to more people than just me. I think it applies more now than before I started this web-page though. If I weren't so stingy, I would have paid somebody to do it for me and save me the headache, but NOOOOOOO, not smart enough to do that. ms~I checked out your melts, very nice, your site just looks so clean and organized. I hate shopping a messy and cluttered site. Thanks guys for your input, I will try to get started on those changes when I get everyone to bed tonight, that includes DH. He's almost as bad as the kids. www.hometowncandlesandgifts.com

I have a few of my items in a local consignment shop, I just took a few of my candles and left flyers with my other products. I don't know how this consignment shop is set up, but the one here is ran by volunteers, so they are pretty desperate for workers and will let just about anybody do it. There is one lady in particular who brings her kids with her, and boy are they wild. Everytime I've ever been up there to check my stuff and she has been working, her kids have been "running" through the store, playing with items people have left for consignment, driving people who are trying to chop crazy. They are the biggest reason I didn't leave too many of my items. I dind't want them destroyed. Don't get me wrong, I love kids, I have two of my own. But, if you are fortunate enough to be able to take them places with you like that, then control them. If you can't you need to either leave them with someone or keep them at home. If mine acted like that, that's exactly what I would do. I mean this is a volunteer thing, it's not necessary for income purposes or anything. But, this one may be more professionally run. I think consignment shops can be a good thing. It will at least get you name out to more people if nothing else. I have had a few people call me about my products because they saw my display there. Good Luck To Ya