hometowncandles

.....check out my site posts. Ok, I have been working on this thing forever, well maybe not forever, but it sure seems that way. I need some critique` on how it looks, and some advice on what I may need to change. I know some of you guys have had a site for a long time and know what works and what doesn't. So I need your input. And for those of you who either don't have a site or have a new site like me(and still trying to figure it out), you know what you like and what you don't like when viewing a site. So, please guys, don't hold back. All opinions are welcome, just please be tactful and polite, no need to be nasty or critical, I wouldn't do it to you. TIA Jennifer:cheesy2:

I also would be interested in hearing opinions on this, I have been looking to add a few tins to my line and there are just so many choices. It would be nice to know what is selling the best for everybody. Jennifer

EMercier, Your displays look very nice. I haven't really gotten into the shows yet. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to. There are plenty within 50 miles or so of where I live, especially in the spring and summer, but I have a 2 and 3 year old that would be in tow, and they just don't mix well with glass candle jars. I have done 1 show, last November. There were 3 more booths with candles, but we were all spread apart, no two were side by side, so I thought that was great. It was a great learning experience, I hope to be able to do that one again. This year maybe I'll be a little better prepared.

Ooops~My Bad Now that I have done. I use KYSOY125 and I haven't noticed a difference.

A few of the concerns I would see with this is that your jar might not be microwave safe, do you use metal in your wicks or your wick tab(can't put that stuff in a microwave ya know) and you really can't control the temp of your wax in the microwave. I'm no expert here, but I'd be afraid to do it myself. I have put mine in the oven before on 170 and then put the jars on a cookie sheet. It takes a while to do a larger jar, but you can kinda control the temp a little, plus if you have a couple of jars you need to do at once you can. Somebody else with more experience may be of more help. Jennifer

I am trying to get my shopping cart set up on my site. I have been able to set up my buy it now buttons and view cart buttons, but I am looking to customize them to match my other buttons. I just can't figure it out. I am using the free version of mals-e with Frontpage 2003. Any help will be greatly appreciated. TIA Jennifer

I'm not trying to start anything here, but if I were in your shoes, I don't think I would post on a public forum some of the tactics I have taken to avoid people stealing my ideas or products. I mean seriously,tracing somebody's IP address because they wanted to know how you make a product, and having somebody served with a C&D because they copied your product. BTW-I don't agree with copying anybody's stuff, but if it's not trademarked or something, I wouldn't think there would much legal recourse anyway. Believe me, I can understand how frustrating it is when you put lots of hard work and lots of money into creating a quality product and then someone comes along and wants to take the easy way out and copy what you have done so they don't have to invest in the time and cost of trial and error. But that sounds a little obsessed to me. JMOT I guess what I'm getting at is, if I were a potential customer and I read on here that you went to such lengths to keep people from "stealing" your ideas, I'm not sure I would purchase anything. I'd be afraid you would be lurking over my shoulder watching for me to duplicate that item and try to market it. BTW-wouldn't do that. But, can you see my point? Again not trying to be sarcastic or start anything, but from my viewpoint a rant such as this shouldn't be put into writing, especially on a public forum.

I usually test one of each size I plan to make with that particular wax and f/o. That is after I find the right size wick. It may take me several tries to find the right wick for that particular f/o, since different scents tend to need different size wicks. For the most part I am able to use the same size wick for each f/o I use in a particular size jar, but I do have a few scents that need either a smaller wick or a larger wick. That's one reason testing is soooo important. You never know how something will burn until you test it. HTH- Jennifer

I used the exact jars you are looking at for Christmas. I would strongly advise against it. The 5 ounce ones are ok, but the larger sizes break soooo easy. You can just barely bump two together, full or empty and they will crack to pieces. But now I use the clear ones from the jar store and absolutely love them. I think the process of frosting them weakens the glass. JMO HTH Jennifer

I've had a few people ask me that, and I just refer them to CT and Google. And say that what works for me might not work for them. Usually they get the message and don't push too hard for more answers. I figure, if they are true friends they won't get offended.

I just can't figure the advantage of stamps.com. I am using a free 4 week trial right now, but I don't think I'm going to keep it. Maybe I'm missing something, but I can do the same thing at USPS.com and use my credit card as a payment source and I don't have to pay $15.95 a month. Maybe somebody can enlighten me to the advantages of stamps.com.

I got some off e-bay. seller's name yankeeman6389 store name Chrim-Cor Packaging Specialist He usually has a nice variety of bags and such. HTH

Welcome to FHA (fo/ho's annonymous)

Actually the tax you pay at the end of the year if you file a state and federal tax form is income tax. (Some cities may have a local business tax also, but not where I live). It is income from your business that you are taxed on. If you pay a sales tax on supplies you purchase to make your items or to re-sell in your business, that is considered a business expense. It is listed on your year end tax forms and is used as a deduction to decrease the amount of tax you owe to the government or to increase your refund, which ever the case may be. For most of my supplies, I use my tax id# so I don't have to pay tax, and as Chele said, I don't have all that extra money tied up. But, there are a few places where it's more hassle than it's worth to use my tax id#. Places like wal-mart, sams, dollar stores, etc. you have to fill out a form each time you want to use your tax exempt # so I just pay tax, keep my receipt, and file it as an expense at the end of the year. HTH Jennifer

I have an endless supply of these two. Willing to share if anyone's interested. LOL

Kinda makes ya wonder now, when you see all the ads for free shipping and anything ships for $xx.xx. I see those offers alot online. Now I'm not saying everyone that has those ads is doing something illegal, but I know it cost me an arm and a leg and sometimes two to ship packages. Just wondered how these other companies were doing it so cheap. Now I know

I posted a similar question on another message board, and one of the members there swears by wholesalesuppliesplus vanilla neutralizer. She usese it with pink sugar from KY and she says she hasn't had any trouble with it turning her products brown. I haven't ordered it yet, but I plan to. I love pink sugar, but I hate the way it turns. Don't mean to start something new here, but I have also noticed that it only turns some bases brown. I ordered lotion base from craftlobby, which is a waterbased product, and it stayed a pretty shade of pink, but then I used it in soy whip from KY and it turned a yucky brown. Maybe somebody with more knowledge in chemistry than me can explain this.

Love the bright colors, I'd buy them.

Has anyone used her white tea and ginger in B&B? I love it in soy and thought it would make a really nice lotion or body spray. I finally got chestnuts and brown sugar poured to test and it is wonderful, definately will be ordering some more of it, and I also liked the coconut cream pie, but I think I am going to try the coconut bubble before I order anymore of this. Just to compare. I think I may have added too much f/o for the key lime pie, I used 1oz pp of soy and to me it smells like citrus scent mr. clean. I like the smell of mr clean after I mop the floors, but not sure I want to smell it all the time. :undecided

Jane42, just thought I'd ask. I'm certainly no expert, I thought I might be missing out on something to make things easier. I guess I'm sorta self-taught. You read all theses different methods on the internet, but a lot of times people don't explain their reasoning behind it. And you can't always ask like you can on here. As far as pot clean up I hate that. I usually sit my aluminum pot on one of those racks you cook cookies on and sit it over a pot of boiling water to melt all of the wax off the sides and then wipe with a paper towel before washing up. But I like your heat gun idea, it sounds much easier. I'll have to try that.

OH, a scratch n sniff screen, what a wonderful idea. Someone needs to get Bill Gates on that idea. Of course some other computer guru would probably just sue him because he was smart enough to come up with something they didn't.

I use the aluminum pour pots and have never had to heat mine. Maybe this is a trick I don't know about. What is the benefit of heating your pot before pouring your wax? Always looking for new tricks to make things better or easier. BTW, I went with candlewic, I am adding several new summer scents and needed about 10 or so. At 7.75 each, they were less than anywhere else I could find, plus candlewic is offering in their weekly sale right now a free pound of scent when you order $75.00 in other mdse. So I ordered their ultimate tangerine. I just love the smell of tangerines, hope their f/o smells true. Thanks guys for all of your posts.

I also love clipart by trina...also you don't have to buy a license for each piece of clipart you want to use. You buy the collection, you are free to use as you want as long as you don't mass produce your items, like Yankee, B&BW etc. Some sites want to sell you the clipart and then you have to buy a license to use it on your site or on you mdse. As much as most of them charge for the art, the license fee should be included.

I think that's just a hubby thing.

I agree with ginger, I have not personally gone into business with anyone, but I have seen the outcome of a couple of ventures and they weren't always good. But, if you don't go into business together, then there is a good chance she may go on her own since she is making money already. So I guess you have to decide if you want her as a partner or competition. You all may be best friends now, and I sincerely hope it stays that way, but money and the prospect of making it can split the closest relationships. One of the ventures I mentioned was between two sisters who no longer speak. They opened a flower shop together, intentions to split everything 50/50 profit, bills, work, etc. An issue beyond their control caused them to have to close up shop, each one blamed the other, and now they don't speak. It's so sad to see money come between people. It is just money after all. But that's just my I hope everything works out great for ya, no matter which path you choose. Jennifer