Trae

Forgot to mention that my daughter ended up making $75 off those Cake in a Mugs she made. Possibility of 2 orders too! Made her feel good.

Had more people come today and did about $600. So my total for the 2 days was a little over $1100. Good thing is that's all profit because I bought all of the supplies with the profit I made off of a large order. I'm leaving my display up in my basement till Christmas for last minute shoppers. Some people said they'll be back. Those who didn't come sometimes show up at a later date too. Hope everyone else did well this weekend!

I advertised by sending out flyers. I send them to everyone I know, even those I know won't come. Figured maybe one day they'll change their mind. What gets me mad is I had TONS of people asking me if and when I'm having my open house this year and these are the people that don't show! Last year I had most of the people show up on Saturday. Hope that's not the case this year! I know of 6 definitely coming tomorrow so I'm crossing my fingers that more show up. The cake in a mug is fun for kids. My DD has the attention span of a gnat so this was something simple for her to put together. We got mugs at WalMart for 60 cents and she sold them for $5. Even made herself little business cards! Here's a link for the directions: http://www.budget101.com/recipes/id195.htm Jane...good luck with your open house!

Things were slow today. Had about 10 people show. Made $477. Not too bad but could be better. I'm expecting quite a few people tomorrow so hopefully they come ready to buy! I certainly hope so because since the school holiday shop was a bomb, I have lots of stuff left! DD made "Cake in a Mug" to sell at her own little table so she made $25. I'll post again tomorrow with final results.

I can understand wanting alot of items for $1-$2 because parents don't give the kids much money to spend at these things, but they do have a parent shopping night which is where most of the higher priced items get sold. However, to tell me I should be donating almost a quarter of what I make when they are only pushing dollar items is absurd. If I wanted to run my business off of dollar items I'll go to a flea market. I guess they expect me to make 500 flip flop soaps so they can get a decent donation. My kids don't even go to this school so the fact that I'm an outsider making any kind of donation should be enough for them. Don't think I'll be going back next year.

Not as good as I'd hoped. I've been going to this school for about 4 years and always did around $800. This time did $425. Last year I came home wth any item over $5, so this year I brough only $5 & under items. I sold out of my mini flip flop soaps which were $1 and also firestarters, which were 2/$1. Sold out of soaps that had lizards and bugs in it. Yesterday the school called me and asked if I had anymore "dollar items". Didn't know this was going to be a dollar store! As I was leaving after breaking down my display, I gave the woman in charge my inventory sheet and she asked what percentage I usually give and I told her 10%. That's what I was told was a suggested donation when I first started going there and it's been that way ever since. This woman with her started on this rampage about how 10% is ridiculous, that's way too cheap, it should be 20-30% blah, blah. So now they want to up it next year. Well, I don't know that I'll do it next year if they up the percentage. Especially if they only want to sell dollar items. I thought it was pretty rude of the woman to say that in front of me because it wasn't a fundraiser, so the donation should be whatever I want it to be. I made more off my home show with 20 people than I did in 3 days at that school so I might think twice about it next year. At least I made something!

I have one every year. I hold it on a Saturday and Sunday. Saturday from 1pm to 8 pm and Sunday 1 pm to 6pm. It's all cash & carry so this way people come and go. I put out soda, punch, chips, pretzels and cookies (also offer beer & wine to close friends, lol!). This is the first year I'm doing a raffle basket. If the person invited brings a friend, they both get their name entered in the drawing for the basket and they don't need to be present to win. I've always done really well with them. Good luck if you decide to do it!

I usually work it that all checks are made payable to the organziation, then they cut me a check less their percentage. I just did a fundraiser where all checks came to me, then I wrote them a check for their percentage, but that was a real PITA.

Here's the cheapest I've found: http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/product.asp?product_id=HL101N&searchflag=1

That's what makes the CD3's so easy to use...they are so rigid, they don't fall over when you pour. I get them from C&S.

I did a party at my friend's house last night. Had a bout 20 show up and did about $750 in sales. Sold out of my cookie basket candles and xmas light gel candles. Big sellers were my hot cocoa mug candles, votive size gel candles with wax peppermints and soaps with ducks, frogs and of course the fish in a bag. Big sellers in the jars were Pumpkin Pie, Apple Crisp and XMas Splendor. I also got some additional orders for things that sold out and a few people want to come to my open house. Another friend was there selling her Mary Kay products and she did pretty well too. Now I have to spend this weel replenishing plus making even more for the school holiday shop and my open house. Two more weeks and hopefully I can relax!!

I got a batch of the same wax from C&S but I'm not having any issues with it. Let me know if they let you return it.

The checks weren't being made out to the league, they were being made out to me so someone has to pay the tax. In my state, youth sports leagues are not tax exempt.

I just bought a fold-up flat bed cart from Harbor Freight for $30. Holds up to 350 lbs. Makes for less trips back and forth from the car!!

I swear by CD3 wicks for tealights. They are real rigid so they stand up easily. I ise container wax but you can also use what you have been using.

Totally not worth all the aggravation I went thru. First the team mom tells me they are going to start before Labor Day, didn't happen till mid-September. Then the coach decides he wants all money to come directly to me and then me cut them a check for their percentage. That was fine but then I had to collect sales tax. Put that on the form and the team mom asks why they have to collect tax since they are tax exempt. Had to explain that. The fundraiser was to end October 15 and they had 7 days to get the master sheet back to me. I just got them back today. And how much in sales?? Only $400! Doesn't seem like much over a month and a half. She said no one wants to participate in fundraisers anymore since the schools do so many. I feel bad for the kids on the team because the $162 they get from me won't get much for a travel team. Oh well. I have another soccer team doing one right now so hopefully that one will be better.

Another one that bothers people is FG Marketing. I get calls from them at least once every two months.

I use CD-3's from C&S. The best I've tried so far.

Try here: http://featurecart.com/jpeg/index.asp HTH!

I got some cute snowman mugs from Big Lots. They also have some rectangular enamelware with different holiday designs. Haven't seen much at Dollar Tree this year.

I give a hostess gift, usually a cache pot warmer with a wickless candle in a basket, and 10% of the total sales in free candles.

I use a drop of hot glue. The wicks never move while burning. I pass that job off to my daughter. LOL!

Here ya go! http://shop.candlesandsupplies.com/candles/category.asp?catalog_name=Candles&category_name=Waxed+Wicking+by+the+Roll&Page=1

I pretty much only use scrap wax for these because I was accumulating waaayyy too many pinecone firestarters! I just add brown liquid dye to every batch of scrap wax. If you use container wax that is too soft, just pop the mold into the freezer for a bit and the chip will pop right out. I highly recommend getting the bag topper card that Pourette sells because it explains what they are and how to use them.

Yep! You just put one on tup of some crumpled newspaper. Last a pretty long time.