JMT

hey all, So if anyone remembers my soap opera drama about doing this consignment gig. So they (the store) wanted to consign at 50/50. I told them that most of the candlemakers I know think that is too low. On the streets where I sell my candles, I got $12 for this particular candle. Now they are offering me a 60/40 cut. I want to ask for a 70/30 cut. Do you think asking for $7 each, that is getting too greedy? I don't want to be greedy and also don't want to lose my first account either. But I also don't want to be taken advantage. I work real hard on each candle. And they also know I am clueless about business and that this is my first account. So I have to give them an answer soon. Any advice would be awesome! thanks jmt

well how do you huh? ")

Would it be ok to use a CD wick for a soy pillar or a 2"x2" free standing cube shaped votive and in a 4"X4" pillar? Or is it a must to use LX for soy wax. I am trying to switch to soy. Any suggestions? thanks

So this store offered me a 60/40 consignment deal better than 50/50 right? I know.. I know....it's a little low but it get's me in a store. I need to get my candles "out there" so I will bite the bullet here. They are nice folk, so I don' think it will be a bad time. I wanted to you guys a ?. They don't want me to put my contact info on my candles for obviouse reasons. But they also said that if I get hits on my web-site they would want me to reroute them to the store to buy my candles and not from me direct? Is this how it goes? If I start up a website and get orders why should this store get the profit? And what if I am in a few more stores? Do I tell all my e-commerce traffic to bypass me all the time to contact the retail stores my candles are at? Would you say that you make any kind of small profit from wholesale accounts and not so much getting retail price on your website or having a booth or your own store? It seems that's how one makes any kind of extra income from candles is from wholesale accounts.

So you get $2.50 for a $26 retail candle? Isn't that kinda low? I am just asking that's all. How come you are not getting like $5-$8 per candle? I am just asking to learn from pro candle makers about the biz side of it. Hope you don't take offense. Just want to learn the right way to deal with retail stores. thanks J

Is there like the "bible" of candle business books out there? I never hear of a great book on the biz side of candlemaking that everyone raves aboot. Any suggestions?

Hey All, If you are just starting your candle business. Would you say getting in a few shoppes just to get your candles out there is a good way to start as well as doing some vending? I am working on a web-site for the near future as well. If I get into a shoppe, they don't want me to put contact info. on the candles b/c they want folks to come to their store to get your candles not your website where you get all the profit. Would you say that there is no perfect mold for business? I might get some biz from a shoppe and I might get direct biz from my site or selling them at fairs and such. So I should not limit or box myself in to an idea I have of how this my candles will sell? In other words, I should not stress so much and just let things happen in the way they do? Any advice from the pros out there. thanks JMT

Hey All, Well I did it. I did my first street vending on Sunday. Did ok not great. Sold like 8 candles. I was just so wasted after. Standing in the cold for 6 hours! Are we insane people or what?! I guess we just got that "Passion of the Wax" LOL! Anyway now that it's over, I feel like I am coming down from the high of preping for it. And I wonder if anyone else goes through that or is it just me? And now I am thinking I could either bag it or I could push on ward and do it next weekend. I guess having a dream is easy but making the dream happen takes WORK! I guess we have good days and not so good days selling. The other street vendors were real supportive. Telling me just that. Good days and really bad days. I guess the good news it, I sell 8 candles. That 8 more than zero, right? Any positive reinforement would be good to hear. Best, JMT

Hi All, Just wondering if one generates more income from having own web-site biz and getting paid direct,retail price from customer as aposed to selling wholesale to a store? I guess if you get enough traffic to your site, you do ok. I imagine it to be less of a headache to not have to deal with stores and contracts etc.and you can just focus on your customers. Or should there be a nice mix of both? Any thoughts from folks with web-sites making millions of dollars... ha ha. thanks

Hey guys, thanks so much for all your thoughts. Sounds like a a big "no" from most. Here is the contract. If you guys have 3 hours to kill reading it, ha ha, I would be so greatful. Don't know if this is a standard contrct. Any thoughts are real helpful. Thanks again! 1.0 Responsibilities of the Craftsperson 1.1 The Craftsperson, upon timely pick up or delivery of Items, shall either provide the Shop with an itemized consignment list, or sign a similar list prepared by the Shop, describing the Items and agreed retail and wholesale prices. 1.2 The Craftsperson hereby represents that the Items delivered to or picked up from the Shop are fully owned and created by the Craftsperson. 1.3 The Craftsperson shall not deliver Items to the Shop without the Shop’s permission. 1.4 Normally customer returns will be deducted from Craftsperson’s payment at regular commission rates and show as a negative sale on the monthly statements. In the event that the Shop elects to receive that payment, any amounts due by the Craftsperson that are not received within 30 days of the date requested will accrue interest of 1.25% per month on the unpaid balance. Penalty interest does not apply in cases where the due date is not met due to acts of God (fire, flood, etc.). 1.5 The Craftsperson is responsible to provide the Shop a current biography, personal photo, craftsperson’s statement, and photographs, slides, or electronic images of their work for publicity purposes, if requested. 1.6 If a Craftsperson receives a physical inventory of Items remaining in stock from the Shop that differs from the Craftsperson’s own inventory, the Craftsperson shall notify the Shop of the discrepancy within thirty (30) days of receiving the Shop’s inventory. The Craftsperson must cooperate with the Shop to help resolve the discrepancy 2.0 Responsibilities of the Shop 2.1 The Shop agrees to exercise all due and reasonable care in the handling, transporting, display, and storage of the Items until sold or returned to the Craftsperson. 2.2 The Shop will be liable to the Craftsperson for any injury, damage, loss, theft or disappearance of or to the Items in an amount equal to the value established between the Craftsperson and the Shop. 2.3 The Items shall be held in trust by the Shop for the benefit of the Craftsperson and shall not be subject to claim by a creditor of the Shop. 2.4 The Shop shall ensure no photographs or other reproductions of consigned goods are to be made without the permission of Craftsperson with the exception of advertising or to show Item to customer. The Shop shall not permit the Items to be used for any other purpose without the written consent of the Craftsperson. 2.5 The Shop has the right to determine how many Items they can accept for display and to keep as backup inventory. 2.6 Payments to Craftsperson 2.6.1 The Craftsperson will be paid of the agreed base retail price as listed on the Receipt for Consigned Items. The Shop reserves the right to add other costs, such as shipping expenses, to the base retail price. The additional costs are not subject to the _____ share. 2.6.2 The Shop will remit to the Craftsperson, by the 10th working day of each calendar month, payment for all sales concluded during the previous month. If requested, the Shop will also remit a written sales report listing the specific Items sold. 2.6.3 In the event that amounts due to the Craftsperson by the Shop are not received within 15 days of the date described above, the Shop will pay to the Craftsperson interest at 1.25% per month on the unpaid balance. Penalty interest does not apply in cases where the due date is not met due to acts of God (fire, flood, etc.). 2.6.4 When the Shop needs to place an order with the Craftsperson, the Shop is responsible for: a. Taking the customer’s order and coordinating it with the Craftsperson, b. Making all financial arrangements and securing all deposits and payments, and c. Concluding the transaction by making satisfactory terms for delivery to the customer. 2.7 Although the Craftsperson is expected to maintain his/own inventory, the Shop shall maintain inventory records. The Shop at the end of each fiscal year will complete a year-end physical inventory of Items remaining in stock and, if requested, a report will be sent to the Craftsperson within one month of the inventory. Any discrepancies between the physical inventory and the inventory of record will be reconciled by the end of the following month the discrepancy was noted, and accounted for in that month’s sales check. 2.8 The Shop may not increase the specified retail price without the written agreement of the Craftsperson. In the case of discounted sales, the discount will be deducted from the Shop's commission. 3.0 Returns and Withdrawals Either the Shop or the Craftsperson may determine that Items shall be removed from exhibit and returned to the Craftsperson. In the case of termination of the Agreement, all consigned Items shall be returned or picked-up within ten (10) working days of termination. 3.1 Returns Initiated By the Shop The Shop may return consignment Items to the Craftsperson for rotation purposes and at its own discretion. If the Shop initiates a return, the Shop shall notify the Craftsperson at least seven (7) days prior to removing the Items from display. The Shop is responsible to the Craftsperson for delivery of the removed Items and shall provide a list of all returned Items. 3.2 Withdrawals Initiated By the Craftsperson If a withdrawal is initiated by the Craftsperson, notice should be given at least seven (7) days prior to removal. In this case the Craftsperson is responsible for picking up or paying for shipping the returned Items. The Shop shall provide a list of all returned Items. 4.0 Term of Agreement The term of this agreement is one year from the date the Agreement is signed by both parties. It will be automatically renewed unless it is terminated per the terms of this agreement. Notice to terminate shall be delivered in writing to the Shop and the Craftsperson no fewer than thirty (30) days prior to desired termination date. Acceptance of this Agreement is limited to the terms and conditions stated herein or specifically incorporated by reference. Any additions, deletions or differences in the terms and conditions of this Agreement proposed by either party must be agreed to in writing and incorporated into written modifications to this Agreement. 5.0 Disputes Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any dispute arising between the parties which is not disposed of by mutual agreement shall be referred to the American Arbitration Association (AAA), pursuant to the AAA's Rules of Commercial Arbitration. A single arbitrator will be mutually selected by Craftsperson and the Shop, and the parties will share equally in all arbitration costs, except that each party will be responsible for its own attorney's fees, if any. The arbitrator will have no power to add to, subtract from, or otherwise modify this agreement. 6.0 Waiver and Severability 6.1 The failure or delay of either party to insist on performance of any provision of this Agreement, or to exercise any right or remedy available under this Agreement, shall not be construed as a waiver of that provision, right, or remedy in any later instance. Further, if any provision of this Agreement is or becomes void or unenforceable by operation or law, the remaining provisions shall be valid and enforceable. 6.2 Waiver by either party of a breach of any agreement or condition of this Agreement shall not be considered a waiver of any subsequent breach of that agreement or condition. The acceptance by Craftsperson of any payment or silence by Craftsperson as to any breach shall not be construed as waiving any of this shops, Inc.’s rights. No payment by the Shop or acceptance by Craftsperson of the lesser amount than is due Craftsperson from the Shop shall be deemed to be anything but a payment on account; and the acceptance by Craftsperson of a check or draft for a lesser amount with an endorsement or statement thereon, or upon a letter accompanying said check or draft that said lesser amount is payment in full, shall not be deemed in accord and satisfaction of the debt; and, Craftsperson may accept said check or draft without prejudice to recover the balance due or pursue any other remedy available to it. 6.3 The headings and subheadings of this Agreement are used for the convenience and ease of reference and do not limit the scope or intent of the clauses. 7.0 Choice of Law The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Agreement. This Agreement is to be construed as a New York Contract; is to take effect as a sealed instrument; sets forth the entire agreement between the parties and may be canceled, modified, or amended only by written agreement signed by the parties. Both parties agree to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. 8.0 Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights The Craftsperson retains any trademark, patent or copyright on Items provided to the Shop. IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the month, day, and year set forth below. The Shop Craftsperson Name Name

your not heating the wax hot enough for the dye to disolve. Heat up to at least 165-190 and dye will blend. Put a candy thermometer in the wax and just wait till it goes up in that area. You are just starting out. So be patient and all good things will come.

Hi Folks, I just got asked to put my candles in a little shop and they want to do consignment. Since this is my first shop maybe I should just do it as an experiment. I know a lot of folks say don't do it cuz you don't see any money till much later. Here is what the store owner sent to me. Any advice would be great. Maybe I can tell them I just want to to wholesale. THIS IS WHAT THE OWNER SENT ME: We actually were hoping we could do consignment with you instead of wholesale. With consignment, we work with a contract and pay you as we sell the candles. We agree to a retail price together (the price they'll sell for at the shop), and do a 50/50 split. The thing you need to decide is how much you need to get per candle to cover your expenses (materials, time, design, etc.). So if the retail price is $10 for the little guys, is $5 each for you enough...? Just for your reference, whatever you decide you need to get per candle for yourself is (or can be) your wholesale price. Some stores that buy on wholesale will keystone, or double, your wholesale price. Most will do 2.5x or 3x your wholesale price. The big difference between the two is that with consignment you still own your work and we sell it at an agreed-upon price, and with wholesale the shop owns your work and can do whatever they want with the price. For our part, I think we'd have no problem doing $12 retail on the small candles and $28 on the large ones. If you need to get more than $6 and $14 for them respectively, let me know and we'll recalculate. SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? They are real nice so I think they would doop me. THANKS JMT

Hi If I want to make great 2"x2" square votives and 4"X4" pillars, can anyone suggest the best soy wax for that? Or will I need to use a blend? Do they even make a soy/paraffin blend? Anywho, can advice would be great. thanks ps. Does soy take regular color chips? Or do they make special ones?

Hi If I want to make great 2"x2" square votives and 4"X4" pillars, can anyone suggest the best soy wax for that? Or will I need to use a blend? Do they even make a soy/paraffin blend? Anywho, can advice would be great. thanks ps. Does soy take regular color chips? Or do they make special ones?

HI Does anybody know what color chips/block are made of exactly? i know they are a dye of sorts? But is it make from bad and nasty stuff? Customers are askin'. thanks jmt