David Fields

Reply to Trish: Not necessary. I found another distributor of my waxes in Ft Worth. Their price is cheaper, and they normally carry pallets of the waxes I use. I actually did ask BCS about carrying my waxes; they said they did not normally carry my waxes but would order whatever I needed, if I paid them in advance; plus, my order would come with their regular monthly order.

Blondie, to answer your question about IGI, we started using them around five or six years ago. We switched from Honeywell because of the high shipping and poor customer service. We started off paying 59 and 62 cents/lb for the waxes we used. The IGI sales reps were eager to please and helpful. The freight charges were much less (as I recall $90 for two pallets-we live a little over 100 miles from Pasadena,Tx). Until the first of last year nothing changed much. At the start of last year we got a letter raising their minimum order amounts and the prices. We received six letters raising prices last year. The last order we paid (I believe) 89 and 93 cents/lb. Then we got a letter saying we could no longer order direct from them because they have a 24,000 lb/yr min. They directed us to BCS which only carries a few cases of our waxes. So, bottom line is we are looking for a new supplier. Their sales reps are no longer eager or friendly. We will quit them as soon as we find someone else.

just under 19,000 pounds. Bugtussle, like you I can't order direct from IGI anylonger because of their minimums. They directed me to BCS who carry only a few cases of the waxes we use, so I called IGI and found another distributor in Ft Worth that does. And like you the price increases are out of hand. Hope it doesn't continue. The shipping increase is worse. Plus, the extras that used to be good customer service now cost. Since we pay for shipping, we now specify which freight carrier for the shipper to use.

My wife and I each work over fifty hours a week and love it. We are retired and are both blessed to be able to do what we both love - together. Our business is a godsend for our marriage. And it pays the bills. Like you, we get down when sales are down and costs are up, but since our father owns all of the cattle on a thousand hills, we don't worry about the small stuff. Wish I could give you more encouraging words, but if you truly love what you do, don't stop.

Business here. We have a leased 2500 sq ft bldg in an industrial park. Not very organized at this time. Boxes everywhere. About a third of the space is set up with long pouring/cooling tables. Wax and jars come in in pallets and are just inside the overhead door. Need badly to organize. Getting out of hand.

We have ordered from BCN for ten years and have never had a problem with their customer service or products. We like them a lot.

after a couple of similiar experiences with consignment, we totally swore never to sell consignment again. Always a mistake to try to be all things to all people.

Roma, I have been pouring paraffin candles for ten years. Full time 10-16 hours a day, six days a week for the past five years. I personally pour 12-14 tons of paraffin wax a year. I am 60 years old and am in perfect health (just had a physical a couple of months ago). That should answer your question. Now, I have one. Why after the last thread on the same subject are you bringing it up again? And do you believe everything this total stranger said and hold to it as gospel? Ever consider a wonderful investment of beach front property just ten minutes from downtown Phoenix?

I'll try to tackle this. We have "hard and fast" rules or returns too. But we use them as a general guideline. Sometimes we let someone do something that violates our "rules" and sometimes we don't. For us, it depends on the customer and how they present their case to us. We cater to good established customers and almost always give them what they are asking for. First time customers are another matter. We recently had a wholesale customer try to return candles she had purchased over one year ago. We said no. Another customer bought a candle and came back four hours later with the candle broken in the bag. She said it must have been broken when it was placed in the bag. We said not possible, but we let her buy another one at half price. She was happy. Thirty days after receipt of your products you get the mdse back? My gut reaction would be to ask her if she wants you to dispose of the products since you are not giving her the money back. Pay with a credit card? She might dispute the charge. We always have to weigh a refusal on our part with loss of the customer forever.

Don't know about PA, but in Texas you are tax exempt only on purchases for resale. Supplies purchased for your business, ie. mfg. office equipment, etc., are not tax exempt. The way it was explained to me was - the state wants its sales tax once, either when you buy something for the business, or when you make something that is then sold.

I wait until my "drizzle" wax is much, much cooler....then drizzle over the top...then I take a grater & Grate Vanilla Scented Wax over the entire cake...do it as fast as you can after you drizzle...that way the little shavings stick!! Looks amazing. Love yours.....sounds yummy as well!!! Cherry!! Joyce (David's wife)

LOL. Whoops. Stepped in it. My apologies to all of the granola crunching types out there. But the ones that come into the store are the extreme and not the kind, benevolent chandler types.

I agree. Beeswax is awesome. But expensive. We pour whatever the public wants, not what we like best. Our market here demands inexpensive candles that are highly scented from top to bottom and all of the wax burns away. If my customers wanted soy, we would quit paraffin and pour soy/blends. This is our livelyhood, and we are customer responsive.

I think that the real problem in all of this is that soy candles do not sell as well as paraffin. We have hundreds of people come into our store each week; in talking with them about their scent needs many mention that they have tried soy but didn't like it. The scent throw wasn't what they expected. They buy paraffin because they like it better. I don't bash soy in front of them; I don't have to; they are already convinced. However, ever so often a "tree-hugger" will come in with their nose in the air and ask for soy. When I explain that we only offer paraffin, the noses always get a little higher and they proceed out the door. I then have fun with them. I ask why they like soy. None of them ever has a real clue, only what they have heard (plus it's politically correct), so I educate them. Convert a few and confuse the hell out of the others. Our consumers, not us chandlers, are the judge and jury for our products.

We also make mini-bundt cakes and the large, regular size ones. We use a metal skewer heated with a propane torch (my wife is afraid of the torch and sticks the skewer in a pot of boiling water); the hot skewer goes through the wax like it was butter. hth

I think that the FedEx note that they leave when no one is home has a place on it for you to sign; that authorizes them to leave the pkg without signature. And, as I recall, you can set up with FedEx to have that policy in place for all pkgs. The driver's computer lets them know that no signature is required.

call direct. no web site that I know of. They'll ask where you are and will shift you to a sales rep. They also give or use to give tours of their plant. Very fascinating. hth

We have used them for six or so years. Great company. Free shipping. Great FO's. Great customer service. Highly recommend them.

TeriM, to answer your question... No, our products are not excluded from our general liability policy; a general liability policy does not cover faulty design/manufacture of a product that resiults in a cliam. A general policy covers general claims that can result in having a business; ie, trips, falls, accidents of all kinds. A fire could be covered by a general policy or a product liabilityl policy or both. It's like. If you drive a Ford and run off the road and hit a tree, your auto insurance would cover your claim, unless the tire fell off, causing the accident. Then, the manufacturer might be liable, or the dealership. It would just depend on where the blame lay. Normally, all you really need is a general liability policy until your business sales and assets become humongous. Also, we found that some buildings and craft show promoters require a general policy. Hope I have not muddied the water more.

We have been selling candles for ten years. We sold without insurance for the first two years. Our insurance agent said the cost would not justify the very low risk and sales. Once our sales increased, we got insurance, general liability; we should have gone with a different independent insurance agent. They only offered us one company at $850/yr (the cost is based primarily on your annual sales. The cost went up by around $200 a year for the next four years. We paid without question. Then when we got a bill for a big jump to 1800$/yr we started shopping around. Found a great independent insurance agent who got us double the coverage for $825/yr; again, the cost is based on annual sales. Also, this is for general liability insurance, not product liability insurance. To get product liability insurance every company we approached would have to analyze our products (every product) and our production process. Then, if approved, they would dictate the language that had to go on our labels. Finally, the cost would be huge for the annual premium. HTH

You can also get them from Anchor Hocking!! Joyce;)

Flash point is the temperature point at which the FO can ignite if a flame or spark is brought next to it. Wax has a flash point. FO's in oil burners are OK without cutting. Just keep flame away from the hot bowl. Keep them away from pets and children who might knock them over. The flame on the T-lite can then ignite the FO when spilled.MIGHT IGNIGHT. HTH

Over the years we have developed two answers to your question. If WE approach someone about setting up a wholesale account, we leave them with a nice jar of the type we are trying to sell. If THEY approach us, we don't give anything: if they are seriously looking for wholesale candles, we have found no one has a problem with purchasing them. Plus, they have no problems with minimums. In almost every case where someone asked for or hinted for samples, they were just looking for freebies.

I guess it depends on your Market...we sell lots of our diffusers....but, we do not cut ours with DPG...we use the Perfumer's Alcohol..and only buy the "Bamboo" reeds..as they are the Most sufficient at "sucking up"...if you know what I mean. We have about 5 Kick Hiney scents and sell a ton of them!! Again, it depends on your market ...and the packaging has alot to do with it as well!! IMO. HTH Joyce (David's Wifey)....and Loving it!!

If you are looking to sell much on consignment...forget it. We have found...wholesale is the BEST way. If the people don't have any $'s invested in your Candles....that is what they put into them...to sell...NOTHING!!!! They are going to push the stuff that they have thier monies tied up in....Don't mean to sound negative, but I have never heard of anyone that was happy with consignment. IMO.... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!:highfive: Joyce (David's Wifey)