ubure

I like Oregon Trail Soapers Supply's Coconut Breeze a lot. Straight coconut, nothing sweet or bakery in it. Really good throw as well. Have been using it for years now.

Yes, I know, haven't even found a place in the US where you can buy bulk. In China they have it, very cheap of course. Need to find a good way of shipping.

Thanks, Joannec, but this is much too expensive...I guess I'll order directly in China.

Hi there, I'm looking for heart shaped tealight cups, preferably clear ones - do you know any suppliers for these? I googled but couldn#t find any. Thanks!

I really don't who would consider making candles with EOs like rose or jasmine etc. You just cannot afford the amount needed for a candle. It is different with oils like lavender or cinnamon etc. They work well in candles and are affordable. In my opinion EOs are very precious drugs, if you like, that have wonderful medical purposes and as a bonus smell divinely (well, quite a few of them) - in candles they are wasted. especially if you consider those tons of petals that have to be collected for a kilo of rose EO.

Yes, I have to more strictly separate business from private. At the moment it all mixes up too much. And I really have tojust force myself to do my exercises and some sport every day and not think "I have no time, I have to work". I surely have almost no time if I look at my to do lists because very often it takes me so long getting my things done and always things are piling up. Makes me nervous again. But I really have to take care of myself, I have learned this before christmas. Thansk again, ubure

Tahnk you all for your advice - I see I have to set boundaries. OldGlory, your example is great, I will use it for myself if I may. Orders are only accepted in written form, but sometimes they call to ask you one hundred things...sometimes those phone calls take half an hour or more. I just cannot work if I am always interrupted by the phone. After all I am alone and don't have a secretary. Thank you again!!

Hi there, I'd like to ask you a question, as I am so unsure about it: very often customers call me on the weekend, sometimes even on sundays (not to speak of emails, but most of them written in a manner that clearly says they expect an immediate answer). Yesterday for example I have accompanied my son to a soccer tournament from morning to early afternoon. When I came home the phone rang (my hubby told me that this person has called for hours every few minutes). She also had emailed me and I answered her question (nothing too important). She called anyway again and then I answered the phone telling her (friendly and politely of course) to check her emails. She said "I couldn't reach you on the phone!" and I just told her that on the weekend my family has priority, again in a friendly and polite way. Of course I understand them, but I don't have a brick-and-mortar-business with official opening hours nor am I Amazon. I answer all emails even on sundays but I am not willing to answer phone calls all weekend long. I was so exhausted after christmas and needed some quiet and rest that it took me so long to take up work again....I need to keep some time business-free or I fear to get ill again. But I don't want to annoy my customers. And of course I don't want to lose customers who intend to order but go somewhere else because they get their phone calls answered on the weekend. We all need the money, right? But where is the line? How do you handle this? Thank you for giving me your advice (on a sunday:wink2:, if you don't mind! Oh, well, no - enjoy your weekend, monday is just as fine for me!)

Oregon Trail Soap's is fantastic!

lavender (eo or fo), up to an equal part (but I would start with only half the amount lavender)

Hi there all, first of all I'd like to wish everybody a very happy new year! May you and your loved ones stay (or become) healthy and happy!! To my question: I'm looking for a supplier who sells really fresh shea butter, raw, organic, preferably ehtically/fairly traded shea. Who do you recommend? Also: where to buy the freshest raw mango butter and raw cocoa butter (again organic and fair if possible). Thank you so much!!!

Not Candybee as well, but if you would/could add enough of the essential oil to your soap it would give it a blue/green color. Don#t know how it would turn out after gel, guess it would become brown (but I'm not sure).

Roman chamomile has very similar properties like German chamomile, but German chamomile has the azulen in it (which makes its essential oil blue). Roman chamomile is preferred for bathing, it is soothing, smells very lovely. German chamomile has the stronger wound healing properties. Both herbs can easily be grown in your own garden - I adore chamomile, both varieties. It is summer for me (along with a few other things like lavender, rosmary, sage, fresh cut grass, my bees buzzing around, the sweet smell of honey and beeswax that emerges from the hives...I miss summer!!!)

You are probably right, Candybee. It is these customers that make me realize what I have to change in my policies, and in my shop etc. So they are an opportunity to learn. I will use the holidays putting up a lot of instructions, projects people can make, tipps etc. Just like the suppliers in the US do. Big role models! Today I have shipped the last parcels and now there are a few days off. I cannot afford not working between Xmas and new Year as I only started in August, but I will enjoy those few days without oils and wax etc. I wish all of you a very happy christmas, much joy and laughter, peace and relaxation, and a bit of the original spirit of Christmas. take care, Inez

Thank you moonshine for your opinion! I thought of the 415 as well. I'm not afraid of the different wax types, have tested and used so many and always got it right. So I need some leftover money, a good offer and a ship bringing it all to me....

Hello, I buy my wax (well, there is only Ecosoya available here in Europe) over here but I'm thinking of ordering a larger amount in the US because of the price. I have been focused so muhc on the CB-135 I don't remember any of the other soy waxes you have in the US, so maybe you can help me with this? Which soy is comparable to the CB-135? I also don't mind having a really plain, basic soy wax as well...guess I can handle that - pricing will be the crucial factor.

Thanks OldGlory, that is another good idea. I never have thought that some people think so completely differently than I do or do things I would never even think about (like returning two single votive candles e.g.) but you are all right: I have to be safe for each and every eventuality.

Well, I have to consult the lawyer again, there needs to be some modifications done in my terms and conditions. Today I received another email from this customer with the returned oils. She wrote that the scents were too artificial for them (well, she will have to search a lot to find fragrances smelling more authentic than the ones she had chosen) and that she and her husband simply put some essential oils in the candles. I really have to hold back myself not to send her a lengthy answer to all of this. When the candles don't burn right or when they start smelling like fuel (because they surely used some citrus oils) it is of course the wax or the wicks that causes this. These people think they know it all, candle making is tosh and of course they do it in a breeze. Grrr! And then another customer, who is an esthetician working exclusively with organic products (and who should know more about essential oils) bought some wax and oils and told me on the phone: "These are all-natural fragrances, right?" "No, unfortunately you cannot make an essential oils out of banana milk shake." Do these people ever use their brain?

okay, talked to a lawyer today. No returns on fos is okay but not for candles and melts etc. But at least I'm safe with the fos. just FYI, even though it doesn#t apply to you over there in the US.

:grin2:

These are cute! Did they sell well? I hope so!

I always have to come back and look at them because I like them so much! I doubt I will ever have the patience making this kind of candle but where do you get those tiny candy canes and the cookies etc.? They look so gorgeous! I think I have known such things in the past but it so long ago and I have forgotten so much...

Yes, I need to offer sample vials. Here in Germany people can return orders within 14 days without having to tell why. If the order was over € 40,- the seller has to pay for the return shipping. So with this customer I would have to pay her shipping costs as well (she didn't ask for it). Loss of value could be applied in this case I guess but to be honest I cannot tell her now when I said I would fully refund her two days ago. Damn, I still have to learn a lot. The other lady with the soap based emailed me again, being happy she was calmed by some videos she watched (she could have believed me in the first place, couldn't she?) and apologized for her panik. Getting panicked because of soap...some people don't know what real problems are. Have a nice sunday, ladies and gentlemen.

Had the same problem with Hot apple pie. Nobody ever ordered this, but when it was changed in Baked Apple it became a bestseller. Apple pie is obviously too ordinary...

I think you can build a business with only melts/tarts. Two or three of my customers who have decided to start their own melt business after having made melts for the first time in their life seem to do pretty well. They are my direct competitors in that online mall we have our shops in (what a joke!)....anyway, they sell amd they have melts and nothing else. Sliver is right, you have to build your customer base with time. I myself have restarted this summer after several years without being able to take care of my business. And some of my oldest and most loyal customers have found me again and keep on buying. So, quality is they key and good service (whereas I see that others are much faster than me - they sell more than I do). So be good and quick and it will work out.