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Dana

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Everything posted by Dana

  1. Well I went into the store today and thought I'd drop the bomb shell about our image getting stolen and the owner said she heard from the thiefs neighbor that she was quitting the business! That the festival was her last show....and she was selling her house and moving! She also heard from customers that ### candles burn crappy if at all (she does not test them) and some customers even asked her "These are the good candles, right?" So it sounds like word is getting around. I guess I don't have anything to worry about. I just assumed that if someone is in the candle business they would test burn their candles and know what they are selling. I just assumed her candles would burn and smell good like mine....that is one thing that can't be stolen is my wax blend and wicking. She would HAVE TO TEST BURN and adjust the wicking and ratio just like I had to do. And that takes time. Lots of time and money and patience. Obviously she was out to make money.... and quick. Well, it just doesn't work that way in this business!
  2. I will after I go to the retail store that carries my candles. I don't know why, but I feel funny posting it because what if she is a member here on craftserver? I know, why should I care? I have to go to the store to deliver an order and I just want to make sure I am not side swiped by the store owner (I know she is a long time friend....but) replacing mine with hers. I will go there this week and I am just sick worrying about this. I keep trying to think of the positive about all this. I really don't like this jar and have been wanting to switch for a while now but the store owner insisted she wanted this jar. Well maybe after all this she will want to switch and that will make me happy Although, I have half a pallet left
  3. I think that is a great idea about contacting the others....and I do have to decide whether it is worth the money to fight it or just move forward with new products once again. It sure does keep us on our toes!
  4. I know!! That is what I can't believe! It seems to me it would be EASIER to come up with a totally different look and market that then to do all the work of copying....but that must be desperation or total lack of creativity on her part. My line is not like get a patent and go global, ya know. But, what I do have sells, and she must be envious enough to spend time copying it. There is NO WAY she ACCIDENTALLY came up with this look. Heck, I just went back to her website and she even copied my EXACT pricing...which is a strange number! Yep, I am getting pretty ticked.
  5. Does anyone know if Indiana Candle Supply's Mulled Cider is the ST (Snowtop) version? It does not say ST next to it. I had a bottle of Mulled Cider from ST laying around from off the classies and finally put it in some wax and it is AWESOME! I want to purchase more but don't know where other than ICS that took over ST oils.
  6. She has already has been in the store many times to try to get my account but the store owner and I are friends and (hopefully) she would never do that to me. I know business is business and if she offers my same candle for less.....well, what can I do? the thing is she even copied the SCENTS that I have. She even had to go on a sniffing search to try to match mine because I change the names of some of my scents and she uses the name from the supplier. JEESH! What took me a decade to develope, took her less than 2 years! I was on her website 2 years ago and she had nothing similar to mine....must have not been doing so well and decided she could do better with MY look!
  7. Yes, it is sad. Like I said in her message I sent her...."We are all crafters...isn't that all part of the fun, creating your own look and style?" She doesn't have my name on it yet, but she uses the same label, font and very similar artwork. She lives 20 min. away from the store that carries my line and has been in numerous times. I have not told the store owner yet. I am bringing an order next week, and will talk to her then about it. She is gonna be PO'd!
  8. I have a trademark on my name, but what can you do about someone stealing your image? (jar, label shape, color, lid, etc.) I do very, very well in a town about an hour away from here. I wholesale to a store that has done very well for 5 years. I have kept from selling to any other store in that area because the original store owner wanted to keep the customers base coming to her store...well a small candle maker decided to make life easy for herself and just copy my line and take the customers! I am so stinking mad a don't know what to do. I have sent her a (nice) message, but my blood is boiling. She has been into the store that carries my line many many times examining my candle line and asking the store owner questions. I will tell you she had to search and hunt to come up with my look, There is no way she came up with it by accident.
  9. OBI used to carry some, but they aren't getting any this year.....know of another supplier?
  10. Has anyone tried Aztec's new Pumpkin Creme Brulee?
  11. My friend and I both thought berts Spiced Pear and fresh Pear smelled exactly alike except the Spiced Pear was "calmer" or "smoother", not as tart. So I was thinking possibly Vanilla or Clove. I guess I will just play around a bit and see what I come up with!
  12. I don't want/need to purchase another Pear scent.....just want to add something (spice) to the Bert's Fresh Pear that I have to make it Spiced Pear.
  13. No, sorry mzphee. I just want to add the spice to the fresh pear! It is devine!
  14. I have a huge jug of Berts Fresh Pear. I am almost out of her Spiced Pear. Does anyone know what spice it is in her Spiced (Christmas) Pear?
  15. I too am a sole proprietor, wishing for a partner, but realize that would be a huge mistake. I have been doing this for 9 years and have had other part time jobs off and on along with it. It is very difficult to work another job with this business. It consumes your thoughts and time, but when slow season begins I feel I should be helping out more financially so I work a part time job. I think I have settled into a good job that fits well with the schedule of this business. I gross about 35K a year and could do more, just get burned out. As we all know 35K doesn't get you very far with all the expenses. The only way to make decent money (I think) is to purchase in huge quantities and you have to build up to it. I have never had to borrow money for my business. (yet), lol. In fact, I have taken previous years earnings and put it into financial investments which continues to earn money for me without me doing a thing. Luckily, my husband works and with this and my part time job and his other part time job we can help our 3 college girls out once in a while!
  16. Thats what I was thinking of doing is use the liquid dye blended with the f/o. Is that to plain? Just solid color?
  17. I have a bunch of car ornies (cardboard air fresheners) that I want to scent, but they are plain white. I dont want to decorate elaborately, but some color would be nice. What do you all do to decorate yours?
  18. I second that! I discoved that a few years ago....I guess I should have posted.
  19. It looks like the lid will fit funny. Do you see the rim of the jar under the lid? There would have to be a ledge or something to keep the lid in place tho wouldn't you think? Does anyone here get these and could you let us know how the lid sits? Thx!
  20. I am looking for apple jars. I know either Anchor Hocking or Libbey used to make them but I don't see them anymore. Does anyone know where I can get some?
  21. Does anyone know if she will let you pick up your order? The prices include shipping and I go through there every now and then, so would like to pick up the order. Hopefully she would knock some off the price!
  22. Can I see what a gel candle looks like after it has burned down? Just want to know if I am on the right track. Thx!
  23. I never even THOUGHT about making my own gel. My advice would be to learn how to make a properly burning gel candle FIRST. You may come to find out that you don't even like the end result and give up on it. Just my 2cents.
  24. Just thought I'd update. I wicked down and the melt pool of the gel turned an ugly gold color, tunneled, and still soot and smelled chemically. Guess this is why not to many make gel candles anymore! Hmmmm....I will keep trying different wicks though!
  25. I'd do the Conference. Craft shows aren't that great for candles this time of year, and with it being outside ya never know about the weather. Sounds like you will know a lot of these women at the conference and they will buy cuz they know you. Once they buy, they will be back for more. If it was fall I'd say the craft show, but this time of year I'd do the conference.
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