MochaMama

Hi Kim: Yes, I've made bath teas for gift baskets. They sold a lot during Christmas - I think people used them as sachets too.

Appreciate the replies. I benefit so much from everyone's experience here.

Congratulations - that is soooooo excellent!!!

Yes, I am trying to drive myself nutso, but I realize that in this business, you learn something new everyday. I was making some whipped shea, whipped it up light and creamy, it's almost pure white. Anyhoo, the weight (not including jar) is 2.5 oz. Now, this is in a 4 oz jar. This is what I figure - gotta label it 2.5 oz, cuz that's the weight. However, on my webbie, I can say a "4 oz jar"? or is that too misleading. I am just afraid folks might think they're getting cheated, but the 2.5 oz fills up a 4 oz jar to the top. I just want to to the right thing now that I'm getting better at this. Do people read labels that closely? Aren't they looking more at the size (4.0 oz jar) of what they're getting rather than the actual weight?

Thanks for the answers! Looks like I won't be including candles at this time. Just thought it would be nice for baskets for V-Day, but don't have the $$$ to cough up for extra insurance. Thanks again!!

I had no sales when I first started out - but I registered with the state and got my insurance anyway. Debscent and Beth-VT gave you good advice. So much better safe than sorry. Good luck with your business!

Hi: elementsbathandbody (.com) also carries lavender buds that I use for my sachet. I looked at Atlantic Spice and I was planning on buying grade #2, but ended up going with bathandbody because I had to buy some packaging too.

I totally second shrinkwrapstore.com. They are very helpful and will answer all your questions. I stress very helpful!!

Hi ladies: I was thinking about gift baskets the other day and wondered how this would work. I would like to purchase votive candles from an online source - (reputable, professinal, been in business a while) and include them in my baskets - ya know, matching scents soap, whipped shea, lotion bar, etc. What would be my insurance liability, if any? (of course, I would include all original packaging, i.e. Jane's Candle Scents and all warning labels, included with the candle.) Thanks in advance,

Has anyone used this EmblendCA20? I would like to use it in making (practicing making, I should say) cream. I am looking on the herbarie website and it does say that it can be used in place of "e-wax" and I was wondering if it behaved any differently than the classic e-wax. Thanks!

You might try here: http://www.containerandpackaging.com/item.asp?Item=J019D Can't tell if they're low profile or not, nothing to compare it to.....

You know what, you are so right. I order from them myself - just got a "mind block" when I found out that KB sells them too, since I get my FO from them. By all means, KY candle supply has a good price and they ship fast. Where was my brain yesterday???:rolleyes2

You can find it at the Vitamin Shoppe http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=MY-1001

Kangaroo Blue also sells SFIC bases and they are in Illinois - might do better on shipping? Just a thought.

I just limited myself to six scents - I make body mist, lotion bars, soap, whipped shea and another butter. Six is about all that I can handle!!! (This is not to say that I don't have a ton of 1 and 2 oz fragrances!!)

Hi Jen - Cocoa Butter is rock hard. Some of us have to use hammers, chisels, screwdrivers, etc. to chip that block up. Some of us (like me) slam it on a concrete surface.....but even then that doesn't break it up like you need sometimes.

Thanks for the info, if OBN is the place that's closest and it has good product, then that's it!

I use an 80g external hard drive to back up my files. I just use the Windows XP backup. I used Carbonite, and it was good if you don't want to remember to back up your files (it does it in the background) - 50/year as someone mentioned, but I figured why pay when I have the stuff all ready here.

Hi all - I am in no way affliated with yourorganzabag.com, but I just wanted to say I ordered on Wednesday of last week and got the bags via usps in Saturday. They were coming from CA and I'm in NJ. Fast shipping! And the bags are great. They have a lot of different sizes and colors Highly recommended - Thank you Heather! (camoflauge)

This is going to be my first V- day and I am planning an open house since I had such good success for Christmas. While I am looking forward, I'm really nervous too.

Ok, ladies, I've been reading about open houses and the like and was looking for some encouragement about holding my own open house. This is my 2nd year in business and was encouraged by pretty good Christmas sales. I was going to open my house for about four hours in the afternoon/evening and I was wondering the following: 1. Should I hold it on a Friday or Saturday evening 2. If a Saturday, should it be afternoon ( 1-5) or evening (4-8). 3. I plan on having a small catalog as well as pre-made products for sale. I will also be able to take credit cards via my webbie using the customer pickup option. But most likely most sales will be cash/check. 4. Food - coffee and cookies? Toothpick food? I know I'm not laying out a buffet:) . In searching through this forum, I've got a lot of good pointers but wondering if anyone had anything to add. This my first open house and I am all ready nervous!!!

Thanks for the link! FNWL is so expensive tho.......

hi all Unfortunately, soaper's choice doesn't carry it. Does anyone know of an East Coast supplier besides Oils by Nature that carries this butter? I'd like to try it in my body butter. TIA

Why oh why....just when I have a little bit of money from Dec. Sales, you all start whispering about Solas again!!!!! I actuallly made some whipped shea with White Tea and Ginger, and it's so lovely. After all the scents I was smellin' in the past week, it's a welcome change. Now I totally have to go back to Solas and GIVE them more of my money. Thanks:tongue2: . Thanks a lot!!!

I was new to this whole thing just a year ago. Last year I sold 80 bucks worth of stuff at a Christmas Bazaar. This year, I gave out a few samples, told a few friends, did some SEO and made sure my personal email signature had my little banner etc. Can you believe that I sold about 200 bucks worth of stuff? I was up till one am three days this week running my little hand mixer (I make my whipped stuff fresh). And I still have an order left to do! I write all this to say that if it weren't for this forum (among a few others) I would not have learned so much to be so successful only a year out of the gate. This forum and its participants, of course, give so much information and encouragement. Thank you to all, and Happy Holidays!