funkymonkey66

I don't use ICS anymore but friends that do say it hasn't changed, I think it was reformulated when we had the safety reformulation apocalypse with all suppliers but I'm guessing it still smells the same.

I'm seeing alot of merchants use dwolla lately. Thanks for the info that's good to know. I wonder what their seller protection is like.

No idea- but I'm interested to read what others have to say. I placed a small order so I'll let you know.

My thoughts exactly.

Weird you said that because even though KY was a favorite of mine, everytime I'd make candles with her oils my head and stomach hurt. It's got to be a base oil or something from the manufacture.

I think it's hit or miss with almost every supplier. I got into blending so I rarely use anything straight out of the bottle. I always have to spike stuff but that's because I'm too picky and I want my stuff to be a little different. Don't even get me started on sugar cookie..... I swear all suppliers slap "sugar cookie" on their weakest vanilla. I love NG. Not a big fan of Candlescience's Fo's except for maybe 2 and I could live with out them if I had too. Peak's got to be my favorite, it's almost at the point where no matter what I buy from them it just works, I'm almost tempted not to bother to test new scents anymore they're so reliable. I agree though, that's why I've drastically cut back on suppliers and stick with my tried and true ones. I don't have the $$ to waste on crap oils that will sit on my shelf forever.

OMG I remember that. Of course they do, tis the season right? Everyone wants to start their own candle biz around the holidays because Yankee gets 28 bucks for their candle, surly I can do it too, Martha said so. "Merry Christmas, here's my jar of burn your house down."

It probably didn't catch up with them yet but with the internet being such a grey area who knows.

I read all 6 pages and it's a toss up if this guy is joking. Insurance will not cover you, no one would issue a policy to ANYONE that didn't follow basic saftey guidlines. Candlemaking is not jar, wick, wax bam candle profit. You'll put yourself out of business before you even get started with that mentality. My advice is go to the book store and buy a few books on candlemaking and read up. Then google candle supply places and direct your questions at the business you choose to buy from regarding the use of their materials. You will spend thousands, you may or may not make a profit for several years. It's a craft not a get rich quick thing. If you want money now and don't want to do the work, sell scentsy or partylite.

You have to be careful, it's best to just go with something totally different and save yourself the hassle.

A day maybe you really don't have to cure it at all.

I love Candlewic, I adore the people too. I know some of the girls there really well. I've never had an issue and any wax or wick they carried that I've ever wanted to try they send for free to me. Maybe once I had an oil leak and they replaced it that day. They bill my Fedex account which I love (no other supplier seems to want to do that) I think I've been ordering stuff from them for 10 or more years. I can't say enough great things about them.

Thanks : ) I get them from the internet and local business. I haven't done a craft show in years. I'm in NY, it seems like alot but it's not. NY is very expensive. I'm sorry to hear you have it too. Ugh, the medications! Most of them got me sick and I had infection upon infection this year because it weakened my immune system so bad. I'm miserable and trust me it shows. I can be such a b/tch lately, not intentionally but when you feel like you have the flu all the time it's hard to be perky.I don't have memory or vision issues, (yet) It's hard but you know, I have a great life in every aspect except my health, I'm grateful and I know things will get better.

I do, but my husband has a great paying job so even if I didn't make my goal I'm not too worried about it. I did a little over 50 last year according to my accountant. Considering the economy sucks I guess it's still pretty good. I've done better previous years. I don't wholesale, I don't do ebay or etsy, avoid social media. I guess I could push harder but I'm a mess at the moment health wise ( I have RA and now the dr's are thinking Lupus) so I'm taking it easy.

She screwed me and plenty of other people over including Indiana Candle supply when she sold snowtop to her. Her Banana nut bread.... That's mine that I created with the Bel Air fragrances. She said she was looking for a good one and offered to order the min. 25-35 lbs and we would split it @ cost. 7.80 per pound providing I gave her the formula lot number etc. She ordered it, added it to her list and wanted to charge me 18.95 per pound. That wasn't the deal but shame on me, I keep my formulas guarded now and don't share them with ANY one. As far as Indiana she sold "her" formulas, "my" banana nut bread included, and then went around Indiana and continued to carry the oils for her use and her cousin who also owns a business. Yeah, keep with the bible beating scripture and do the opposite. Regardless of the underhanded business practices people will still buy from her. Face it, some people need them. Not me -that's for sure.

Maybe they'll forward your email to IGI and they'll change their packaging. All I am saying is that regardless of if they sent you a scripted response; it's still just the way it is. I was just answering your initial question as to if it was "the nature of the beast" cases vs. slabs and it is. Slabs are nice and neat and cases sometimes come in all sorts of squished, melted, broken, sometimes open etc. What can you do? 99% of the time you just deal with it and put it in another container and clean it up as best you can or strain it. Yes we pay a fortune for wax and candle supplies but what they said in their scripted response was true. But like you said you were not looking for anything and you can buy wax somewhere else. If you buy cases again you'll know to expect the same thing. You think this stinks? Wait until you deal with batch variances and have to buy by the pallet for quality control. Good luck with your craft show.

It's just the nature of getting wax in cases. It is called waste,you just have to account for that. Candlemaking can be messy and it's expected. I don't think Peak was rude or gave poor cs at all. If anything they were polite and addressed your issue.

The people selling the boxes make out well but they are not worth it. I saw a recent one done by a candlemaker. She kind of went away for a while and came back as a promoter for other's people's craft/candle businesses and created somewhat of a pretty decent sized fan base. Then once she got popular enough she shut out all the other business's and showcased only her candle items. I think that's totally shady, to think about all the people that gave her free stuff and advertised for her with link exchanges and she got to sample the competition, copy their blends and dip into their customer base. I guess I'd be furious too.

Heat gun will take care of that.

Store them in the box they came in on end instead of laying down.

agree

After you clear it with your landlord call your renters insurance carrier. You would be surprised that you need to let them know you're making candles. If you have a fire or a another tenant does and it reaches you're candlemaking stuff- you're not covered. You need a rider on your policy and the max you can get is only $5,000. Candlemaking insurance if you can get it in your state covers your legal fees and or damages of a sold product to a consumer, not your business material loss.

I had a catalog with them a long time ago. I want to say CWC or something like that. I hate to say but maybe ACmoore and use a coupon. They come in packs of 10 I think. Factory direct craft isn't as good price wise as they used to be but then again everything goes up and up every week it seems like.

I think some online retailers charge lesser amount hoping to build a following then they can slowly increase the price overtime. Thing is, the people they find themselves catering to are not ever willing to pay more. Someone else comes along and then they flock to that vendor and you're old news. I think that's the biggest mistake people make just getting into the online market. I always made it a point to price at the higher end and use better raw material, I went after a more sophisticated client base. I can't compete with the nickel and dime vendors nor would I ever want to. Over the past 12 years I've seen at least 25 come and go. It's sad.

I am anti-Miami Erie. She was giving samples away when she reopened as ME after she closed ST. I wouldn't even accept one with free shipping and all. I have no desire to try or buy anything she is selling for the reasons stated above. Too many suppliers out there that are reliable and don't compete against, under cut then gouge their customers.