girlyracer

I thought you could only have 100% of anything.

I know we all like to promote our products in the best possible way, but really 600%, 1000%. Do people really believe this cr@p???

Hiya

I tried making 2" soy pillars a couple of years ago with disastrous consequences. I found them virtually impossible to wick correctly.

Maybe others here have had more success but I gave up in the end. I discussed it with some other UK based chandlers and they all gave up on 2" soy pillars too. Seems it's easier to do 3".

I think it's because with such a small diameter they are more like tall votives. I just got fed up with the blow outs

I've always tabbed my own. Like Sharon I use a jewellery crimping tool. Works a treat.

Lemon Bundt Cake from BCN

Creme Brulee and Chocolate Cake both from The Candlesource

When I'm mixing these up the whole house gets the munchies

Love the fruit flan. It's almost good enough to eat.

Sally, I use little plastic round containers that twist together, for my scent samples. I call them sniffie pots and they're easy to carry round in your handbag. I got mine from the bead making section at Hobbycraft. They cost £1.99 for a set. I think you get six. I got mine when they had a 3 for 2 offer.

Ruby x

This is one of my biggest "issues" with my packaging for candles & melts.

It is possible to get bio-degradable cello wrap but I haven't tracked down a U.K supplier as yet...the search continues.

What do other folk use as alternatives to plastic wrapping?

Sally.

I always thought that cello was biodegradable or am I mistaken? I use shrink wrap for my melts and votives but I'm not too happy using it as you can't recycle it.

I like your idea of using tissue to wrap them. Maybe film fronted paper bags are an answer.

Interestingly I just took that test and I scored 2.9 The average in the UK is 5.3. I was quite surprised as I thought it would be high.

Ruby x

Avoid FEDEX and UPS they charge an arm and a leg to ship out side the USA.

This is the bug bear as so many suppliers use UPS to ship their goods. I can understand using them for heavier items and for shipping FOs under 200FP.

But a lot of the stuff could be sent via USPS. As a rule I tend to use only suppliers that use USPS over the others, but with so many switching to either UPS or Fedex that list is getting smaller.

I've just thought of something, it's a bit cheeky and it would mean extra work for you guys, is to have say maybe a dozen or so US CT members across the country to act as forwarding agents. We could purchase our supplies but have them delivered to an "agent" who would then forward it to us preferrable using USPS. We would pay all the shipping costs, a little bit extra for your time and trouble and pay for customs here in the UK. Other than that the only solution for us is to either use a professional freight forwarding company or just order direct form the company and just "like it or lump it" when it comes to shipping.

Ruby x

I've been asked if I can get hold of a Partylite dupe of Spring Water. This was her favourite scent and has now been discontinued.

I've no idea what it smells like, is it similar to Spring Rain?

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Ruby x

Hiya

That's how I package my tumblers. I looked at lids, boxes but then just decided to wrap them in cellophane , tie them off with a tag and some raffia.

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Ruby x

Crikey Yvette!

It was lucky you were still in the kitchen otherwise it could have been much worse.

Mind you I've set the grill on fire a few times whilst grilling burgers or sausages. Good thing I paid attention in Home Ec.

Ruby x

Wow nice work Natty!

Lovely colours, very easy on the eyes. Works great on Firefox. Good navigation, all links working fine.

One teeny thing which you're probably aware of. Your "why soy" page. The font size isn't uniform, the copyright line is hidden in the middle of the page amongst the text, and you have an extra header border in cerise that looks out of place.

Other than that it looks great. Your pics look fab, really professional, as is the whole site.

You should be very proud of your hard work and effort.

Ruby

Oh ye of little faith. Do you not have wax and FO running through your veins?

It'll turn out great, you'll see.

Ruby

I don't think people will be turned off by your explanations Natty. If they are constantly being asked then I would class it as an FAQ and treat it as such. The information is there and for those that who are maybe seeking "the truth" will be enlightened by it and those that aren't at all curious won't bother.

Wasn't this whole soy vs paraffin debate started by an MLM soy candle company and was just a big marketing ploy to get the biz up and running? Having been involved in MLM in the past I know only too well the rivalries between the various network marketing schemes. You know, "my dad's bigger than your dad and he'll smash your face in" kind of thing.

This is sales talk made by a bunch of "wide boys" with no practical knowledge of our industry. Did any of them ever make a candle? I don't think so but like everything else the masses fall for all the advertised hype. The whole thing has gotten out of hand, like with anything else, because of rumour and scaremongering tactics.

We as candlemakers need to take back our industry from these slick talking PR gurus and education is the only way forward IMO and it is us who hold the key to that.

We educate our customers on how to burn a candle correctly whether it's paraffin, soy, palm, etc. by providing proper instructions. We need to educate them too about the real facts between the two different types of wax. But that education can only come from us, the candlemaker. We have to put aside our prejudices, we have to learn more about our industry. We must accept that they are no worse or better off than each other only made from a different raw materials. Only then can consumers make an informed choice.

Ruby

There is a couple I see at darn near every show I do. They make good candles, but they have the company name and the scent on their label. That's it. I guess if you can't contact them, you can't sue them. :undecided

Not only that but what if there were awesome and you wanted to buy some more. Who would you contact? It really isn't good business sense NOT to have your info on your products.

Ruby

Ooooh, it looks lovely. And there you were, all worried like.

It turned out great. Love the way it's burning.

Ruby

Hi Anjie

Glad your move went OK hope you're settling in nicely.

Now we have the pleasantries over and done with

Go and get your box (you know you want to)

Open it up (you know you want to)

Take out your favourite FO (you know you want to)

Open the bottle and take a good long sniff (you know you want to)

Are my subliminal messages getting through to you if not here comes my size 6 boot and I'm aiming it at your bum!!! :D

Ruby

Yvette, I've got one of those heat guns you use for card making and embossing. I use the purple one as it has 2 speed settings. I paid £14.99 for mine at a local craft shop but hey it's tax deductible

Ruby

Hey Natty

That's fantastic, I'm so excited for you :yay:

Bet you can't wait for the orders to come rolling in.

Ruby

Fantastic header. You're bound to get tons of sales from your site.

Ruby

Hi Yvette

Knowing that you're just starting out, if it were me I'd go for the smaller school fair rather than the large craft fair to begin with. Unless, of course, you thrive on a challenge. You sound, though, like you may be getting cold feet over the big craft fair

Get some experience in setting up a great display, selling dealing with stroppy customers in a smaller environment rather than going in at the deep end. You'd probably be more confident in doing a large fair after you've had some smaller ones under your belt.

Good work on your advertising though. Looks like you're starting to get some results from your hard efforts. Well done!

Ruby

I can top that. Checkout Jo Malone's candles for a mere £260 thats about $520 for you US chaps.

Click here to see what I mean :shocked2:.

Ruby

Do you know what it sounds like to me? It sounds like they are desperate for business. Maybe these sales reps are on commission or something. So many credit companies try to scare you into thinking that you won't be able to get credit. Don't they read the financials? Everyone is having problems because of too much credit.

I know so many people here in the UK, and it must be a similar story over in the US, who are mortgaged up to the hilt, have shed loads of credit cards and extra loans and they are all filing for bankruptcy. The last thing they need is more bloody credit!! In fact, they're sick to death of it.

We are beginning to see a credit backlash. How long will it be before these credit companies go bust. I think these reps know that the writing is on the wall and their jobs are in the balance. They're clutching at straws here and trying to use scare tactics on the small fry because they're easy targets.

As for company's who say that they can fix your credit report for a fee. It's a load of rubbish! You don't need to pay them to do anything cos you can do it yourself for free.

Sorry to rant but these people really get my goat, they're nothing more than parasites!!

Going to think happy thoughts now.

Ruby

Hi Tracy

Well if it is Dun & Bradstreet then the company is kosher. For years and years they have been setting the credit ratings for all the big companies. Years ago I did a stint working as a temp for a London Bank and we regularly had to check what the Dun & Bradstreet score was before they would loan any money out to firms.

Other than that I'm not too sure how they contact companies but if the letter is genuine then there's no problems in you actually contacting them to find out more. If it turns out to be a scam then all you've lost is the price of a phone call.

There are some very, very clever scammers out there. A genuine representitive will never object to you checking them out.

Remember, if you ever get a letter, phone call or email that's a bit fishy, check it out yourself by getting hold of the said companies details and contacting them direct. It's the best way of dealing with fraudsters.

Ruby

I dunno. Wot are you like ??!! lol

Glad you're OK, though.

Ruby

PS Those Orbs are gonna be the death of ya.