girlyracer

Hey that's great Nat. Many congrats :whoohoo: Ruby

Well done Anjie :highfive:. It feels so good when you've finally hit the winning combination. Sometimes it comes together first time round, other times you're there pulling out your hair after 3 months LOL Ruby

Hi Nat. Thanks for pointing the classified ad out. Have PM'd her. Ruby

We don't have these here in the UK. Also from some of the threads I've read about them the heating element is in direct contact with the wax. Isn't this a bit dangerous? Ruby

Hello peeps! Looking for some sound advice here folks. I've been melting my wax using the double boiler method which for the time being has been OK as I've just been making testers. I'm getting ready to go into production within the next couple of months with just a very basic line to start with. Double boiler method sucks for doing larger quantities though. Sooooo, need large melting capabilities. My dilemna is do I go for a Presto Pot or a water jacket wax melter? Pricewise I think there's not much difference. Thorne's in the UK sell a wax melter with tap for around £175 ($350). I've seen the Presto Pots from Copper Creek. They cost £25 ($50) plus about £30 ($60) postage. I then need a transformer to run the Presto Pot from 110V to 240V cost £80 ($160) plus any import duty. Price here I feel is irrelevant. What is safer, less time consuming, practical, etc. There's loads of threads about presto pots but really I suppose I'm looking to find out who maybe uses both and just seeking good honest opinions. Ruby

Fantastic website Ilona. You did a grand job on it. Well done Ruby PS Candles look great too

They look a bit like Dymo machines. Ruby

Vicky, just re read my post, didn't really phrase it correctly. That'll teach me to multi task LOL. I wasn't going to send them out without people ordering. As you quite rightly stated it wouldn't be the done thing. By the way Christine, what is a P-Touch label maker? I've never heard of them. Ruby

I need some advice from some seasoned chandlers out there. Cast your mind back to when you first started, yes I know it was a long time ago... LOL I'm starting with some basic scents for my candles to which I will add to in due course. Now this probably sounds really stupid but did your first customers just pick out a scent or did you give them some samplers first. I have quite a few people who were customers of mine from my previous business who all expressed an interest in buying my candles once I went into production. DH and I have come up with a couple of ideas one of them being sending out a tealight of each fragrance for them to sample, charging a small amount for the set but then also including a money off voucher to that value to be redeemed when they make their first full purchase. The idea being that by charging them for the sampler set you're giving your product a worth. In effect the sample set won't cost them anything once they use the voucher. Once they are regular customers then popping in a free tealight or melt with their order will probably be the best way of promoting a new scent. What do you guys think? Does our idea seem feasible? Your feedback on this would be much appreciated. Ruby

Hi peeps. Not too sure whether this is the right place to post this. If it's not then please move to the appropriate board. I'm almost ready to start selling my candles (still ironing out a few niggles). Lots of testing and lots of researching under my belt :smiley2:. Always one for thinking on ahead I know lots of you have expanded your range by adding b&b, soap, etc. After checking out what we have to conform to here in the UK I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet. So I'm thinking expand the home fragrance side. Maybe add things like reed diffusers, smelly jelly, pot pourri (the dried stuff), room sprays, etc. Do these sell just as well as your candles or are they not worth the aggro? I'd be interested in your opinions specially from my fellow UK members. Obviously, once I am selling then I will be gauging customers interest in other products. Ruby

I've just ordered some more 1oz testers. I've never been disappointed with the quality. Shipping is fast too, especially as I'm in the UK. Sometimes when you buy cheaper priced oils they are "cheap". Not so with Candlesource. Their prices and quality rocks Ruby

They look nice Bill

Gosh Kay you were really lucky. How many more natural disasters can your Gulf states take? Is it just me or does Mother Nature seem to be directing all her anger in your direction? Please excuse my ignorance but is this a common occurence ? Ruby

See this is the problem, those bloomin' bubbles. I cna't seem to get rid of them at low temperatures. Ruby

Hi everyone. I am currently having serious issues with my votives. I use Ecosoya PB as this is the only soy wax available here in the UK. It's supposed to be a one pour wax but when I pour at 155F, which NGI recommend, I get bubbles which I'm not supposed to get. If I pour hotter at 170-175F I get sink holes and need to do a second repour. Even then I still get some cracks. I have no problems using the PB with my tarts, just with the blasted votives. Can anyone make any suggestions other than swapping soy waxes as this is a luxury we don't have. Ruby

Blimey, it makes all of our problems pale into insignificance! Ruby

Hi Anjie As you probably know supplies here are few and far between and the ones we have can be quite dear. I've been testing a whole bunch of container candles I made using the Tesco value tumblers. They're burning really nice in them. You can get similar ones from ASDA, Wilkinson, etc. As for other supplies, Sally's suggestion is a good one as lots of things UK based get discussed in those threads. Ruby

I think it's great for your first attempt. Look at it this way .... it's unique and has a face only a mother would love . I've seen far worse on sale in shops and craft fairs and they sell!! Like everything else practice makes perfect. Keep up the good work. Ruby

Hi Natasha. I think your current website is fab by the way but then again creative minds are always striving for change. Back to your dilemna. How about Scentifique - from the word 'scent' and the 'ifique' from the French word magnifique. You could then go on to describe all your gorgeous aromas for candles, bath and body. Sorry if it's a bit vague. I'm going to have the same problem soon. Just trying to get my head around CSS at the moment. I think one of the problems with candle websites in general is that you can't just pick a product and smell it. If only!! So we have to try and conjure up in the prospective buyer's mind a physical candle shop. It has to be enticing enough for them to stop by and peruse. We have to invoke smell using colours, pictures and descriptions. Not the easiest of things to do. Maybe someone else will have some other ideas. I've got a bit of a block on at the mo (still hung up about my car:mad:) Ruby

Here in the UK it's not illegal so we get inundated with free advertising. We don't have mailboxes here unless the owners have dogs that chew everything in sight:grin2: We have letter flaps in our front doors so all our post lands inside our hallways. I put leaflets out for my husband's PC repair business. I spend a couple of hours each morning posting them through people's front doors. Sometimes people will have little notes on their doors saying no free papers, leaflets and other such things. I always oblige and won't drop one. It is a good way of advertising as it is cheap and you can target demographics. It certainly works for hubby's business and I know that it works for many other local trades people too. Ruby

Hi Moonshadow I tend to pour when it's cool and slushy, somewhere between 100 - 110. The wax looks a bit like apple sauce. That usually does the trick. Failing that a quick blast from your heat gun will sort out a lot of sins! Ruby

I use CB 135 and I find that the cooler you can pour the better for smooth tops and wet spots. I hated wet spots, still do but I don't fret over them any more. Take a look at any of the big commercial candle brands out there and they too have wet spots in their containers. We can be our worst critics at times. If the customer is happy and contented with it then they will always re order again. Remember they buy for the scent. As long as they get the smell and the ambience they are looking to create what's a few wet spots between friends:grin2: Ruby

I think I'll buy 5 ... Do you think they ship to the UK? Some people have more money than sense. Ruby

Victoria Thornes do soy wax, paraffin and beeswax. Their delivery is free if your order is over £100. They also sell moulds and other bits and bobs too. Their website is www.thorne.co.uk Ruby

I can see that this is going to be a case of personal preference. Carrie, your idea is quite a good one. If it's going to take almost a week to get the candle to the end user, then that could be enough curing time. This is something that I'll have to test for. If I can get away with a 7day cure then this will work out better than waiting the whole 14 days. Thanks for your replies they were greatly appreciated. Ruby