Lorrie

What about inserts for newspapers?

You could be honest with her and tell her that at this time you do not offer independant sales rep. postions, or you could bite the bullet and make her your first. If you are going to make her an indepenant sales rep. I would talk to slow-burn, I believe that she has a done this before. I would suggest having her get a sales tax license, this way you are not responsible for her taxes. She also would be buying the candles from you wholesale.

Hey at least you sold something.. I just had a sale this past weekend and I sold nothing. Lots of lookers but no buyers. The sale wasn't advertised that well. I just keep plugging away. I actually like doing shows because I get to work on my set up. Things will turn around, I feel that it is just plain slow...

Lisa, Where about's are you located in Michigan? You could use some sort of historical landmark in part of your name. But I wouldn't use Country Bear treasures because what if you change your logo?

I work full time out side of candles & Soaps. I work on that part of the business approx. 30 hours a week. I actually pour on the weekends and label during the week. I also make most of my soaps on the weekend too. I put it 20 hours on Sat & Sun. Then Mon-Fri. I do most of my research, answering emails, packaging up orders, and shipping, plus maintence on my website. From Nov- To just before Christmas I work from 6 at night until Midnight pouring candles.(During the week) And from about 6 in the morning until 8pm on the weekends just filling orders. This year I actually have alot more candles in stock because I had the extra money to purchase supplies. So I am a head of the game this year... I hope that this helped..

If I remember correct it is a dupe of one of Glade's Scents

I would like to make some of these but I don't have a recipe. anyone care to share!

I think that it is nice. I like the gift basket but I think that you may want to put in discriptions of what is included in the gift baskets. If it was there and I missed it sorry.

Can you post the link?

Welcome to the board. I can't help you with the your fragrance problems (with Save On scents) but what type of scents are you burning? Sometimes when you burn fragrances that have citrus in them they can give off a fuel smell. Maybe something like this is going on with you. And some people are sensitive to it and others aren't.

The only thing that I can say now is well maybe your husband is sensitive to one of the oils. Sometimes if you use coconut oil and palm oil and the % is too high it can feel drying, which maybe causing the itching. Look in the reciepe section on this board and try something from there.

I have noticed that if I don't let me soap cure lonmg enough it will make my skin itch. How long did you cure it for?

I use it and sell it. I haven't noticed any differences. What are you using for FO's. Some of them don't throw that well in EL soy wax.

Thanks everyone for your imput but I know that at this time I do not have the capital to do something like this. Yes, this is something that I want to do someday. NOT anytime soon. Mountainmadness and I are thinking about this the same way. i want to have XX amount of $$ in the bank before I do something like this. I wanted to make sure that I am not underestimating the start up cost. That is why I turned to this board. I know that people here have start their own retail stores. I want to thank everyone who give me their imput!

Ok I guess I should add this the lease is for one year. I don't want to drop a huge amount of money into a store front that I haven't even seen yet. I want to make sure that I am looking at this in the right state of mind. I don't want to take all the money that I have and drop on this and then find out I need more money to make it a go. I know that rent is cheap and half of the stuff on this list. I all ready have it covered. Insurance, got it and would have to get renter insurance. Signage No problem. That is what my Father in law does. He owns a sign shop:D Advertising. Well My husbands cousin works for the paper. In the advertising departmen! I don't have any fees for my bank account other than checks. Have all the office supplies, tools, business cards. I have the deposit and at least half the year for rent. Other amount I would hang on to for supplies. Things I have to research. Store displays and fixtures. (I don't even have a clue on where to look) If any one can suggested nice website for me to check out please do. How much the utlities are. Trash disposal, sewer, heat, water. And the main thing I need to go throught the store to see if there is any problems with it.

I found these on From nature with love's tie. These may help someone too. http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/library/productchallengetesting.asp

Thanks Carmen. I actually pm'd you on this topic!

I have been thinking alot about this lately and I was wondering. How much was your start up cost? I realize that it will be alittle different in each area but I just want to get an idea. I want to be able to figure all this stuff out so that I know before I take the jump into something that I am not sure about. And is there anything that you forgot about until after you took the jump? Also what would you consider to be reasonable for rent? I found a place that I could rent for $295 a month and it got me thinking about where I want to go with my business. I realize this is a big deal and not to forget about all the over head. But if any of you have any words of wisdom I would appreciate it.

Thank you Robin. Maybe we should add something like this to the B&B stickies. So that the newbies know they should have their items tested before selling them.

I would like to have a couple of my b&b items tested before I start selling. Can anyone tell me where I can get information for this? Thanks

Very NIce! I love the green!

Wow those are great! I love the butterfly in the pillar. Nice work!

I want to add to what Tall said. You also want to make sure you know who is in charge of sales tax, (if they are going to pay it get a copy of sales tax license.) This will cover you butt on that issue. On the issue of payment you may want to put in when you expect payment for items sold too. And Congrats.. It is such a feeling when you get your foot in the door..

Also another thought is adding bees wax to it. That is supposed to help with the frosting. I was told 1-3% but you may have to wick up.

You will have to check with your state but when I was checking into carrying lye on my website. I was told that you have to take a class through your state to ship hazzardous materials. They said that there is huge fines if you get caught. I would suggest maybe checking with your state. OR maybe place an ad on the classifieds to see if anyone that is close to you would want to buy it..