LynnS

2 shows I do are $150.High enough.One that is $150 is $75 for electric. High but the show is 3rd week of Oct and I won''t be cold.I use the heater. It starts out cold but gets warmer or else it stays cold all day. The 3rd show I do is $75 and they are staying the same in cost.I do the best at that show but pay the least to do it. $20 shows around here are Churches etc. The small shows and you are lucky to make anything.By the time the Churches etc have their shows the bigger ones are over with.People already have their shopping done. I quit the small shows.To much work and no money. No use in making the stock and not selling it. LynnS

I need to check these out. Make a visit to the PO. I want to put this on my site because it would help with smaller orders. I have 2 very large orders for my candles but no out of state small orders.I want small ones too. This could bring even locals wanting to do business.I had 3 people come to my house for candles. Probably be just as cheap(and not the hassle) for customers getting them in the mail. 2 people were nearby.One was about 45 minues. If they have a option they can get the orders mailed. Those orders were at least 12 JJ candles and they probably would fit in a medium flat rate. I pack snug and lots of newspaper.No breakage. Very happy the PO got these boxes. I was worried when the small flat rate was discontinued and they came up with that box that will not hold candles but tarts. Could'nt fit candles in the small boxes they had last year but the year before the small flat rate could hold maybe 4 candles. This will help all of us for shipping out of state.Maybe more will come back to ordering on-line. Shipping was getting higher every year. BUT so does everything else. LynnS

I am pretty sure I got Fig Tree from AT WIX END.It was awesome.Been sometime though and I need to order it again IF they still have it. It was scent I got in the beginning of candlemaking.Not many people seemed interested but I really think I need to bring it back.I had a couple friends say they like it and I loved it. Something different. I'll be checking AT WIX END site real soon. LynnS

I will try Mennards.They are about 25 miles from us but will get more than one. After this hassle I want a supply.. Yes Iwantitgreen.We also learned that with the one at Walmart.It fit but low wattage. Its Gotta be 15 watt. That's for sure. I used to use nightlights but been awhile.I am definetly going to Wal Mart to get a couple and check the bulb and size. Ecccolights. Our local Hardware Store is the place we were postive had them.They looked at the bulb and they ordered it. When we to picked them up, you could tell it wasnt the right size. Wasted over a week for the WRONG bulb to come in.Taking them back but not sure we want to fool with them again. Bah67-A person on here was nice enough to take charge and see how many people wanted to go in with her to order a much larger quanity.The more we ordered the cheaper we got them .I really like the these but just this problem.Been a year and I forget who went in and got this organized. Not sure about the supplier but will check some sites on plug in warmers. Probably can find what I have. Thank You ALL.Everyone has helped by giving me directions on where to go and size etc. Lots of options/ideas here. LynnS

I just make candles now.Did lotions and soap for a time but never sold them.Now just candles so I don't pay attention.I checked all of that before using the FO's for lotion. My suppliers usually have that listed. I checked the site to make sure it was safe. Some companies put skin safe on the fragrance bottles. Some of mine have that on the bottle and some don't. Depends on the supplier. Someone mentioned the spicey ones are usually not skin safe.Like Cinnamon,Peppermint etc. LynnS

A group of us went together last January to buy the plug in warmers at wholesale. I need to replace the bulb.Cant find one anywhere. Husband and I went to a local hardware store. Took the bulb in. Ordered 5.Then when we went back to get them wrong size.They saw the bulb and then we get the wrong thing. Seems it was a 15 watt but the base is much smaller than what we ordered Or should I say what they ordered for us.I have no idea how that could happen.They saw the bulb and still wrong thing. Anyone know of stores that sell them.We tried Wal Mart and some grocery stores. No luck. I had no idea it would be hard to find bulbs for plug ins or is it just these. I have about 20 of these warmers but need to let people know where to get a bulb if it burns out. Glad I didnt put them on the market yet. I really like them except for this. Cute,decorative,last a long time and put off a good scent with a tart. Plugs into a electric outlet. Out of the way and not on tables etc. Any Help??? Thank You, LynnS

I agree with Carol. I would have no idea how many to make with a 1 ounce of FO but I am sure alot.You are just brushing on the scent. For how long the scents last??? I had a friend tell me her "Heaven"scented car freshener lasted 3 months and she forgot to take it out when she sold her car. I think how long they lasted would be the Fragrance.Some probably last longer than others but Heaven was one I thought would be mild but wasn't. LynnS

I just got (before Christmas) my big wholesale orders out.Then a few people called me that got my candles at shows.Got those done for the holiday and New Year.Now Monday I am delivering candles for a order i missplaced.It will be FREE.Checked out the address I wrote down and lo and behold it is a vet I haven't met but worked with on spaying and neutering.I give her business.I don't remember her telling me her name but Monday we will be meeting. The strangest thing is I have orders on my computer desk along with the spaying and neutering.In the last few months i never saw this order.Not one time.Then as I was getting a message for another order this one I hadn't seen for months was there (not before).The only thing by the phone is a lamp.It is spooky since my husband didn't put it there and we are the only 2 living here. I think this year I will be busy with orders over the phone. More at least than years before.4 just recently and then my wholesalers buy year round. This will be my last year for shows and will be telling my customers this year. Just to much work.Try to promote my website more this year:yay: Soon hope to put my Valentine page on and add a new very pretty jar to that line. Looking to add BBW line.A customer wants some of those scents.Ordering those this week. Just kicking back after a big holiday season and getting lots of things done.Not just candles but going through alot that I need to get rid of including some candle supplies I won't be using. LynnS

8 ounce JJ is all I sell at shows and to 1 wholesaler.At the shows no one even looked at the pretty 10 ounce classic.If they did the price was more than they wanted to pay and believe me I am very reasonable.Now it is only 8 ounce JJ and a few tarts.The same thing tarts never sell like the 8 ounce JJ. I keep making fewer and fewer tarts every year. I do have another wholesaler who likes the classic jar.She gets alot of those every year.Approx 300 or more. So I keep that jar on hand for just her. I tried my labels different ways too but I liked them on the lid.The candles were handled so much with the labels on the jar they became nasty looking. When I tried to take the labels off to replace them it was impossible. A mess. I get orders from people from shows.Not alot but after this year I am quitting shows.Letting all my customers know this.Give them the info to contact us and we won't be back next year. Shows are time consuming, expensive, work getting ready/ setting up/taking down for just $350-$450. LynnS

I got my big wholesale candle order first part of Nov.I sent it in 4 shipments.Just got all the candles done and in the mail. Candles will be in her shop next week for the holiday rush.I might need to replenish her with more candles. Waiting now for my small wholesale order.She re-sells in the family business and also where she works. Working now on a small candle order for a family to give to the children's bus drivers and teachers. LynnS

I see nothing wrong with it.People like variety. Present it well and you should get a variety of customers.IMO people will take a second look when they see different things and more items they might like to buy. I am thinking about making jewlery but I never sit down. I never relax but making jewelry people can sit and watch TV. I never watch TV. LynnS

I like USPS. I did have some damage to about 15 lids but sent my wholesaler more with extras I had on hand. My orders from from Ohio to many states can reach my customers in 2 days.Drop off the package on Wed and I am sure it will reach my customer by Friday.I like that. Some states are FLA, NC, Maine and CT. I ship alot of candles to those areas. If UPS does come up with some shipping prices comparable to the PO I will probably consider them. I can get 18- 10 ounce candles in the large flat rate box.More candles than that with the 8 ounce JJ.I am pleased with how many I can ship and the cost to ship is cheap.Customers are happy. LynnS

The only thing my wholesalers are interested in are candles to re-sell. I have warmers on my site but they don't sell to the public and of course no wholesaler wants them. I am about to delete that page. Sell what I have left at shows(on sale) and be done with hauling and trying to sell them on my website. You might want to ask the wholesaler what She/He is interested in. Ask them if they are interested in the warmers and other things. We candlemakers get our at wholesale so we would have to ask a little more re selling them to wholesalers. Not sure the cost they would need to sell them for would make a decent profit. LynnS

My wholesaler mailed some pics of the damaged lids and a pic of a few of the candles that melted. HOW I have no idea??? I've never had this happen plus the weather isn't that hot. My husband knows they were packed good and the PO said nothing is moving. Melted candles so she had to take the heat gun to the candles before displaying them. I've thought about the FRAGILE thing and if it makes the Postal workers want to have fun with that. I am sure some of the workers love to play. I remember a while back someone said she saw the postal workers toss her boxes in the air.Two guys were throwing the box of candles and having fun doing it. Our schedule is when my husband gets home from work he makes the candles.Let's them sit all night to dry. Then the next day,smooths the tops. Let's them dry also before packing. Then the 3 rd day I pack them. So far only 15 lids are bad and about 7 candles melted around the top. She said only one scent was damaged(melted) and the other scented candles that were in the same box were fine. I mailed the new lids today.Not one lid could be heard being in the large flat rate. I use newspapers to pack and that is the best thing to wrap the lids and the candles. LynnS

Thank You for the input everyone. Fed Ex is a distance from us.Have no idea where they are.UPS is about 25 miles from here.They come by my house but when I asked for estimates a few times, the cost to ship was outrageous. I had to ask him to repeat it and was he sure. My NC wholesaler has NO problems with her orders. She even e-mailed me last month and said the candles arrived safely and commented how well I pack them everytime. 5 years and no problems. Now there are. I will get a tracking number and take out insurance but Hey this is alot of hours and work to do over and customers do want them ASAP. I always get the orders out soon. I will check around about Fed Ex.Really the PO is just 1 mile from my house.It was convenient and like I said no Fed Ex anywhere near me.I would think maybe the closest is 30 miles. Will check their locations. In my area I never see Fed Ex trucks but UPS are all over the place till 9:00 p.m. I have to agree with Bernadette.I am sure all these shipping places use conveyor belts etc. and they get banged around. UPS and Fed Ex aren't any different.I am sure it has happened to candlemakers etc. shipping that route also. When I pack not 1 candle can move.I test the box and so does my husband.Took it to the PO and the Postmaster said these are packed tight. LynnS

I sent out a partial order a couple days ago.Love the flat rate boxes but having alot of problems and have no idea who to blame.I know my PO is just 1 person and I trust him. About a hour later this week a larger post office employee picked up our mail/ packages and takes them to the bigger location where they go by plane or truck.They have no idea which way my mailing went when I called them today. Why I called my PO and the larger one is my wholesaler had boxes smashed big time.No candles broken but the lids were badly damaged. She is sending me pics to let me see how bad it is. Where can I turn to keep this from happening???And can I find out where this did happen. ALL boxes were marked FRAGILE at least 5 times.Also you can read my return address. Candle Company. So a worker or workers are deliberately doing this. I have been shipping for 5 years and last year and this year I had the problem of damaged boxes with USPS. Will getting tracking numbers help???? I want to know where to report this problem if it takes 10 locations where the boxes may have been in transport. Thank You LynnS

Thank You all. I think I will substitue with the Berries N Spruce. Also the Spruceberry sounds alot like Berries N Spruce. It is a toss up. Still cannot figure out what supplier I got Balsam and Berries. I wouldn't have it on my site if I didn't make it.I just can't find the bottle. May have been discontinued because I thought it was one of Berts. I think my wholesaler will be happy with the Berries N Spruce. Closest I can come to Balsam and Berries. LynnS

The Candlemaker Store. One of my wholesalers purchased it and came back and told the wholesaler she wants some on hand.She ordered 12 more Wisteria Candles. LynnS

I didn't know there was a sale too. Got to check it out. LynnS

Anyone know where I can get this fragrance.I have been searching and cannot find it.It is a request.I find Balsam but no balsam and berries. Thank You LynnS

She has the best fo's for the price and they are good. If I didn't have suppliers with other certain fragrances I carry I would get them all from her. Going to do some research in the basement and see what sells and test her fo's with the ones I have.I might be changing some of these. Can't beat $9.99. I have alot of her fragrances but haven't tested all of them. Just know Pumpkin Custard Spice and Wash day had good raves from returning customers. LynnS

Scentsy is not a threat to me. I am more a threat to them. The only thing I see with them is they do things to get customers to their booth.They were a couple spaces from me.They offered raffles to bring people in but what I have noticed raffles are turned down alot.I know a tupperware lady at one show tried to get people to buy raffle tickets for a few prizes but no one purchased any.That was the last time she was at a show. Scentsy has moslty melts. In my area that is no problem. I pretty much stay with candles and do my share of selling.I take very few tarts.Of my 60 customers(or more) only 2 brought a couple packs of tarts. Just not worth making a bunch at all.In fact I probably only took 5 different scents and just a few tarts from each scent. For being turned down since Scensty was there is wrong.You are a crafter and they aren't.Anyway what is wrong with 2 with tarts etc. I was at a show once and someone told me there were 30 candlemakers. Now it is down to probably 6 at that show. I don't really walk around and check. My last 2 shows were great.I got many many repeat customers.I don't see them for a year though but they come straight to me and say "I` brought these last year and love them, or Hey here is my favorite candle lady.Many nice remarks.One lady said I come back every year for the same scent.Others will buy 3 of one certain scented candle.I always remember what those scents are because they will be gone next year. Judy, Sounds like you have a great show coming up.Lots of unique things that normally aren't at the shows I do. All those crafters should do great. LynnS

I stay away now from making candles.Husband does it.With Breast cancer I want to protect my lungs.Having the cancer gene now is scary and I don't want to breathe so many chemicals like I did before. I was around the candlemaking for awhile after diagnosis.Doctor didn't seem to think it would hurt but about 2 months ago I was overcome with a scent and then another etc so I got away from it. I was told no soy products to eat but soy is in so many things we eat.Eating a candy bar, frozen products and so much more.It is the last thing on the ingredients and from what my nurse told me that there is very little in those. I would never eat something that said Soy milk or soy products etc. There has to be alot of soy in that.I drink a vitamin drink and it has soy.Figure that out. We all need vitamins and I thought this would be good for my health and for my wanting to gain back my 12 lbs I lost. Now I need to talk to my doctor about that. I take Tamoxfin. A anti estrogen pill. Then if I eat a soy product it defeats the pill.I try to stay away from the soy hours before I take my pill to get it in my system and make sure no soy is eaten for quite sometime.I talked to my nurse and breast surgeon and they seemed to think OK but not sure what my oncologist will say Tues. I just have a different opinion about candlemaking now.You don't have cancer so that is a difference.Breathing the chemicals might not hurt but I have to believe it would not be good for me.I am now very sensitive to cigarette smoke when someone lights one near me.I was around my husband smoking for 42 years. Now it really makes me sick. I have a hard time breathing. Really hard catch my breath when I smell it. That goes to show you how bad cigarettes are. As time goes on it gets worse.Could be my problem being around the fragrances now too. I think I am having withdrawal symptoms. LynnS

My husband does the pouring but I am down there wicking warning labels,labeling and other things. It does get to me.I do have problems with alot of chemicals and have for years but I seemed to be alright in the basement. A couple times we opened the windows and that helped some and sometimes it really got to both of us. Just recently it did us in. NOW I will NOT even be near candlemakeing and husband moved it outside(in our cargo trailer) away from the basement.The fumes came up through the vents and it was terrible. Husband said so too.Poured Creme Brulee'. The other reason I am totalling away is I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer a year ago.As one person said her doctor told her to wear one.Well my oncologist said it was fine making soy candles BUT do not eat soy.I told her we use fragrances and she seemed to think OK.BUT read up on it.Just a week ago when we got fumigated out of the house I went on line.It says even burning a candle can put off toxins and chemicals. With being diagnosed with Breast Cancer I just can't be around it.So I burning candles and making them. Bottem line. I have to think of my health.There is enough other chemicals we are subjected to going to the store, restaurants, and just driving. Fumes from exhaust and fumes from farmers spraying fields etc. Those are the times we can't get away from it and short term but for candlemakers it is long term. Just be safe and wear a mask.I have the cancer gene now and I MUST stay away from candlemaking. I think it is a wise choice. Read up on candles and cancer etc.Anything you can pick up on. You must think about it. Things might be OK now but later down the road your lungs could be damaged bad or even lung cancer.A 31 year old mother of 3 is fighting it now.Never smoked or her family never smoked.She is in Stage 4. First diagnosed and it was that bad. LynnS

Thank You. Summer Breeze sounds good. I am going to check them out. I want some new scents.Don't need any but want something different. .Need to start work on Craft shows now. Need to decide on What scents. I am only making tarts and 8 ounce JJ. Those 2 things sell. Customer did change her mind about Red Delicious.She wants Mac Apple. I have that in stock. Thanks again, LynnS