SherriLynn

Hi,, I handpour candles etc,, however I have my own gourmet food line as well. I carry several different licenses, and I'm required to package in a commercial/stainless kitchen no home packaging is allowed. You can check with your Department of Ag in your state and see what the requirements are. HTH's..

My pricing fluxuates between stores as well as my website. For example, I have 2 up north stores in tourist country, that wholesale from me. They do an awesome job selling my candles, for $2.00 - $2.25 more than I retail on my website, or at craft shows. I think stores will charge whatever they think their market will tolerate. I have no problem with stores charging different prices than I do.... Even chain store prices such as Walmart, fluxuate in pricing between different cities. I have several friends who shop our local store, versus the one in their larger city, because our prices are cheaper. Stores up in Duluth, tourist country, charge more than my little store does locally. I also sell my fundraising products are a higher price than my website. By time the customer would pay for the shipping cost, the item would cost more than the fundraiser brochure.

I started making waxed dipped toilet a while back... They are selling very well up north in one of my seasonal booths, and so far have sold almost 70 of them,, since the end of May(memorial weekend). If I knew how to take a pic and post. I would, as there are some very lovely creations made with ribbons, flowers and bathroom themed sea shells.. and truely there is nothing tacky about them. They are well made, and will probably be my secret weapon this Christmas for holiday sales. I sell mine for $12.95 each... which includes the plate, decorated with potpourri and the dipped roll. When customers find out what they are,, they are amazed and think they're darling. My most popular fragrances are Northern Pine, Floral, Baby Powder and Cinaberry, Lilac and Vanilla. I've also started making a few waxed paper towels,, for the kitchen.

I picked up 150lbs of wax from the Waxhouse on Tuesday been my EL supplier for years. They're very nice people to work with and have a great Rose FO, that we use for our sachet cards. The Spice FO is really nice too for a fall/holiday fragrance.

I retail my 8oz candles for $8.50 each, 2 for $16.00 or 3 for $22.00. On my wholesale brochures my candles sell for $8.99 each. Each jar is wrapped with cute little tissue paper/holiday and individually boxed. We offer a variety of product, from incense, to aroma beads sachets, to candles and gourmet foods. We also sort all orders, by seller and by client and we bag them. When the orders arrive at the school, everything is ready to go for delivery, no hassles with finding bags for students to deliver, no more headaches for parents to sort through things. We;'ve found our fundraisers to do very well in our small town(1200),, and the surrounding communities. We have now branched out to a 100 mile radius and have been sought out by some schools past that point that we are considering , to to their larger sizes.

I agree, we all have chosen waxes because of their performance, or their cost with shipping. I've tested many soys over the last 6 years,, however I pour only Enchanted Lites, both container and votive soywax. I have found this wax to be the most consistant and continaully performs well. I use a blend of 1 ounce of beeswax per pound of EL. I love the tiny little pellets which make it really easy for measuring. I have received many compliments through the years from both my retail customers and my wholesale stores. One thing I'd suggest is to make sure that you are adding your Fragrance oils when your wax is about the 175 - 185 degree mark. Many FO's do not blossom as they should when added to lower temperature waxes. I know there are some wax manufacturer's who say to add FO's at lower temps, however, I've found a high temp to work much better.

I have a dipped taper in this FO.... sits in my office... I love the smell... reminds me of my grandmom making cookies... Since this is such a strong oil.. you may have to cut back on the usage,, like down to 3/4 oz per pound... stronger is not always better with some fragrances. You definately get your money's worth with this FO.

I think it will depend on your part of the country what the sales percentages would be. In our neck of the woods there are many people doing magazine funds raisers, and jewelry fundraisers. that are only give a 25 - 35% back to the organization but offer gift cards and prizes to the top sellers. Several of the fundraisers my children have participated in (high school), offer no prizes or gifts to sellers, but offer from 30 - 40% back to the organization. I live rural, and in our small towns the big fundraising companies dont' even consider us because at least 500 items or more must be sold for a 30% profit to the organization. The cheapest item being $6.00 That's about $3000 for groups that are only about 12 -15 members and we know how those groups work,, some will participate and some won't.. so the amounts needing to be sold are pretty big. Now I think in larger populated areas, you can give back more to the organization,,, like 45 - 50%. If you have 100 kids participating in a fund raiser and your prices are set right, it can be very, very profitable for both parties. I don't know how to set up a survery,, but I think it would be interesting to see what is offered for percentages in different parts of the country for fundraising. As far as the brochure.... just my thoughts, but way too many scents offered. We offer a variety of products on our fundraisers, however usually not more than top 6 or 7 candles FO's and only in 2 sizes, a mason jar. or votives. An yes,, I agree,, very very wordy. Many of those who will purchase, skim for something that catches their eye but dont' have time to read the rest. I think you'll need to figure out which market your going to target. I work with smaller school and fundraisers,, very profitable, and usually doesnt' require alot of up front expenses. I also have to target fundraisers between my usual selling at large shows. It's alot to juggle at first, so it will take time until you can find your niche'. Good luck.. and happy fundraising... !!

What temp are you adding your FO? Since soy is poured at a much lower temps, sometimes people are adding FO's at too low of temp. I add my FO at about 160 - 170 degrees, so the molecular structure of the FO's have a chance to open up. Many times FO's will not smell in any type of wax, if your adding the FO at too low of wax temperature.

I recieved the same email from "name removed" on 6/19... Upon googling I show this store does not exist.

I agree Sheila, I actually quit pouring this wax because of all the "TLC" it needed to make a nice looking candle. I've tested palm from all the suppliers listed above, and unfortunately air pockets showed up with them all for me. I've tried cooling slower, putting a box over candles when cooling, warming my candle room up, hitting the sides of the molds to make air pockets come to top,,, etc, etc, etc. Just when I think I don't have air pockets, I cut a votive or candle into sections or in half,, only to find air pockets inside. During busy times of year, I just dont' have time trying to fix tops of votives that have little air pockets... Drat, it's a beautiful wax in appearance, I wish it would behave in the molds.

I use a few of the BCN FO's and they are dynamite in soywax. Countryberry Hotcakes, Papaya Mango and Spiced Cranberry. Most fragrance suppliers will tell you that your wax should be at least 170 degrees when adding FO. To add FO under that temperature does not allow the fragrance molecular structure to open up in the wax, therefore causing no scent throw. Reheating wax, or holding fragranced wax a temperature of more than 180 for long periods of time will cause the FO to burn off.

Hoping you's all do better on your next shows. I stopped in at a show yesterday, one I decided not to do this year as sales have been slumping there over the past several years. My vendor friends reported how awful sales were, lots of kicking tires, but very few buying. There was one candle vendor there, and no soaps and 2 bath and body lotion stuff. There were about 90 vendors and from what I observed these are the hot items this year. Sweatshirts, tons of kids tie dyed stuff, blouses, woodworking ,, and tons of JEWELRY!!! I must have counted 10 jewelry people,, and 3 of those selling that magnetic jewelry stuff. Unfortunately spring shows are known for low/minimal sales. My wholesale took a big jump and I'm well ahead in my usual sales for this time of year, so I decided to keep my money, enjoy my spring weekends and stay off the road until June, when we have another major festival. I'm not surprised to hear of no soap vendors. My prediction on candles sales is you'll see fewer and fewer booths. Candles are fading fast, just like soap did. I think people realized it wasnt' a get rich quick idea.

I pour 3 inch wide salt crocks and wick with HTP 126's or 62 Paper... I use 100% EL soy, blended with beeswax and 1 oz of FO pp...

I ship 3rd and 4th class to Arlington TX all the time,,, my packages usually arrive at my sisters place in about 5 or 6 days and I'm in Minnesota. Maybe there's a terminal that isn't processing mail as it should somewhere between the shipping point and receiving point. I have heard for many years from my mother in law, who's located in Harlingen, it takes almost 2 weeks to get a 1st class letter down there... ridiculous.. and they're raising prices... sheeesh.. !! I'd check with my postmaster to put some sort of tracer on packages,, and see where the delay might be....

I sell alot of fragrances, and have tested many many more,,, however there is something about anything juniper, that is a complete turnoff to me. You know how those green twigs taste when you peel back the bark, ewww sour, sticky, green.. that's what juniper smells like ta me... thinks maybe my nose is twisted too:p

I've poured soy for over 6 years,,, this is the first I've ever heard of a "soy scent".. I know some people put some shortening in it as an additive to help smooth the tops, now those I've heard go rancid. As far as a soy scent, soy wax doesnt' smell any different to me, than the paraffin I used to pour. They smell like "wax". Keeping soy at high temps will discolor and give the wax a brunt smell, but other than that, I've never experienced a "soy scent". Perhaps it's the different types of soy and soy blends that are on the market. The are parasoys, soy blends with cottonseed, soy with botanical oils... maybe some of those waxes give off a different scent... I use 100% soy from EL.

I am using Cashmere Scarf (Southern Scentsations) in my Enchanted Lites soyblend candles. I've noticed the fragrance oil has clumps of something in it... Upon contacting the supplier it was mentioned in some of the fragrances they blend, the vanilla tends to "clump" a bit in it. I've tried setting the FO container in warm water in an attempt to melt them down , shake up the FO and use, however, I can't seem to get the clumps out. I dont' want to warm the FO in a microwave as I'm afraid it will ignite. I am worried about the integrity of the oil, if it's not blending right inside the bottle, my candles won't smell like they should. Hmmmm.... Does anyone else have this happening with FO's and if so, what method works best for you to get rid of the clumps. This is a new fragrance for me,, I love it and so do my testers, but I may have to replace it, with this clumping thing going on, it tends to make me a little nervous. I've poured candles for 19 years and have never seen this in an FO. Thx for your help.

1.99 each.. or 3 for $5.00,

Yummmm... this is an awesome fragrance. I'm using it in my Enchanted Lites soywax,,,, It smells awesome. Did anyone who uses this fragrance need to wick up a size? Thx much

I'm wondering if anyone has used the Aroma beads from both DPS and BCN? Are the aroma beads similiar , or are there differences you can see or smell between the two? Does one particular bead fragrances last longer than the other etc, or did you find them to work about the same.??:undecided Thx for your help.... *S*

I use Enchanted Lites with 3/4oz of beeswax per pound, 1 oz pp FO. In the small mason jars I wick with 60C and 51C. I've found in my blend the HTP 104, 105 and 1212 are way to big, smoke and leave a huge melt pool.

My wholesale prices are at least half of the retail price. I include a complete list of retail pricing, along with the wholesale prices. It's up to the store to charge what will work in their area.

I'm a registered nurse with a special needs daycare... this is my 11th year. My youngest son will graduate from college next year, so I see a light at the end of my tunnel. I hope to close the center by the end of 2008.... Hats off to all of you, for your dedicated to children...

I accept the 4 major credit cards... I've never had anyone ask me at shows or on my website if I accept Paypal... *S*