SherriLynn

Lindsay, I got tired of the emails too,,in January of 2006, I called PayPal.,, and told them to delete/cancel my account from their system. I had set up an account in 2001 to take credit cards, but NEVER used it. The customer service rep apologized for any inconviences as I explained how I kept receiving these emails. He assured me there wasn't a breach in their system. I told him, nobody would know I had this account,,unless they were given access to that information. I had never used the account, it was never posted on my website,so it's not public knowledge. I've never received an email , since I placed that call. MizBiz , your granny incident is the first that I've heard about someone receiving paypal information, yet not having an account. I can't imagine why any business would send email information about an "exisiting account" to someone who doesnt' have an account, as that person would simply delete it as spam. Email blasts are costly, and these emails are meant to target those people who have an account, because that's where they'll get their response from. Customers will want to make sure they're account stays active, thus people answer these spam messages and end up in a whole heap of trouble, identity theft.. etc. If this company's policy is "not to sell customer lists" they perhaps need to figure out where that information is getting accessed from. Before opening my business I worked for a large money order corporation and dealt with encoding security. From what I can see there is definately a security issue with this company.. someone is accessing their client list and generating these spam emails from it. I've never been contacted again from this company, once I deleted my account early last year,which tells me the accessing is still going on judging from the comments in these forums. This isn't simple telemarketing, nor is it simple supplying names and addresses to a contest company or birthdates etc, that is all public knowledge and has been done for years.. We are talking confidential, secure accounts. And these emails are targeted to those with accounts and there is only one place that knows who the account holders are. Please keep in mind, this is just my humble opinion, from what I've observed and experienced in my business world. :highfive:

I use plastic T shirt bags that are hot pink (cerice) in color. I purchase them from Veripack, 1000 for $48.00 There are also several styles of thank you T shirt bags available... 43.45/1000. I'm thinking of changing to the white bag with a rose, that says "Have a nice day" , "Thank You for Shopping with us". These are handled bags,, and handles are a "MUST" for me. Shoppers like to carry numerous bags over their arms when buying at big craft shows. Since we do both indoor and outdoor shows and live in a cool climate where there's snow and sleeting,the plastic protects the products from getting wet.

We use the envelopes from MMS... http://www.the-sage.com/ they sell well for us... we sell them for $1.25 each or 3 for $3.00.... they did really well for us during holidays times,,, for secret santa gifts... gift tags.. etc.. *S*

I don't use Paypal or accept Paypal... I've heard numerous problems from people who have these accounts, regarding privacy,, confidentiality.. etc. There is no way anyone would be getting these spamms or spooofs,, if these companies would quit selling their mailing lists to people...

When I took out liability insurance, my agent told me, in the event of a complication causing lawsuit, anyone selling the product would be sued. That would be myself as the manufacturer, my wholesale stores, consingment stores, etc. as they are all involved. If the product proves to be defective, they would all be held accountable to some degree. And in turn, those stores could also sue me, along with the customer. There was a lawsuit in our state a few years ago.. where the candlemaker actually went back and sued the glass manufacturer for a defective container and won. The candlemaker hired a specialist to analyze the construction of the glass.

Is laffin here... well gosh.. I thought MLM was maybe another one of those Candlewealth companies... I wasn't sure... so I thought I'd better ask before I said anymore. I'm familiar with MLM's.. For years my brother seemed to get hooked into every scam there is...and tried to recruit me personally, recruit me to buy something,, recruit me to sell other peoples something,, on and onnn... :rolleyes2 Did I ever tell about the gas additive that doubles the miles per gallon?? This was my schpeel to him. When I'm at shows I network,,, I sell multi levels too!!! I sell from products on the shelves, tables. and the floor.. 3 tiers right there, yes? ... I taught him the concept of value added,,,, create a new idea,, produce it,, market it,,, call it your own... You see, I'm the man at the top, and in an MLM you have to sell 5 times as much as I do, to make what I do. You have to sell enough to pay yourself, the guy at the top, and all the middle guys in between. So guess where he is now,,, making and marketing his own cherry wood furniture and raking in more cash than he ever dreamed in a hobby business... Sometimes, ya just gotta listen to the big sister, with the business degree.... cause if ya don't, she'll twist your arm, fix it with her nursing degree and get you on the right path.... Ok.. short brunette gets off her soapbox... LOL!! I do have one concern though... at shows, I'm wondering how the promotors are going to tell what's handpoured from myself,,, and umm.. what's a kit... Hmmmm.... will have to tackle that in another saga...

lemme rephase that.... MLM are you talking mulit level marketing company... orrrr is MLM a business name?? still not sure:confused:

okkkkkk.. what is MLM?? I have never heard of that acronym...

I'd give your supplier a call too... maybe she has some tips. I'm wondering if maybe the wax was too hot when poured, that seems to be where many pick up frosting from.

If it was me.. I'd be purchasing one of those candles to see how they burn...sometimes when I'm checking out potential shows.. I purchase competitors candles.. LOL...!! Just cause they make them that way.. doesnt' mean.. they burn right.... and I have found that out before,, in my purchasing from other vendors...

I vend at approx 40 craft shows a year,,, most of them juried,, some very heavily juried. I am really surprised that a group of crafters, goes from booth to booth to identify hand crafted. Lets hope all these crafters get along, have been neighbors in the past, andthat there aren't any grudges, as that could very well play a part in who's booted or not. As the promotors of these shows THEY should know what is handcrafted or not, and be able to identify those items. They should have a committee to supervise that responsibility. If they can't, then they need to hire someone who can. Just my .02 today..

I'll be anxious to see what FO's you tried, and how your testing went. I love both the votive and container blends of EL. I tested many soy waxes when I first started pouring soy 6 years ago... I found EL to be the most consistent in performance.

Oh my gosh.. it's the Stanley Home Party Products revived as a candle club now. I listened to the entire powerpoint presentation... yikes another get rich quick scheme. In this particular candle business it seems the key feature is selling the candlemaking kits... sounds easy enough,, buttttt unless someone is selling what they're producing from the candlemaking kits,, they aren't going to order more.. so now,, your commission has stopped because the ordering of the candlemaking kits , has stopped. Testingg... hmmm seems there's and R&D department,,, wonder if they've tested for different climates,, mountain ranges etc. According to the presentation it costs $3,00 to make a 6oz candle.. which can be sold for $12.00.... :confused: ok.. where's that market.. I want a piece of that action. Cripes one is lucky to get a dollar per ounce in a container jar, in the market today.... Ohhh the wholesale buyers are gonna have a field day with this one....

I've poured enchanted lites soy wax for many years,, since the days when the company was still located in New Ulm, MN. Do you know if they've recently reformulated their FO's. Years back I tested about 20 FO's. and found them to be very light,,, nothing really strong like I was currently using. I've never used any of their FO's in my line, but I'm always looking for new things... Let us know how the rest of your testing goes...

I pour soy votives and use a 62HTP for a wick, sometimes an HTP 73 for pine or vanilla scents. HTP 93 , 105 and 1212 sound really , really big to me. Are you using an additive with your pillar blend or just the straight wax? I use enchanted lites votive blend, adding 1oz of beeswax per pound, typical burn time on votives is 15 - 17 hours. I've started testing some of the Eco wicks in my votives. I'm getting a real nice burn with the Eco 2. HTP 105's to big to use in my 8oz mason jars (EL container) so I use a 51 cotton. HTP 1212's are used in an open 3 inch crock, single wick,, awesome burn.

I Agree Shine, Wax, Carrie.... I am also a registere nurse and: The articles clearly state, consumption of soy,, and consumption of soy for cancer patients, and those in remission of cancer. This information has been a well known factor for some time. Unless someone is sitting down at their table,, eating my soy candles out of the container with a spoon, I'm not going to worry about it...

I do very few hang tags... one of the reasons is because they continually get crimped , bent or wrinkled when packing and unpacking for shows...At busy shows, it's easier for clients to see the fragrance label on the top of the jar quickly, instead of meandering around, flipping the hang tag over, reading, and taking up space in the booth. I label.. only on the top lid of my glass jars.... I've found this to be a good marketing tool. Since I don't label the glass itself,,, the flickering flame, can be seen from all angles as it burns. I purchase 2 1/2" round lables and print my own labels... my cost, including ink, is about 5 cents a label. I find a great advantage to printing my own labels, as I can change type or pictures as I want to,, and I don't have to pay set up charges.. etc.

I get my soy from the same supplier, outside of Cold Spring... They are wonderful to work with...hoping I can talk Marlin into getting some palm wax one day... LOL I get my cotton wicks from them as well.... Fergus,,,, I do the little mall show every once in a while when I'm up there checking on my uncle and aunt in Underwood. It's a fairly small show, but I've had some repeat sales there. Snoww,, Hmmm..I think I have more snow, in my Minnesota Snowstorm candle.. that what I have on the ground right now,,, although the temps are starting to drop.. maybe we'll get some snow. Virginia!!!! one of my favorites MN towns, I vend at the Land of Loon festival up there every year... Awesome handcrafted show... !! Even in the rain.... LOL

Infinity packaging out of Urbandale IA, carries the Richardson 8oz square mason jars... They have a $250 minimum in ordering, however the jars are only 55 cents each. Currently they are out of stock, however do expect stock within the next 30 days or so... I'm located in central MN, just outside of Brainerd. If any of you use EL soywax,, my supplier is just outside of St. Cloud, I pay nothing for shipping in wax, I just stop in on my way to nail appointments...

I love the cotton wicks too, in my containers. 51's and 60's have always worked well for me in my mason jars. For votives I use an HTP 62.. or an Eco 2... however, I do blend 1 oz of beeswax per pound of EL container blend.