SherriLynn

OK...not sure who the Thymes supplier is.

Great idea Moonshine on the candle swap. Out of all the waxes I've been testing,,, 415 is what I may go with. It's one of those heat and cool to slushie waxes and my rhythm and sync for a day of power pouring are built around those wait times. I've done some rewicking with 415,, went back to cotton 60's and 51's as I was using some other brands for testing...Upped the FO load to 6%. And have added some beeswax, which is what I used with EL for smoother tops. It's starting to come around with a little more tweaking. Time will tell....

Fran.. I feel your pain!! I tried 464 and 415... wasn't impressed with either. Nor the Eco's...these waxes just don't throw like EL does. The reason I chose EL 10 years ago was due to its amazing HT and CT throw. I have enough EL to last me through spring, depending how large the fundraisers come in and am seriously hoping I can find a replacement wax...If not, we may need to rethink keeping candles in the biz.

We haven't seen a decline....The large show we do in early September our sales were up by $300 from the past 2 years of shows Our fundraisers are up and our storefront is up in sales (our 3rd year on main street). We do one large show first weekend in September,,, then none until the end of October. We've learned from past years that September - mid October just aren't good selling shows for us. Customers are getting children set in school with band instruments, clothing, supplies, sports equipment, sports bus passes, etc and the extra money isn't there. We'll try selling at a show twice and if our sales expectations aren't met, we dump the show. We've been on the road since 1999 and have a set list of shows that are super sellers. We are booked solid from the end of Oct - mid Dec with juried/handcrafted shows only. We stick with these shows because it's where the "money" is for our products. We do not take part in any vendor/commercial shows cause you can buy that stuff anywhere, the shows are usually low in attendance and don't meet our sales expectations. There are also 3 major consignment boutiques our products are at during the months of Nov and Dec. We're geared up for "silly" season.... already have some corporate gift baskets on order from customers for delivery Dec. 10.

Most of my shows are juried/handcrafted so I'm not allowed to bring in an accessory unless it's something I've made. I do a couple of shows that are a little more lenient that do allow me to bring in some tart warmers and wick trimmers, but I can offer them in a basket only along with my own products. I can't sell them separately.

I heat my soywax to about 180....add FO/colorants. I've used EL container blend for approx. 10 years... have never heated oils before adding to wax and have no problem with FO's incorporating with wax during that time. I don't heat jars either, use them at room temp. I use a 50 lb melter and measure into warm 8 cup glass measuring cups (keep them on warm in my oven) for mixing wax and as my pour pot. When adding FO I've not found that the temperature drops drastically using 8 cups of hot wax. I actually don't notice a plunge in temp at all, if there is a drop in temp, my thermometers don't pick it up so I imagine it's very minimal. I didn't notice a drop using 4 cup glass measuring cups either.

Absolutely..... the trend is turning to spending money on locally made products, USA, state, city. Our wholesalers market our products as USA, Minnesota Made and our labels show hand crafted in Minnesota. Many of our products carry a state logo because I use locally grown/produced/harvested ingredients in creating my products. Definitely adds product value..

I'd inventory before going to the show.... then inventory when you get home. That way you won't have to mess with it while your selling.

In my pour pot this weekend is Peaks-Blackberry Sage, Gingerbread Cookies, Winter Wonderland, Spiced Cranberry......Elements-Pumpkin Log and Patchouli Honey.....Nature's Garden- Vanilla Pear, Christmas Cabin and Sweet Orange Chili Pepper...BCN Papaya Mango and Vanilla Velvet.... Genwax- Rustic Woods, Cranberry Woods and Roasted Hazelnut. Pouring tons of melts this weekend... my backstock is gone from my store inventory so I need to restock PLUS make some for the shows on the road coming up soon... Melts are selling up a storm. I use a 2 1/2 inch round label on the top of my 8oz jars, standard gold lid,,,with my logo, scent, weight, etc. Bottom of jar is the warning label. I label the top of the jar cause I use it as a marketing tool.... you can view the flickering flame from all sides of the jar cause the light isn't blocked by a label.

I use their Honey Oatmeal FO and their Pumpkin Log..... Honey Oatmeal for B & B... Pumpkin Log for candles and melties,,, has an awesome throw in my EL with beeswax container blend. I just recently started testing their lavender martini in candles and melties....testing is going well so far.

Oh my gosh... FOHO.... too funny.... LOL

Sounds like one of those I MUST try!! LOL

Phone number, email address, biz address ( have always used a PO box for my biz instead of my home location) and FB info.

Hi Chris... It will probably depend on how large of a catalog you'd like to have, also how many copies and if you want to take it to a professional printer or print them yourself. I've used Printshop for many years for all my labeling, brochures and catalogs. My catalogs are usually 8 - 10 pages in size.,,, 8.5 x 11 size paper folded in half and stapled, like a booklet. I use various types of paper. Usually cardstock for the outside cover and at least 24 lb paper for the inside pages. My catalogs are mainly used for fundraisers, potential wholesale clients and to take home from my storefront. I hand out brochures and business cards at shows.

Have been in the biz since 1999.... Just like OldGlory and Dave I have seen the vendors come and go quickly in the candle/craft industry....Gosh I remember about 10 years ago vending at a hand crafted show of about 100 vendors and 20 of them were some sort of candle maker. Today out of 100 vendors you might find 2. One needs to have the passion and the drive to keep going during lean months steered by a good business plan...Ya need to live it, breathe it, make it and sell it. If you can't...... ya just ain't gonna survive in it. Be creative,,, ALWAYS have something new every year for your customers,,, a new fragrance, votive holder, style of jar. That's the first question I'm asked each year at shows,,, what's new this year. A definite sales builder as the customer will usually buy at least one of the new product,, as well as their usual favorites.

Cool watch.... I had the great opportunity of making a cut and carve candle at one of the BC Candle Conventions...it was awesome. Thanks for sharing....

Thanks for the chip info.....will have to give that a try when I test them.

Cute as can be!! They look "royal".

Straight Vanilla, Lavender or Patchouli... patchouli and lavender remind me of old women fragrances yuckkk..... Vanilla gives me a headache.. no matter who's it is or what it's in.

I noticed on another thread that many are using dye chips in their soywax. I've tried both liquid and chips in my past testing..... I'm not able to get the dye chips to completely melt in my wax,,I heat to 180 -185. There's always some colored flecks or pieces floating around. What temps are you heating your soywax to get chips to melt? Maybe there's a difference in brands.... Hmmm..not sure I want to change cause I'd need to test all over again, but since I'm sorta in the midst of testing new waxes I might try some chips too.

Yup... definitely a market. I only pour M&P and it's a great seller for me. Not looking to get into the CP/HP. I've learned to swirl layer, suspend ground up oatmeal and coffee grounds in it. I don't think I've ever had someone ask if it's MP, HP or CP.... I use SFIC bases.. Have many customers with eczema type symptoms that love my soaps as they aren't irritating to the skin.

Oh gosh... sorry to hear so many have had problems with consignment. I have consigned for years with 2 large boutiques in the state,,,each of the boutiques last for 2 - 2 1/2 weeks in length. Great experience... great sales... and I'm able to have my product at my store and 2 other places all at the same time. Chaching... I LOVE the month of November

Hi Chuck.. I've used a few of El's FO's in my regular fragrance line, however, many other suppliers FO's work well in EL as well. Some of my fave suppliers are Peaks, KY, Genwax, Millcreek and Cajun. I've used El for approx. 10 years,,, Great wax. I didn't notice variations between Lot #'s and the wax performed the same all the time. Saved me a lot of headache in testing, testing and testing again before pouring the next Lot #. Have poured more than 50,000 candles with EL... love the stuff.

Agree... Lonestar has great dyes that work well in soy. So does Candlesoylutions... Have used both over the past years and each has worked well.

Awesome PAgirl...hope you sell tons this year... sales have been strong for us this fall.