Violetsexoticcandles

Yes it does when I know the order is coming or when trying a new wax/scent... Or when I am pouring for myself... etc... This lady has put me at wit's end. That's all... And yes, I've learned much from CT and now I won't take wholesale orders without a minimum order of $100. Especially when I have to buy wicks and stuff especially for their order... 50% and the contract sounds like a plan to me at this point! Enough wasting my time, effort and money for a deal that ends up being next to nothing... she's ordered from me before, as I stated, yet backed out on half the stuff last minute. Why, I've made more on orders via Ebay (surprisingly enough), because of customers who couldn't get enough of my candles, than her. I will do this! By god, I am good enough and my products are, as well. Ok getting a bit kooky here... time to sleep! Thanks Southern!

Sad to hear people see sex in everything... lol. It was one of my struggles when making my web name- to use the name or not (something my web reseller promptly pointed out). I said, you know what, my DBA is that name and I'll be damned if I'm gonna change it. I've got a good customer base... I am hoping to hear from the high school soon... if not, I'll call again. Maybe I won't get notice this year, but perhaps next year. Hmm... maybe I should stop by the office and give out samples... wish I didn't work during their hours! But next Friday I'm doing a vendor event at an ex-coworker's workplace. Only cost me $25 for a spot at a local insurance company... could be promising... And I took the day off, so I'm done before school gets out... hehe... Thanks all...

I know, I know, I've only been at this for 1.5 plus years... It seems that a lot is going on, though. The holidays are coming, I waited too long to try to get some other opportunities in such as more craft fairs in addition to the one I did last month... Fundraisers... etc... All because a wholesale account was supposed to come through and it seems she is backing out last minute... grr... I've spent hours upon hours of testing for her and even bought glass glow bc of her in a way... I didn't HAVE to buy 55 lbs right now! I have tons of stock I should have been trying to move but devoted my time to her account. This isn't the first time she's changed her mind, either. I've wholesaled a total of $45 to her in the past 6 months! Who would do that, even for a local retailer? But I did it for her (her unscented tealights probably cost me more than her) to get the business... now she is talking of backing out after saying she'd order 100 tealights, scented, 50 votives, 12 clamshells and numerous 5 oz bulb jars? Grr... It just gets me heated. I've been dealing with this woman for MONTHS about this one order... Not to mention my feet are killing me lately... I went out to get this 'remedy' that was supposed to help. Ended up buying the one for 'ladies.' It was a joke! The medicated pads were like 1/8 of an inch in diameter, as opposed to the regular ones... Another GRR... BIG time GRR. I am going to call the manufacturer on that one! What, just because I am a lady, means that I have 'smaller' problems with my feet? Anyway, I digress. My friend (who loves my candles, by the way) told me I should just tell the retailer "screw you" and go on... I am starting to feel the same way. I shouldn't have to wholesale for under $100 minimum! It costs $$$ to make these damned things! I have tested and spent thousands of dollars to perfect my methods and she might back out because she's afraid she will only 'break even?' Get real... She says she can get her candles for much cheaper elsewhere! Where? My prices are not unreasonable, if you divide my costs by 50%... I am thinking her supposed EO candle supplier isn't giving her the facts... Well I guess I just needed to vent... Off to bed so I can work at that 'job' I have again. Yay! :rolleyes2 G'nite all! Violet

Stella- I didn't know that about turning the pillars! Thanks! I do turn them just cuz I like to see the glow from the wick, though... but probably not as often as that. I will do so and see if it makes a difference. I'm really having fun with the 3" ones... hehe. It's ridged, kinda cool really... I don't know what to call it really... can't think of what the ebayer called the mold when I bought it last fall. ugh... but I won't be making it into a sex candle, I swear (for those who saw the thread about my "sexotic candles..." haha). It has these ridges that go in and out in triangular shapes? I am probably having a brain fart... la la la... Gotta love those! Violet

I don't think, in New York, people would turn their noses up because the words ran together wrong... Besides, they all know me or of me... I have a MS in Education Administration and was taught by the former superintendent, and know the AVP as well as the business administrator from classwork.

I tried soy and so far, I like palm pillars better, just to let ya know . But I haven't tried a 2 inch one yet... I have a pillar mold that is crinolated and probably the width of your standard votive... IDK if I'd try it with palm... I tried it with soy (along with my 3" ones and flower pot 3 wick ons) and could not wick them for the life of me... had wax everywhere... lol. Maybe now that I've been at soy for a year and a half, I'll give the soy pillars a wack. who knows... I like my 3 inch palm pillar, though. It's been slow going but wicked with a CD 14 (after 16 was too much for it)... it's on its 3rd burn right now and still holding... we'll see if the sides hold up!

Oh yah and that too... tried it! Had to throw the shell out.

I started out with the cello bags, but soy is so soft that they will become 'icky' and messy without some sort of protection. That is why I switched to shrink-wrap... That being said, I too sell little votives. I sell more containers than anything, sadly enough. I wish I sold more votives, but then again, they're harder to deal with and require a lot more work. There are boxes like the clamshells you can buy. Do a search on the general forum for that and I think you will come up with some good threads. But bottom line, I think that votives made of soy are so soft that that they require some extra 'protection.' Hehe... No really, they do...

GOOD LUCK! :) I hope you do well. Have a great time!

Everyday I hear something new and a new addiction is born... but I think this one I'll leave behind... I have a lot of scraps and stuff, chunks that never made it into candles, but it seems that even selling scoopable hard pieces of wax is time consuming. I admire those of you who do all this extra stuff! Off to bed to sleep and make myself ready for that job I have... Wish I could just do the candle biz FT, but after a year and a half, well, I know it takes a bunch of time as well as lots and lots of $$... Off to dreamland I go! :rolleyes2

Ahh shipping and taxes make all the difference. I get my wax from a supplier pretty closeby, so I don't have to charge as much. I wonder, should I round up to $3.50? Hmm... Then again, I won't be paying anything in taxes this year... it's been a loss so far... sigh.

150 or below... otherwise, it will melt. I kinda melted one of my first clamshells, before I got my digital thermometer. I love it! SOOO much better than the candy ones and way more accurate.

I thought so, as well, when I read it this AM, but didn't have time before work to reply! Thanks Angi. Violet

I get that a lot, and when I got my business license, I really didn't realize how it would look on a website.... then I did my website and yes, that's how it ran together. But I don't mind it anymore. Most people think the fact that there's sex in it is kinda cool... lol :rolleyes2

I know that the high school is trying to raise funds to bring back their football team (they haven't had one in like 20 years). I'm hoping my connection with the AVP will help me try to raise some interest!

I'm using about 5-6%, depending on the FO. No more than 1 oz per lb. HTH

Hi Angi, My retail prices are set to give 50% for that very reason. They aren't unreasonable prices, cheaper than Yankme... I left a message for the high school AVP. He's an old classmate of mine from Grad School. Maybe he can get someone in the high school interested, or I can find out who to contact in the middle school, if the PTA isn't interested. I wanted to say, sorry I haven't written yet. Things have been hectic. But I have your card right by my pc. I will write soon. Violet

Thanks, Carrie! That's great! I already posted a gauging interest coop, but maybe this is the way to go.

Hi Scented: Yes I thought of that belatedly... I was a brownie and sold tons of cookies in 4th grade. Sold candy bars too (ate some too lol). I called the primary and was told the PTA handles all their fundraising activities. So I guess I did right by emailing the PTA. We'll see! Thanks guys! Violet

I have checked out yes supply. The only downfall is that they won't give a shipping quote prior to ordering. It may be cheaper to order from the jar store, even though their jars are about $10 cheaper than tjs'. Hmm... They don't include lids, either. Guess I'm back to square one... Sigh. I can't buy from Libbey as I don't yet have a TIN. I am working on that but money's tight... so I guess maybe I should go in the coop section and see if anyone wants to split a order of bulbs? I'd like to get all three sizes...

I just emailed the leader of the PTA of the primary and elementary schools. Funny, I went to college with the AVP at the High School. I wonder if I should contact him? We might get stuck talking about my teenage son who has gotten 'lippy' with his spanish teacher a lot lately, though. Ugh. LOL. Thanks! I got the fundraising forms off of Cajun's website.. but I have a question? Would I need a catalog of some sorts as well as the order sheets? I know that most people have the internet and could access my website, but some may not. I've already thought of samples, as well. And maybe 8 scents to offer. I'm thinking of just jars for the moment... if I sold votives, tarts and tealights, it may be too much to offer. Interested in what others think.

I am considering proposing a fundraiser for my local school district. I'm on their site right now, but am unsure who to contact other than the PTA. I'm gearing for middle schoolers, as the primary and elem. goes up to 5th grade only. I can't see 5th graders being able to sell the way a middle schooler might? Maybe I'm wrong. What do you think? Violet

I like it a lot! I like how you can click on the different scent categories and they open up on a new page. It definitely looks very professional. I wish I could get rid of paypal!! Someday... Congrats on all of your hard work. Violet

I am getting a superb hot throw with glass glow container as well as starburst pillar (but starburst pillar I've only poured and tested once so far). The glass glow is just awesome. Fills up my kitchen and living room.

I just looked at them- they look more like bean pot jars than bulb jars. Plus, they're a heck of a lot more expensive than the jar store. Thanks for the input, though. It's appreciated!