cmspath

Looking for a really good grapefruit ginger.. any suggestions? Thanks. Crystal

Thanks everyone for all the well wishes and suggestions. I am still debating this... Sea View Candles and Gifts is pretty well known - mainly at our shows and I have what I call my "candle groupies" that follow me from show to show - for our candles and soaps for the most part. We plan on continuing to do shows and would promote as Sea View Candles and Gifts. The gift store would carry those candles so they arent "gone" so to speak This is a small town just about 20 minutes south of Olympia - but close enough to everything that it isnt a long drive to get to - and I dont know how the "locals" would take to a new retail store being named after another city 1 1/2 hours away... My other choice is the Blue Moon Gifts - I checked and it is not registered here in WA. I guess maybe I should contact my CPA and see what his advise is, as far as "expanding" Sea View Candles & Gifts and keeping that name vs. having Sea View Candles & Gifts become a part of a new name (with the candles and soaps being sold in the new name store)... It is such an important decision .. it is giving me a migraine! :undecided Thanks again for the well wishes and suggestions.. I appreciate it.

Well it looks like we are finally going be opening our gift store. Some may remember that back in April of last year - I was going to go into partnership with someone and open a gift store. Lucky for me I realized right away that it was not the proper move for me and had her buy me out. After many, many hours of research, working out expenses etc for a gift store and looking for the perfect spot, last Friday, my husband and I met with a realitor at a new stripmall that is being built about 5 minutes from our house. The area is growing fast and the location is viewable by many directions. I think we are going to move forward with this. There is soooooo much involved, with the business plans, planning expenses etc.. I get excited about the opportunity but really nervous at the same time. There is alot of money involved. And while I try not to think of the "what if it doesnt work out" it is reality and you need to have a backup plan for that. I would work there full time, and have a part timer (already know who it would be) working also. Now this is not just our candles and bath & body products we would be selling, that would no way bring in enough monthly, we are looking at a wide variety of unique products (many of which I already have - or have the contacts for such products) that you dont just find at any store. After 5 years of doing candles and bath & body this is a new phase in our business. The space is large.. 1000 s/f and we have a contractor friend that would build the office and storage room for us as well as the displays. He was with us Friday as well. One of the hard parts is coming up with a name. I never dreamed how difficult it would be. And I am pretty much at a standstill until we come up with one. So I am turning to the best of the best for your thoughts and opinions. My husband was suggesting our current business name "Sea View Candles & Gifts" - but there is an actual town called Sea View - that we love to visit - by the ocean and lighthouse (thus one of the reasons we chose it) and I am not so sure that is the best thing to do in our town. I am wanting something unique.. that "sticks" with you. Here are a couple that have been suggested or I have come up with - Any other suggestions.. or opinions would be great.. : Crystals Candles & Gifts (Botique) Blue Moon Gifts & Collectables Fiddlesticks - Unique gifts Trinkets & Treasures Countryside Unique Gifts Thanks.. Crystal

Anybody make these? I have a customer that wants some, and I dont have any right now, so I am looking to purchase about 12 of each....

I have to agree.. it doesnt capture me at all.. but that is "me" - If I were looking for candles, and came across the website I would click out of it without looking. I look at the website and try to figure out what it is you're trying to promote - I do not "know" that I have come to a candle site - the webtopper is what captures the attention, I would leave and not look any further at the site. Same thing with the labels. However, as I said that is me, I am not into sci-fi... but even so, it just doesnt seem to pull together and doesnt blend well.... none the less.. maybe you will have success with the clientel you are going after. I am truly not trying to be rude, you asked for honest opinions, that is how I would react.

Not sure if your refering to the Let It Shine part of my post.. if so, they are my wax supplier, they were at the show also but doing other products.. I have never really had any issues talking to other candle people either.. and if they ask me questions on how I do things.. I have a way around that to sidetrack the conversation onto a different topic without being coming across as rude..

a very good one. Up until this year, we have done our last show of the year at a big Holiday Festival where I worked myself up to a perfect location over the last couple years.. then last year when we moved, something happened with the paperwork and long story short, by the time I called to check on it, the show was full.. So we decided to try a new show just to get one in and see how it was. Was a bit nervous about it because at all my other shows, I was "known" and have built up what I call my "candle groupies" and we were not known at this place at all. Well.... we ended up having an awesome show.. averaged over $1200 per day and picked up 2 possibly 3 wholesalers - one of which has already placed an order.. So to say the least last weekend turned out to be a winner - and a great way to end the year.. We also chatted all weekend with Jim and his wife Sally from Let It Shine - one of our suppliers here in WA. They are very nice down to earth people.. and it was great getting to meet both of them.

I believe there was a topic on this several years ago you might search the archives.. I think Alan even replied to it.. hope that helps some..

:lipsrseal LOL We perfer to do the larger shows.. I have been doing them for so many years now and typically do the same shows every year, in the same location, I have what I call my "candle groupies" that follow us from show to show.. Our worst one ever was our first year we only made 150.00 it was a horrible, horrible show and placement - at a grade school way down the end of a hall.. people were packing up left and right, but I always stay to the end no matter what.. we still did okay at that one none the less.. 3 times booth fee.. but typically we quite a bit higher than that. We are trying a new one Thanksgiving weekend.. suppose to be big and a good one.. we will see. I also send out newsletters letting people know where we are and have a calendar added on my website as well.

I love mine - have two of them.. I cant believe I was so long without them.. have had them about a year now.. one of the best investments yet...

very pretty..

Totally awesome! Great job as always!

I think it looks perfect.. Cant wait to see the pictures when it is unmolded.. BTW... have to ask.. where did you get that mold from.. I have money in my pocket that is burning a hole... lol

Thank you for the info - I have never used Daystar before.. I feel another supplier on its way to being added to my list..

Do you have a website for that? Thanks I found it.. in the supplier list but this is what is there and it doesnt work.. did it change?? http://www.serendipityscents.com/

I saw the one at NG - but it has other "scents" mixed with it - :undecided I am looking for more of a straight huckleberry - have a customer request.. Thanks for the suggestions

Looking for a supplier that has a true hucklebery scent..not a mixture of other scents.. any ideas? Thanks..

You are perfect!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you sooooo much :highfive:

I thought there was a link somewhere - (I cant find it if there is) for the scientific names of products.. anybody know where I can find such a thing.. I need this ASAP... Thanks..

Thank you Lori - that is exactly what I was looking for..

Does anyone know of a good supplyer to get these - they look like actual Milk Cartons. I think someone did a co-op on these a year or so ago.. I cant find them for the life of me.. Thanks.

Thank you for that info - that is exactly what I was looking for.

Got a customer request.. he loves the smell of the "Hempz" type fragrance, not like Mary Jane.. anyone know where I can find a great dupe of this? Thanks

Thank you very much.. this is very helpful:cheesy2:

Looking for a supplier on the West coast for these jars.. any suggestions???? TIA