Eden Sass

I am a full time teacher and got into making candles this year on my maternity leave. I am starting very low key, making only 1 size of container candle and some tarts. We'll see how that goes... am in the process of making a website because it's not all that expensive and we'll see if I can make any sales from it to cover its cost. I agree with what others have said... I certainly wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have another source of income... start up fees are huge with licenses, testing, insurance, labels, buying stock etc. ...but don't be discouraged! Start small - your family can direct you to other buyers who could direct you to other buyers etc. etc.!

Thanks for the input, all! I'll let you know what happens! (I'm steering towards steering away, but my partner thinks it would be the best way to get our name out among the locals... and since there are 2 of us there wouldn't be such a great monetary loss if we don't sell much)

Yeah, I do think I may have to work myself up to this one... I do know that they advertise 30k people for the 4 days... and yes, I was trying to do the math last night as well and figured I'd have to sell around 20 16oz candles per day (which I guess when you think of it may not be that hard to do, adding in tarts and smaller jars etc.) but what if it is a flop?? (and that is not counting our time, and how do you even begin to guess how much of each product to bring?? At least it is close to home so we could always run home if need be, but that's a lot of candles to prepare for selling! ) All entrants have to be admitted by a jury ($20 just to submit your application). I think I may email them to ask about other chandlers just for curiosity... only problem is that entries are due Mar 31st with pics of your product and whatnot so that doesn't give me much time to work out all the details... perhaps I am crazy even contemplating this!!

Thanks Stella, you are right! I have since searched and found many pros and cons to the wickless tins!

btw a helpful tip (which U will find out on your own anyway) - use a dishtowel or something between your hand and the knife so you don't get a lovely indent across your hand... and the $$$ stores have cheap chopping knives that work alright!!

Hi all, I have yet to do a craft show (just missed out this past Christmas season) but as I was looking into reserving a particular show that lasts 4 days and I know is very popular (at a university) I saw that the fee is $795!!! I was so excited before I saw the price, because sooo many people go through there and lots of university students buy their xmas presents there (I was one, 10 years ago!) but $795??? Do you think it would be worth it as a candle maker selling 16oz and 5oz jar candles as well as tarts and warmers? (I think I would have to wait a few years yet anyway, but it would be the perfect opportunity to get our product to people all over the province - I'm Canadian!) btw - this craft show is in Nov.

I used this before I switched to soy and I used a big 'chinese cleaver' - I put newspaper down on the floor, then put the wax paper ontop of that and then 2 slabs of the wax down and chopped up 2 at a time and stored it in smaller clumps so it was all ready to go when I needed to weigh it. Although I haven't tried it, I thought about using a thick wire as well...

not ignoring you, i just haven't been here 30 days which i think you need to use the pm function... feel free to email me though!

hey, my sister lives in courtice (i'm in guelph now but originally norwood (peterborough) )

see SJ @ canwax.com (in mississauga) (but do your research first, it may actually be cheaper to buy from one of the US stores and have it shipped to you)

what are the opinions on 'wickless candles' for these tins to sit on an electric candle warmer? Is that opening a new can of worms by selling these, having people burn regular candles on them, the wicks come loose, candle catches fire, etc. etc. ?? Or do you think these would be safer? I saw an advertisement saying these wickless tins would be great for dorms etc. where you are not allow to burn candles...

CareBear, I'm so glad you started this thread. I too am searching and searching for a solution to package the (gasp) single tart sale. With one of the benefits of soy wax being its renewable resource, it seems a pity to package them in wrap/bags that will go to the landfill once they reach their first destination (I can't imagine anyone reusing a bag with the scent of a yummy melt in it!) I have thought of the wax paper and the brown recyclable paper, but IMO you need to show the tart to sell it. I hope someone reading this thread has an idea for all of us!!

ask the kindergarten teacher at your local schools, or daycares... When I taught kindergarten I had parents bringing them to me often for storing items/paints etc. I was just washing out one of my own baby's and thinking... I could probably make some candles in these!!

Just ordered scents from there yesterday (before reading this thread, darn!!) and I agree with the customer service comment... Dianne from there is lovely!!

Try shipping to Canada!! Ugh! Even picking it up myself at a supplier here it is twice as expensive as in the states!!

thanks Stella! Glad to be here!

Thank you so much Danielle! I will certainly try the box technique!!

Okay experts, I've got a question: Yesterday I tried to make 18 16oz candles. Using Ecosoya CBA (first time). Heated to 155 (a couple got to 170) and poured between 125-120 (a couple I tried at 100 just for fun). Didn't seem to matter appearance wise which temp - some worked at higher pours and some worked at lower pours (same scents and dye). I have a couple that have a deep circle crack about 1inch all the way around the wick, and a couple that have a crack around the candle 1/2 way down. I BELIEVE the main problem is the room was too cool for them to harden, so next time I will put them in a room with a controlled temp (is 75 a good temp?). It boggles my mind how 2 candles poured exactly the same way can harden so differently! My main question (I realize I've kinda asked a couple already!) is when I remelt the wax, am I doing anything bad to the candle (ie throwing off the scent throws) or should it work pretty much the same as one of the candles I made that hardened nicely? (Yes, I will test them myself, just thought I might get a couple of expert opinions if possible!!) Thanks!

True!!! I just wonder if people might buy more if they can smell them and really enjoy the scent... I'll have to put more thought into it!

Are you giving the girls who are selling a sample of the scent, or just going by scent names? Just curious... I am a school teacher and am hoping to do a fundraiser for a school this coming year (perhaps not my own.. could be a conflict of interest) but I was thinking of giving each student a half tart or something to let the buyers smell them first (however, multiplied by 500 students this could prove to be costly!!)

I'm getting a little bit nervous... I'm going tomorrow to Canwax (Canadian Distributor) to buy the Ecosoya CBA... I'm switching from parrafin to soy and hope it works out okay!!! I did purchase some soy from ebay (of all places) and was sooo impressed with the candles it produced (is Ecosoya PB a more tan colour and CBA white? I hope that's what I received... I got both a tart kit and a container candle kit). After reading all these posts, I'm a little overwhelmed by all the testing that is going to consume me over the next while to make my 'perfect candles'!!!

I'm just starting out... playing with some soy wax and some new scents tomorrow!!! Doing the switch from parafin to soy.