Marcus Daniel

www.Nashvillewraps.com has the grosgrain ribbon, once you come up on the website click on Ribbon Floral Gift. I can't remember what the min. dollar amt is per order, but you might check it out.

Dollar Tree for $1.00 each!!!!! That is the same container that I use and I purchase them over the internet under DollarTreeDirect. It is so easy to order them and they will ship them to a store close to where you live. I just order mine and then go pick them up. I think they charge me $4.95 for shipping/handling. When I pick them up the manager even loads them in my vehicle for me. I am actually going to go pick up 10 cases this Friday, so I will be really busy this weekend, 12 containers in a box.

I would say no color, I agree with everyone else on this - no color. You first have to get their attention/interest and that is w/the packaging. Then the smell of the candle will sell itself. I also think of black shelving and the containers would have to be glass. If you go on line and look at some of the high-end candles the ones that I have seen are all in glass tumblers and/or glass containers. Some even come in boxes, which I think look great but where I live, I could not sell very many like that since I would have to increase the price so much to cover the box. I think once you sold the candle and put the candle in the sack you could put some tissue paper in with it (kinda like what B&B works does) it is different than just the average sack and looks a little more upscale to me. The sack could be nice enough that the individual could actually use it for the gift bag (naturally with handles on the sack) I get mine from N-ville wraps. I like to use the pastel tissue colors in the summer time and in the wintertime/fall red, orange, yellow and green.

Blueberry Muffin!!!! (From WSP or FragranceandFlavors.com) Men, women and teen's buy this ALL YEAR AROUND. It has a different smell than the normal blueberry muffin, it has some cake accord and the blueberry smell. I guarantee you that it will sell. You will not go wrong with this one. You have got to try it.

I am HAPPY for you!!!! Just think all of your hard work has paid off!!!!! Congratulations and good luck in the future with your testing.

I am happy for you, after I read your post awhile back, I realized - I am like you, I put all my notes in a spiral notebook and when I read what happened to you, I went out and purchased an index box and cards with the A-Z tabs and wrote all my FO's on it with the size wick that works in my containers. I only use one size of containers. Then alphabetized the FO's. I am happy you found it. I guess you will start putting that under lock & key!!!

About 5 years ago, I would pre-heat my jars in the oven and that only took about 1 time of getting burned from the oven and then I went to the microwave. Did that for about 4 years and now I don't even pre-heat the jars anymore. Everyone gets wet spots, even the Big Boys. Honestly, before I made candles and just purchased them, I did notice the wet spots on the container (not knowing that is what they were called) since all the candles had that, I just thought that is normal. When the customers pick up the candle all they want to do is smell it. I have recently started using the coconut oil and I poured some candles over 3 weeks ago and I still do not have any wet spots yet!!! It's a Miracle!!!!!

Do you have a friend that has access to a fax machine? If not, try and go to Kinko's or an office supply store. Here in Oklahoma - the office supply store will fax items for you for a small charge, of course. I just use the fax machine at my second job and my boss it O.K. with it.

I know what you mean, just remember you can't make everyone happy. It will not matter if you carry 250 FO's there will always be one that you will not have that someone wants. Anyway - back to your question, I have decided to sell the following this year: Apple Jack & Peel, Blueberry Muffin (just because it is my #1 seller) Cinnamon Balsam, Cinnamon, Creme Brulee, Mulberry, Peppermint, Pomegranate, Spruce Christmas Tree, Sugar Cooke, Pumpkin Crunch and Warm Apple Pie. I am not even looking back, that's it. I feel like that is a good variety. Hope this helps you!!!

I would like to re-name butter rum, but I have know idea what to call it. I know that I do not want the word rum in it and I also don't care if the word butter is in it. I will be selling this in the fall and around Christmas time. Any suggestions???

At my other job, I use the boxes that our paper for the copy machine's come in. They are just the right size, I can get 12 candles in them and they have handles on them, so easy to transport.

Peak has Patchouli for $14.95 per pound, I have used their's and people love it!!! You might want to check it out!!!

VERY VERY NICE WEBSITE!!! The only thing that I would personally change is the description on your jelly jars, it says that the jars are 8 oz's and it hold (should be holds) 6 oz. of wax, that is a difference of 2 oz's, so I would not want to really bring that up. You might just say that the jelly jar holds 6 oz's. The candles that I make are in 12 oz. container's but I don't tell people that, I do put on the warning label that they are 11 oz's. Since I was told along time ago that you need to put the oz. amt that is actually in the container, but you don't necessarily need to tell them the size. Other than that I would say it is PERFECT. I do love your home page and information that you put about yourself. You kept it short and interesting, so people will actually read it. I love the idea that you are donating a portion of the sales. Good luck and I wish you the best!!!

Totally agree with Island girl. You have to get their attention first (especially if you are set up in a booth at a crafts fair) Just charge extra for the label, it will be worth it in the long run.

The blueberry muffin is SUPER GREAT!!! You and your customer's will love it, it is my #1 seller. I use alot of their FO's and have been happy with them, especially the premium scents you can't go wrong with them. I have used them in paraffin and soy. I am actually going to put an order in for their pumpkin crunch cake. When you look at the fragrances they are rated and before ordering you could click on for add'l product information and read what their customer's have said about the FO's. I feel people are pretty honest when leaving responses. I will not purchase any FO if it does not have at least 4 stars or more. Plus the free shipping is Awesome!!

I am in Oklahoma and I did not go up on my prices of my candles when the other BIG COMPANIES DID. So, I am actually doing alot better right now. Prices of the BIG Companies here where I live are 16 oz. containers = $23.99!!! I sell my 12 oz. container for $12.99, so it saves them about $10.00 per candle plus - they will take a chance to try a new thing at that price and I have actually had them tell me that they will not buy another one from my competition and I am beginning to believe them because I sure am having ALOT of re-peat business. I am really looking forward to the Fall - I have already started making some candles and I am trying to get customers in put on it.

How I made my decision on what size to carry was, what type of jar can I get locally for example: at Wal-Mart, Dollar General or Dollar Tree to just name a few. You do not want to have to pay shipping on the containers or drive awhile to even pick them up because of the gas prices. Then my second decision was the actual size of the container, I like the 8 oz. sizes because it is easier to measure your FO and wax since (2) 8 oz. candles ='s 1 lb of wax. Hope that makes since. Third - if you are going to use labels on your candles, check to see how much they are per sheet for the size of the candle. Some sheets might have 12 labels on them and some might have 24 labels on them depends on the size. I have sold the following sizes: 8, 12, 16 and 24 or 26, can't remember. But the bigger sizes did not sell as well so I don't even make them anymore. I am sticking to the 8 and 12 oz. sizes and I have just started making the clamshells. I previously started out with just the 8 oz. size and nobody ever said "Oh, you only have one size"? I try to keep my prices low so women feel o.k. to either purchase something for themselves and not feel guilty about spending the money or if they want to purchase a gift for a friend. If you feel like you want to offer more than one size, I would make some clamshells, just because they are easy and they are different, so if someone does not want a candle because of the flame then you could sell them a clamshell. Good luck!!!

I make soy candles, but thought about adding something different to my line (something unique) and I came across these soap molds on the above website and it looks like you just pour the soap in the mold and then add whatever type of duck you want. Is it that easy???

My Wal-Mart store here in Oklahoma has them.

Peak's. I made a lilac wickless candle for a friend of mine and she took it to work and that thing lasted 4 MONTHS!!! I poured it in a 8 oz. tureen style jar. I asked her if it was melted all day and she said yes, 8 hours a day, just not on the weekends. She works in an office so, she even had her door shut alot and people would open her door and say that they could smell it out in the hall about 4 or 5 offices before you even get to her office. So, needless to say - I ended up selling her a case of 12.

That's funny I ordered the same FO's you did. I live in Okla. and I placed the order Sunday - knowing that it will be shipped out Monday and I got it in Wednesday and was making my candles that night. You really can't beat Peak's.

I use mine in GB 415 wax and people love it !!!

Peaks patchouli!!!!I had someone ask me if I had it and I told her know about 3 years ago, before it really became popular around here. She was a friend of mine, so I told her that I will order some in, but that it will take me awhile to test burn it to make sure I have the correct wick and she said that was fine. So, I placed the order and you do have to wick up on them like someone previously said. Since her name was Mary and she was the first one to ask me about it, I thought - I would name it Mary's Patchouli. When I went to give it to her I told her to look on the bottom of the container, since my FO names are on the warning labels and she just Laughed and she even cried! She said, you just made my day!!! She has purchased from me and her friends ever since. They will even come to my other work place and pick up the candles, I don't even have to deliver them to her.

I purchase my GB 415 wax from Peaks. It is $52.71 for 50 pounds and I live in Okla. and I think the shipping was about $18.00, but it is still about $18.00 cheaper (including the shipping from Peaks) than what I can get it for in Oklahoma, plus I would have to drive 45 minutes one way to get the wax & you know how the gas prices are. So basically, I am saving $18.00 and it is delivered to me and I don't have to take the time to drive and go pick it up. Hope this helps!!!

You might try e-bay and type in wickless candles, I saw some on candles and you could possibly contact that individual and see if they make their own and if so, have them give you a price on the labels.