clonefan80

Here's my one piece of advice for those with a water jacketed melter - distilled water. I have a 200lb one and its about 6 years old. I use distilled water and have never had to replace my element. Distilled water keeps the mineral build up on the element to a mininum. At first it took lots of gallons but the upkeep is low after it is full.

Don't try and match the scent to the name...test a scent that you love and will sell good and put one of your names on it. Take it from someone who does this all the time....ya gotta think outside the box, it works!

I purchased an extra one when I bought my melter 6 years ago but have never had to replace it yet....reason: I use distilled water in my water jacketed melter which reduced mineral build up on the element.

i buy in 25lb drums from them

Junk in the Trunk

I do mine a bit different, I use a #150lb melter so when I'm pouring the temp is around 190. I always use 6% per pound of FO. Since i'm pouring several candles each time (200+) they set up on the work table. It's useless to try and beat the "wet spots" because as soon as they are moved from one temp to the next they will appear, contract/expand effect. As for wicks, i'm a tried and true zinc user..

Don't know about them closing but they sure make it tough for small retailers to order from them when their opening order min is $1500. Not sure what their reorder min is.

On the flip side.......my prices online are higher so that I am not competing with a retailer. But I would prefer they buy from a retailer.

Ditto on KY

Do you use this in candles or B&B???

blwoods is right in that you need to be looking closer to home for your first tradeshow and she's right about some of the best tradeshows being out east, especially in your state! Heck if I didn't live 1000 plus miles away I guarantee you i'd be doing those shows in your area.

Dang thats pretty pricey for a tradeshow.....my most expensive is the Denver Show and it still doesn't come close to that....it sure would make me think twice right now. I also advertise in two publications and that keeps my name out there in between shows. I am scaling back this year on markets and doing more advertising. Lately I have been getting comparable new accounts doing this and I don't have all the hassle of preparing for a show....ugh. They used to be fun in the beginning, but now they are just lots of work and tiresome.

I have not done that show but tradeshows are all I do and....I have met many people who have done that show and like it fine.

Its somewhat a regional show (buts thats ok) with Magic in Vegas being a large market as well as the gift show in San Francisco

Now that said....you gotta expect the markets to be down this year but retailers do have to purchase for their stores and the Jan/Feb markets will be the ones they attend. As for two separate booths for your companies....not necessary and a waste of money unless you just need that extra booth space then I would get a larger space. You can have two companies in one booth if you own or rep them and they will display both signs. If wholesale is your goal then you gotta jump in sometime. If you live fairly close and can drive to this market then its a good place to start. Most booth space is $8-10 a sq foot so that will give you an idea on price....a good estimate would be $2000 for a 10x10. I always try and get an end cap and pay the extra bucks, its worth it and it opens your booth up on all sides and allows for thru traffic to mingle easily. One more thing...I think it was your post on the general candle making thread about lamps and heating jars.....that is a waste of time and not necessary. I doubt you'll find very many, if any, candle producing companies heating their jars...good luck

ahhhh, i barely saw this thread when scimming thru stuff and...i've been having the same problem with oils I know aren't phalates free....so much that I ordered new wicks to test them. I also get my wicks from BCS...hum...

I have Ohio Casulty and my renewal is in Jan. I'm bettin' my renewal will remail the same price. I think you should call another independent agent and ask them for a quote. I do know that a basic 1 or 2 mil policy on ANY commercial insurance starts at $500...

You might also ask them if they have vendors set up and sell to their employees. I think gift baskets and your other products would do well during that time. One hint, see if you can do it around payday...makes for better sales. Years ago I set up at Southwest Airlines and I know several hospitals do this for their employees. Good luck..

Everyone pays me at the time they turn in their order EXCEPT....schools. With the schools i've dealt with you have to invoice them and the accounts payable issues a check. It usually takes 3-4 weeks AFTER I invoice them, I always get a check and I deliver the product the same day I invoice. Its not a big deal to me but I don't have to order my supplies, I always have the inventory.

You can get a copy of the MSDS from all suppliers, I have them. We get a copy when we get our inventory shipped but it does not have the components listed, mainly OSHA stuff is listed.

We learn from experience that men never learn anything from experience....

You can take a hard look at what everyone has said about consignment or jump in and then one day you too can add your two cents about it....

Wholesale is all I do. No contracts, payment is given at the time of order (CC). I do have terms on my larger reputable businesses but first time orders are CC. Retailers know they pay shipping charges, these are not tallied until the order is packed and ready to ship. I ship all orders UPS, I gave up long ago hauling large heavy boxes to ship out, they pick up. On my invoice I stamp my return policy which simply states, all returns must call for approval and must be done within 48 hours of receiving shipment. All breakage must be left in original packaging and reported to UPS. Pretty simple, retailers know the business, no need to make this harder than it is....good luck

My price for fundraisers are not the same as my wholesale. The reason for this is I supply the brochures and order forms. HTH..

If your looking for a bakery type lemon I added an Iced Lemon Biscotti a few months back.

send her the link to the google info....nuff said

I like it better.....to me the burn time is slower and the melt pool is not quite as deep as the original 223. I did notice that on a couple of my heavier oils I did have to wick up, no biggie there. I did have to adjust a few of my colors (reds) as it holds dye just a tad differently than the original. But the best thing about it, adhesion, this wax adheres to the jar much better making it a more beautiful finished candle. Oh and a much better "one pour" wax, no repours for me. JMO ..

There is usually only me and sometimes another person....in Dallas they serve free margaritas chips/salsa at 3:00...good thing I take the shuttle....lol. I do the western shows so a bunch of us vendors go out to eat together and sometimes someone from one of the large companies puts it on his company account. Love those cowboys...lol. I have done the gift shows but for my target market the western shows are better for me. Last year in Dallas, Cruel Girl/Cinch jeans had a great fashion show, live music and tubs of beer.....gotta love the big guys. I know we've chatted before, one of these days we'll probably run into each other at a show....