Di_in_AZ

I had my first show of the season this weekend. Two days and I did good. Sold a million air fresheners for some reason. Very tired though I have shows for the next three weekends, then one open house and another show in December. Busy season for sure The one upcoming this weekend is usually good so I am looking forward to it. People seem very willing to part with their cash this year.

I love the site Natty! Very professional looking and clean looking. You have the look about your site that would entice me to order Great job!

Congrats!

Sadly US Soybean farmers benefitting is becoming a myth. I just saw on the news the US is now importing 50% of their soybeans from China. The soybean farmers have been cutting production. I never understand why the US does this. I know they get it cheaper from China, but the US farmers cannot compete and end up dropping that product as a crop. I hope alot of the soywax producers continue to buy from US only, but there will be a price increase as the US shifts from petroleum products to eco-friendly products and then the almighty dollar will talk. You can already see this is the grocery store .

I had one of my customers come up to me recently and ask when am I doing my shows because he needed some more of my candles--because they were the only "safe" candles he had ever found. Curious what he meant by "safe" candles, I asked him. He said they were the only candles he has found that when he forgets to put them out, burn safely after long periods! He said he has left the house and gone to bed with them burning and they are still burning fine when he returns/gets up! I about died and told him there wasn't a "safe" candle and let him know of the possibility of fire once that candle burns under 1/2 inch--he was quite surprised and it also let me know that he hasn't bothered reading my safety and burning instructions that are on each candle and also on a card I hand out and discuss with each sale. You can only try so hard!

I wouldn't cook a turkey in it though after wax or vice versa!

Glad to hear you had a happy ending

Out of curiosity, do people actually read threads:) ? I posted early on in this thread that I had contacted the Jar store and they work with a marketing firm in CA--over and over since that post, people have asked where they got the emails from

My email was given out by a supplier whom I purchased from individually. That I have confirmed. This person is no longer in business and the person who she sold her company to is the one who emailed me, so it does happen.

LOL I just pm'd that to her! Great minds think alike

In the state of Ohio, something under the "civil rules of procedure" the only way for someone to serve notice from out-of-state would be by certified mail or in person (or a representative such as a process server). If they are serious, I would imagine they would follow procedure. I think they are just using scare tactics, I have never seen a lawyer serve notice via email. I think you hit the nail on the head, they may be fishing or seeing what the response would be. I am sure they scare off some people just by sending an email.

It will depend on your local and state laws. I live in AZ and I had to get my business license; and although I only make candles and do not sell out of my home (i.e. no customers on property) I still had to get approval from the city and from the fire department. If you are renting, I would definitely get the approval of your landlord first as the forms I had to submit to the city here required signed approval from your landlord if you rent. Considering this is something that can affect your landlord's insurance, it would only be fair of you to notify them. You should be able to find a wealth of information from your Secretary of State website. Most states require it as if you make sales that are in your state, you still need to collect taxes and in AZ I am required a transaction tax license as well.

Email is NOT legally binding. There is no way to guarantee delivery. It will not stand up in court to say that you emailed notice. If this were the case, I am sure the courts would be emailing people court subpoenas left and right and save the money the pay to have people served.

Bingo--email is NOT legal notification anywhere. That I do know. I would not even lower myself to respond. If they are serious, they will follow with a letter, I find it hard to believe a large company would be stupid enough to send cease and desist via email. Nice catch Deb, I did not see that part. If they send a letter down the road, then concern yourself but I still think the part about sending all your ingredients and suppliers is very fishy, they dont' have a patent on your items, they are claiming a trademark on a name--two different things.

They are a Polish company that is now doing business in the US, been around since 1989. http://ziajaskincare.com/about.htm They were officially trademarked in the US July 30, 2002 but applied in September, 2000. You can read about their trademark at the patent and trademark office--TESS site. I don't know if they can go after a similar name. They are obviously trying. I would get a lawyer and respond as such. They are a big company so they do have the money to back their letter. I don't think they have the right to demand your ingredients and suppliers list, the trademark covers the use of the NAME. I don't see how they can legally ask you that, but I may be wrong here so I would definitely get an attorney. Did you register your name with the US Patent and Trademark office or your state secretary? Edit, the trademark is for the name and logo--and copies close enough to cause confusion. If you had the name before they did, I think it bolsters it--if it was registered somewhere.

That is it, you can get it at Walmart in the pet section.

I looked and it was the former owner, I had bought wax off her. I can't imagine saving the email addys of people I have business transactions with off classys--it is not acceptable. I had already figured that out from the new owner, she just sort of got sucked into this.

It just is an interview with a lady saying how she markets this neat concept of monster spray, which has been on this board and other boards for quite a long time, it is not a new idea. Sorry it does not work for you, I just tried it again and got it. The original story I saw on www.cnn.com hth

Kind of what I was thinking...LOL. I think she can claim to be the first one to get it on the news maybe.

Hi Natty, My two cents. I would not use the word "raw" in saying that paraffin or soy are "raw" natural resources, both are not raw--both have to go through processes to get where they are. The last paragraph about unproven--my customers say that soy is better and does not cause as much irritation as paraffin....I would remove that. First and foremost, there has been a very conclusive study by the EPA on paraffin candles and the toxins that are being released are from the fragrance oils used. There is also a concern here in the US of the chemicals being used in FO's which may soon be banned in CA (Carebear has posted the article on another site--she may chime in with the link). Saying that soy is less irritating is a terrible thing as it may entice someone who has breathing difficulties to believe they can burn your candles. I tell anyone who buys my candles that if they have a breathing ailment, not to burn candles period. It is not worth the risk--asthma is triggered by the scents, not the wax. Please be very careful, I feel that is very, very risky to even suggest that any candle be burned or causes less irritation for lung conditions because it simply isn't true. I had a lady call me and tell me she had a breathing ailment and she loved my candles because they didn't seem to irritate her. I told her flat out I did not feel she should burn candles in her condition and that there wasn't anything safer about my candle than the next scented candle. Fragrance oils aren't that great. One person who has an attack is not worth it and I don't see how saying that as advertising boosts your candles in anyway--it is directly addressing people who have these problems who should be warned off candles entirely.

I don't know doodly about the licensing end of it, but a lady in my town makes a killing in this business. She specializes in treats that diabetic dogs and dogs with weight issues can eat. That is a very hot market as unfortunately a lot of dogs seem to end up with both problems and although dog food mfrs do accommodate the special needs foods, the treats end they don't. I have seen her at some of my shows and she is always busy. People love their dogs!

Nice job! I am lousy at knitting, so you have my envy!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2007/10/04/piatt.monster.repellent.ksl

Well I just found out the way that other one got my email, it was a purchase I made off classys off another board--two years ago! Sheesh. Sad

Wow, they were very prompt and pleasant with their response--they work with a marketing firm who identifies candle/craft companies who may be interested in their products. So whoever mentioned the state lists--was probably right.