jennyjo

Does anyone have a cute or clever idea for naming Carmelized Pralines? I am not sure that I care for that... I was thinking Carmel Pecan Praline or New Orleans Pralines. ( which is where the praline originated in this country) but nothing is sounding right. Have to deliver these in the morning and I still have tags to make.

oh, ok. Thanks willow...I am not really good at where place are sometimes, but I new I had heard of that. I was just inquiring because I am starting school soon and I would love to find some local candles. If my customers are looking for candles, I want to know where to send them. I may still make a few but I have to cut back. I need to do well in school.

oakbrook-can't believe I have never met you. You are so close to me. A lot of my family lives in Homer City. I am down that way a lot. I have my candles in stores in Homer City and Greensburg. I am going back to school this fall so not sure where that's going to leave my business, but still working at it anyway. Does your candle company have a name? Maybe I have heard of it or tried them. I buy local candles when I get tired of smelling my own, lol. Willowboo-I think Saxonburg is closer to Pittsburgh right? I know I have heard of that before. Nice to have some locals!

Oakbrook- you must be really close to me, because I am 10 minutes from Backwoods..if you are 20 minutes away then we can't be more than 30 minutes apart from one another. I use the the CBL 130, but i see you didn't care for it. I wasn't a big fan of the 6006 so I guess it's just a preference. Maybe we could talk Connie into carrying some more waxes????? That would be awesome.

I believe that I found the CBL-130 to set up nicer and wick easier....if I recall correctly. I always choose the easier. I don't like waxes that need to be babied. Like if you have to heat the jars, pour at an exact moment, and cool under insulated boxes...that's not for me. I want to melt, mix, pour, and move on with life. Lazy? no...I just want to know that I can pour plenty of product without bringing in an army to help. Since I am a one women show, like most of us here, I need to be able to pour quickly. CBL 130 is an easy-going wax...

I stopped purchasing from there after the 360 was gone, but if I recall correctly it was always in slab form and the flake waxes were in flake form, of course. I don't remember and strange molded shapes. That's strange. I live an hour away from there. wish they sold something I wanted to use.

since we agree that "swamped" is relative...I would say that I have been busier than usual...busier than last Christmas, but like Abbie, I am done with custom orders now. Just selling stock and pouring up my own gifts to other people. It's been a good season for me.

I wonder if we could do a custom shape through impact if we did a co-op and had a large order for a certain shape. ????

BTW- I forgot to say, Good Luck! Help your open house goes well. I have one on Sunday.

I agree....marketing is everything. I love Sephora, buy Philosophy products all the time. Could someone else make the same thing? Probably. I love the cutesy little names..like Hope in a Jar, etc. and all the beautiful sayings on the bottles and I love the Sephora atmosphere. I am not a bath bomb fan, but I have bought them before just because of the pretty coloring or cute package. That's why i keep buying more expensive jars and lids for my candles...it looks good and that's what people want. It's also in the branding...people like brand name things, it makes them feel spoiled and pampered to spend big money on a big name product.

I set up like I do at shows, but then I have a simple order form, in case they want something that I don't have.

I also use the CBL-130 from Candlewic, like Maggie. I hope to never have to switch again. It is just right....I use CD wicks. No wet spots ever again. Burns clean even in my square masons. I tried many, many waxes including 6006, Ky Parasoy, and tried blending my own. This was the best, IMHO. @Maggie-I know the price has increased, but for me anyway, it is still cheaper than paying higher shipping from elsewhere. They have good sales alot and I try to wait for them. Just praying they keep this wax.

I got mine all set up but i haven't gotten an order to see if it really works...I only added two sizes of candles and my melts, so three products. Seemed to work ok for me.

I am down to 2 fragrances that I order regularly. I also get my wicks and color from there, but I would like to have more of a reason to shop there. The Blueberry Muffins cannot be replaced...my customers would hold me hostage and demand I order...its my best seller of all time. I also order the Lilac in the spring/summer. I am going to try BNL Warm Vanilla Sugar. Any others?

My favorite is from KY, aka Kentucky Candle Supply www.kycandlewaxsupply.com It seems popular, plenty of banana and nut

I was told by a Scentsy rep that their warmers aren't warm enough to melt most waxes...theirs have a lower melt point. But that could just be marketing BS.

I looked in to selling while I was going through a slump a while back. What was I thinking? But anyway, they wouldn't even talk to me. She said that I would have to discontinue my affiliation with Briar Creek Candle Co. I said, I can't, because I own the company. Glad I am back to making my own stuff again.

I changed Lovespell to Daydream and we mix our Pink Sugar with Vanilla and call it Vanilla Vixen. Both are great sellers with the changed names. Honestly, no one knows what Pink Sugar is in this neck of the woods. Lovespell is a little more well known, but I live in the sticks.

thanks so much! I think I have black.

I have kelly green and several other colors. I bought forest green from CS and it made mint green, so my kelly green was darker, but I would like to make it a little bit deeper.

yes, I agree. I couldn't afford to stock that many. I am awful too, at picking only one oil from a company and then it is a pain to reorder just one. I need to test more from those companies so I can order several at a time. I really appreciate all of your input...maybe I need to be less picky, but I want the BEST! I don't ever want a customer to be disappointed. Like I said, it's been seven years for me and I carry 25 scents, I add and subtract each season. Plus I had to switch waxes a year ago, so the testing started all over again. I added 5 new ones this season. Can't imagine having 200 oils. Off to test some samples that have been waiting for me.

I also have trouble selling clamshells. I sell the oval portion cups like crazy. I just switched to the 1 oz and I sell them for $1.25 or 5 for $5. They fly at that price...and they are already packaged, just need a label.:smiley2:

So Luminous, out of curiosity, how long did it take you to test 200 fragrances? I just can't imagine it would go very quickly, especially with the cure time of soy.

ok....I guess I am too picky with my oils, lol. It has taken me years to get the ones I have. The slow selllers get chucked quickly. I spend weeks just testing two or three oils and then I usually only pick one of them. And I use a blend now, so it's easier to get ones that throw.

..to test 200+ fragrance oils? I was at a craft show this weekend and was told that this one candlemaker had been in business for a little bit over a year and she handed me a fragrance list. It has over 200 oils on it. Do you think she really tested them all? I have been in business for over 7 years now and I have maybe tested 200, but not even half were up to my standards. Just wondering if its possible, is all....she uses pure soy too. Every tart I looked at had frost somewhere, candles too, so I am sure it was soy. I don't want to be quick to judge, so I figured I could ask for opinions.