NaturallyTru

Looking for unique ideas to mix Peppermint with for Winter type scent. Not chocolate - doesn't sell well for me. Thanks Trudi

When I started my candles in the eco friendly shop, she was new to business and had just opened. I offered her 25% and she accepted. I felt like I had lowballed her. Sure enough the next year she increased it to 30%; but she added another store! When I get asked by other places now I say 30% as I feel that is fair. 50% is wholesale.

I am pouring the following testers today: (415 wax) Southern Scentsations Fireside Christmas Cheer Bamboo Ivy Dragons Blood LiquaScents Pumpkin Chai Fireplace Falling Leaves Mistletoe & Fig Candlewic Home Sweet Home Balsam & Cinnamon Rustic Escentuals Pinemint & Blossom Cranberry Sauce Christmas Fantasy Cranberry Cinnamon Sea Kelp Pineapple Cilantro Grannys Green Apple Bartlett & Basil Southern Sunshine Mineral Springs Natures Garden Cracklin Birch Orange Blossom Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro Pineapple Paprika Mango Sage Tea Candle Science Black Raspberry Vanilla Black Currant Tea Fillmore Apple Blossom Bittercreek South (if I can locate another tester container) Pineapple Mango I'll update you all in a few days. I still have a bunch more scents to test (Candlewic, LiquaScents) ...arghhh!

BackWoods - If you pm me I can give you some useful tips and advice to help you get started.

My consignments are 30%. I wouldn't want to go higher than that....unless by pricing the candles higher, they still sell well. Then it would be worth it for me...I'd end up getting my same profit.

i just ran across this site: http://www.lightninglabels.com/candle-labels Looks like maybe no set up fees. I did a test quite of 10 versions of a label (scents) and buying 100 of each version and it came to $280 something for 1000 labels. Of course even cheaper with more ordered. They also offer clear labels. I print my own labels using PrintShop and Onlinelabels.com labels because it is a big investment to have them printed elsewhere with quantity minimums and set up. But I saved this link for future. I just wish they had a gallery of labels they have done so I could see more quality. Also I did a google search for Candle Labels and several sources came up that you can browse through.

Candle Science has Pear Glace.

I only have 2 for sure right now: Vanilla Pumpkin - SouthernScentsations Pumpkin Cornbread - Backwoods

I hear ya Alajane! I vowed to stop shows a few years ago due to the moving product and display back and forth. I have Lupus, so it isn't always so easy. I have done a few small ones with no luck. Last year I was begged to do one in December as they needed a candle person. I did very well so am doing it again. I signed up for this 2 day show because it is in my hometown and I get irritated each year looking at the pathetic candle offerings they have. Glad I did the show. And now a craft buddy has talked me into one in October. So much for no shows! LOL! Debscent - I had many people asking if they could mix scents.

Awesome!

Tart math...lol! Is that like Blonde Math?

I did a 2 day festival in my town Fri & Sat. Finally I had sales! This year hasn't been well for me at the few shows I had done. But this time $670.00!! Would have been more if I hadn't ran out of some scents. And the second day was slower in sales for some reason even though more people come through that day. My goal was $800.00. My record is $730.00. But I am very happy! Top sellers: Jars - Lime Basil Lemongrass (ran out!) Peanut Butter Cookie (ran out) Nutmeg Ginger (ran out) Hazelnut Coffee Melts - Nutmeg Ginger French Vanilla (ran out) Island Mango (ran out) Hazelnut Coffee Peanut Butter Cookie Also I carry Biscotti but sales have always been slow. So I did not make extra of the jars and only had 2. Sold them in 15 minutes and had requests the rest of the show...lol!

I could not get a good scent throw with BW's in 415 wax. I do not recall anymore how similar they really were. I continue to use NG's.

I haven't because I hear too much about the results not being there. Most people are just going for the free merchandise (or minimal price) and not reordering. At least that is what I have heard.

Here's a nother great site for yarn sales: http://www.smileysyarns.com/cgi-shopper/search.cgi/smileysyarns/ezshopper?user_id=id&1_option=3&26=y&database=dbase1.exm&template=yarn.htm&records_in_row=4&sort_field=3_na

I test for fragrance throw by making votive size candles. If it throws with that size, I then move it to the keep for testing in regular size jars. Has worked great for me. I, also, have a bunch of FOs to test. I sorted out the fall/winter ones to do this week. There are just too many to do all I have waiting right now...lol!

dreamstime.com, vectorstock.com

Good business practice is to negotiate with your shipping supplier for the best rates you can give your customer. Heck I even qualified for discounts by doing online shipping and I do not ship often. I think some suppliers work with us and some just say "they'll buy anyway".

I have used this in the past: http://www.saveonscents.com/product_info.php/cPath/12_117/products_id/1265

Glass measuring cups.

I run into an occasional clamshell that leaks from Impact. Maybe 1 every case. But the co-op where I got e-clamshells from I had several leak (like 10 in 300). Are you having trouble separating them? That seems to cause them to crack.

Thank you everyone. I know the quality of the jelly jars is not up to my standards. Drives me nuts every year walking by them at the festival. I am always getting compliments on how strong my scents are and how I have unique choices over other candles. I am just a little nervous because when I did a few markets in June I only sold $40-45 each time and that has never happened. There was one jelly jar person at the other end of the market who sold cheaper. I do not know how much she sells; but I know she is there every week for the past few years, so I am assuming she sells more than $40. Plus I just spent $500 replenishing stock for this 2 day festival.

Claire Simpson has changed her name to Kathy Thompson. Do not follow through with her request to order. She is a scammer! ******************************************** Name Kathy Kathy Email: kalylystores@yahoo.com Hello, I want to place an order from you to our store in The Netherlands.I want to know if you can ship to us and accept credit card a s a form of payment. Reply back asap Thanks Kathy ************************************************ MY ORDER/READ AND REPLY TODAY Hello, Thanks for your reply back.I can't wait to have your lovely products in our store for my customers.Below listed is the items i want to order for and will want you to get back to me with total cost +shipping cost and i can provide you my credit card for you to charge and have my order ready and i can carry your product in our new inventory for our numerous customers. MY ORDER............ Soy/Beeswax Votive 8 pack ASSORTED VARIETIES OF FRAGRANCE QTY...15 8oz Soy Jar ASSORTED VARIETIES OF FRAGRANCE QTY...15 3.5oz Soy Melt ASSORTED VARIETIES OF FRAGRANCE QTY...15 candle-fragrances ASSORTED VARIETIES OF FRAGRANCE QTY.....40 ADDRESS FOR THE SHIPPING QUOTE......... Van Eeghenstraat 60 Amsterdam 1071 GK Netherlands Hope to read back from you with the total cost and we can proceed and finalized my order. God bless you, Kathy ********************************************** For more info on how she scams people: http://redeftdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/01/scam-update.html?showComment=1343249961412#c5277190516413342833 Names used: Katie Jackson, Kathy Thompson, Claire Simpson, Andrew Partison, Marta Smith, Philip McKenzie, Bruce Moore, Gary Williams, Mary Finn, John Liam, Ellyse Morgan.

I bought a journal book and have them write in their name and email. I date the page at the top with what show they signed up at. I also have made a word document that had the name of my business and the show at the top. Then a line with headers: name, address, email. Then just a series of lines on the rest of the page. hth, Trudi

I sell my candles on consignment in shops for $8.99. I normally sell them for $8.00 at the couple craft shows I do each year. I will be at a 2 day large festival in August in my home town. I know there will be 1 or 2 other soy candle people there as there always is. My candle is the 9oz Fillmore straight sided jar and I do not color them. The phrase "dye free" is what customers I the shops are asking for. The festival is a totally different group of buyers. The other candle people will have jelly jars and price at $5.00 or $6.00 with a possible discount on quantity. What should I price my candles at to compete? Should I still ask my normal price of $8 or should I lower the price? Currently my cost per candle is $3.25. :undecided