Sallykate

You are absolutely right! How do I know? because you sound just like me giving someone else advice e. Thanx for the "blunt truth"! I love blunt! hehehe I guess I was pussy footing because of her being my mom's boss. HOWEVER, my mom gave her a piece of her mind for bad business ethic!:rolleyes2She told her and her asisstant the I would probably never work with them again after the way they had done me:wink2: Gotta love mom! I think her words knawed on the director's conscience. So here I am with my contract ready to be signed tomorrow! gosh e....you really shouldn't be so shy!!

Thanx Lorrie, sounds like we have VERY similar situations! It is in my proposal that I will deliver the order AND have it sorted by classroom and teacher already for them. We were talking like 1500 candles too. I like your pay up front idea.

Absolutely!

Thanx Lorrie, Live and learn right? Boy have I learned! Even when you know the person somewhat and would think they would keep their word...GET A SIGNED CONTRACT!

Ohhhhh Lawdy girl! I am so sorry you had to endure a day like that! Not only the horrid heat but a loony toon as well.:rolleyes2 I hope it gets better for you!

Well here's the deal, when she was waffling, she said, "well we can cut you a check for all those jars since we want to work with you in Jan. anyway. We would be cutting you a check up front anyways". What she doesn't get is I DON'T want to work with her in JANUARY!!! This time or no time! I will not make NEAR as much in a Jan. FR right after another candle FR and right after xmas...come on. :rolleyes2 Thanx for your sympathy Sharon, it helps believe it or not.

Some of you know that I was doing a large fundraiser in Sept. I met with the school last week and we shook hands on the deal and they asked me to come in and set up a display in the front office etc. We concluded the meeting very upbeat and they were excited. I was asked to bring in a contract for them to sign this week. I had to purchase items for my display and order the 2000 jars necessary for the FR because it takes 2-3 weeks to get them in at WM.... I got a call this morning from the school, telling me they have decided to go with Home Interior candles instead!!! HI is offering them 50% profit. Come to find out HI is charging $12 per 12oz candle and $8 for a 4oz tin! No wonder they can offer 50%. I am not mad at HI...it's not their fault. It was poor business ethic on the part of the school director plain and simple. Later, this morning, I talked to the director and she was fumbling all over the place with what happened. She said she did not want me to be upset and taht she still wanted to do business with me in the future. Yada Yada Yada :rolleyes2 Bottom line is, someone brought the HI offer in after our meeting and she caved in. I told her that I was not "offended" however that I thought we had made a verbal agreement and thus I had been planning and preparing since that date. I also told her that I had begun to order supplies. Long story short, she said that if I felt that we had a concrete deal then she would honor it and go with me. I told her I did not want to go forward with the deal if her heart wasn't in it. I did not want to coherse her into it knowing that she would rather have not done it. I forgot to mention that I know this lady somewhat and that my mother has been a teacher there for 17 years so it makes it difficult to wear the business hat only and say a deal is a deal! She asked me to go ahead and send over a business plan because she has to get all FR's approved. I hesitantly sent it. I really do not want to work with this school anymore. This is the second time she has done this to me. Last time she went with a cookie dough FR instead. She said she wants me to do a FR in January. I told her I thought that she would be shooting herself in the foot to do 2 candle FR's back to back! :rolleyes2 Thanx for listening, I just had to vent! Any suggestions? Should I take the contract if she calls me back and wants to do it? ok, I just got off of the phone with the director and they want to go with me! I am surprised to say the least. I will go forward with it but I HAVE learned a BIG lesson. Thanx for all your advice and encouragement guys... I sure needed it. HUGS to all of you...

I'm a j223 girl myself. Great hot and cold throw and easy to work with.

I have 15 FO samples coming today that I need to test. I use most all of these (give or take 5 new ones) But this is a new supplier that I am trying so I wanna re-test them to make absolute sure!

Mason pint jars. 12 per box.

Wal-Mart just ordered 2000 jars for me and is giving me some for free... (BTW, that is 176 cases) I am getting mine for 5.44 a box and they do go out of season...matter of fact, I caught it just in time the CSM over housewares told me. However, out of season does not mean none in the store because I get mine year round there but they only have a few cases on the shelves in off season.

Dustpuppy taught me the trick of 75/25 with 1343 and J-223. It works well for me and I sell tarts more than candles....not on purpose, people just love em! I tried 1343 alone and got a major dip. Do you have to repour Rsvlbrat? Just curious. :smiley2: Sallykate

I love my 223 also!

No worries sweet...you didn't do anything wrong. No need to defend yourself. You have not been malicious or mean so I would not worry about it. You had every right to represent yourself in this fiasco since your name was attached to it, and you did just that! Truth is you called a spade a spade and "someone" didn't like that. You pointed out the truth about the accusations of stealing the logo and "someone" got their butt hair singed! Bottom line we ALL can see the difference in people by the way this was handled. You and Annie with dignity and "someone" else ... well with anything BUT dignity! I do not know her or you but it takes very little discernment to see how much class each party has from reading their posts. I'll have tea with you or Annie anytime! Best of Luck!

Professionalism? I must have missed that in her posts..hmmmmm;)

You have committed to a fundraiser and you don't have a tested product? I am not at all trying to flame you. Please do not take it like that but the art of candle making takes a lot of testing and time to get a finished product. I have been making candles for almost 2 years now and have stuck with 2 containers and tarts. I am testing other things but would not even think of selling them yet until I am POSITIVE they are safe and near perfect. I have finally achieved a great candle with my 2 containers and am not only confident in them but very proud of them. After testing and retesting and letting family and friends enjoy them as I continued to test, I am finally taking my first large fundrasier order. Anyway, I just wanted to say be careful because you do not want to have this come back on you in a negative way or for someone to get hurt. Best of Luck! I don't do soy but I am using 16oz jelly jars.

time to put away the lawn chair and popcorn I guess! ... But seriously, Sharon you handled yourself with dignity. Pats on the back for that! And you are blessed with good friens by the sounds of it!

I sure hadn't. Wow!

SO glad to know that! I will need 1343 as well and I see that they carry it as well. I sure hope they add more FO's to their list soon. Would be nice to one stop shop! lol

You GO girl!! You will succeed in this busines, I'm sure of it!

I love it! A woman after my own heart!!

Well, I think you have to weigh it and see if it is worth your a. time and b. money... selling alot of product is not necessarily more productive than making some excellent contacts and receiving great exposure. One of those contacts may end up making you 10X as much as you might sell at one event. Does the opportunity you are contemplating offer you good exposure? Possible repeat business? 150.00 might considered be an investment from you into your business. However, if you are simply "filling a spot" in the attic where no one will see you... then maybe it is not a lucrative opportunity. Unfortunately only you know the answers to the questions and then again maybe you are not in a position to know for sure. I would say this, if you are not in a position to make very many sales and are not sure if you will at LEAST get some great exposure, then maybe you should sit this one out. It sounds to me like there will be some "money" walking through that event, you might be surprised at just how well you do. Tis the season and people buy at this time of year! SO I have not helped you at all, probably confused you even more! Sorry. LOL But best of luck on your decision!

NO, you should not bag them all together as this will cause them to take on each others scents. Especially anything with cinnamon in it. It overpowers most everything else. JMO

Hey Top, I gave Mike a call and I was impressed immediately! They are going to give me an unbelievable deal on the wax AND the shipping! Thank-you so much for your recommendation...I think I have found a permanent supplier if delivery goes well!

Sure Michi...I'll spill... I have about 2000 candles to make for a fundraiser! I know. that's alot huh?! I have done about 200 at a time so this is a MUCH bigger undertaking. But I will have plenty of time to finish it. My client is fine with me taking about 7 weeks to fill the orders.