scifichik

Thanks, Carol. Isn't that bear cute? I'm a teddy bear collector and was excited to find that mold on eBay. I got the ducks, hearts, and stars in a lot with the bears.

I like those! On the dragonflies, could you stack them atop one another then gently, and put a Popsicle stick between each one, then secure them with twine or ribbon? I'm thinking that might give them the reinforcement needed to be safely packaged for display, and with a padded box might survive shipping.

Other than the frosting on a couple of them, I was happy with the results of my first tart/melt experiment. (Picture taken with a phone, so the lighting isn't spectacular.)

Here are my first tarts. Not 100% perfect, but they do smell nice.

Very cool stuff!

Thanks, Les Chadelles, for sharing that. I thought I remembered (from a college course several years back) that an LLC becomes a legal business entity, so this is the "person" that gets into hot water if there is a suit filed, and that's how the layer of protection is built between you and the potential liability. That, and having bank accounts separate from your personal ones...but that's just good business practice, although I know a few small business owners who DON'T do that. I have no idea how they do their taxes! Just as a curiosity, what type of insurance do you have for your company? Something from IBN or purchased through an agent? As an attorney, what would you say to those who have decided to make a go of it without the safety net of insurance? (I am not one of those people, and will certainly be insured when/if I decide to sell.)

Very nice! I'm sure that little girl was very pleased with her personalized cards

How wide are the tops on your containers? Are you getting a full melt pool? How wide is the melting cavity on your tart warmer?

Thanks for providing this additional information. Looks like I'll be making a call to my homeowner's policy underwriter

Also answering this question with information I got from the broker's office (Stratus) that writes this policy: this policy is a combination of general liability and product liability coverage. (Yes, I've made phone calls and done homework today to become better informed on the subject. )

Answering my own question (in case anyone else had the same question), with information provided to me by my homeowner's agent: Even if you create your product at your home, so long as customers do not physically enter the premises and you do not conduct actual sales transactions there, it does not constitute a commercial/business venture for which separate coverage is needed. If money exchanged hands and a customer left your address with product obtained as part of a sales or bartered transaction, then separate coverage is required. Internet sales, according to him, do not apply.

Five minutes in the freezer and quick tap on the bottom of the metal molds was the magic needed to release the tarts. They were pretty and my sister and I enjoyed how nice they smelled in our warmers at our houses. Thanks for the tip about the freezer!

Very happy to see that you found the mold you wanted! You and Paul are in my prayers.

Congratulations!

I made a call to Brower, and they are very nice people. Sadly, they don't write policies in Missouri, but said they'd be happy to scout for a broker who might have something comparable and would contact me if they added my state into their coverage group.

Oh, absolutely no offense taken. You are a gem, Stella, and I appreciate the benefit of your experience and that you are willing to share it with others! You are completely correct in that a solid business plan is in order, and I should have been more explanatory in my post as to what information I was seeking and for what purpose. I'm doing my advanced homework for "if/when the hobby moves to a business." I'm completing the packet of information supplied by the SBA. I've completed the sections of the worksheets that help you generate an outline for a business plan and determine potential startup costs. I've completed the sections for: business structure, licensing/registration, marketing, customer demographics, product mix, product distribution methods & locations, and employee. The part of the worksheets I'm on now needs descriptors of insurance to protect your business, plus three potential sources for the coverage and annual premium. When I posted the question, I was actually waiting to hear back from Natasha @ Stratus (the broker for the underwriter of the crafter's liability policy through IBN) to get the details on specific coverage, and was wondering if the IBN policy was general liability, products liability, or both. I was thinking that someone on the board who might have this policy could provide that information. I got the information from Natasha this morning and learned that the crafter's policy in question is BOTH general liability and products liability. My local insurance agent is also searching for me, but doesn't think he can find anything that can compare favorably to the premium available with IBN or HSMG annual membership. Ohio Art and Craft Guild doesn't write policies in Missouri, which is a shame, because they had really good rates, too. Back to homework now for me

Can anyone explain what the liability insurance through IBN covers? I've got a 70 page policy sample and completely do not understand what I am reading. (Started a sep topic, in case this doesn't belong here.)

If you are only pouring at home, but not conducting sales (either by website or in person), does that still constitute a business in your home for which your homeowner's agent needs to be aware of? If/when I do this for something beyond my own amusement, I would do the craft mall and other outlets.

Can anyone explain what the liability insurance through IBN covers? I've got a 70 page policy sample and completely do not understand what I am reading.

Wishing you much success and lots of orders!

That's crazy and sad! Just curious, what is the business that cannot be insured and did you get your candle insurance through Indie Beauty Network?

My friend, a chandler with 15+ years experience in crafting and selling her wares (who also carried liability insurance and was registered with the state as an LLC), often had home party shows. She lived in a small apartment, so these were always held in the homes of friends. For her sample/demo table, she always brought a 4 oz candle as a cold throw "sniffing" demo of the 36 scents that she carried. She arranged these on a table with her order sheets and business cards, along with a pretty container filled with coffee beans (to cleanse the olfactory palate between "sniffing" candles). She did dipped bears, unity candles, and novelty pies and usually brought one or two of these items just to show her additional lines, and whatever new "mad scientist" project she was creating. Product she brought with her for selling at the show, usually included 4 units of each scent, arranged on a table and grouped according to scent type and color: 8 oz jars 4 oz jars melts aroma beads in organza bags Her primary purpose in the show wasn't to sell on the spot, but to showcase her products and collect orders. She did the typical party games that are ice breakers, refreshments, and took orders at the end of the show. She always made sure that she personally thanked each person who came to one of her party shows and that they with a nice little "treat bag" that had something like a packet of tea, her business card, two melts, aroma bead sachet for their car, and a 4 oz candle in a popular or seasonal scent. She was a really congenial lady and everyone who attended a party show always felt as though they'd made a new friend who just happened to sell candles. Eventually, she moved into a retirement center when she felt she could no longer safely live alone, and became a lady of leisure who brightened the lives of everyone she met until she passed away. I wish you much success in your shows and hope that everyone who attends places an order with you and leaves feeling as though they've made a new friend who just happens to sell candles. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer: I have never sold any candles or home scenting products, but have made them for my own enjoyment and as gifts to family. I swear that I will secure liability insurance and properly register with the state as a business entity if/when I decide to pursue product sales after I have perfected my craft

In addition to being challenging to use, these professional-quality graphics programs are expensive. There are open-source (aka FREE) software packages available that duplicate most of the features that Adobe products used to have a monopoly on. Gimp is a good package that mimics Photoshop.

If you go to www.avery.com, you can download a host of templates available there at not cost, as well as their software that integrates into Microsoft Word (and probably Open Office's Write). You can make awesome labels for many projects with that software, which is also free. I typically make return address labels for home use, and labels for a friend's Avon brochure with Avery. There is a "no brainer" guide that prompts you to indicate with Avery product number you are using. Most other label brands will give you their Avery equivalent/compatibility number, so it takes all the guesswork out of "which label do I have and how does it fit into this list?"

Now, THIS I know something about GoDaddy or Yahoo are your best bets for a one-stop shopping experience. You can register your domain name (the part of your email address that follows the @ sign), get email accounts set up and register for web hosting (the place on the internet where your website "lives.") Both GoDaddy and Yahoo have good customer service, and good online tools to help you build a professional-looking site that has shopping cart features. You can expect to spend $150 or less for a domain name and a year's worth of hosting. Yahoo tends to offer better discounts than GoDaddy, from time to time.