scifichik

What is everyone using for displays for clamshells at shows? We've just moved into that arena and need a shove in the right direction, please. I'm thinking table-top spinners or something multi-tiered. My sister thinks just put samplers out on the table and have crates of alphabetized clams under the table, hidden by table skirt, and get the customer whatever they want which also sounds good.

Ktaggard, congratulations on your first show! Sometimes the learning experience is more valuable than actual sales. I wish you all the best!

What's the typical shelf life of fragrance oil when stored in a cool, dark place? A friend wants to clean out her storage unit and stumbled across supplies she hasn't used in three years or more and had forgotten about, lots of Peaks and Bitter Creek fragrance oils. She offered them to me....if they still smell good, would they be usable? Opinions welcome.

Peaks and CandleScience are good for us in GW 415, 444 and 464.

Before all the veteran chandlers throw things at me, might I suggest if you are simply seeking to give these as gifts, purchase a candle-making kit from a reputable supplier like Peaks. For one of our cub scout merit badges, candle making was the project, and for around $60 we got a soy container candle kit from Peaks. It had soy wax, fragrance oils proven to throw well in soy, appropriate size containers and wicks that were selected in conjunction with the container size and wax type. We made several dozen candles with impressive results for beginners, and we felt satisfied that they were safe as we followed all the directions to the letter. In fact, that was how the candle bug bit me. I enjoyed my son's candle so much that I wanted more and more and more....LOL

I know, Candybee, and I'm glad I got my inventory back. I've taken in 23 orders from hubby's work and have been invited to one craft fair this month, three next month, and one in December. I don't plan on taking her up on the next offer. Once bitten, twice shy.

Well, Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things work for good for those that love the Lord and who are called according to His purposes, so I'm encouraged to look for the silver lining in this deal. I dropped in, unannounced, on my friend today at her shop. She was cordial and still insisted that she just didn't have adequate room for display, which is why the glass containers got broken. She has another crafter who does custom stuffed primitive animals, and also had her stuff packed away in the storage room, because of "no room to display." I'm not sure how she didn't consider the logistics of display of invited crafters' products vs her own....but that's not my worry. She did say she plans to move to a larger shop and wants to carry my full line when she has the room. At any rate, I've been invited to a couple of local craft fairs and am sure I will be able to move this inventory there....so less prep time needed to pour, cure and package....and that's the silver lining I'm choosing to latch onto. There is a local specialty shop mall that rents spots to crafters and other vendors. Hubby wants me to consider setting up shop there, so I'll give it some thought. Thanks to all for your patience in listening to my confused rant! I appreciate you!

I've never sold a business, but I have been a full-time caregiver for my mother who was terminal with lung disease. Devote your time and energies into making your mother comfortable, and making the most of the sweet time that you have left. This is an intensely stressful time for all involved. I pray that the Lord grants you grace and strength to do all that you must do, and for your mother to have comfort and peace.

Send us links to your site and hers so we can weigh in our opinions.

Actually, it is Yankme who owns the trademark. This is from their website: Yankee Candle retains all rights to its trademarks, trade names, brand names, trade dress and other such intellectual property, including without limitation Yankee®, Yankee Candle®, Housewarmer®, Sampler®, Tart®, Wax Potpourri Tarts®, Country Kitchen®, Car Jars®, Country Classics®, Kindle Candles®, Aroma Formula™, Yankee® Home Classics™, Frosted Favorites™ and the fragrance names of many of our products, as indicated, all of which are registered and/or common law trademarks of Yankee Candle in the United States and in other countries. These trademarks, together with all associated service marks, slogans and other Yankee Candle product names, graphics, logos, service names and custom icons are included within the intellectual property of Yankee Candle and all rights thereto are expressly reserved. Yankee Candle's trademarks and intellectual property may not be used by any third party without the express written permission of the Company and, without limiting the foregoing, may not be used in connection with any product or service or in any manner that is likely to or may dilute the strength of the trademark, disparage or discredit Yankee Candle or its products and services, or cause confusion among consumers. Any other trademarks that appear on this site and are not owned by Yankee Candle are the property of their respective owners.

Congrats!

I left out a sentence in the original post: We had mason jar candles, clamshells, novelty melts in cello bags, and wickless in tins. And yes, she said because mason jars got broken, it all got packed up. Weird, I know, but that was her stated reason. I'll be collecting my inventory this week.

You're right, of course, Deb426---but doesn't stop me for wondering for the moment.

Life this week has been stressful at my "real job," and I'm left trying to figure out "hey, wha' happened?" with a consignment account I have. Here's the lowdown: two months back a friend opened a prim home decor gift shop and wanted to carry my soy line on consignment. Various folks wandered through the shop prior to the official open date (friend also does acryllic nails and had her station in a corner of her shop), raved about the products and made purchases. We had planned to participate in a rather large regional craft show in two weeks. I checked in with her earlier this week to see what stock she wanted for the shop and the show...and I eventually got a story about her not being sure if she wanted to carry my line any longer because product wasn't moving like she expected. When pressed as to whether it was pricing, new packaging design, or scents customers didn't like---the story changed to a couple of glass container candles had gotten broken by customers, so she packed everything up, because she "has no room" for it now. I said I'd call later in the evening and we could discuss, but she said she'd be busy. I said she could call me when she was free. That was three days ago. Hubby suspects that she's found another supplier that will give her a bigger cut of the sales, or a family member wants to "do candles." I know the problem isn't pricing---it's the "going rate" in our region, which is about half Scentsy pricing. I know the problem isn't packaging---it's your basic clamshell with an insert with all the required label items. I know the problems isn't scent selection---hubby brings home orders constantly from ladies where he works. I'm befuddled, because product flies off the shelves at the other consignment location I have in town! Any theories on what's up, or similar experiences to share? I'll be sure to follow up with "the rest of the story" when I get it.

That stinks! Do you have pics of your line and the thief's?

Those look really good!

I've had great success with 464 in clamshells. If you use the small, metal "floater" molds, they tend to want to stick (because it is a container wax), but a few minutes in the freezer shrinks it slightly so that you can turn the mold upside down and get the tart to release with a gentle squeeze.

I would just tell them that there are no refresher oils available, explaining that there is a specific process involved in making the tarts that causes the oil and wax to blend properly in order to make the tarts give off their wonderful fragrance. Quick answer and an honest one.

Lavender and Camomile is a nice soothing FO for babies I think it rates 3 leaves in CS soy rating system.

Thanks to everyone for their kind suggestions! I'm back on track now. I heated the molds, cleaned them out with paper towel, poured again and let them cure a day. I put them in the freezer for 15 minutes, then they were happy to release when put upside down. Some slid right out, some with a gentle squeeze on the edge of the mold. I'm thinking it might have been the fragrance oil that caused them to be so cantankerous previous---German Chocolate Cake. Smells great, but will just do clamshells with that from now on.

Outstanding! What a wonderful success story and I love that you give praise to God!

Now that's a winner! Happy to help in the same way I've been helped many times on various issues here on this forum.

Those are beautiful!

Ah, typing failure on the original post. 416 is what I've got

I got some of the most wonderful samples from Peak and Candlescience this week. I poured some clamshells and brought them home to see what hubby and son thought of the bakery and candy fragrances. I got the biggest compliment from the person in the family with the biggest sweet tooth. After I waved a couple around, he came running into the room...and immediately sat up and begged and started licking his lips. So, if the dog thinks it smells good from the next room, it's got to be a winner The rest of the humans in the house thought they smelled good, too.