EccoLights

It gets mighty warm at our market also here but we don't see this happen often... Think it is a bit to much FO IMO, how much FO did you use??

I don't know why but all I want to say is WOW... We looked back at this thread to see what others thought of the lavender scent smelling like soap and here to find that some are offended by us calling people hun??? Really? I guess you would rather we say "babe or chick or HEY YOU"?? But as someone said, were just going to keep on keeping on hun Hope the lavender works out for you xoxo

We use NG's Lavender Flowers and have never had a soapy smell hun... Not sure about yours tho...

We also have had a few of these people too hun! They see that we do well with our products (and they are great candles) and they think that they can capitalize on the same thing... we just look at them now and say BRING IT ON!! LOL I'm sorry to say this but we do feel a slightest bit better hearing all of you that have dealt with the same exact thing as we did/do. I know its no help but venting is all we have sometimes Well off for another weekend at the booth Let's see who brings what this week?? Should be a good one..... well sure you guys know about the market drama... we got some brewing now and it should be mighty interesting this weekend xoxo

Just a suggestion hun, open them all and plug them in too... sometimes the bulbs will be bad or the cord is defective.... better to find out now then with a customer... and plus think there is a limit to how long you can report damage. Glad it all looks good so far for you!!!

Welcome to your new addiction... meetings are anytime in any forum hun Best place to buy?? If you can, locally! But if your just doing this for gifting then I would highly recommend NG for your needs They are great people and so fast in shipping too! Prices we would say they can't be beat! Best of luck in your candle making fun!! xoxo

Hmm judging from the picture the wick is way to long... needs trimmed more often?? And are you turning the pillar each time you relight it? We find that if there is a draft in the house that the flame will push that direction and turning it every time will even this out?? Not sure if that helps but its our 2 cents

Hun plan on breakage! But just call them. They are awesome to work with and they may ask for a few pictures but that's to be expected. We have used OBI for shipping and even for their drop shipping and have had a few issues, but they are always willing to work things out. Only way to avoid breakage.... pick them up. Sorry but its the truth! I can recommend either Roberto or I think his name is Alex in their sales department, they are always wonderful to work with

LOL So true!!

Oh what a wonderful idea Vicky_CO Oh where to start, where to start Well we do a booth at our local flea market and have for about 2 months not (well exactly 7 weeks) but this weekend is out 2 month anniversary YAY!!! Started out with a 10 x 10 space (its indoor btw) and 2 weeks ago expanded to a 10 x 20 So things have been well for us We are makers of candles and also do hand painted glassware So lets see if we can answer all the questions here : What sold and best sellers: As usual, our Bite Me, Butt Naked, Clean Office, Lilac, Corienne's Strawberry Buttercream, lots of summer / spring scents (we carry about 132 scents) and then we sold alot of warmers and glassware too For a holiday weekend and with a very much larger market only a few miles away (biggest shopping day there is Memorial Day) we fair'd very well What did NOT sell: Bakery and Food scents this week. It's so weird how that will change week to week Weather: Was a beautiful weekend in Ohio, hot and humid but did rain out some at the other market on Monday (hehe) Funny Stories: I won't even begin this one We could make a forum just for this (hint, hint) Other vendors, etc: Our market is your typical flea market... alot of junk and old things, we are one of 2 hand crafters in the entire place of about 70 vendors. One couple does wood working and the other sews. There have been 2 soap makers come and go with no luck at this market, but were going to venture down that line soon and see how that goes So think this is enough for this week Thanks again to Vicky_CO for this thread and can't wait to hear everyone's stories Rob and Troy Ecco Lights xoxo

Thank you guys for your input and thoughts on this.... I agree totally that we are going to start keeping quite and not telling much to anyone asking. It's just sad tho that things have to be this way, we found a few wonderful people in the very beginning that helped us out so much and we wanted to give back the favor... maybe we'll just be more selective on who we share info with

Wholesale = times 2 of your cost to make. Some say to multiply your cost by 2.35 and that is your wholesale. But you want to make sure that the retailer will be able to make a profit worth while also. Best of luck to you and your new adventure BTW, MINIMUM ORDER!! Can't stress that enough!! $100.00 minimum to begin and reorder at $50.00 xoxo

So call this a vent, or a gripe, or anything you want to. First off this is not directed to anyone on CS at all but a "just in common" question and vent session. How do you deal with other "makers" of your products, be it candles, soaps, lotions, etc... that ask for your advice or tips or even just observe your business and promotions, ideas, techniques, sales strategy, etc and then go and copy that same exact thing??? We tend to be very friendly people and will bend over backwards to assist anyone. But at what point do you see others using your words, or using your exact promotions, or even copying what you do... when is it right to say something or do you just hold it in and say "lesson learned"? We have made candles for some time, tested many ways, researched for hours upon hours, made mistakes, corrected them, perfected them.... and in our findings, we tend to see that most "hand crafters" are very private in what they use exactly and how they process it. Maybe that is our lesson learned??? Do you guys find this too?? Now i know from being on CS for about a month now that there are many many friendly people out here, and are willing to give all the knowledge they have to all... but when you do find other people copying what you did, and I mean to a "T", wording and all... I don't know, is it just us... is it wrong??? I mean it is common knowledge but just seems like morals of some have lost their way... Sorry to vent but we have seen this with quite a few people that we have "helped" recently and its getting rather frustrating to say the least! Again, no one from CS, just a general statement about some local folks to us.... Can't wait to see what some of you guys have to say on this one..... Rob and Troy Ecco Lights

We will probably get smacked for saying this and reemed up and down... but hun... all the info is right here for your taking... research it, google it, use the search feature up top here on craft server.... The best wax to use is what ever wax you find that works best for YOU! Everyone seems to have different thoughts and results.... Best of luck to you!

They look great! If that's your first, then can't wait to see when you master them

Voting for both also, like the variations we can get using both xoxo

Really good info, thanks for sharing

Honestly Dan, with that word alone.....We know you will succeed Best of luck my friend If we can ever help or need to vent, feel free to PM us or email us at our username here @gmail.com

Dan, we have been down that road too in the past and its a rocky one. Just keep your mind right and your eyes on the future and there is no stopping you Best of luck in your venture! Btw, with you opening a store, and if the capital is available, then deck that store our for all your customers home decor needs If it's candle related then someone coming will want it sooner or later. We do like the idea of staying away from that dollar store junk... But there are many wholesale companies that carry candle accessories

We had thought about this also at one time, but the cost to package and label the bottles was just not worth the time. Our thought was why would someone pay $3.50+ for the refresher bottle and not just buy some more tarts for $2.00? So stocking up on tarts they go xoxo Oh and no we do not add extra FO. Our tarts are made the same as our containers, votives, and tea lights.

From experience hun, most any of the companies out there package them very well. We have had them come in with peanuts inside the boxes and jam packed the shipping box with peanuts too and still had broken warmers and broken bulbs. So don't think it's a fact of doing away with "damaged in shipping", what we look for is that amazing customer service, quick responses, fair credit, or replacement.

Not to counter dict anyone posting before us, but we just started a booth at a local flea market and sell candle accessories along with our candles, tarts, votives, tea lights, warmers, pillars and hand painted glassware... and find that it all moves in time. If your doing craft shows I would think not so much, but given the cost you can get these accessories at wholesale, and even with retail markup, why not? To us we see it as just another reason customers will come to us for all their birthday, wedding, holiday gift giving ideas Got to maximize where you can Best of luck to you hun! Quick example, 1 customer today came in and bought every butterfly holders and warmers we had. Just takes that one customer to make it worth the while xoxo

Paraffin goes up, gas prices go down and soy is stable... boy glad we drive to get our soy from NG

Hey hun, we have ordered a few times from OBI (Love them) and have found on average in the ball park of $16 - $20 per case. Just depends on the exact weight of the case. Only thing to be careful of is on some of the delicate warmers, some have come broken, but not badly. They do package them very VERY well, its just the nature of the warmers. Same 2 have been broke on 2 different orders. But they always work out a credit or replacement with no hassle at all! We would recommend OBI to anyone! Hope this helps you some hun xoxo

You sure can make a smaller batch hun... We do this all the time.. (never once did the q-tip test tho) but if we are trying a new scent out, we will make say 1/2 a lb of wax to .50 ounces of scent, well we do soy so its 1/2 wax to .75 ounces of scent. You could even go as far as 1/4 lb of wax to 1/4 ounce of scent. Hope this helps you hun