EccoLights

Never seen then but would assume that eclamshells would have them as well. You might call or email them asking about one like the one's we all use with that removable lid? They were very helpful when we called in the past =) Good luck and do share if you find out =)

Labels =) We are working on revamping our logo and labels and currently have just been getting them at Staples down the road. After checking out Onlinelabels.com and seeing the $$ difference, were going there now =) But, there are so many different types (glossy, matte, weatherproof glossy/matte, colored, clear, etc) and just wanted to see what some really look like on some products. So if you don't mind sharing, let's see those labels! If you can let us know what kind of label your using and if your using a inkjet or a laser printer that would be helpful too as were looking into a new printer as well =) TIA and happy days! =)

Each and every one has pointed out some great facts and thoughts =) We are currently in a indoor flea market ourselves and have done very well. With that said we also did and do a LOT of advertising, promoting and marketing for us and the market. Have been there almost 2 years now we have a good client base that shops every month with us and that's going to be your key. Getting your items out there and keeping your customers happy. Promote, promote, promote!!! Now as for the market itself. You can see a post we put up recently in the "Business Side of Things" section for just an example of what you MIGHT come into. Hopefully the markets in your area ADVERTISE and MARKET themselves, this is how you get NEW people into the market. Do they have something that will "draw" customers? Events? Shows? Auctions? Bands? These are all big "draws" for customers which in turn will lead to more $$$ for you and all the vendors. If it's a dirty place, don't fret! You can still do very well but keep your standards up! Keep your booth looking tip top and you might just sway some of the others to clean up their acts too =) Overall, if the price is right (less then $50 a week for a 10x10 inside) I would say go for it. Give it a shot for a month or two but not less. You can't go into this thinking that 1 or 2 weeks will get you the big $$$, that takes time. Set a timeline & goals of just covering your rent at first, then as you grow you might even expand. I would also say here if your not making your rent within that 2 month time frame... GET OUT! Move on to another market, shop or pop the trunk of your car and set up on corners (just kidding), but don't throw your money away if it's not going to be a return eventually. (Weirdly I say that and just thought of the thousands we spent in testing...... Wonder if we got that back yet???) +) Enjoy and the best of luck to you!! Oh, as for insurance... We called our agent with Grange and worked out a package deal with our home, auto, life and now business =)

OMG blacktieaffair, your a riot!!! Love your attitude too and that sign is being made up NOW LOL =) And yeah, $350/month for 500 sq ft in that area (tho it isn't the "upper" part of town), it's still growing and every first Friday of the month they have an event called First Friday (go figure), and this entire area (I'd say 5 blocks x 4 blocks, and we would be in the middle of this) gets shut down for a HUGE event! They have street performers, bands, etc and we have been down to a few and it's always shoulder to shoulder walking down any road or sidewalk! So could I just say +++++++++ times about a million!!! Ok, this is sounding so much better then Hartville now or my drink is just kicking in =) Sweet tea mess over here too LOL Thanks and I agree.. One closes as another opens =)

First off, GUILTY! =) But ours is on the bottom =P And yes, this is a issue I think many don't realize.... But with the DIY and "I can do that" attitude of some... It's not a surprise...

Well Hi again =) As we said before, thank you all for your input and thoughts about this. It is frustrating to say the least that management is doing simply nothing about the situation. As for getting a lawyer (cease & desist), we might look into this option but who knows. I've really tried to look at this from all angles (his, ours, managements, and customers) and went into today with the attitude of "I'm just going to keep being me/us(you know what I mean)" And really... I think that pissed him off just as much LOL The evil looks today could had killed! So today's drama packed episode was having 3-4 vendors and 2 CUSTOMERS (not even ours) come over to ask/tell us about what he was saying about us, the situation and whatever else he wanted to rant about today.... The vendors telling us, Ok, we know that's just the market (I swear it's like high school), but to have CUSTOMERS come over and tell you about what someone is saying that they over heard.... Now that's just sad.... And proves a point of what a few have said so far... He's only "downgrading" us due to his lack of ????? I like the word TACT! So here's our game plan at this moment (we reserve the right to alter, change or totally blow this off if needed) is to just stick it out till the new year. We know our customers will follow with us (and a few vendors have said they will too), but we got a call into Hartville and we will see what they have available. If that falls through, I think were going to take that leap into our own store front. Here in Akron, rental prices are a bit high IMO, but just south of us in Canton they have a really nice, growing arts district that I found a place (roughly 500 sq ft) for $350 a month + electric! Heck, that's just over what we pay for our 2 booths currently! So I think this might be our route to go.... Only time will tell and only KARMA will pay this vendor back for what he has done..... Although, I am thinking of the camera and I saw a nice blow horn at the store the other day too =) Thank you all again for listening to our vent, gripe, bitc* =) Will be sure to fill you guys in when whatever happens, happens =) **The best redemption today tho (had to gloat it out here) was when we sold 10+ warmers today, tons of candles/tarts and some of our glassware too, all the while THAT vendor was sitting 2 aisles away just staring at our booth. Just thinking how pissed off he had to be that we were rocking today and he couldn't keep a customer in his booth for more then 2 minutes = LOVE IT!

Couldn't of said it better, Steve your a riot!!! Thanks for the referrals also =) Did sell quite a few over the holidays on Etsy, from you? =) As for him moving too, doubtful... he's one of those "set in his ways" kind of guys so don't see him moving ship out that way... After the histarical laughing I did reading this thinking the whole time "YOU GO GIRL" =) The best one was the bolded above LMAO!!! As for #3 goes, it's in the works and I do hate the thoughts of him "winning" but in the end, he will get what's coming to him. For #4 tho, I could tell you stories of some of the things we have heard/seen going on with nothing happening on the management side other then a turn of the cheek...but we won't go there.....

Thank you both for your thoughts on this matter. We both agree that the stand firm approach is well tested but I really think at this point were looking to drive the extra 15 miles to be in a "better place". Sadly about the cameras Caft, they have them in the market, the owners have seen this vendor in our booth "searching" our prices before... and they do what??? Nothing! UGH! 001, Thanks for taking a look at our things too and agreed our pricing is low in some points and that's going to be updated this coming year. I also agree that his behavior does show his ethics, class and overall demeanor(sp) as well... We never have stooped to his level EVER and the customers and vendors know this, that's why were where we are and he is where he is.... The sad thing is we really do like it there, it's close for us and we have done well, but when looking at a clientele basis, the other market (Hartville) does offer much more traffic and (thinking of a polite way to say it) but income levels, oh and they actually advertise too (big ++).... So those are also pulling points to just pack up and jump ship... Either way, were here till the new year and we will see what happens at that point... Thanks again for your thoughts guys and any others are always welcomed too =) **It's amazing what a few drinks will do to lighten your mood** ;)

Most of those that know us know that we have a market we do each weekend (flea market) (no names please), we have been very successful in this market for a little under 2 years and have promoted ourselves & this market to no end. Over this time we have dealt with a certain vendor that does products like ours, but different. We have had this vendor in the past bash us for being who we are (if you didn't know we are a gay couple), bash our products (saying they are junk and his "products" are so much better), bash our warmers (because he sells similar but says they are "better" then ours), and a few other things we won't go into here.... So each time any of these things came up we always confronted management about the issue and dealt with it very professionally. Each time management said "we will talk to him about this/that" and they do (giving credit to them), but another month or 2 goes by and were having this same talk with them over new & old issues that keep coming up from him. So this past weekend after we had left for the day (20 minutes early), this vendor comes over to our booth and is price checking every warmer we have, making comments about how WE are copying him and how ours are over priced, blah blah blah.... The lady that was watching our booth at the time told him to just go back to his booth and leave our things alone. He proceeded to tell a CUSTOMER that walked into our booth about how we are such a rip off and HIS are so much better, "Here let me show you" and takes the customer with him.... So we find out about this last Sunday (the lady watching out booth called us) and we called management right away. Told them we needed a meeting and need to resolve this ONGOING issue. So a meeting was set. Today we had our meeting with all parties involved. First off this other vendor said it was ALL a lie and he NEVER did anything what so ever like we and the lady watching our booth said he did. Even tho management had talked to him about EVERYTHING as it came up over the past 2 years.... So basically he was "talked to" again and that's it.... no resolution... no justice... no nothing... So my rant, banter, long winded talking here is to just ask... How much is enough for those of you in markets/shops/stores??? When do you finally just say "Screw you guys, I'm going home????" Sorry for the long post and I'm sure some are going to say "Suck it up and move on or deal with it" and that's understood. But as a business owner in a market with 50+ vendors, wouldn't you think that THEY as the owners of the market would come to a point and just tell this guy to GTFO? **A little info on where we are** Akron, Ohio... Not a small town with 1 light, we got about 200 of them but it's not a Cleveland or Columbus either. There is really this ONLY market available within a decent driving distance (unless we go to Cleveland, 35 miles away or Hartville (15 miles) which is over priced TBH but looking better everyday), so other then getting our OWN store, this is the spot! Not many consignment shops around either or we would go that route. ***Got my drink in hand and should be better in about 15 minutes*** Thanks for listening!

"Usage and Handling: Trim the wick very close to the wax to prevent high levels of sooting, if sooting accurs, blow out candle, trim wick, and clean the soot off of the container with a cloth. If wick flame is too low or weak, blow out candle, pour of some of the wax and re-light. CAUTION, THE CONTAINER WILL BE VERY HOT AFTER EACH USAGE, HANDLE WITH CARE." Yes I know the 1/4" rule for trimming wicks so no biggie there but the "If sooting accures" and the "if wick flame too low or weak" and the "CAUTION, THE CONTAINER WILL BE VERY HOT" parts just sounds to me that testing was never done or done at a minimum. Not to mention $12 for a 7oz candle?? Ok, once again I need to NOT be looking at other chandlers things... :tiptoe:

I'd be more afraid if you had to order from WSP :tiptoe:

Biggest zinc I have seen is the 62-52-18z from NG

Thank you all for your input on this and Kitn, thanks for the link too! Going to do some more research and may just set it up on our website and just "promote" it on FB =)

For those of you out there that have a Facebook page, Twitter, Flickr or any other social network for your business. What kind of contests do you have to promote yourself with? Were looking for some new, fun ideas to get more involved. So let's hear what you have done or plan on doing or even just heard someone else doing... So far we have done the classic *reach xxx fans* contest, we did a scavenger hunt on our site as one, we did a "vote for your fav picture" contest and the winner got their picture painted on a party mug and I'm sure I'm forgetting about one or two others we have done.... So, lets hear your success/horror stories about contests =) TIA

Big congrats are in order and don't you worry about gloating a bit =)

Agreed! We have had a few stop by the market with their stories of hard times and for some we will even just give them a candle to brighten their days =) But it is sad that some will go to this extent to take advantage of others.... It's a sad world out there.. That's why I like staying locked up inside my little bubble =)

Not really anywhere else that I can think of but sure a google search for "scams" might net you somewhere. I would think just posting here and keeping this topic going from way back when will keep it fresh in google, that way when others search it, here we are.... For surely tho report this to your local police and let them know about all the others as well... who knows, maybe the feds will pick up at some point (crossing state lines = fed's if I'm not mistaken).

Some sellers (not just suppliers) build higher shipping cost to sometimes lower the price on an item... or to just plain out rip you off... I remember over on the E site when you could pay $0.01 for a brand new laptop computer. Shipping was only $999.99 What a steal!

Had to LOL over here... Said we had a Canon earlier and we do, but after all you guys saying it's a Cannon Pixma Inkjet, I had to check and boy golly... we got one too =) MP190 LOL Ok back to the topic.

A simple Canon Inkjet over here does a decent job for us. Kitn, I've been debating on a laser tho, how long do the toners last for you? They are so much more expensive then inkjet but if they last lots longer it would be worth the investment I think. Any input would be great =) TIA!

Until you go through all that time, trouble, testing, etc and that customer says it's close but not EXACTLY it and walks away... Don't ask how we know about this.....

Sometimes they are PITA and yes the freezer trick works just fine. When we need to it's just a few minutes or 5 tops and they pop right out. Might want to figure out why it stuck so bad this time tho??

Hi! I'm Rob, with the Soy Police.... Has anyone seen Stella around??? Just checking. =)

I always find it a bit funny when we get asked questions about supplies/suppliers. Some people just have no tact what so ever and will utterly ask you for your entire business plan before they even tell you their names.... We had a women at our market come in as a vendor a while ago and her and her sister did soaps and candles. She would come over to our booth many times smelling, touching, looking and looking (she might of even tasted it but that could had been my bad eyes). But then started to ask how we got our candles to smell so good??? And your a candle maker??? WTH!! Asked what wicks we used and the type of wax, where we got our FO's and jars and even asked where we had our labels done... Those that may know me and Troy, were super nice to just about everyone and have the paitence of saints... so at first we were very open about different things but after about the 12th question... Oh we were so done! Her last question was about where we got our wax and we simply told her to google it... =) Anywho, Ill agree with Judy as well, when people ask if we can make a scent for them we tell them about the same thing and if they want to cover the cost of testing... sure we will carry that scent for them... If not, just wait a while... we might get around to it.. in the mean time.. here, pick one of our OTHER scents =) As for your dup, it's probably a renamed blend and good luck figuring that one out =)

For us we still hand write out a receipt for all purchases, even with a CC payment. Then we give that to our customer and also offer to email or text their receipt as well =) Hope that helps and let me tell you... you won't regret getting SquareUp =) We love it!