sockmonkey

Those look PERFECT, and just the names alone make me want to pop one in my mouth! I would probably lose my mind if I could smell them!

Those look great. The Papaya Mango is my favorite though, with the different colors and shapes. It looks like it would have taken forever to make.

We have a few local shops that I think would be interested in my tarts, if they do not have to be 'loyal' by contract with other tart suppliers. Other local tarts of equal size sell at the shops for 1.25.

Normally, it's not a shop that has to be "loyal," it's the other way around--a supplier who is "loyal" to a shop and won't offer their product to nearby competitors, so you shouldn't let that idea prevent you from approaching any shop about your tarts.

If you don't make a huge profit off of the tarts, consider adding accessories such as warmers--cups, plates, trays, lamps, etc., to melt them in. If you buy a large volume you can lower the price enough so that the price will be attractive to the shop owner to buy them from you, instead of buying them direct and having to make a large opening order just for warmers.

If necessary, a co-op here could help you with getting warmers cheaply. The same goes with other supplies you might need, such as packaging--clamshells, labels, etc.

In my opinion you can still use kraft labels with the contemporary jars. It creates a more modern "green" look for them, which appeals to many younger folks in the higher income brackets.

You can ditch the crows on those labels and replace them with a simple leaf or stripe.

If you could post pics of your candles, I think that would really help generate ideas.

That has happened to me before too, but only on occasion. On one occasion I contacted them about it and they told me to type in the complete web address, http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/.

I normally never bother putting http, etc. in front of WSP, but when I did as instructed, the security warning did not appear again, so I guess the person who told me to do that knew what they were talking about.

YIKES! Thanks for the heads up.

It took them MONTHS to finally send me samples

Same here--FOUR MONTHS. That was before they started charging $15 for samples. There is no way I would do business with them.

I would look in craft stores for ribbon with wired edges and wrap it around a dowel.

Here's another method of making curly ribbon:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Curlykorker-Hair-Bows/

To make yours longer, I would imagine you could use a longer dowel or maybe even wrap one strand around the dowel twice to double the length.

Talk about lazy...I use a Soap Kettle. It's even less trouble than the microwave!

I don't think you're really doing anything to get your name out there by selling warmers that any other retail store might have. Your candles, however, are a way to get your name out there since they are your unique creation.

If you are determined to sell the warmers, I would try to find a way to buy them cheaper--either through a different source, or by purchasing in larger quantities to lower the cost per unit.

Sometimes people do post "RE: Buyer Beware" comments when they know something shady is going on. If you do post though, she will probably know it's you. If all you did was correspond through email you should be fine, but if she has your home phone number she might be able to track you down!

I poured m&p in clamshells to use as packaging, so I'm sure it will work fine for chunks.

Maybe I didn't ask the right questions. Regarding the things you listed--

bakery

exotic

floral

fruity

inspiration

animal

sensual

Do you make candles/b&b for each of these, or are you just referring to scents?

Is there a common theme or color in the packaging for any of your products?

Who do you have in mind when you create your products--low budget customers, high end, fundraisers, teens, wholesale clients, adult females, etc?

If each one of the items above represents a line (not a scent) you carry, that seems awfully ambitious for someone trying to launch their company.

One thing I thought of regarding a one word name for your company is that sometimes people will actually combine two or more words to create one name. I know that no one would use this for their company name, but as an example, Purple Pig becomes Purplepig.

With a little more information, the ideas will probably start pouring in for you.

What are the different styles you use? For example, if you have a safari themed line and a elegant French line, we need to know those things. Also, if there is a common ingredient you like to use, like beeswax or soy, that is also useful information.

The fact that you're questioning it tells me that you know in your heart you shouldn't do it.

I would hate to turn away business, but I also would hate to be accused of ripping off my competitor. I think I would be inclined to tell the customer that you became aware that your competitor makes a candle that sounds just like she described, but that in good conscience you cannot duplicate their creation. Instead, you would be willing to create a different adaptation exclusively for them.

My hope would be, that in doing that they would have more respect and trust for you as a vendor, realizing that you aren't likely to sell them out either just to make a buck if the opportunity ever presented itself.

as you all know the candle biz (as every other biz)is very competitive and everyone seems to want to copy off each other. WEll here is my delema. My largest customer wants me to create a candle for them for their catalog WHile they are telling me what they want...i realize I seen something like that before. So, i took a look at one of my compettiors sites and there was the same candle.that they were creating with me. I know that this candle maker sell to my customer as well. My thought are I'm a lot cheaper and thats why they want to go with me, or maybe they are not happy witht he other candlemaker. But I feel weird about it. I dont like doing it but a larger order like that could make me alot of $$$$. I know I should just go for it....but jsut would like your opinions

FYI, if anyone has a Big Lots store in their area, and you're interested, I just got an email that they are having a 2-day sale on the Cricut Create Feb. 14 - 15, and the price is only $99. Cricut.com list price is $229.

http://ads.biglots.com/customer_Frame.jsp?drpStoreID=91&pageNumber=0&showFlash=true&isMember=1

Can you tell me how you make your own boxes with the Cricut? Is it for the box itself, or for decorations that go on it?

Maybe it's your flavor oil. Many of them have delicious names and smell wonderful, but if you taste a drop of the liquid on your finger it tastes more like cough syrup--it is not sweet as the name would imply.

In my experience with the ingredients you mentioned, except for flavor oil, and Vitamin E, they are pretty flavorless. I have never tasted Vitamin E though, so I can't say if that would be the cause, but my money is on the flavor oil.

Yuck. It doesn't matter if if was 5 years old or 5 days old--if something is covered in mold don't use it!

I wonder where people get the nerve to present something like that, as if there's nothing wrong with it. That's too bad that happened to you, but luckily, you got to see it in person to avoid it. Imagine if you bought it sight unseen and had it shipped to you....:lipsrseal:angry2:

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SFIC M&P CO-OP ends Feb. 5th.--still time to get your order in!

http://www.craftserver.com/forums/sh...518#post819518

That's pretty cool. I think you've captured the spirit of Mardi Gras with it!

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SFIC M&P CO-OP ends Feb. 5th.--still time to get your order in!

http://www.craftserver.com/forums/sh...518#post819518

Those look fantastic. How in the world does she get such vibrant colors? Even using micas I don't get such strong colors. Maybe I'm just not using enough???

Oh well, with all the m&p I'm getting I'll be able to do a LOT of experimenting.

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SFIC M&P CO-OP ends Feb. 5th.--still time to get your order in!

http://www.craftserver.com/forums/sh...518#post819518

She's not worth the time of day--I wouldn't bother responding.

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SFIC M&P CO-OP ends Feb. 5th.--still time to get your order in!

http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?p=819518#post819518

I am almost 100% certain that it is someone from here and I need to ask them a question....scent related.

Anyone know for sure?

Cara

Are you sure of the spelling? A lot of folks spell country with a "k".

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SFIC Co-op ends this week! Several bases are still available

http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88196&page=11

How old are the kids? If they are real young I wouldn't give soap to them. I've had teenagers ask if colorful soap was fudge, so I sure wouldn't trust it giving it to little kids, especially if it was a food type smell.

Provided the kids are an appropriate age, I wouldn't worry any more over sending it to school than I would be sending cookies or cupcakes for the kids. You would be just as liable sending cookies as you would be soap--and I've never seen anyone yet provide a list of ingredients with homemade cookies or cupcakes they send to school.

I wonder what kind of contest it is and what state allows 12 year olds to legally hold contests?