Lumina

Thanks I didn't think about the tax id. Yes it has taken me a lot of time to set things up in square so that I can invoice her correctly, but saying that, I am now all set up to take wholesale orders...I am not making a thing until the money is in my bank. The logo thing through me for a loop, and I spent all night looking at clip art....MISTAKE... So I found someone that will make one for a good price. I emailed the client and asked if she would like one made up and will charge her for it upfront. Thank you all for your good advice. I might still just walk away from this one. I have a feeling it will be a headache.. Oh... did I mention she has an new product she would like me to work on?? "something similar to your solid perfumes but w/holes punched all over the plastic container so you could throw it in a gym bag, purse or closet. It would have to be a solid porous material inside that you infuse w/the oils so it doesn't melt in the heat...." What the heck?????

I love them all..

I am pretty new to the wholesale account side...I had someone order from my website and it was a very small order. Then she contacted me back about wanting to do wholesale. I got to tell you here the emails were a bit strange. She wanted different size candles then I offer and was sending me sites to look up cheaper glass jars. I told her that there would be a lot of testing involved for that. So back and forth a bunch of times. I looked her up on the web and she doesn't even have a site. She said she was opening space in a small store. She told me she was starting in May.. I have heard nothing from her for a month. All of a sudden she contacts me again and wants to place an order with me using her name on the product. I don't have a problem with that, I asked her for her logo and guess what?? she doesn't have one and could I make it up for her?????? hmmmm... Her order that she emailed me would total over $200. Do I try and find someone to make a logo for me? Or just walk away from this one? Thank you everyone for your input. Cindy

I am feeling very frustrated right now. I have been using Squareup for 5 years and really happy with them. I got a call from Optimal Bankcard. It sounded really good. The salesman was very smooth.. After giving them more information than I was really comfortable with I got an email asking for a copy of my business license and a product catalog. Looking over the fine print it said I would need to send them copies of invoice and receipts of sales. WHAT??? I sell at the farmers markets I don't usually give out receipts. I called to cancel my FREE 30 day trial... what a bunch of hoops I had to go through to cancel something I didn't really want in the first place. I am still not certain that is is all done with... ugh... Thanks for letting me vent. Cindy

Beautiful pottery. Do you sell the pottery along with your candles? Cindy

Beautiful

It looks beautiful. I usually use the feather palm , but bought a batch of starburst. I must say I love the design, but had a horrible time getting it out of the molds at times. It was strange sometimes came right out other times, I had to put in the freezer for a day then it would come out. It burns great. I always tell people the tip about burning it to the edge the first burn so that it burns correctly the rest of the way. I am a palm lover.... Cindy

Very nice setup. Cindy

I never really thought to count the tea cups or wicks when they come in. hmm. Now I will have to start doing this. I really expected to recieve what I ordered. Cindy

I am using ECO wicks, so will try both and see what happens. Thank you all so much for your help Cindy

Wow, just went back and read all of the information. This is good to know. I really liked working with Feather Palm and never had problems with it. I just wanted to try the Starburst and didn't know there was such a difference. Thank you for the information. Cindy

Thank you all so much. I have 15lbs of bees wax so will try that first. Do you think it will effect the burn? or I guess the wick size? I would think in that small amount it wouldn't but will be texting it this week. Thank you all for your help Cindy

I ordered some new palm wax to try (starburst), I usually use the feather palm from Peaks. This Starburst was from Lonestar. I had a horrible time getting the candles out of the metal molds. Contacted the company and they did stay starburst was a bit more difficult. Figures I had ordered 55 lbs.... I had one candle in the freezer for a week, it finally came out. Then I have to leave it to thaw out for a few days. It is really strange, I have had a few come out fine but most of them get stuck, even though I use mold release. Cindy

I sell both. Usually my pretty pillars is what brings people into the booth. I think it might depend on where you live. In NC I sold more container candles, in Orlando I sell more pillars. I think this helps us be different at the craft shows. Just my thoughts on this. Cindy

They are year round here in FL (Orlando area). I am doing 3 so far a week, and looking to add more. I did some evening ones last year, but the chance of rain everyday in the Summer is a hard one. When I am up in Maggie Valley,NC they don't start until late April and only run through October. Cindy

I live in FL most of the year and Summer is really hard on my soy candles. I use 464. I am thinking of adding some palm wax to make them a bit harder. Has anyone tried this? I just wondered what a good starting percentage is. I know there will be lots of testing, but hoped someone could point me in the right direction. I already make palm wax pillars and use glass glow for containers. I really almost consider switching to all palm, but of course at the Farmers Markets everyone wants soy candles. Thanks for any help you can give me. Cindy

I am with you Jcandleattic, I need to be more organized and have better contorl over my inventory. I have started with a visit to The Container Store and have updated my Square inventory. The hard part is there is no consistency to my sales. I have check over the past few years and what I sold last year at this time is so different than what I am selling now. Hard to have the inventory ready when you are unsrue what will sell the most. I did last month change my packaging a bit that that has really helped with my candle sales. My pretty pillars I sold 5 in the month of December but last weekend I sold 8. I am sure there is some way to stay ahead of the game. Cindy

There is new candlemaker at the Farmers Market I go to, and she is selling in jelly jars, her prices beat mine, now I know why my sales have been down in the tins. I will say I sold more of my pretty candles (pillars) and glass glow jars. I am going to order some 8 ounce tins and try them with the plam wax to see how they go. What I usually do is have palm wax candles burning on my tables so people can see how nice it burns and smells. I fought against selling in jars for many reasons, some of they are too darn heavy and I usually set up by myself, if you are on pavement and you drop one you lose product right away... plus is seems as if everyone is selling in jars especiallly jelly jars.. So I am trying to be different.

I love making palm wax candles. I use the glass glow for my glass candles, and the feather for my pillars. I am thinking of switching my tins from soy to palm, as I really like the smell and burn of the palm wax. The only reason I make soy is because my customers ask for them. They come up to me and are very excited that I carry soy...I try to educated them on the differences of the waxes, but they are all sold by the marketing of soy... oh well, think I will give it a try and see how it goes. Cindy

I have been selling at a local Farmers Market in Orlando FL since 1999. I still kept my full time job and spent the weekends at two markets. I had a dream of moving to NC where I thought they really loved crafters and it would be a wonderful experience to live my dream of being a full time candlemaker.... we all know how dreams can go. We built a cabin in WNC and I quit my job. Since we have all of our family still in Orlando I was able to come back in the winter time to sell at the FM.. I was so suprised how different the Farmers Markets were in NC. The 3 that I attended were more interested in farmers than crafters. In fact after 3 years of being treated like a redheaded step child I quit one market. Now I am only doing craft shows in WNC and go back to Orlando to vend at the Farmers Market where they really like having me. It's sad but I make more money in Orlando then I do in NC. So much for my dreams....It is a bit slower in the Summer here in Orlando but still better than where I was at. So looking further afield for more craft shows to fill up my year. Cindy

My last two weeks were really slow. Might be because I got rained out each time. Have been trying some new shows, and farmers markets but they are not really working out. So just trying to hang in there till the fall months.

I make a lot of chunk candles... I love them. I played around a lot with different waxes and cutting and all of that... but found this to be the best answer. https://cart.candlesupply.com/7-16-121-Cavity-Silicone-Chunk-Tray-Mold-pr-20519.html I like it so much in fact that I am going to order another one. I usually make palm wax pillars, but have also used the glass glow container wax with this mold and it works great.

I bought the rubber plug for both the votive and tea light. They work great. http://www.candlesandsupplies.net/Rubber-Flower-Pot-Votive-Plug-per-each?sc=7&category=35316

I use CSN and also Hemp wicks for my pillars.

Got it thank you. Cindy mountaincreekcandles.com