PAgirl89

Thanks!  Just what I was looking for!

I'm looking to buy a machine to cut felt and cotton fabric in basic shapes, like a circle or square.  Easy to use and not too expensive.  Any recommendations? 

TIA

I'm sure I have over 250 fragrances too, and I'm looking for a good way to organize the bottles and store them.  Right now I have them in those plastic drawer storage units and have them organized by company, but I'm looking for a better way to organize them.

Suggestions on containers? shelves? 

And I need something that is easily accessible and easily added to if need be, cause I know with this addiction to FO, I will need more room to store more FO!

Thanks!

I use saran wrap and clear cellophane sheets to wrap my soap, especially if I use herbs. 

I agree with having the crafters all on one floor. A 50/50 and a raffle both sound good. Where abouts are you in Pa?

I am in northwestern Lehigh County, which is in the southeast corner of PA.   I'm about an hour northwest of Philly.

I did get more information.  Apparently the fire company rents the tables for $20 each in lieu of a rental fee of the facility.  The $20 per table goes back to the fire co. plus what the fire co. collects from the food sold at the kitchen.  I would have to get at least $30 per table for me to cover expenses and my time.

I have the option to make it a Saturday, however, personally I have every Saturday booked with a show.  I would have to back out of one those craft shows to hold this one.  I feel Saturdays are better than Sundays for craft shows, for some reason. 

I haven't heard from the previous promoters.  I am in need of the mailing list of crafters so I can send out apps for this year's show, but after 6 weeks with no response, I'm having my doubts I will have much help from them.  It's uber frustrating.

I have been asked to take over a local craft show.  It's held at a local fire company, the 2nd Sunday of November.  The show has had some great years with a great turnout, but the last few years have gone down hill, for crafters and for attendance of buyers.  It's a strictly handmade craft show and I'd like to keep it that way.  It's an established show, so the local area knows about the show and I would hate to see it go under because the previous promoters dropped it due to low attendance and low number of vendors.  I'd like to see it thrive back to a great show with lots of crafters and a nice number of people coming to the show.

My idea is to change it from a Sunday to a Saturday.  I think attendance would be better for a Saturday show and crafters may be more inclined to sign up.  Currently table fees are $20 per 8foot table, no extra charge for electric.  I'm not sure a cheap table fee is gaining vendors, but last year's show had about 35 vendors.  I'd like to bump that up to about 45 or 50.  The fire company can hold that many if not more.  And I will have use of 2 floors for crafters.  The fire co. also has the kitchen open and serves a hot lunch, which is open to the public during show hours.  The fire co. keeps the money they make from selling food.  So I definitely want the kitchen to stay open, it brings in the local people and they end up shopping with the crafters.

The advertising for the show is the fire co. marquee, their facebook page, and their website.  Also it is advertised on the marquee in front of the township building, which sits on a major state highway.  So a lot of local and not local traffic will see the advertising.  It's also advertised in the local newspaper and at on line event lists like Eventlister and PAVendors.

A lot of advertising does not necessarily bring in the people and if you can get them in, you can't always make them buy.  But I want a nice flow of foot traffic and people the crafters can talk to, other than other vendors.  So I was thinking of adding maybe a basket raffle of some kind.  Maybe photos with Santa Claus or bring an unwrapped toy for a toy drive to help out the local area children.  I think if the local people know the show benefits the local community, they are more inclined to come and patron the show.

What else could I do to help this show gain crafters & attendance?  Thoughts?  Ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Your state's official website should have info on business licenses, taxes, permits ...etc. You can also check with your county & borough websites for more info on what they require for small business. As far as the labels go, I have a shop that I am on consignment with and they ask that I don't add any of my info on the labels and the other shops want to me add my info to labels. I have my business name, city & state and a phone number on the label. I'd add a website address on it too but the long URL doesn't fit on the labels I use. I always tell the owner what is on my labels so they know the product will contain my information.

Good Luck!

I buy syringes and needles for dogs. You can get them from pet pharmacy type websites.

I've been working on these the last couple days. I have a show coming up on Sunday, 1st one of the new year.

These bars are approx. 3.25 ounces each. Made with NG's goat's milk MP soap base and organic herbs & oatmeal.

PaperMart has seamless square and rectangle tins with lids w/o windows - http://www.papermart.com/seamless-square-tin-cans/id=20996#20996 - 2oz, 4oz, and 8oz.

My parents have their own business and have run & operated the business in the home for the last 50 years. It has taken over and they really don't get time for themselves, however, my dad's business is respected by the community and customers. He's made it a point to respect the customer and the customer is always right rule of thumb. The business is open 7 days a week, 9 to 5 during the winter months and 9 to 9 during the summer. Vacations are few & far between.

As for my candle/soap business, I'm available anytime as I work from home and it is only me. I answer emails as soon as I receive them most of the time and return phone calls when I get them. I guess some of my dad's mind set rubbed off on me.

I'm looking for boxes for pillars and for votives. I need boxes to fit my 3x3.5 pillars and my 2x2x2 votives. Kraft, white or pattern print boxes. I'm in PA so I would prefer a company close to home, east cost preferred.

TIA

Beautiful! Love, love, love!

Please put me out of my misery and tell me more about the process of using fondant mats. Will it work with CP and/or MP? Can you tell me where I can read more about fondant mats. You did a wonderful job with your fondant mats.

I found this tutorial from Rustic Escentuals - http://library.rusticescentuals.com/imprint-soaps/

Beautiful soap! If I may ask how the mats are used? I make MP soap. I'm always looking for unique & creative ways for my soaps.

I am hoping this is the best section to post this in.

The primitive looking black handled lids for apothecary jars.......is there a way to make them fit better? Or is everyone just okay with them flopping all over the place? :undecided

Anybody who used them.....do the customers have a problem with them?

I get mine with rubber fitments. I order them from Candles & Supplies.

http://www.candlesandsupplies.net/Metal-w-RING-Premium-RUST-Lid

Those are rust lids but you can see the rubber fitment that comes with the lid. The black lids are hard to find so I switched to the rust lids. C&S don't carry the black lids I was looking for and neither do a lot of other suppliers.

... is really providing a lesson in patience and less-than-instant gratification. At this rate my order - placed Dec. 3rd - won't even be shipped until next Weds. Holy crap. Hurry up!!!

Same here. It usually takes a week to get here b/c they're in Washington state and I'm in PA, but this last order I placed with them took an extra 5 days or so. Ridiculously long time to ship.

These are wax crumbles. I package them in mason jars. They're time consuming and a mess to make....I've made them 1 time and probably my last time.

Could be wrong, but I think a lot has to do with places like Dollar Tree, Walmart, etc. Yes, many people say they would support American-made, locally-made products, but the majority will get sucked in by the ridiculously low price found at the box stores.

I've seen large container candles at Walmart selling for $5, clamshells for under $2. Who can possibly compete with that. I can't :undecided

I've seen those prices for candles from crafters at local craft shows. I cannot compete with that either and I have done better in sales this year with selling goat's milk soap than with candles & wax products. I've also found this season that the craft shows have turned into VENDOR shows and handmade craft shows are few & far between. I've done better with sales at out of the norm shows, like community festivals and doggie fests. We'll see how the Fall craft shows do now till December.

I have 5ft folding tables that I use and I bought polyester tablecloths on Amazon. The banner i use is also fabric and I bought it at Crestline. They custom make the banners with your logo and your business info. My first banner I got from Vista Print, but I got tired of taping the banner to the table since I don't use a tent I couldn't hang it but on the front of the table. The fabric banner I got works so much better, and it's washable.

I count the cash box before the show and after. I also write down in a notebook what each sale was and then tally up the sales at the end of the day. I do this for every show and keep the notebook with the cash box so it's never forgotten.

Those are lovely! They do make nice wedding favors.

Royal wedding??

LOL! Yeah that's what the bride wanted and I didn't ask.

Sharing photos of the wedding favors I am making for a November wedding. Wedding to take place in NYC on Nov. 2nd. The bride ordered 150 favors, 2 soaps per bag. Dyed purple, scented in Lavender. Personalized toppers on all favor bags.

I sell the all natural Goat's Milk soap base from Nature's Garden and the feedback I get from customers is that they love it and are buying more of it. I get asked if there is lye in it or if it's made with soy, but I think most customers who buy MP soap, don't care if it's MP base as long as it doesn't irritate their skin. I think there are many out there who don't know the difference and don't think there is CP and MP soap. The all natural Goat's Milk soap has been selling very well for me.

I have made my own lip balm base, but found that Nature's Garden has an all natural base with the same ingredients that my recipe has. I have used the little pots for lip balm and for solid perfume, but this Fall season I'll be using the natural lip balm tubes with natural caps from WSP.

PaGirl that is great news! See I told you it would pick up for you I just got an email from my ex's cousin - in - law (figure that one out! lol) she wanted an updated scent list to place an order for favors for her baby shower. Good news all the way around! Have you been back to Renningers after that one weekend?? Was wondering how you did.

Thanks! Yeah this bride spoke to me back in July at a craft show and emailed me a couple weeks ago wanting a price quote. She finally got back to me yesterday with an order. I haven't gone back to Renninger's since 9/7. I did okay, it wasn't fabulous but it wasn't lousy either. I won't have a free Saturday to go back, but I'll be making a point to go back at least 1 Saturday a month next season.

Congrats on your baby shower order! That's awesome!