Tahlula B.

Hey, that kid with the recital just might be a kid at a recital with another family that owns a store, etc... Seriously, what does one candle cost you? I count it in my advertising column on my taxes and move on with it. You just never know who is going to see that candle even when there is a teeny audience. YMMV.

Whew... I was afraid you would take that personally! 1. I totally - REALLY - get what you are saying about writing, writing and writing to make sure it is all there. That is my process as well. Then I cut that sucker down BARE. Just remember that after you get the facts out of your system. (g) 2. Can you really back up the added foot traffic? Do you have the web traffic to back up the claim that having their directions, etc... on the page is going to gain them real, dollar spending exposure? I don't know the answers, I am saying you need to examine and make sure you have them. It all sounds good - and really, it DOES, but make sure you have some numbers to back up those claims. THAT would be a great benefit, if you have some hard, real numbers to back it up! 3. A PDF is actually something that can be edited. Someone would have to have the proper software (PhotoShop, Illustrator, Acrobat - not just the reader). That would be to EDIT it. For the customer to just look at it, a free reader is all that is needed. Beyond that, the customer can either come to you and ask, "Hey, how can I customize this?" or they can take it to a designer, etc... a lot of the business you are going to deal with for this type of thing have digital artwork and means to edit it. The PDF is the most common form to reach the masses, as it were. Now, I must say that I didn't look at the template (I breezed through those pages since you were really asking about the wholesale page - but, being nosy wanted to see it all) but when I saw the other comment about the PSD, I butted in again. Oh, and I forgot to say before, I never charge for local deliveries. I figure that is an added service - and a great value to those local customers. I have never been in a place to deliver a $10 order - all reorders have enough of a min that I am going to deliver it with a smile - so I might feel different if I were talking about a small order. edited for some clarity!

I give to pretty much any and everyone that asks. All exposure is good in my eyes and to give one candle is never going to break me - even if I give to 200 organizations a year. Some I give a set of pillars, others just one candle. I do weigh what type of event before giving. I have done this for years and feel it always comes back to me in some way.

I think your pages look nice and you have obviously put a lot of thought and care into them. Your gift bags are beautiful! Now, to be brutal... (and only because I would want the same - why ask if you just want a pat on the back, right? this is the business section and we want to help each other run our business in a profitable manner). Two things: too much text and your two levels of wholesale. 1. Make the text as barebones as possible to get your point across and keep them interested. Fill in those selling point blanks in person! 2. I cannot see the value to your customer in the two levels of wholesale. It seems more of a value for you - other than the 15% for refills and even then, they are doing work for that cut. It may work, but I have my doubts. I will be curious to see how that works. Good luck! Your candles are beautiful and I love both your labeling and your gift wrap. Really great job! edited to add: fix that template! You are going to have a serious minority that even knows what a PSD file is - a PDF will serve you much better and all PhotoShop files can be saved as a PDF.

Constant Contact - great service, good prices. www.constantcontact.com

I want to address two things that have been asked in this thread - how to mix large batches when using a large melter and stirring implements. First, I have three large melters - (2) 100 lb and (1) 125 lb. I never mix in the melters. Instead I have large pots that I use for mixing only. The pots hold approx. 25 lbs each. They are camp stockpots purchased at WalMart. Just add a spigot as you would to a Presto pot. Easy to clean with paper towels and a heat gun. I also sometimes scrape with a razor blade. Second, stirring - I use wooden spoons. I have used different things over the years and frankly, the wooden spoons are simply the best way for me. You can heat them up to clean, scrape or just plunge them into the next batch! They are throughly wax soaked after so many years and work great. You could have a spoon for each fragrance but I don't. I usually put the spoons on the griddle I use to level from time to time to heat them while doing other things - basically to leach all the scent out. I haven't had a problem with scents mixing.

I'd like to give Ty a few, er, well, not candles! Huge congrats on the exposure! Even if they aren't mentioned on the show it is such a proud moment - and a great advertising tool for you. I am thrilled for you.

My favorite grapefruit is Candle Cocoon's Fairy Dust and Twinkle Toes.

Without a doubt, #3 - it will work well on candles, business cards, note pads, etc...

Why not just: Something Special I like it. Simple, can include many products.

I only sell pillars and have a huge amount of this wax waiting on me to test it - or test it more I should say. I get the most hideous wet spots with it! It drives me nuts. I pour it and all is well - just beautiful! Then, two days later, looks like a bubble factory on the side of the glass. I have poured in the winter and I have poured in the summer - same thing. I would really like to start working on perfecting containers and would love some advice. Once I get my formula down I will be producing at high numbers so little tricks like sticking things in a cooler will not work for me - I would have coolers everywhere! I need to produce a min of 100 at a time for it to be a product I add to my business. Suggestions?! Help! I have customers asking all the time when I am going to add containers. I have one size I wish to offer and then maybe two others down the line - but not unless they look great. As well as smell great, of course!

I do don't heavily scented candles so I wouldn't want to go much over the 3% - maybe adding some of the container wax would give it a little more scent load? I may have to try that later today - half and half would be far too much with the comfort blend so I may start with say 25% to see if that will hold enough shape.

I have been making pillars for years. I used to make a few votives here and there but hated making those little bitty cups - so I have never really prefected them or tested much. Now I have about 100 cups. I can line them on a large baking sheet and pour them all quickly. Sooooo, I am ready for some testing! I use 1343 for pillars. Can I just use this wax for votives and get a good product? The testers I did this week burned straight down and worked well but I do wonder, should I be looking for something in my votives that I am possibly unaware of? Could I mix the 1343 with a little comfort blend to make it softer and have a faster melt pool? Do I even care if it is a little softer? lol, lots of questions!

www.jimmyjane.com - not a family friendly site, not a work safe site. But, it has the candles - made by a large company with lots of insurance. Not a recipe but you can purchase them and everyone is happy!

Try searching for TAPER, not taker.

The furniture is very durable - it has a lamintate covering that can be wiped clean. You could use a scraper as well on them - I wouldn't use a razor blade but a plastic scraper. The options are limitless.

The store looks great! I wish you much success - you certainly have a great floorplan. Smart Furniture is indeed in TN. www.smartfurniture.com - they have excellent shelving. Very, very simple to set up.

I wonder if it works much like stamping soap - which not being a soapmaker, also intriques me because I have no idea how that is done so cleanly! Does anyone here stamp their soap? I think the idea of using leather tools and tapping lightly might work. I am very curious.

I cleaned out an old candle company recently and yes, the jacket melter was a MESS. I cleaned it for quite some time but it is pristine now. Thankfully, the direct heat melter just needed a cleanup inside with some paper towels.

To be fair, I have purchased Pier 1 candles in the past and they burned just fine.

While I am not SURE, I think these blocks are made by J&E Polish company - the only reason I say this is that the color names are identical. I ordered from J&E and then checked out Candlechem and noticed the names - they are the same. Are they? I really don't have any proof but I think it is very possible. Because J&E sells by the pound and Candlechem by the block I am unsure how the prices compare. I am currently testing the J&E colors and will happily post when I have some results.

EMercier - everything looks nice but I have to comment on your soap boxes - those are C.U.T.E. cute. They look fantastic. I would buy that on packaging alone.

When someone walks away from their business they generally don't think about things like taking down their website. Again I say, this smacks of money issues and just walking out the door one day. I am now testing J&E polish dyes. No more looking back for me.

Also? they make a HUGE freaking mess!

3" round is the consistent seller for me. I actuallyl stopped making anything else. I have lots of square molds and love the look but they simply don't sell as well.