morethanrubies Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 (edited) I have been making candles for 9 years, I started when I lived in FL and had a pretty good customer base. I tried building new customers in Indiana (where I'm from and where we moved to) in 09. That was sort of a struggle. I sort of gave up but I have standing order every fall for 14 dozen candles. This year I thought "This is dumb. I am buying just enough for this order every year and our own personal use and I DO make great candles. The person that has this big order won't even use other candles!" So - being a graphic designer background, I decided to re-brand, and although (I think) I have a marketable brand/packaging, I've been out of the game for awhile and I'm socially so awkward (working on that lol) Hubby is super proud of the new look that he was showing it off at work and got a huge response. But they want want to sample, which is natural. With all that said, I really want to make more of an effort to get into shops. So when the ladies at hubby's job asked for smellies, it got me to thinking. What can I come up with so I always have a sample of every scent I carry that would be portable. Also, when approaching far off places (other states, cities, etc.) what do you send for samples. Full size product/packaging? How do you know who's serious before you send "money" out the door? I saw a company that has a meh/mediocre look (imo) and I was shocked to see on their website that they have a crap ton of retail locations, so whatever, they are doing - they are doing it well! I have attached photos of the new look. Edited October 22, 2017 by morethanrubies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clear Black Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 2 hours ago, morethanrubies said: I have been making candles for 9 years, I started when I lived in FL and had a pretty good customer base. I tried building new customers in Indiana (where I'm from and where we moved to) in 09. That was sort of a struggle. I sort of gave up but I have standing order every fall for 14 dozen candles. This year I thought "This is dumb. I am buying just enough for this order every year and our own personal use and I DO make great candles. The person that has this big order won't even use other candles!" So - being a graphic designer background, I decided to re-brand, and although (I think) I have a marketable brand/packaging, I've been out of the game for awhile and I'm socially so awkward (working on that lol) Hubby is super proud of the new look that he was showing it off at work and got a huge response. But they want want to sample, which is natural. With all that said, I really want to make more of an effort to get into shops. So when the ladies at hubby's job asked for smellies, it got me to thinking. What can I come up with so I always have a sample of every scent I carry that would be portable. Also, when approaching far off places (other states, cities, etc.) what do you send for samples. Full size product/packaging? How do you know who's serious before you send "money" out the door? I saw a company that has a meh/mediocre look (imo) and I was shocked to see on their website that they have a crap ton of retail locations, so whatever, they are doing - they are doing it well! I have attached photos of the new look. One thing that stands out to me immediately is the lack of fragrance name on the front of the candle. If thats the look you desire, so be it. But as a consumer whom myself has purchased many a candle, its always nice seeing it up front and in your face as to what scent is lurking inside. Otherwise, the customer is left wondering or has to ask...which believe it or not may end up losing you a few sales. If you are a graphic designer, can you maybe alter the AI file a bit and add a fragrance name? Or is it just the look you want. Which again, is a good look I must say but I still feel at least a fragrance name is needed. By the way, where do you get your offset boxes printed at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldieMN Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 No answers to your questions but love the jars. Very elegant looking. GoldieMN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandlekrazy Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I love the jar, box & label, very classy elegant looking. I'm not obsessed with seeing the scent name on the front but I understand some are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdcharm Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 9 hours ago, morethanrubies said: ... So when the ladies at hubby's job asked for smellies, it got me to thinking. What can I come up with so I always have a sample of every scent I carry that would be portable. ... Also, when approaching far off places (other states, cities, etc.) what do you send for samples. Full size product/packaging? How do you know who's serious before you send "money" out the door? ... I think in some ways, it can depend on the types of scents you use in your candles. Are your scents anything that someone would wear and are your scents body safe? If so, there are many options for little sample products using that scent which you could give away without too much expense. If they are not those types of scents, then little samples would need to be in the form of a "smell only" type of thing, i.e., not to wear. For instance, I had someone ask me to see if I could find a dupe for her, which I did. It was a body safe oil that was a floral mix, so could be worn, and I put some on a little cotton cosmetic pad along with some carrier oil and placed it in a very little zipper bag. I also gave her a dram bottle of another scent, mixed with carrier oil so she could try it out. For "smell only," one thing that costs very little in order to share a scent (among some others, of course), is incense. As for "who is serious" before sending anything ... well, imo, I've always felt that everyone is a prospect until they become a customer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 How about shallow tins in a pretty box? A 2 oz flat tin holds a good surface area to sniff. And tins are cute and easy to tote around. I have made up trays of them easily enough. Eta a link to the size I used. https://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin7.html plenty of places sell these in varous quantites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 (edited) love the look! very chic! you should do well in the higher end boutiques. You will need to develop your salesmanship abilities. I find what really sells my product the best is my knowledge and enthusiasm about my products. When I talk about my candles or my soap people always tell me they were impressed with my knowledge about my product. But I know that my enthusiasm rubs off on them too. So to me being a great salesperson has a lot to do with how well you know and love your product. If you have that kind of salesmanship you can sell ice to an eskimo! I don't know how to help you with samples. I know some like to use samples but I have found in my years of giving out samples that they don't really sell my product. My salesmanship is what sells my product. Whenever I give out samples I never make a sale. Never! So what I do instead is take a case of candles with me to meetings with potential customers (shop owners). I let them look at the actual candles and smell them. Most meetings have the shop owner and their sales people or other admins, assistants, etc. So the more the better. If I can show them the real deal instead of a sample I can sell them my candles. I always make sales this way. Never giving away samples. I show them the real thing. Carrying a case of 12 candles is no real biggie. Its just not that heavy and easy to carry. If I have more samples to carry I simply use a cart. Another thing I would never do is ship samples to potential buyers. If they are interested they can buy the candle at wholesale as their sample candle and you can give them the option of taking that off their first order. Once you secure a new customer you can give them a new free sample candle with each order so they can have the chance to try ones they have not ordered. I would only give an established customer a free sample. As I mentioned, my experience with giving out free samples to non established customers is simply giving out my hard earned cash without the benefit of any sales coming out of it. Get your customer first, then when they become an established customer then give them free samples. By the way, when I go to a first meeting with a brand new potential customer and I make a sale, I leave the meeting by giving each of the meeting attendees a sample. I get the sale first, then leave a sample. Never the other way around. Edited October 23, 2017 by Candybee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 Great packaging and your label is beautiful! I agree with Clear Black.....Think you definitely need the name of the fragrance right on the label. That would stop me in my tracks. I'm not one to stand there and pickup every jar and sniff and wonder what fragrance it is, so I would move on. Where were you intending to put the name of the fragrance on the label anyway? All great advice from everyone, but love your candle! It's very striking, clean and simple and classy. Just have to rework a bit on the label. Trappeur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldieMN Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 I put the name of my candle jar fragrances on the lid label. GoldieMN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morethanrubies Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 (edited) I've changed my settings multiple times and i still do not get alerts when people post, so here I was thinking nobody responded yet haha. Thank you to everyone for you compliments about my packaging. I did want to clear up that I do have the lids labeled with scent name. As seen here - I decided to go this route because I like a candle that I can set out like a decor piece. I can't stand busy jar labeling, personally so I went with a lid label and classic jar label. Edited October 24, 2017 by morethanrubies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morethanrubies Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 On 10/22/2017 at 2:16 PM, Clear Black said: By the way, where do you get your offset boxes printed at? I buy stock boxes at Papermart and print my own labels for the boxes on clear labels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morethanrubies Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 On 10/22/2017 at 8:47 PM, birdcharm said: I think in some ways, it can depend on the types of scents you use in your candles. Are your scents anything that someone would wear and are your scents body safe? If so, there are many options for little sample products using that scent which you could give away without too much expense. If they are not those types of scents, then little samples would need to be in the form of a "smell only" type of thing, i.e., not to wear. For instance, I had someone ask me to see if I could find a dupe for her, which I did. It was a body safe oil that was a floral mix, so could be worn, and I put some on a little cotton cosmetic pad along with some carrier oil and placed it in a very little zipper bag. I also gave her a dram bottle of another scent, mixed with carrier oil so she could try it out. For "smell only," one thing that costs very little in order to share a scent (among some others, of course), is incense. As for "who is serious" before sending anything ... well, imo, I've always felt that everyone is a prospect until they become a customer. some are, some aren't. I am not necessarily wanting to give samples as much as I am wanting to have a thing of them when needed like walking into a store etc. You are right about prospects, I've just been screwed over by a few that just wanted free stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morethanrubies Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 On 10/22/2017 at 10:06 PM, TallTayl said: How about shallow tins in a pretty box? A 2 oz flat tin holds a good surface area to sniff. And tins are cute and easy to tote around. I have made up trays of them easily enough. Eta a link to the size I used. https://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin7.html plenty of places sell these in varous quantites. This is a fantastic idea! Where did you find trays to fit these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morethanrubies Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 On 10/23/2017 at 11:26 AM, Candybee said: love the look! very chic! you should do well in the higher end boutiques. You will need to develop your salesmanship abilities. I find what really sells my product the best is my knowledge and enthusiasm about my products. When I talk about my candles or my soap people always tell me they were impressed with my knowledge about my product. But I know that my enthusiasm rubs off on them too. So to me being a great salesperson has a lot to do with how well you know and love your product. If you have that kind of salesmanship you can sell ice to an eskimo! I don't know how to help you with samples. I know some like to use samples but I have found in my years of giving out samples that they don't really sell my product. My salesmanship is what sells my product. Whenever I give out samples I never make a sale. Never! So what I do instead is take a case of candles with me to meetings with potential customers (shop owners). I let them look at the actual candles and smell them. Most meetings have the shop owner and their sales people or other admins, assistants, etc. So the more the better. If I can show them the real deal instead of a sample I can sell them my candles. I always make sales this way. Never giving away samples. I show them the real thing. Carrying a case of 12 candles is no real biggie. Its just not that heavy and easy to carry. If I have more samples to carry I simply use a cart. Another thing I would never do is ship samples to potential buyers. If they are interested they can buy the candle at wholesale as their sample candle and you can give them the option of taking that off their first order. Once you secure a new customer you can give them a new free sample candle with each order so they can have the chance to try ones they have not ordered. I would only give an established customer a free sample. As I mentioned, my experience with giving out free samples to non established customers is simply giving out my hard earned cash without the benefit of any sales coming out of it. Get your customer first, then when they become an established customer then give them free samples. By the way, when I go to a first meeting with a brand new potential customer and I make a sale, I leave the meeting by giving each of the meeting attendees a sample. I get the sale first, then leave a sample. Never the other way around. Thank you for all of this advice. It is well received. It is my goal to go into high end shops, so it is exciting to hear that you think so! I DO need to work on my salesmanship, I am very knowlegable about my product so that is good - I just need to work on the social fear aspect! I like your approach about not shipping samples out and having them buy instead. I have been screwed over this way and I want to avoid it at all costs!! When you do give samples either via mail to an established customer or at a meeting, are they full sized samples? Like do you give them each a candle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clear Black Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 3 hours ago, morethanrubies said: I've changed my settings multiple times and i still do not get alerts when people post, so here I was thinking nobody responded yet haha. Thank you to everyone for you compliments about my packaging. I did want to clear up that I do have the lids labeled with scent name. As seen here - I decided to go this route because I like a candle that I can set out like a decor piece. I can't stand busy jar labeling, personally so I went with a lid label and classic jar label. Ok, disregard everything i said, seeing the tops labeled with the scent name changes everything. Well, well done on the packaging. Kudos to you for such a good job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trappeur Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Ditto for me too as Clear Black.....beautiful candle with striking labels.. Do you do all different colored labels to match the scent? Trappeur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morethanrubies Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 Thank thou both!!! Yes, I tailor the color to the fragrance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 16 hours ago, morethanrubies said: Thank you for all of this advice. It is well received. It is my goal to go into high end shops, so it is exciting to hear that you think so! I DO need to work on my salesmanship, I am very knowlegable about my product so that is good - I just need to work on the social fear aspect! I like your approach about not shipping samples out and having them buy instead. I have been screwed over this way and I want to avoid it at all costs!! When you do give samples either via mail to an established customer or at a meeting, are they full sized samples? Like do you give them each a candle? I was serious. I think your branding will go over very well in high end boutiques and dept. stores and shops that cater to the well healed customer. Your look is that chic and upscale. That wouldn't work for me. In my area people want "country" and "primitive". This is also a high traffic tourist area and they and the locals all want country and primitive. So my look is totally different. Re salesmanship. What I was trying to relate was that if you love and get excited about your product that rubs off on people. So you don't have to have a special degree or training in salesmanship for that. That natural response you have for your product will reflect in how customers perceive it. If you are excited and knowledgeable about your candles, your customers will be excited and more open to ask questions. So you don't have to be a great salesman for this, just remember how you "feel" about your candles will be your gauge for talking to customers. Its easier than you think and its something that comes natural even if you don't think you can do it. You can. I just simply talk to my customers the same way I talk to a friend. When I talk about my candles, soap, etc. I share my love for my products and its contagious and they end up asking questions. So being engaging is what will open up the dialogue. Basicially I am a very shy introvert. But when I talk about my products my enthusiasm comes through. Re samples, for soaps I give out a full soap sample. For candles, I give out one candle free candle per order. I have minimums so I don't lose any money over it. I make sure my expenses are covered by setting a minimum so I can give out free samples. Another way is to give "half" samples, like a half soap, or tarts instead of candles. You determine how you want to do it. Try different approaches to see what works for you. If its not getting you another sale that should tell you to try something different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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