Smokin'Hot Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Ok, I have finally gotten around to refiguring all of my costs for all of the different types of candles I make. I make candles because I love doing it and it pleases me when clients tell me that they love my candles. I'm not really in it for the money - but I can't give these things away either (which is something I do a lot of anyway!) Well, it looks to me, after figuring everything out again that the cost of one complete votive with packaging is going to cost ME about $2.60! Just for one! Anyway, I thought I might ask all of you what you sell your votives for and where you're from. I have researched this for a while now (about 3 days) and have found various prices across the country. Here in Michigan it seems the average price for one votive is $3.00. I'm just not sure if I should go on with this fabulous hobby/lifestyle/addiction or not. Please convince me to keep making candles. It won't be hard.Thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDjinn Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Well...I don't really sell or package for selling, but I figure my cost to be about that much for 10 votives so I wonder what is driving your cost up so much.Also, keep in mind that the cost per unit decreases as you produce more units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowded House Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 That seems incredibly high. Is most of your cost in the packaging?ETA: This was in answer to the OP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris77 Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 I think an average price is $1.50 for a votive. my soy votives are .13 for wax, .13 FO at 1 oz per pound wax, .07 for wick, plus .25 misc...sell in package of 4...packaging cost .50....my cost for 1 votive is .58 or less....and I'm not buying in bulk either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpowell Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 I'd agree with an average sale price for a votive being around $1.50. Ours are $1.25 for regular votives or $1.50 for our "specialty" ones.It's 2 oz. of wax, a bit of f.o., a wick, and some packaging. I can't see that costing $2.60.chris has the costs figured about right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspencreek Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Wow, it costs me a little over $3 a dozen to make. I am not sure what is costing you so much.Let us know what you are using and maybe we can help get your costs down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandNewToCandles Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 I have to agree. I don't buy in bulk either and a votive is costing me nothing near that much. Maybe you could list the numbers you used to get your cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Without seeing the numbers, my guess would either be the packaging is too expensive or possibly the cost of the wax is figured wrong. I had trouble figuring the cost of the wax in the beginning. Say, you pay an average of $1 per pound of wax. Instead of dividing that by 16 (oz) and then x2 (oz per votive), I did $1 x 2. Sounds about the price range you're coming up with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Lori, where do you get your wax? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin'Hot Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 Let me be the first to say that "I'm an idiot!":embarasse I guess I have been working on this stuff for too long! True my packaging is .55 my cost, but I was somehow doubling my fo cost! I'm sorry everyone, and THANK YOU all for coming to my rescue! I need a vacation - real soon - maybe a BAHAMA-VENTION is in order here! I'm gonna go kick myself now on my way to bed!Thanks again everyone - you are all so great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 $2.60 for one votive is extremely high for that to be your costs. I would have to wonder what your costs are. The more you buy in bulk the less the cost and I would be rethinking my packaging if it were that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxSioux Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Sounds like you're either way off on your math or paying some crazy prices for your supplies. I make 3oz votives that sell for 2.50 - 3. each & my cost is right at .50 each. Are you dividing your wax cost down to the cost per ounce? Just trying to think where you may be off.Susan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jes432 Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Glad you figured it out I was thinking you had one incredible packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie W Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 .55 seems pretty high for packaging on one votive. What are you using? Maybe you should reasearch different supppliers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doris Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 If doubling your fo gives you 2.60/votive, that must be one hell of a fo. I make beeswax votives, unscented, and beeswax is pricier than most others, and they cost me less than .65 ea.Doris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Fields Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 We buy supplies in bulk. Our votive cost is .20. We sell them for $1 each or 6 for $5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin'Hot Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 Ok' date=' I have finally gotten around to refiguring all of my costs for all of the different types of candles I make. I make candles because I love doing it and it pleases me when clients tell me that they love my candles. I'm not really in it for the money - but I can't give these things away either (which is something I do a lot of anyway!) Well, it looks to me, after figuring everything out again that the cost of one complete votive with packaging is going to cost ME about $2.60! Just for one! Anyway, I thought I might ask all of you what you sell your votives for and where you're from. I have researched this for a while now (about 3 days) and have found various prices across the country. Here in Michigan it seems the average price for one votive is $3.00. I'm just not sure if I should go on with this fabulous hobby/lifestyle/addiction or not. Please convince me to keep making candles. It won't be hard.Thanks everyone[/quote']Ok, after a good night's rest and a clearer head, I finally realized I was charging too much for my packaging per piece so that really drove my cost down along with the fo mistake - so right now I am at .75 my cost per votive. Thanks again for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudsnwicks Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 0.75 sounds a lot better than 2.60! I know it is still higher than others' cost but if you aren't buying in bulk the number makes sense. Looking at what others here charge, I think mostly it is 1 - 1.50. I price mine a little higher at 2.00 because in the past I had problems with users not following instructions, and burning them on a plate instead of in a proper holder, so I figure if it cost them more they will value it more and pay more attention to burning it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugarysweet95 Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 I've set up a nice excel spreadsheet for my candles. I make pillars so use the same sort of wax for each candle. I worked out how much it cost for each ingredient per 100g and then how much wax i used for each mould! So i simplye put the figure in for the cost per 100g of each ingredient (i find i generally use the same amount for each type of candle / fo) and then, for each type of mould, times these costs by the amount of wax each mould uses. As its all on excel, i can easily change the costs and see how this affects the price! I reckon it could work the same for the different sorts of candles too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 .75 cents is a better cost, but you can still get that dropped by at least .40 once you go bulk and bigger on things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle at WW Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 The cost of my votives, at C$1.27/lb for wax, using my most expensive FO from the most far away place (higher shipping) is C$0.56 or US$0.47 without packaging. Usually they are less than 50 cents Cdn. Can't wait until I can buy in bigger quantities and get the price lower.Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspencreek Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Hey we all know those FO's can get to you once in awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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