First homeshow

[flcandles]

Hi everyone. Im a newbie to this site but not to candlemaking. I have been making candles for about a 3 yrs. I picked up the hobbie (addiction lol) when my son was born to try to bring extra money into the house. I didnt realize that my first year or around about my first year was testing,testing, and more testing.

Anyway i have a pretty good amount of candles that i do sell because they have been tested to the hilt. They are jars,votives,tealights. I have given samples to people and friends of my friends ask where they have gotten the candles from, or loved that certain scent and then it snowballs from there. So thats how i was bringing in extra money.

My question finally is (sorry :embarasse ) Im going to have my first homeshow in mid september i have already begun making some of my jar candles and storing them in the basement, I have a good idea of who will show up my concern is after i make the candles..(im also going to have potpourri, aroma beads and wax dipped animals at the show) if i have alot of stock left over how long will the scents hold up? Should i have another show the following month, or will they be ok until someone puts an order in for that candle that is already made? Also the number of people expecting to come is around 12 ( they were told on the invitation to bring a friend) so im stumped on how much i should make. I just wanted to do cash and carry for the first time but im just scared of anything going to waste or things might have to be rescented if they dont sell and they have to sit for awhile. Should i take orders instead and have just some cash and carry?

Anyone who has had homeshows before could you share on how you did it.

thank you for any and all replies.

[Accents]

Your scents will last a very long time in your candles, might even get stronger over time. They last longer in candles than as the straight FO. Home shows are fun because the reason people are coming is to buy your candles, and they will. Maybe have a door prize or free raffle (get entries based on how much they spend).

Have fun!

[ChrisR]

I've been doing home shows for over 5 years now and I take mostly orders, it's much easier and a lot less to lug around and set up. I take a votive of every scent I sell (so people can at least smell the scents) and just a few scents in the jars, pillars and tea lights. This way, I don't have tons of surplus left over and people can buy what I brought and then place orders for anything else. I do take a lot of my B & B stuff, but the candles I take just a minimum now. Since I'm booked solid from September to the first of December, it hasn't hurt me a bit!!

[flcandles]

Thank you both for your replies. My first homeshow will be at my house. I want to see how that goes first before i try to set up at anyone elses house. But i do understand what your saying ChrisR. I wanted to try it at my house first with family and friends so i can get the feel of what to say ... i guess its something like a home interior show although Im not sure what to say to everyone other then "welcome to my show. Im the person who makes these " then what? Do i show them the store room that use to be called my kitchen lol. I make everything in in the kitchen If i look hard enough i think i do have a kitchen table lol.I have read alot of your posts and you seem to know alot, what do i talk about or dont talk about? Im a little nervous.

Accents thanks for the info , i was just scared things will go to waste . I do know about curing time for the candles but i was thinking if my candles sat for like 2or 3 months or even longer if i couldn't sell them. The door prizes is a good idea. Should the prize be alittle something like a bag of tarts or a big prize like my 16oz jar candle or something in between? Every show i went to whether home interiors, christmas around the world, ect. all the prizes were differnt in value, so im not sure what my prize should be.

Thanks again to you both!

Have a great day

[ShelleyBean]

I think you will do fine, and like mentioned, scents will last a good while. My only advice is to not make a lot of dipped critters, maybe one or two to have to show, but I do mine as they are ordered. By only having a couple, you save yourself having to guess what people would want them scented in, and trust me, when they see the ones you have made, they will be ordering them from you especially with the holidays coming soon.

Good luck and just relax and have a good time, you sound like you have going to have your first home show with people you know which can help a great deal when trying to get started

[ChrisR]

I don't do a lot of talking......I basically welcome everyone, hand out a free votive and a brochure, give a little talk of how I got into making candles/B & B products, what kind of wax and wicks I use & my soaps & lotion ingred. I also tell them the proper way to burn each type of candle and show a container candle burned improperly with lots of soot. Pretty much that's about it. I ask if there are any questions, answer those and then tell everyone to start sniffing LOL!! I have 2 small containers of fresh coffee grounds and explain that if their sniffer stops working to smell the coffee to revitalize their sniffer again!! I put everyone's name in a hat and pull for a door prize of usually a large container candle. I personally wouldn't show them your work area or supplies, it isn't necessary.

There are lots of variations you can do, so just go with your gut, relax and have fun!!

[flcandles]

Hi i read the posts and thanks again. I was going to make only 5 wax critters ( differen't sizes) but leave them for last... maybe like 2 0r 3 days before the show. And yes, i think i need my first show to be with familiar people so if i mess up or get tongue tied then i wont feel like such a dork:embarasse . Then hopefully if someone wants to book off me then i'll have a general idea of what to expect... and just figure out the percentage of products they get for free for having a show.

thanks again ChrisR i think the large jar candle is a good prize. i think if i was to show people my work area / kitchen / storage place they'd run out the door lol.

Thanks again everyone