mindy5140 Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 OMG, That's awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Makin Momma Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Oh my! I am in complete awe!! Congrats!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugtussle Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Mystical/Kimberly, I agree, we had 3 of our 4 Surf 'n Turks fired up and melting yesterday. DH mixes batches and I wick and pour. We label together. It is kind of fun when you are in full production. Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candlesprite7 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 OMG I cant even imagine! Way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VerticallyEnhanced Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I think I just had a mild panic attack for you! I knew it was going to be big, but I did not know it would be OH MY HELL big! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindym Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Kimberly Ring Ring:yay: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meg_10 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 wow!! Almost scary but well worth it!!Congrats!Meg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderfullywicked Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 WTG Kimberly! :yay: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerrie Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Super!!!! Should be stress free with all the good help you have and knowing you've done this before. I'm sure you have a real method of madness going on during these pours. Congratulations!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blest2BAmerican Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Wow, congrats Kimberly! If I remember correctly, I read a post a couple of years ago where you didn't have a very big place in which to produce your candles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marika Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 WowHappy Holidays!!!Mari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmoopie Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I am at the point where I have 14 surf & Turks.... but still only average 800 candles a week.... need to find the right help....Ran a ad got a response of about 150 people....... Could only pick 3 I could work with:embarasse Got some real whack jobs apply........An advice??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystical_angel1219 Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I am at the point where I have 14 surf & Turks.... but still only average 800 candles a week.... need to find the right help....Ran a ad got a response of about 150 people....... Could only pick 3 I could work with:embarasse Got some real whack jobs apply........An advice???Yikes. S-I-M-P-L-I-F-Y. Honestly, it works in mass production.Two of us could easily make 600 candles in two days, go out for breakfast and dinner, surf the web and still have time to spare. This includes all the work, wicking, warning labels, product label and re-boxing into the original glass boxes. You need to batch your candles by the case pack. It works, it is very simple and easy to do.I'll give you an example of the 9 oz hex jar.You are going to pour a case, no matter what. It takes just as much time to pour one candle as it does a case of 12. Maybe a difference of two minutes tops on the time. Time is MONEY. Cut the labor expense. It makes a huge difference in the bottom line. The only scents I don't constantly pour by the case are holiday scents. I determine how many I am going to make, when I sell out, I am done. I've been closing for holiday orders earlier every year, especially Christmas. It isn't worth the hassle, IMO. Plus I give deals on cases to my regular customers that order early in bulk every year. So, back to case batching. You take the Surf n' Turk and fill it up. It is even quicker to keep this thing full if you cut the wax slabs beforehand and store in large totes close to the pot. If you use flake form, you're golden. Let it do it's thing. In the meantime, you set out your glassware. We usually pre-wick and slap the warning labels on before the glass hits the pouring table. It saves time. But if not, do the label on the bottom and get the wicks set. Now, you place them in long row- not touching, air needs to get in between. We do two cases per row, so basically two cases get done at once and sometimes we use both sides of the table, so four get done. One case of 9 oz hex or square mason jars is 5 lbs of wax and 5 oz of scent. Those big pouring pots from Bittercreek hold this easily, fill to the second from the top line and you don't have to weight it every time you fill up. One big pot equals one case of candles. Add the scent, mix and pour. I usually pour half into a smaller pour pot as this can get heavy in a short time and those spouts are not very accurate. Then, you push the first line forward and repeat. Depending on what wax you use, it is easiest for us to take the candle once it is almost set, but still warm and center the wick. Then put them back into the original glass box and blast them real quick with the heat gun. That way, you have empty space for pouring. If you fill up the table with poured candles, you will have to stop and clear off the table for more room and then setting the wicks once the candle is completely solid is more difficult. After they cool a bit more, clip the wick with a dollar store toe nail clipper [best wick clipper, ever] we put lids on them and stack the boxes in another room. That way, you've got plenty of workspace. All they need now is product labels and they are completed. Keep the Surk n' Turk close to the pouring table- and then a smaller counter area for mixing the pots with scent/color. It is super easy to do it this way. We only used one Surf n' Turk for the big fundraiser and we each have two. Fourteen of them using this method would pump out thousands and thousands of candles per day, easily- with the right helpers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugtussle Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Hey, ladies, where are the pics you promised? Have you finished? Our big fundraiser came in at $13,250. (gross) down a little from last year. It was 600 tureens, 800 tins and 300 clams. We just finished packing it & will deliver to DFW tomorrow. One down, two to go.I poured over 300 tureens and 300 tins Monday & Tuesday. Poured clams Wed & did the labeling Thursday. It took us all day to pack the candles by order. I'm exhausted, but it's done! :yay: CaroleBy the way, MA, you're right in your tips. Organization makes it go faster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mindy5140 Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 That's awesome.Happy Pouring,Mindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Love your posts, ladies. I'm in awe -- living vicariously through you. Happy for ya!!Yes, yes, pictures pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaase. After you recover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMary Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Congrats! What an awesome deal, and I'm sure those you raised funds for will absolutely love the contribution!I'd rather have pics of the hot cabana boy, but pics of the candles will do (I guess... sigh....). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraftyChris Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 wow, that's a ot of candles!! Happy pouring to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortuna Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I run Fortuna Candles, it has gotten 2 newspaper front page stories and another non-front page article the last few days. Fortuna Candles is disability to work candle making. I would very much like to know how you approached these schools so that I can put some of my employees to work in my area doing fundraiser candles locally here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Wow!! Way to go Kim. You are going to be very busy for a while.Congrats!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southern.scents Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Wow!! Way to go Kim. You are going to be very busy for a while.Congrats!!!This is a pretty old post, just FYI and yes, I am sure she was busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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