dslewis18 Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I'm new to the business and am curious about where the biggest sales come from, soaps or candles. I've been making candles for about 4 months and am selling them at a local boutique.I'd love to hear some opinions.Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WendyByTheBay Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I have been making candles forever now, and I started B&B two years ago.B&B sells better for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I find candles to be very seasonal. I get big candles sales in the fall and holiday season, sales also spike during spring, valentines and mothers day and various holidays, etc. Other then that they sell somewhat sporadically so I never know what to expect.However my soaps and lotions sell nicely and consistently year round. I can usually count on good sales and they are easier to get a good price for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hometowncandles Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 I have found, it depends upon the area I'm in. I do a few shows each year. The shows I do closest to home, candles do better. I do a couple of shows each year approx 30 miles from my home, and B&B does far better. Go figure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adillenal Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Soap and lotion are my big sellers. I do a monthly market plus another dozen shows a year and have a booth in a craft mall. Candles are my slow item for my clientele. I am now making pillars so we will see how they go. Soap and lotion is used up wheras candles are not always burned or they were bought as a gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 To be only making candles for 4 months is a pretty short amount of time to already be selling. I hope you did all your testing and have good insurance in place. Did you know that your candles can burn differently with a change of seasons? It's very important to make sure you do this properly and test all wick, dye (if you use) and fragrance combos under as many scenarios as you can think. Its exciting and so easy to get caught up in it all but, you are making something that can be very dangerous so testing is of the utmost importance. Just be sure you really are ready to be selling in that short amount of time. Only you can answer that. If you venture into B&B, you will need alot of time to learn this business and perfect and test all your recipes too. What I sell most depends on the time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 To be only making candles for 4 months is a pretty short amount of time to already be selling. I hope you did all your testing and have good insurance in place. Did you know that your candles can burn differently with a change of seasons? It's very important to make sure you do this properly and test all wick, dye (if you use) and fragrance combos under as many scenarios as you can think. Its exciting and so easy to get caught up in it all but, you are making something that can be very dangerous so testing is of the utmost importance. Just be sure you really are ready to be selling in that short amount of time. Only you can answer that. If you venture into B&B, you will need alot of time to learn this business and perfect and test all your recipes too. What I sell most depends on the time of year. Soap sales are good all year around for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dslewis18 Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 Thanks so much for the good advice. As my husband says, "Get out of her way." I do have insurance and have burned all my candles for testing. I've given quite a few to friends for advice.I owned an Insurance AGency before I retired and have fairly good business sense but certainly can use any advice.Thanks so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Great that you've tested and gotten insurance - you're one step ahead of the game.Do you have a candle "specialty" (like jars, pillars, votives, wickless)? If you have your own niche, something you do and do well, that can be helpful in what way you want to market yourself and where your success is. Although, honestly you can have good marketing and a crappy product and still do OK for a while... but we won't talk about that So much depends on where you sell, your location, etc. Your big seller at a show might be different from a big seller online. What sells for me will be different from what sells for the next person. Try and look at your products, your specialty, and what will work in the market that you are selling in. 4months is very new, though... do you see a trend at all yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heirloomoriginals Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Bath and BOdy always sold better for me, that and Melts. Didn't sell many candles. Candles are such a seasonal thing. People need to smell good all year round LOL!!!Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberly Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 WOW, I am surprised at the answers here. I sell candles all yr round...and LOTS of them. I sell B&B here and there but that is more of a seasonal thing to me than my candles are.Although I have to say, I dont really market my B&B like I do my candles. I mostly sell B&B by making private label things for local Spa's. Maybe I need to get some pointers from you gals on how you sell so much B&B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugtussle Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Candles are our "bread & butter." We sell a lot of them year round. Did well with our soaps during the holidays. Just added cp soap to our web. We'll see how it goes. Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candlelady Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Definitely candles, but then I don't market my B&B products very much. Most of those products are sold to friends and family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miniiB Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 i started with candles and i have been doing bath and body for 2 years. Candles didnt seem to be the favorite so i just stopped making them. So I would say bath and body would be your best bet. Considering most people when they buy something they are particularly looking for something for themselves, candles arent for a person they are just for decoration where as bath and body can be a personal use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.