I think I'm doing the math wrong

[dixiegal]

Trying to figure out cost of clam shell tarts and I'm getting 1.37each. Does that sound right? I figured it by doing a pound of wax, fo, shells,and labels then divided by 6 because pp of wax I get 6 clam shells.

I have a client wanting to buy them wholesale and from what I've read it's cost times either x 2 or x 2.35. At x2 that would be 2.74 or x2.35 it's 3.22 one seems low but the other high for him to mark up and make a profit. How do you determine your cost and profit for wholesale?

I'm also considering the whole getting my company name out there in our town and this is a real nice place. It's a coffee shop with a chef live bands and the owner who has been featured in magazines for his furniture will be selling it there. He has clients all over the country. I doubt I'll get another chance at a store like this.

Edited April 5, 2011 by dixiegal

[dixiegal]

Sorry I know it's a question that's been asked hundreds of times. Going to split it to 2.50 each and see how it goes.

[sbs]

Sorry I read your post earlier but didn't know how to answer because I, myself haven't done the math on clamshells... BUT going off others wholesale prices I've seen... $2.50 sounds about right. :smiley2: I personally wouldn't go higher because I would want to guarantee I get that account! Lol.. You will get your name out there AND make a profit even if it's not as much as you'd like. Good luck!

[dixiegal]

Thx sbs. I took samples to him today and gave him a price of 2.50 per clamshell and 22.00 per waxed dipped bears and 15.00 and 18.00 for tart warmers ( candlewarmers.com ) He was happy with the price and made the bear order and warmers. He'll call me later today with the tart order. I'm excited and terrified at the same time,lol

[sbs]

:yay:Congrats!

[NaturallyTru]

My cost on clamshells is $1.50. I wholesale at $2.50.

Trudi

Edited April 13, 2011 by NaturallyTru

[AlwaysWondering]

These seem like very high costs to produce a clamshell.

My wax works out to 1.88/pound. My oil works out to about 1.15 per pound. Clamshell itself is .20 (all these prices include the shipping cost to me from my suppliers). My labels are about .01 each and toss in another .01 for the dye. Have no idea how to calculate the cost of ink for the label, I use black toner in my laser jet printer and print everything from labels to term papers to bank statements and one toner cartridge lasts a long, long time.

As you said, my yield is 6 clamshells per pound of wax. 1.88 (wax) + 1.15 (oil) + .20 (clamshell) + .01 (label) + .01 (dye) = $3.25 / 6 = .54 per clamshell. As you can see, even if I use more than 1 oz oil per pound of wax, and sometimes I do, my cost is still no where near 1.37 or 1.50. Add in some cost for the electric used for my Presto Pot, paper towels, stir sticks and MAYBE that all adds up to another nickel even a dime, even a quarter and I'm still well under $1 per clamshell (each clamshell about 2.6 oz of wax).

[pleasureridgecandles]

Mine is currently .43 per clamshell. This is only adding supplies and shipping, not any other add ons like electricity. Not sure what the cost will be once I have to get new supplies (wax, scent etc.) with the increased prices on everything. Maybe some of these prices others have given already have the increased costs added in??

[Vicky_CO]

These seem like very high costs to produce a clamshell.

My wax works out to 1.88/pound. My oil works out to about 1.15 per pound. Clamshell itself is .20 (all these prices include the shipping cost to me from my suppliers). My labels are about .01 each and toss in another .01 for the dye. Have no idea how to calculate the cost of ink for the label, I use black toner in my laser jet printer and print everything from labels to term papers to bank statements and one toner cartridge lasts a long, long time.

As you said, my yield is 6 clamshells per pound of wax. 1.88 (wax) + 1.15 (oil) + .20 (clamshell) + .01 (label) + .01 (dye) = $3.25 / 6 = .54 per clamshell. As you can see, even if I use more than 1 oz oil per pound of wax, and sometimes I do, my cost is still no where near 1.37 or 1.50. Add in some cost for the electric used for my Presto Pot, paper towels, stir sticks and MAYBE that all adds up to another nickel even a dime, even a quarter and I'm still well under $1 per clamshell (each clamshell about 2.6 oz of wax).

Your figures is not quite right unless you are getting 6 clamshells for .20 if you are getting them for that I want to know where. LOL Is that .01 per label cost if so you need to have that at .06 for labels same with the dye if that is the case. I figured it under the numbers you gave but corrected for the clamshell.

.51 wax and FO .20 clamshell .01 label .01 dye, Clamshell cost for you would be .73

My cost is .91 but I do not get 6 out of a pound I get 6 out of 18 oz. wax FO combo. My clams hold right at 3 oz. I also add .05 for overhead such as electricity and use of equipment.

Edited April 15, 2011 by Vicky_CO

[AlwaysWondering]

Vicky, you are right! Each clamshell package is .20! Thanks for correcting my math. Even at .73, still much lower than those in the original first posts, half of their price.

[Bernadette]

Your figures is not quite right unless you are getting 6 clamshells for .20 if you are getting them for that I want to know where. LOL Is that .01 per label cost if so you need to have that at .06 for labels same with the dye if that is the case. I figured it under the numbers you gave but corrected for the clamshell.

.51 wax and FO .20 clamshell .01 label .01 dye, Clamshell cost for you would be .73

My cost is .91 but I do not get 6 out of a pound I get 6 out of 18 oz. wax FO combo. My clams hold right at 3 oz. I also add .05 for overhead such as electricity and use of equipment.

In looking at this thread and other costing threads, I've noticed no one ever puts in their labor...is this part of the 2 - 2.5 x(wholesale cost)? If so, do you ever make a profit? Just wondering...

Edited April 16, 2011 by Bernadette

[sbs]

In looking at this thread and other costing threads, I've noticed no one ever puts in their labor....

Good point. And when you do add labor, couldn't this differ for everybody? Or is there some sort of rule of thumb?

[Vicky_CO]

Good point. And when you do add labor, couldn't this differ for everybody? Or is there some sort of rule of thumb?

I think it really is different for everyone. Figuring labor is hard most of us are smal home based business so we do not have the room for major production. I can make a heck of a lot of clamshells in an 8 hour day but will I have the room for that many no I do not.