Could this be the end of my business?

[Dana]

I live in a small town and I had to quit my job back in November due to the fact that my boss decided to turn a carpet warehouse into a floral shop. I had my candles in there selling like hotcakes for about a month, but my boss wouldn't pay me for them. He thought I should price them higher and I live right down the street and told him I need to keep them at the price I sold them for. It really started getting ugly when customers came in for special orders that we did not carry at the store. They would come in and ask for certain styles, sizes and scents. I would take down the order, but make arrangements to deliver. But sometimes they wanted to pick it up at the store since they were coming for flowers the next day anyway. He always let me sell at the carpet store all the time- for 4 years. Then money got REALLY tight when he started up the flower shop and he wanted money! I made a deal w him- not quite 50% off, so he could double his money though. Like I said I live right down the street and didn't want to loose my customers at full retail to give to him. So I thought my deal was a good compromise. Well, needless to say he let TONS of candles be sold first, then when he noticed how well they were selling he wanted MORE MONEY! And he didn't even pay me yet for the first batch. Anyway, I decided to leave because he was getting to be someone I didn't recognize any longer. I didn't want to work for a flower shop in the first place- Very high pressure believe it or not. It did not end well at all. The florist I hired was lying to him about me and she just went through her husband cheating on her so she just really needed some validation on who she was and her so called talent and creativity. She did some really cruel things, but I believe it was because of her personal life so I moved on and dove into my candle business. I have worked really hard for close to 8 years on this business and now I could really do what I wanted with it since I had the time. Sales have been really good and although it took me a few months to get over the depression and anger about the whole flower shop I was excited about some new changes to my business. Well, then the bottom fell out. On Friday in my local newspaper I see that the flower shop has just announced they just brought in Swan Creek candles. My SAME JAR, SAME WAX (soy), SAME LID, and some of the SAME SCENTS. I have just been beside myself. I can't believe they would play that dirty. He was bound and determined to get my business one way or another. Since Swan Creek is within driving distance he can pick up orders so pricing can be very competitive. They obviously did their homework on finding something EXACTLY like mine. The funny thing is the florist gets on face book and braggs about how creative she is, and how hard she is working to be different and about her original designs, blah, blah, blah, and then she goes and does this! COPIES ME! I think this could be the end of my business. I just ordered a pallet of wax and a pallet of jars and $1300 worth of fo's. How can I fight back? I want to scratch someone's eyes out. I worked for 8 years to get to this point- to do this full time and with a few clicks of the mouse they have my business? I know what she googled too to find that company. We are the only 2 companies that come up. I just can't believe someone can stoop that low for the almighty dollar. Remember, I live in a small town, so this is a big deal. Maybe people will think they are ridiculous for trying to copy me? I don't know....are Swan Creek candles any good? I will have to try one, but it is $17 to ship one from their site.

[bearmnt]

Im so sorry!! that is totally messed up that happened. are there other stores that are similar, in town or neighboring?

I know this is gonna sound bad but buy one of the swan creek from her and check it out. they give me a kinda scentsy vibe, crappy resale, ya know.JMHO

Edited April 18, 2011 by bearmnt

[heavenly scents]

take a baseball bat down to the florists and beat the owners head in then simply walk out......j/j

the way i see it you have two options

1. fight back with negative comments about the owner of the flower shop and there products or

2. open a candle shop next door to the florist and sell flowers as well as your candles and undersell the greedy bastard

3. just throwing it out there.........burn his store down

Edited April 18, 2011 by heavenly scents

[Bernadette]

Dana, you said you live in a small town... I'm presuming then that you must know a great many of the people that have purchased your candles. Perhaps via a mailing, or maybe by phone, you need to let them know that you are not selling candles at the florist any longer and that any candle they buy there will not be yours. Tell them to call you(or whatever other method you would prefer, such as a website) and they can still purchase your great candles at your great price. Oh, and BTW, please spread the word! This may be a blessing in disguise.

I only sell on the internet. Way back when, I only sold on eBay. When I decided to leave eBay, I set up a website, and then sent an email to every customer I had ever had on eBay(approx. 1000) letting them know about my website. I was afraid my business was going to suffer badly without the eBay exposure, but they followed me to the website, and thru word of mouth, I got tons of other customers. Being on the web, they could recommend me to their relatives and friends in other cities/states. My business actually grew. This could be another, better door opening for you...:tiptoe:

[Babyv]

Sorry to hear about this.

I say just brush it off and continue biz as usual. Just think KARMA.

Come up with other creative and different candles or scents and you'll be nothing like them.

Hugs!

~Laura

[Dana]

take a baseball bat down to the florists and beat the owners head in then simply walk out......j/j

the way i see it you have two options

1. fight back with negative comments about the owner of the flower shop and there products or

2. open a candle shop next door to the florist and sell flowers as well as your candles and undersell the greedy bastard

3. just throwing it out there.........burn his store down

Believe me, I have thought of all of the above, lol. But the last one would actually benefit him....you see he took out a pretty nice size insurance policy on an apartment complex he owned and it mysteriously burned down. The bank tried to keep his money since he owed so much on other loans...he had a huge fight with the bank and well, needless to say this is right around the time he started "squirming" and turning into the person I didn't recognize. He is a recovering alcoholic but claimed God "saved" him and now he is a new person. I think his addiction reared its ugly head again. Maybe not in the form of alcohol but money. He will do anything and I mean anything to get gain power and money. He never used to be like that. I hope people see through him and if I don't cause any drama and just keep plugging away my business will survive. He is know for only sticking with a certain business idea for a few years and then changing it and he has had many different business partners that have gotten in law suits or have dissolved because he won't stay focused. I am hoping this will be the case this time as well. I just have to last through a couple of rough years, lol.

[Lorelei]

Come up with a sales plan, get your website up, print up some flyers to hand out to people, have products and scents he doesn't offer and give lots of little samples in the beginning. You'll gain a lot of business in the beginning and with your prices, a lot of return customers. Since you know everyone, don't ever bad mouth them, just always say you prefer your products over theirs and why. Think Integrity. That will always win out. Give up a little to get a lot in return.

[Noodle]

You need to take the high road and channel your anger into positive energy. Years ago, I dealt with unbelievable "theft" in this business. I had a lot of sweat and tears for a long time. I will never feel victimized again, and you should not either.

You need to get the word around quickly that you are not associated with this florist at all, but do not do it negatively. Come out with new "signature" scents and conduct business as usual. Get out there to shows. Have a home party. Sell off of your front lawn if you need to. DO NOT speak bitterly about this man and his employee. You will prevail in the end if you stay focused and positive. You must let your good attitude and your product speak for itself.

I know it totally stinks to have this happen. I am sorry that there is such scum in this world, but we have to deal with it and try to capitalize off of it.

[crazzie]

Do some heavy duty marketing. You could have the local newspaper write an article about you and shoppping local. Hit every employers break rooms with flyers and run a special.

Dont give up. You will have to let us know how it goes.

[Whisper Girl]

I would start with a nice newspaper ad that explains that your product can only be found on your web site or by calling you. I would then call or email all of my old customers (small town should make that fairly easy to do). Tell each customer that you have now gone out on your own and would love to have their continued business. Do not say anything bad about about your previous employer or workplace. The high road will always be better.

[sbs]

I like most of the above answers. If I were a customer and you were bad-mouthing the other guy, I wouldn't like him but I'd be turned off from purchasing from you too... no matter how good your product is. A lot of people steer clear of negativity. Don't let it consume you, karma will take care of him.

[comfortscents]

Dana, you said you live in a small town... I'm presuming then that you must know a great many of the people that have purchased your candles. Perhaps via a mailing, or maybe by phone, you need to let them know that you are not selling candles at the florist any longer and that any candle they buy there will not be yours. Tell them to call you(or whatever other method you would prefer, such as a website) and they can still purchase your great candles at your great price. Oh, and BTW, please spread the word! This may be a blessing in disguise.

I agree with what Bernadette posted, even though it's a small town is there another florist? I also believe in contacting any and all customers you garnered thru your former venue and just like hair stylists do when they relocate send them a notice but also include an incentive i.e. 20% off their first purchase or buy one get one half off....once they get used to dealing with you directly you should be able to keep them...also...won't not having a middle man change your price point so you can undercut the new candle source at the old florists?

[Candybee]

I don't understand how you would let him sell your candles and not pay you for them. You should have gotten your money upfront.

Your old boss and his new florist sound like very tacky people with a bit of dishonesty thrown in. I would not stoop to their level as that will only make matters worse.

You've been given some good suggestions about sending out flyers or notifying your customers about buying your products and not associating your candles with the florist shop. I would work on that and keep your chin up as your customers are likely to come back once they get tired of the money grabbing trash talking florist shop. Build your reputation back up by being honest and fair pricing, new candle scents and well made candles. That will work much better than saying anything nasty about them.

And for gosh sakes don't let anyone sell your candles without getting your money up front. Consider it a lesson learned.

[wildwings]

So sorry that you are having to deal with people like that in your own town. I would try to set up your candles in various other places in town, possibly on consignment or if you can rent a small shop and sell your heart out!

[scifichik]

Just chiming in with the others. Take the high road, don't bad mouth your former employer, but do contact former customers and let them know where and how your candles can be purchased. Best of luck to you!

[Blest2BAmerican]

As others have stated, get the word out. See if the local news channel and newspaper will do an article on you. You can let them know who you are and direct them to your website. Make sure you put your email address/URL on your labels so customers know where to go. Oh, and maybe see if you can do some fundraisers and also donate some of your candles to get your name out there too.

Edited April 19, 2011 by Blest2BAmerican

[SuzyK]

I think the others have given you great advice. I just wanted to say good luck!

[Dana]

Ok, so I have tried to send a really long post- twice and it wouldn't take. Sooooo to make a very long story short the answer to the question of why didn't I get the money up front? Well, this man claimed me to be his "business partner". He gave me bonuses, profit sharing, and let my husband and I take a trip to the Virgin Islands because my sales were so good. We were friends, I thought. There is way more to this story but this temp forum won't let me send a long post...

[Dana]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will impliment many of them (except the one about taking a bb bat to him, lol). And I will not bad mouth them whatsoever. In real life, I keep to myself, am kind and a faithful person. In fact, besides my husband, you people were the first to hear about this and I left working there back in November. If that tells you about the type person I am. I just don't gossip and bad mouth. In fact when people ask me why I did all that work putting that store together and don't work there anymore, I just say "That type of business just wasn't for me" So no, bad mouthing isn't in one of my strategies to get through this.

[WillowBoo]

THere is one thing that I have learned dealing with over 300 people a month in my primary business...if someone is a real creep to you, they usually are to everyone they deal with. I would contact your local newspaper or a small paper in the area and see if they can do a special interest story on your product, or invest in a nice advertisement. It would be iffy if you could mention that your candles were formerly stocked in the carpet store where they were, that would be up to the paper doing the article. Your primary goal is to get back your former customers along with of course new ones. Do flyers, try a website. Don't let the creep destroy you. What goes around, comes around,

I guarantee that.

[Jeana]

I may have missed it but did you confront the owner with how you feel about the situation? Have you come straight out and asked if he is not going to carry your candles any longer? You said you left on bad terms. Maybe he thought you weren't interested in selling your candles out of his store and longer, so he found something else. That's not dirty that's real business.

Was he getting any money on your special orders picked up in the store or delivered? If not, I wouldn't be happy with that either if I was him.

If he still owes you money make sure you communicate that very clearly to him with very clear numbers, like have an invoice in the mail or in your hand when you speak. Sounds like he thought your vacation and other perks were your payment for the candles.

It may take a while to bounce back, but if you were selling that well there you can do it again. Get a small office space and sell out of there. Put an ad in your local paper letting all your former customers know where you can be found. And like everyone else said step up all other types of marketing. Try reinventing some of your products too. All successful businesses change regularly.

[Dana]

What really hurts me too is that I put that whole store together. I came up with the cute name, logo, hang tags, decided on all the decor- trim, light fixtures, paint, wall art, furniture, venues, planogram- everything. that store had ME written all over it. I really put myself out there. People would come in just to see how I decorated the place and buy candles. Of course I choose merchandise carefully too, so as to keep it interesting to shop in. Then on facebook she brags about "her store" and "partners w xx company name" it just kills me because I was that person. Not that I bragged like her, but I had the recognition, the money, my kids had money for nice clothes. Now she has my life and wants my candle business too! Well, I knew when I left I was walking away from a very comfortable salary. I knew I was walking away from all I created. I just never thought they would want this from me too, after all I had done. I even saved her from her old employer of 17 years who, according to her, was just awful and treated her so badly. How could she purchase this new line, just like mine, on purpose, and not think about how it would affect me and my business? After what I have all done for her and that shop. Oh she had to have given it lots of thought, and that was the choice she made. That's what hurts. I was expecting them to get a line of candles in. I expected them to be competitive. That is healthy business competition. But this, this is low. Like twisting a knife in my back.

[Dana]

I may have missed it but did you confront the owner with how you feel about the situation? Have you come straight out and asked if he is not going to carry your candles any longer? You said you left on bad terms. Maybe he thought you weren't interested in selling your candles out of his store and longer, so he found something else. That's not dirty that's real business.

Was he getting any money on your special orders picked up in the store or delivered? If not, I wouldn't be happy with that either if I was him.

If he still owes you money make sure you communicate that very clearly to him with very clear numbers, like have an invoice in the mail or in your hand when you speak. Sounds like he thought your vacation and other perks were your payment for the candles.

It may take a while to bounce back, but if you were selling that well there you can do it again. Get a small office space and sell out of there. Put an ad in your local paper letting all your former customers know where you can be found. And like everyone else said step up all other types of marketing. Try reinventing some of your products too. All successful businesses change regularly.

Jeana, I tried to explain better in those posts that wouldn't take, lol. I left on bad terms and TOOK my candles out of the store. He wasn't paying me because he didn't have the money. He got in way over his head. I wanted to start small in the smaller building across the street, but he wanted to use the 3000 sq. ft. building. It takes 80K to 100K to fill a store that size. I put all of myself into it and he asks me "What have YOU been doing while my wife had to come here and mark things." I explained below what I all did in 2 months working only 3 days a week. The rest of that got done at 2:00am on the computer while I was waiting for wax to cool, on my own time.

As for special orders....he didn't want my full line. I carry 6 jar styles and sizes, soap, lotion, warmers, tarts, 50 scents. So it was bound to happen. People come into the store, don't see their favorite item and ask if I can get it to them. What am I suppossed to do? It was like I was working for my competition, ya know? I gave him a price on the whole line. He didn't have the money. He COULD HAVE made a profit on the other things people wanted. IF he stocked them in the store. Why would I give him some of the $ for my business? I would if it were just a different scent that he didn't carry in this particular jar, but not an entirely different jar, scent, etc.

The perks and trip came with the carpet business,before the wanted me to start the gift shop. Actually the carpet manufacturers gave the trip for the best sales, but he allowed me to go since I did most of the selling.

I had an invoice in the office the day I brought them in. He just decided to not pay me.

I do like your ideas.....I was thinking of making some changes this summer before this happened anyway. Now I just don't want it to look like I changed because of them. And, those sold well, obviously, lol.

[EricofAZ]

Dana, so sorry to hear this. There are always people who pee in their own yard. The guy made a mistake by not keeping money local. Word will get around. I hope you find a market for your goods.

[Dana]

Thanks EricofAZ, I do have a nice market outside my local area. I am going to have to funnel my energy on that. It all just threw me off kilter this weekend. I am finished crying and worrying. Gonna move on and take all of your great advice. It just goes to show you if you start a new business just for the money, you are heading down a dead end. (usually) These days it takes many many hours of unpaid work and struggles to get a business off the ground. His heart is not in it. He was just in it for the money, and when he realized the money wasn't going to come that fast he panicked. I tried to make him realize this before we got started, but he wouldn't listen. In the carpet business we were bringing in 80K a month with only 3 people on the payroll. That was what we were used to. Maybe his new business will work out. But it is starting to look like desperation by them doing this. I am not going to make any drastic changes to my candle line, because that means they got to me, and I am proud of my candles the way they are. It does make me wonder though, how the scent throw is on the Swan Creek candles. I will have to just spend the money and purchase one online to try it. It will be worth it to know. I haven't spent any money on R & D for a while, lol.