WAHM Forums

Hi everyone,

Today is a very sad day for me as I have received a notice from my "ma & pa" candle manufacturer that they will no longer be selling candles individually (no minimums.) They are officially only doing fundraisers now. I absolutely loved their candles and I was their biggest fan!

Originally, I started reselling their candles on my Romance E-store in 2002 until I landed a corporate client in Real Estate all of 2003. In 2004, I brand named the candles "Southerner Candle (http://www.southernercandle.com/)" because I thought they were better than "Yankee Candle."

Unfortunately, I lost my major corporate client when they terminated my contact (Marketing Manager) who purchased candles from me for the residential properties (they gave them to residents when they re-signed their leases.)

However, my MIL and husband own a top real estate agency here in Houston, TX (NASA area) and I have seriously been thinking about selling to them.

I also work with a locally owned smoke shop to sell candles for me with a profit share... and I recently submitted a brochure and complimentary candle to the marketing manager at a Mercedes Benz Dealership.

As you can see, I have worked very hard and my business and the thought of closing shop is SAD!

I've searched the internet for a new candle making manufacturer that will drop ship candles, with my company name, my labels, with no minimums but everything I found was unprofessional and tacky.

These are the rates I am used to paying:


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="80%" align=center>
<T>
<TR>
<TD>Product</TD>
<TD align=right>Price</TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Apothecary 22 Oz </TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=right>$ 8.50</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Apothecary 18 Oz </TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=right>$ 7.50</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Apothecary 16 Oz </TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=right>$ 6.25</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Victorian Mug 16 oz </TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=right>$ 5.50</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Large Victorian 15 Oz </TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=right>$ 5.25</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Victorian 10 oz </TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=right>$ 4.00</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Victorian 6.5 oz </TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=right>$ 3.25</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>case of 24 1.5 oz </TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=right>$ 35.75</TD></TR></T></TABLE>



Can any candle maker here help me out?

TIA,

HI Peggy,
I offer wholesale with no minimums and dropshipping. The only thing is my wholesale prices are a little higher then what you are use to paying.


If you are interested, please visit my site at www.appleblossomcandles.com (http://www.appleblossomcandles.com) and if you like what you see...please email me at sales@appleblossomcandles.com


Good Luck to you!


DAWN

Hi Peggy,


You are welcome to check out the prices/business opportunity with CandleWealth too. The website is www.cwlight.com/angelafaith7 (http://www.cwlight.com/angelafaith7)


Best of luck to you in your search. If I can help you with anything, please let me know.

Thanks, but I am not interested in the affilate type of programs. I've posted elsewhere and I am already getting a lot of responses from candle makers.


Someone asked me if I need the same jars, my response was:
The jars are not my main concern. It's the quality of the candle that matters. It needs to burn evenly, all the way down to the bottom, and have a strong scent throughout the life of the candle... like my former candles. The packing was terrific, the scents were great, and they were very high quality.

Also, the more related products the better (soaps, fragrant sprays, gift baskets, etc.)

Finally, branding is very important to me. My former manufacturer charged me $14.95/100 golden foil labels with my company name (but I am not attached the the shape, size, foil, and font,) and they were sent using my company name with their return address.

I hope I covered any questions.

Thanks in advance,

Peggy

Have you checked out Maddison Avenue Candles. I have not tried their candles personally. But they might be what your looking for.


http://www.maddisonavenue.net (http://www.maddisonavenue.net)

Look at this website. They have private labeling available.


http://www.caterpillarscandles.com/





The prices sound very reasonable and they are not even the wholesale prices. I was just looking at the retail prices. Good luck on whatever you choose. I hope you find what you are looking for!!

Thanks! I'm getting a big response and I can tell it's going to be a time consuming and difficult decision but I think it will turn out to be bigger and better than before.


Thanks again,

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Good Luck In Finding What You Need &amp; Best Wishes! smileys/smiley2.gif


~Rachel~</TD></TR>
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You can also check out www.northernlightscandles.com (http://www.northernlightscandles.com) They are the parent company for the at home division which I sell for. They sell wholesale and they are the makers of many of the candles at Pier One (under a different brand name). There is a retailers section of that website.

Thanks Lisa but I need a candle manufacturer that can best serve my needs for both B2C and B2B. I can't expect a internet shopper to buy a minimum amount of candles or spend at least 60 bucks for a product they have never even tried, so those companies really aren't that useful unless I'm in the mood to remove all of my office furniture in the den and turn it into a storage area (no thanks!)


See what I mean? smileys/smiley4.gif

I am so lucky!!! I found two excellent Candle makers to work with! I ordered my samples from each so I can decide which one best fits my needs and I am as excited as a kid in a candy shop!!!


One seems very similar to my former candles, yet she creates her own labels and have zero problem printed them as needed with my own business name (free of charge.) She also sells bath and body products PLUS the cutest fragrance teddy bears and friends decoratively packed!!! smileys/smiley4.gif


BUT, the other one is truly modern and unique! Seriously, they look good enough to eat/drink and have really been on my mind! They also offer silk rose peddles dipped in fragranced soap... and the coolest votive 6-pack in a pizza box desert type of deal!


Boy, talk about a tough decision! I can't wait to test the samples and compare.


I have a feeling that in the worse case scenario, I will be selling BOTH! smileys/smiley1.gif


Peggy


PS, nope, I am not willing to give out these contacts! It's called elimination of the competition! smileys/smiley36.gifBUT, as time prevails, I will be more than happy to compile a list of all the others that contacted me. If you go to "Join the Discussions (http://www.wahm.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=79260&amp;PN=2)," I invited one of them (a fella work at home Mom from Houston) to join us! She's very open (negotiable) and has the ability create just about anything you want!

What a bummer...I'd love to check out the companies!

Awww Jennifer!!! C'mon, you're a survivor! I am sure you know where I am coming from! But really, the offers I got are because I am already established. However, if you read Ecommerce news, you should know that "getting in" with up and rising smaller businesses with potential to grow is a great ground floor opportunity... and the top one that I personally referred to WAHM is very flexible, great rates, pretty much willing to bend over backwards, and a WAHM as well! Her post is specifically at http://www.wahm.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=79260&amp;PN=2and if you want body &amp; bath, fragrance bears, whatever, to save her the trips from having to leave home to go to "shows," I'm pretty sure she would be more than happy to oblige to anything she can do for you at home, with her children.


Isn't that what WAHM is all about? smileys/smiley1.gif


It's all good! smileys/smiley2.gif


Best regards,





Peggy

Hi Peggy,


I am also in the market for looking into selling a line of candles for a possible Business on Wheels (in my car)! In addition to working with realtor companies and your website what other ways do you personally market your candles and products? Do you do fairs, craft shows etc?


Fromreading your posts am I understanding you correctly, when you say that the candle companies are drop shipping does that mean any order that you receive from your website the candle company sends out the orders?


Thanks in advance for your responses,
Catherine

smileys/smiley4.gifOh no... I'm sure fairs and craft shows work wonderfully for others but it's just not my style.


Real Estate is a great local op but they are living on a strict budget too (some months are good, others are slow) and as mentioned, I could easily sell to my MIL &amp; DH's agts but it just doesn't feel right. (I don't want to take advantage of them the same way I wouldn't want to sell to family and friends... but that's just me.) The local Rental Management companies are a better target due to a steady flow and giving their tenants a "thank you for re-signing your lease" works better.


I prefer to earn my own. I support our local small businesses even though I could buy certain (product(s)) at a larger chain or franchise, so I have a personal preference for talking to the owners (that I already know as a loyal client) and asking about shelf space if my products compliment their own business (ie: The smoke shop! Geesh, when you have a smoker in the house, 1 dog, 2 cats, and 2 kids and the gobs of neighborhood boys running in and out all the time... Oder can be a problem!)


However, now that I have a more modern and upscale candle, I can feel more open to speak to my local spa owner, the beauty salon, and a gift store that sells unique gifts with a personal referral referred by our salon owner that the entire family uses... kinda like a "what goes around comes around" deal.


I've only been selling offline for a handful of months andI can tell you that the "don't pay me unless they sell", or the 50/50 split NOT after my own costs, and having to over price candles doesn't work as well!


No more, they can buy in bulk to show me that THEY are just as serious as I am.


Life is too short- I have better things to do with my time than accounts receivable (ick!)





Peggysmileys/smiley1.gif


Oh ya, yes, for B2C I use drop shipping but for my local area I have stock sent directly to me... for some reason, adding a decorative bow or any other personal touch, seems to increase sales (so I often buy ribbon on clearance at the local fabric and hobby shop.)Edited by: PeggyR

Hello again my Dear fella WAHM's,


If you are still interested in helping (and hopefully learning too) please see my topic at http://www.wahm.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=81969&amp;PN=1 (http://www.wahm.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=81969&amp;PN=1&amp;TPN=1) &amp;TPN=1


I look forward from hearing from you.


Best regards,

Hi Peggy,


Is it true that you picked two companies for your personal business without even burning the candles first? That is great confidence... Have your candles arrived? Do you love them?


I wish you great success with your new candles and your site looks very nice with the door entrance. Good Job...


Make it a great day,
Catherine

Gee, I feel like a jerk for not remembering to hit that little check for Email Notify me of Replies! Please accept my apology.


I don't know how to explain it other than scientific measures based on psychology study and my weird sense of insight (as an Idealist- Portrait of the Teacher, Briggs and Myers ENFJ, very rare est. 3% of the worlds population) *achem*... it's very true that my type trusts their intuition.


I was drawn do both but the former (I let her go w/ candles) "traditional candle maker" apologized for sending me such a crappy candle. It burns great (soy) but smells better unlit than lit! (No thanks!)


In fact, shortly after I informed her how unimpressed we were, she called her supply vendor and (gee, it takes a couple of weeks for a soy candle to sit on a shelf before it's ready to be sold) yet I had to wonder... if she was trying to impress me as a potential retailer, what the heck would MY customers get? (That's a MAJOR screw up!) However, I do have to say the soap and wax dipped bear totally impressed me!!! (I have two Himalyans that seem to be in a "who can potty the most" competition ) in one of our bathrooms and I am extremely pleased with those lines... so whether I only make a buck. it's worth keeping on my page!


The other candle maker totally blew me away! Awesome, awesome, and awesome is just about all I have to say!!! Eventually, they will be designing their own B&amp;B and possibly cute waxed animals too. I look forward to that day because of the double S&amp;H and am completely confident that my customers will feel it's great too! (That's always been extremely important to me!!!)


I know that the majority of WAHM will disagree with me on this one... and I'm sure you have seen it a gazillion times to go with what you are passionate about and what you love.


Yes, I LOVE hand poured candles but I will always feel that the "YOU, YOU, YOU," has to be dismissed!!!


Ecommerce has NOTHING to do with YOU, it's always been about the customer and what they WANT! C'mon! Does anyone think I'm proud to sell crotchless panties on my other page??? It's supply and demand! I do have to admit though, I get a rush bringing customers what THEY want instead of what I WANT. (Vent over.)


It all comes down to the basics... being a business owner!


HTH,