WAHM Forums

Is selling candles "easier" than selling cosmetics and why?
I know I want to sell something consumable and would love to hear pros and cons of why maybe candles could be better than selling cosmetics? Which would you get more re-orders from?
Are there any former cosmetics reps who have gone to selling candles now?

Oh yeah! I was a Director with a Cosmetics/skincare company and most definitely get more in the way of re-orders with the candles! I had tons of $$ in stock on my shelves and no one was re-ordering the skincare/makeup. I was constantly looking for new customers. Not so with the candles!
I have been doing my business now with little to no inventory and it is working out way better for me. I would NEVER go back to the skincare/makeup biz....
In the 17 months that I've been in the candle biz, I've made more money than I did with 3 years in the makeup biz. It's a no-brainer for me!

With candles you are a lot less likely to have returns. When someone orders a makeup or skin care product out of a brochure and doesn't like it, it's a return. Some companies require you to return the item to get a credit and others don't so that is a potential expense.

Both products are consumable and both products are consumed at different rates. Some people wear makeup daily and others every once in a while. Some have a skin care regimen they follow religiously and others sometimes remember to moisturize...not that I'm one of those or anything ;) Just the same some people have candles going in their house in most every room at all times. Others burn one candle on special occasions.

As far as is one easier to sell than the other, I'd say it doesn't matter. You have the same basic principals of product sales. It mostly depends on how willing you are to get out and find your customer base. And also how well you keep up with followups with your current customer base.

If you don't mind me putting in my two "scents" I have had MUCH more success with Scentsy than I EVER dreamed possible. I was with a "food company" and what could be more consumable than that?? Well one problem that I ran into with food was expiration dates... and I know that cosmetics have the same issue. Not to mention I know that cosmetics need to be kept at quite specific temperatures. I don't have to worry about either one of these issues now.

Another PRO to selling candles is the versatility of the product... when you are dealing with cosmetics (I speaking in terms of gift giving) you have to know someone PRETTY well to be able to purchase them a cosmetic gift for someone. Candles are a crowd pleaser. Take a minute to think about your own gift giving list. How many people do you know that you could pick out a lip stick color or blush or what ever (I'm not really a make up wearer) with totally confidence? Pretty much everyone appreciates a great smelling home or office huh? And added benefit to having someone give your product as a gift is you NEVER know where your product will end up! If you have everything correctly labeled boom... there is a new customer, potential new hostess or even future team member! I know that one of my warmers ended up in Japan as a gift this Holiday Season!

Just a few of my thoughts on the subject. Do you have any particular candle companies you are looking at?

I've found in my PERSONAL experience that the candles were much easier to sell for the simple fact that I didn't wear make up (wasn't interested in wearing it), therefore, I couldn't make suggestions on color, application, etc....with candles, the scent selection is either you like it or you don't (you don't have to color coordinate with skin, clothes, and hair :) and you can burn it no matter what. Wether you had on makeup or not, you always want your home to smell nice!

With cosmetics, you aren't likely to have fundraisers (which is a wonderful and VERY profitable avenue with my candle company). Men and women, all ages (adult, of course) can enjoy a candle!

Candles are just much more flexible and reach a wider consumer group than you would find with cosmetics.

I sell more candles, but I love to be able to offer our line of Mineral Makeup to my existing customer base.
I too sold with a cosmetic company and was not able to move it as quickly. I move a ton of candles and dont have to do parties. Win-Win

Candle & Skincare/Makeup are both great products to sell.. It just all depends on what you are looking for in a Home Biz.. I sold skincare/makeup in the past as well & I had to be looking all the time for new Customer's/Parties because so many women (one's that I met) already had great products they were using & was not willing to change... (just saying what happened to me)

Whatever your PASSION is run with it.. You can do AWESOME in whatever you sell as long as you BELIEVE in the products & have a PASSION for what you are selling.. If there is ONE candle company you really LOVE better then the others then give it a try you will never know how it will turn out till you make that first step..

If you are making a list of pro's/con's remember everything on paper does not turn out the same when you put it to use.. It could be better or worse, but you will never know till you give it a try.. If it doesn't work for you then you know to move on, but you could surprise yourself & find the perfect fit for YOU...

Best Of Luck.. Make the jump in your PASSION & see where it leads you... ;)

ver well said Starshine

You could actually do both if you are okay with doing that but have to keep in mind that one will more than likely take precendence over the other.

With skin care and makeup products, returns are inevitable so make sure the company you choose (if you choose it) offers an easy return system for the customer and for you. People will also have makeup allergies so if you decide to go with a makeup or skin care line, make sure they are what they claim to be. With my previous company, I was telling people and was told that the natural mineral makeup line we carried was comparable to Bare Minerals. I purchased a few things for myself and discovered in reading the ingredients that they actually had artificial dyes, parabens, talc, etc. This could have been a major issue if someone had an allergic reaction which a lot of people do have that with certain chemicals such as Red 40 (a lady I know is highly allergic to this and it would send her to the hospital if she came into contact with it).

With candles and candle products, people know what they're getting. They see it in the brochure, smell it in the scent sample, and buy it. The only time I could think of them possibly doing a return is if the jar was broken upon receipt of a direct delivery order or something.

I personally think that selling candles would be easier than cosmetics. It is really hard to compete with retailers such as Sephora, Ulta and even Walmart and Target, which all carry cosmetics. I think that right now people are tending to shy away from buying expensive cosmetics and are now looking at options at Walmart, Target, etc.

The same can be said for candles because there are candles being sold at these places at well, but not the quality that you will find with some of the candle companies featured on this site. I know that store quality products and even Yankee cannot compare to the scent throw of Gold Canyon, and for a reasonable price, too.

I think most importantly, you should choose a company that you support and that you believe has a quality product so that you can stand behind what you are selling. That makes all the difference! Good luck!

You could actually do both if you are okay with doing that but have to keep in mind that one will more than likely take precendence over the other.

With skin care and makeup products, returns are inevitable so make sure the company you choose (if you choose it) offers an easy return system for the customer and for you. People will also have makeup allergies so if you decide to go with a makeup or skin care line, make sure they are what they claim to be. With my previous company, I was telling people and was told that the natural mineral makeup line we carried was comparable to Bare Minerals. I purchased a few things for myself and discovered in reading the ingredients that they actually had artificial dyes, parabens, talc, etc. This could have been a major issue if someone had an allergic reaction which a lot of people do have that with certain chemicals such as Red 40 (a lady I know is highly allergic to this and it would send her to the hospital if she came into contact with it).

With candles and candle products, people know what they're getting. They see it in the brochure, smell it in the scent sample, and buy it. The only time I could think of them possibly doing a return is if the jar was broken upon receipt of a direct delivery order or something.


The return policy for the cosmetics is a make or break type deal.....

Greetings!

I firmly feel it is not the product, it is the person who is selling the product! Any person can achieve great success in any company, if it's a company with a product they love.

I know people in many companies like Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, Melaleuca, Nikken and beyond who making 6 and 7 figure incomes ~ because they are doing what they LOVE to do!

As for candles vs cosmetics, the key is, what is YOUR passion and what do YOU feel is easier to sell?

Our line has candles AND cosmetics, this could be considered the best of both worlds to some. Some sell the candles, some sell the cosmetics, some sell both. :)

I personally had an much easier time selling Home Fragrance than I did body/skin/makeup products. Candles are an easy gift to anyone. Where with makeup, someone needs to be in search of a new product.

But that was just my experience :)

I actually joined Scentsy and have tried to sell comsmetics, and even candles, and juice. ;)

But Scentsy has been the most successful business yet and I have only been with them for about a month!

There are many good posts here the only thing I would add is that it appears that mineral makeup home parties are popular, think of all the makeup companies and the success they have.

Personal preference for myself because of my love for gourmet scented candles I feel selling a combination of Candles for the candle lovers, melting pots and wax melts for those who want just the scent but not the ambiance, room sprays, car fresheners are also very good selling products.

BTW for those who make their own wax melts there are places to buy wholesale warmers and plugins that you can offer at more reasonable prices than the popular warmer company and they have a much larger, cuter, assortment of warmers and even plugins at fantastic prices!!

Sometimes you have to think outside the box....;)

Good post Successwsweet:
We get our warmers from another source and they are less. Thier is another company on here where they could get thier warmers for less than 1/2 the price the company is charging them. You just have to be a smart cookie and do your own homework.

I buy my mineral makeup from Walmart. Oops! Sorry....Honestly! just jumping on your bandwagon...

Good....glad you found a good deal. You have to buy what you are used too. When it comes to makeup it is hard to switch brands or the colors are hard to match up.
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I agree on the expiration dates!! I found a half burned candle from my company at a thrift store that was so old i'd never even heard of the scent. Came home, lit it up, and it smelled up my whole house just like a brand new one!!
My sister in law, on the other hand, has her cosmetic "inventory" which her company encourages her to buy up front, and even though Im sure it does last longer if unopened, this would stress me out. How to sell what I have and not waste any? That cuts into profit big time.

I agree with others here who have suggested that its the person not the product, and that you should follow what you are PASSIONATE about, as well as what you are using the business to bring to your life (your big "WHY.) Those two things will fuel you more than any other choice about your business, in my opinion.

Indygirl I know you have been tossing this decision about for awhile, I say follow your heart and let it lead you to do the work that will build your success. Not saying there is no work, but that "heart-tug" and passion will truly make a difference.