WAHM Forums

Hello Ladies!
I am pretty sure this topic has come up before but I would like for you all to share your ideas on making samples to hand out to customers.. Please help!!

I simply grate up votives. You can pick up an inexpensive grater at the Dollar store. I use 2x3 plastic zip bags avaiable at Michaels, JoAnnes or Hobby Lobby. Remove the wick from the votive & just grate away. I use about 1 teaspoon for each bag. Label the bag with the scent name & your contact info and you're good to go. I know some reps. smash the votives with a shoe or hammer which works too if you want a chunkier sample.
Have Fun!

Great idea satx728! Thanks...

Ditto.....i grate and bag one night a week...

What about using a jar to make samples? My partner, MissKen and I are about to launch a campaign and we want to leave samples all over the city (without breaking the bank!) :D
This area is growing QUICKLY and MB is not that well known in these parts...we want to do a break-out campaign.....you know, put MB on the map! :D

Any suggestions for melting down a jar to make make samples (preferably using a mold of some sort).....

What about using a jar to make samples? My partner, MissKen and I are about to launch a campaign and we want to leave samples all over the city (without breaking the bank!) :D
This area is growing QUICKLY and MB is not that well known in these parts...we want to do a break-out campaign.....you know, put MB on the map! :D

Any suggestions for melting down a jar to make make samples (preferably using a mold of some sort).....
Wow Deshia, I don't know how you would melt an entire jar safely. I have made samples from a jar but it had been broken during shipping and all I had to do was carefully peel off the broken glass. I have heard that some people use votives and/or melts and a simmer pot make the samples in molds. It will be interesting to see what others suggest.

I've grated, but I now mostly melt either a voive or a melt and put it in a tiny ice cube tray (my daughter had an ice cube tray that came with a baking set). This makes cute little rectangular samples. I then put them in the small bead bags I buy at Walmart 100 for 1.00, and I label them.

I have tried using a jar candle to make samples, but to be quite honest the scent is not the best from that most of the time, so you do need to be careful. I have done this when I got to the bottom and what was left was liquid. Some scents worked fine--the scent was still true and strong, but others did not--just my opinion.

I like both options--grating and molds for different reasons. I have heard others mention that they use candy molds which would be cute, too.


Melissa

You can melt the wax in the jar by placing it in the oven on the "warm" setting. Nothing higher than 200 degree. Once the wax starts to melt you can pour into sample trays or anything where you can peel the wax out of to make samples.

Do NOT warm for too long or too hot. The wax will start to loose scent.

Hth,

Greetings!

I always want to help others stretch their dollars and wanted to share that it is more cost effective to use votives, one votive should make about 35 scent samples. If you do a wholesale price comparision; you get 16 oz of wax in a jar and 15 oz of wax in a 6 pack of votives ~ and the votives cost a wee less. :)

If you use a jar be careful how you choose to melt it, our candles have the 2 metal wick tabs and can not be used on 'candle warmers' due to this fact (as there is a possibility of the candle bursting at the metal tabs and causing quite a mess)

A side note: The melted shape samples are adorable, I used to make little 'hearts' and on my little bag would print a sticker that said "You'll LOVE our scents!" (now I grate them as I feel the aroma is more powerful in powder form) but I wanted to share to be sure not to be tempted to sell them as this is against company policy.

Either way have fun, making samples makes the house smell extra amazing!!! (if you have kids often they like to help if you do the grated ones, they can grate, scoop and stick stickers!)

Yes, I know about that rule, besides, I wouldn't want to sell a "sample".

Ok, I'm hearing a lot of grating....what is the simplest, cleanest way to achieve this? I've used those but I used to purchase them from another distributor, who doesn't do that anymore :(

Time is DEFINITELY not on my side, so I'm just weighing my options.

Thanks for the feedback!

I know you can buy an inexpensive grater, but I bought a "Food Network" grater at Kohl's that cost a bit more and I feel like it is so worth it, because if completely does away with any mess. It is a cone shaped grater with a handle at the top and a plastic container attached to the bottom that catches all of the gratings. The votives grate very quickly and easily, and then you just spoon them into whatever little sample bags you are using. I staple them to a business card and hand them out as I go about my day.

Good luck!

That's great that you are aware, perhaps some newer reps are not aware yet so hopefully that info can help to guide them :)

There have been several distributors who have sold samples over they years, some have sold on ebay, some have created websites, they have gotten in big trouble from corporate as this is another no-no.

The rule is 'no item may be modified from its original form and sold'. We are very blessed they allow us to grate candles for samples as some of the other candle companies do not allow their reps to do this!

Sorry to share all the no-nos here today, that is no fun! When I share here I keep in mind that many people read the threads and the threads provide useful information not only to the people reading it now, but also there is a potential that people may stumble upon it months or years from now. Many newbies out there are not sure of these rules and have many neat and creative ideas not knowing the liability for implementing their ideas :)

For grating, a dollar tree chees grater works great, only takes about a minute or two!

Some put a votive in a gallon zip lock and whack it with a rolling pin!

Others use a coffee grinder and have it done within moments!

Anne--sounds like you are set to go with your samples..that's awesome.


Alethea--I think it's great that you remind all of us of company policies especially when an issue can easily crop up and someone through misunderstanding does the wrong thing. I can't imagine selling a sample, but I come from a strong retail background so that's just been "beaten" into me. Anyway, I think this forum is the perfect place to bring up policies especially when a discussion such as samples crops up.

I want to say one more thing about samples: I know I am weird, but I confess when my sponsor sent me the grated samples, I just did not like that---yes, I am weird. I mention that because there may be some like me who would rather get a "feel" for what the wax is like. That is why although I sometimes still grate my votives,I also melt some down--that way I have different types of samples. I suppose I am just a little strange that way. I can't even explain why I personally don't like the grated samples, but I just found it a little strange...

A melted sample also has the benefit of showcasing our pretty "fern effect" in the wax. Don't worry I will still grate some, I just thought I would mention my first impression of the samples I got---Hey, in the end I stilled signed up, so I guess that really wasn't a big deal:D


Melissa

Greetings,

Oops, my apo if I created some confusion :) I've never seen anyone sell a single 'sample', they were grouped and sold as little shaped melts or sachets. It was a very common practice for awhile until corporate made it clear...

Not strange at all for liking the shapes! I started with shapes back in 2004/2005 then went to grated when there was an instance of a kid somewhere who ate someone's shaped sample as the kid thought it was a candy. (our scents smell so good we wanna bite'em instead of lite'em!) A whole thread came up about the possibility of a child choking, etc... and at that point I went back to grated wax. I agree, it's not as cute as the little hearts I made, but I feel safer this way since I do a lot of card dropping :)

Our wax is so gorgeous and in the hearts it would always cool is such a gorgeous pattern too!

Alethea,

Great information--hadn't thought about that possibility at all! Also, you weren't misleading, you were just sharing what could easily become an issue---so no worries.

Okay, now back to the sample looking like candy..is anyone else here old enough to remember the round lime green Mr. Yuck stickers that you were given at school and your parents were supposed to place them on all poisonous or harmful substances around the house? Now, please don't get me wrong, I would never stick one on one of my samples, but can't you just picture that?;)

Now, I have to totally rethink my sample strategy, or maybe I simply hand out samples to those with older children, and since I have both, give the crushed to those with little ones. Asking someone about the children in his/her home would be an easy way to make that personal connection that makes Direct Sales so great!

Raising hand LOL. Melissa I remember those stickers. Nope not gonna tell ya my age now Heehee~

Ok, been following the thread....

Alethea--thanks for the VERY USEFUL and INFORMATIVE information.....no its not boring! :D
MandMsmommy--You are not weird! I have the same concerns. My biggest thing is I want to pass a sample to a prospect that they can actually make use to give them a taste to make them want to say "hey, this is pretty darn good....I think I want to buy!" I was looking for an alternative to the shavings because I don't know if any of you have come across this but a few years ago, an email was circulating talking about color and taste being added to meth and cocaine to make it more attractive to children....well, when you shave down the votives into samples, that is the first thing I think about when I see it in that form. That can be a very awkward situation if you are pulled over and law enforcement see a large quantity of this on your person, ya know?! :confused: I'm just looking at that aspect......

I"m a sponge and I'm enjoying all of this information being passed along, though....keep it coming! :)

Ok, been following the thread....

Alethea--thanks for the VERY USEFUL and INFORMATIVE information.....no its not boring! :D
MandMsmommy--You are not weird! I have the same concerns. My biggest thing is I want to pass a sample to a prospect that they can actually make use to give them a taste to make them want to say "hey, this is pretty darn good....I think I want to buy!" I was looking for an alternative to the shavings because I don't know if any of you have come across this but a few years ago, an email was circulating talking about color and taste being added to meth and cocaine to make it more attractive to children....well, when you shave down the votives into samples, that is the first thing I think about when I see it in that form. That can be a very awkward situation if you are pulled over and law enforcement see a large quantity of this on your person, ya know?! :confused: I'm just looking at that aspect......

I"m a sponge and I'm enjoying all of this information being passed along, though....keep it coming! :)
I find it sad and irritating that in today's society, someone, somewhere can take the most ordinary, innocent and common things and turn them into major issues! Years ago the "not for human consumption" label was placed on bottles of lemon scented dish soap because 1 person drank it. People sue because their coffee is hot. Where has all the common sense gone? If a policeman can't tell a bag of grated, scented wax from a bag of cocaine, they need to find another profession. If some kid tries to snort grated candle wax, they deserve the consequences. If a kid takes a bite out of a piece of wax that looks like a piece of candy, I bet they spit it out pretty quickly. I guess I'm just tired of having my life rearranged and influenced by the stupidity of a few.
Sorry ya'll for ranting about this. I'll get down off my soapbox before I fall and have to sue someone.

SATX, I understand what you are saying, and I share some of your frustration. But I am merely stating concerns that are very real to me. I hate the way our lives have changed because of frivilous lawsuits and fatal accidents as a result of common sense but, I guess we have to play the best hand with the cards we are dealt.
Drug use and experimentation is real and rampant. I don't want anyone to be harmed by our products because they are mistaken about what it really is. The situation with law enforcement, I don't want to go through the embarassment of going through that process until they figure out its just wax, neither.

All I'm trying to do is explore my options for samples to see what works best for me in my area. :)

Deshia,
I totally understand what you are saying and my comments were not directed in any way towards you. My point was just that it's a shame that we have to even think about this. When I was a child had I bitten into something that LOOKED like candy, my mother would have told me I shouldn't put stuff in my mouth and moved on. Wonder why we can still buy "artificial" fruit.
Sorry if I offended you, that was not my intention.
Jackie

I totally love the grated scent samples. It's easy, CHEAP and something I can do while watching TV (which I rarely do) and also something I can pay my 9 year old to do. In fact he does it for both me and my neighbor who are both distributors.

The idea behind the samples is just to generate interest and conversation.

Think about all the samples of things you have gotten over the years. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten a "cheap knife" from a food show, or a orange peeler from a tupperware show, or even one of those keychains tupperware bowls AND fake dollar bills to put in my wallet.

Most people never use them...it's just something to generate interest and conversation in your business.

I encourage everyone to keep it simple and focus what will get a conversation going to help generate sales, leads and new distributors.

Have fun with your business and you will see success :-)