WAHM Forums

Hi!I'm not sure if I've posted in this folder before. I don't think I have.


I'm interested in making candles. Of course I'd like to be able to make a profit from them. I'm no saleslady though. I'm terrible at it! Even if I was good at it, I don't like it!


This may be a long shot, but is there a way around it? I know some of you do online sales. Do you spend a ton of time marketing? Do your prices increase dramatically because of weight & shipping? Are you in profit?


Thank you so much for your time! :)


smileys/smiley4.gif

You should probably offer private labeling and wholesale to folks. They will come to you for the most part. I really believe in the "if you build it they will come" state of mind.


You should try it. You have nothing to lose and will only gain a new craft!

I think setting up an affiliate program would be a great idea. Let others sell them for you. I think private labeling idea is good too.





cindy

Hi...another idea would be to make your candles and set up a table at your area craft shows. Candles normally sell well and people love the homemade candles. Good luck smileys/smiley1.gif


Alison Boers

To be successful in any business you have to market and if the product
is new, you have to market A LOT. That's just how it issmileys/smiley5.gif



Shipping is a an issue especially because it just went up but it is
something that is relatively steady so you know how much you're going
to pay everytime. There are also organizations that you can join to
receive a discount on shipping smileys/smiley4.gif

*GASP!* I was shocked with some of these replies.......



First let me say I've been selling candles online for 3 years now. The
first 2 years were someone else's candles, the last year was my own
(well, I should say my mom's - it's a partnership, and she does the
actual "making" while I do all the computer work).



"If you build it, they will come".......ABSOLUTELY NOT!! smileys/smiley5.gif
That doesn't work with anything online, and CERTAINTLY doesn't work
with candles. Type in "soy wax candles" in quotes (which means an exact
search of that term), and you'll come up with over 100,000 website.
Build it and do nothing, and you'll be at the bottom of that pile. One
of our most unique items are the teddy bear jars, and searching on
google for that EXACT term STILL brings up over 600 results. Are we
even at the top? Heck no! I do quite a bit with search engine
optimization too, and we are FINALLY showing up for the term "Soy wax
candles" on MSN with little sales resulting in it, so that should tell
you something.



Craft shows.....while this IS a good idea and WILL work, unless you
have something that will stand out, you are going to have a hard time
selling the same thing as many others (depending on the area, but here
in the midwest you will be in competition with AT LEAST several
others). I just came home from a show of about 100 crafters. We were
one of at least 6 or 7 tables that I saw (and I could have missed one).
We have never been to a decent size craft show were there wasn't
another table full of candles. Competition isn't bad, BUT, there are
only so many shoppers to go around. You had better have something
unique!



Wholesale, affiliate, and dropshipping...again, hope you have something
unique and don't count on these sales every month. Gather these
accounts is GREAT, but it takes TIME. After a year, we have 2 local and
3 out of state wholesellers that buy a few times a YEAR. There's a few
dropshippers too that pull in MAYBE a sale or two a month. Wholesale
only should be a GOAL and not something you start out with. It's just
not enough to get by with if you aren't actively building a business.



With all that said, you CAN sell candles on the internet, local, and
wholesale. You need to make sure your business is built right, and that
your candles are of quality for an affordable price. Do NOT sell what
everyone else (or ANYONE else for that matter) is selling, but find
your niche. (Soy wax candles is NOT a niche by the way - of all those
craft tables I saw today, all but one was soy wax).We have several areas that make us stand out, including local delivery and refilling jars locally.



Shipping is not really a problem for us, especially since we just got a
shopping cart that figures exact shipping. Internet shoppers expect
shipping, and especially exact shipping rates with no hidden fees. If
you have something unique, it won't even be an issue and they won't
think twice. In fact, I've found that most try to buy more than just
one item to "make up" for shipping costs. The more they buy, the less
the shipping cost per item is and smart shoppers know this. At
Christmas of our first year, we had a $100 order because they were
taking care of gifts for more than one person on their list. ;)



As for private labeling, this isn't a bad idea but something we've
never really explored. Our wholesellers have never even brought it up,
and seem happy with selling them as "Prairie Soy Candles".



Don't mean to scare you off, but I did want to lay down the facts. ANY
business is going to take LOTS of hard work, marketing (doesn't matter
if it's wholesale or retail), and TIME. smileys/smiley2.gif

*GASP!* I was shocked with some of these replies.......

"If you build it, they will come".......ABSOLUTELY NOT!! smileys/smiley5.gif That doesn't work with anything online, and CERTAINTLY doesn't work with candles.




While I respect your opinion, saying that it won't work is not true. And, if you have the proper mindset, anything can and will happen. I'm sorry you have not been successful with your business, but that is no reason to project negativity. smileys/smiley18.gif


If you build it, they WILL come. I'll say it again because I believe it!

That's not so much of an opinion, but a fact. If you build a website
and do nothing, you will get nowhere. No amount of positive thinking
will change that either. ANY business takes hard work, period.
Especially online - there are BILLIONS of sites and the chances of
someone finding you online without you doing any type of marketing or
work after you build the site are so slim that you have a better chance
of winning the lottery (and it may be cheaper too!).



I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just stating a fact. I'm sorry you
feel as though I was trying to be hurtful, I've just seen too many
business go under because of that kind of thinking. Also to assume my
business is not successful is a bit of a slap in the face and a tad
rude. I have been online in business for over 3 years now, and feel I
am succesful in what I do. Just because I don't have that many posts
here doesn't mean a whole lot - I do not network that much because I
actively run my business in a variety of different ways (and I was
registered on the old boards as well, clear back in 2002). I happend to
stop by tonight because I had information to post for those in the
candle business.



I've seen what works and what doesn't - doing nothing obviously does
not work, and many others will tell you the exact same thing. For those
that think a business is easy and automatic, they have a big surprise
ahead of them!smileys/smiley5.gif



Since I don't come here much I may have missed this, but what type of
candles do you sell? I assumed you did since you were in the candle
makers folder.

Wholesale, affiliate, and dropshipping...again, hope you have something unique and don't count on these sales every month. Gather these accounts is GREAT, but it takes TIME. After a year, we have 2 local and 3 out of state wholesellers that buy a few times a YEAR. There's a few dropshippers too that pull in MAYBE a sale or two a month. Wholesale only should be a GOAL and not something you start out with. It's just not enough to get by with if you aren't actively building a business.

Just to take this a bit further here ... the original poster here is concerned with the "selling part". While I agree thatif she doesn't want to do the "individual candle" selling part ... setting up an affiliate program, wholesale and/or dropshipping might be a good idea. However remember, now not only does she still have to "sell the candles" AND now has to also "sell the business opp".

I also have to say ladies, please don't believe in the "If you Build It; They will Come" myth. And yes, I'm calling it a myth. It's by far not anyone's opinion it's plain and simple FACT. Try doing some of the experiments that Kara had mentioned. And as stated this is WITH search engine optimization. Can you imagine where her site would be sitting if she had just "Built It" for them "To Come"?


I'll admit, I don't sell candles. This is strictly facts from a business point of view. It doesn't matter what you're selling ... it's just a business fact ... especially an online business fact.


By the way ... I also speak from experience smileys/smiley2.gif I started out with the exact same mindset. Big mistake!


Keep in mind ... I'm not telling you it CAN'T work. If you work hard and efficiently of course it CAN be done. I'm just saying you can't do it with out working for it.


To be successful in any business you have to market and if the product is new, you have to market A LOT. That's just how it ishttp://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif
Well said smileys/smiley2.gif

Take care,
Anita smileys/smiley17.gif

Kara,


I must apologize. Looking back over the direction this thread has taken, it was not my intention to be rude. smileys/smiley9.gif I am actually aware of who you are because like you, I was a member of the old WAHM way back in 2002! So, we are WAHM sisters!


My point about "if you build it, they will come" was to project positive vibes about a potential business. I should hope anyone opening up a candle business would know that it takes dedication and hard work to make yourself successful.


I am also a fellow candle maker, and I pour my own soy candles. Everyone makes soy candles these days and you are right about finding your niche. You must stand out from the crowd in order to get noticed.


Again, I must apologize for the misunderstanding. I never meant to be rude.


Happy candle making! smileys/smiley1.gif