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I'm a web designer and I work with almost all guys- we're like 90% male over here so I don't have a bunch of prospects to give my pitch! I'm still trying to get started in the business, having focused the past month on my web site and now trying to get some local action going. So I went to lunch with 4 of my male coworkers yesterday and the one who drove had a bunch of kids stuff and womens magazines in the back of his SUV so I gave him a catalog and asked him to give it to his wife. The other guys all asked for one too, and 2 of the guys have stores they are thinking of carrying candles in. 1 of them has done MLMs with his wife and the other said his roommate is always buying candles for his girlfriend.


Today, 1 of the guys with a store came over and offered to let me set up a table there on Saturday to sell candles and if it's successful he's going to sign up. I have yet to get a recruit, so I hope this pans out! I'm going to talk to the others again in a couple days - I don't want to be too pushy with my coworkers.

What great success Jen!


I have been hesitant to mention my candle business to men, but now I see that's a mistake!


Last weekend, I left brochures and samples with 4 of my cat-sitting clients. The fifth client was a single man, so I felt it was a waste of time leaving him my intro letter, brochure and sample. To be honest, I thought it was "silly" to leave the info for a single man.


You've proven me wrong.


Next time, I'll know better!


Blessings,


Vicki

Men like candles too, my dh lights them if I forget!!! smileys/smiley2.gifRemember don't prejudge "anyone". Think about it, we have alot of successful men in our company!! Bob,Charlie,John, and many more I am sure of!


Congrats!!

Well I had some reservations at first, having given my "spiel" to a couple of my male coworkers earlier and gotten responses like "if I want a candle I buy it at the grocery store" and "do you have beer-scented candles" and "single guys only buy candles when they have to!"All the single guys are totally uninterested, I think I just got lucky mentioning it to several married guys who are looking at the business potential.


I haven't tried making the votive roses, but I think I'm going to give it a shot and try to sell some of those at my table on Saturday.


I didn't mention my long saga about my experience with Scott Antiques Market, but if you're on that Yahoo board, you probably read it! So I'm looking for some good luck!

Oy yes I read that, I just can't believe it happened! Just don't let that keep you from taking this biz to the top!! :)

I went to check my booth at East Atlanta Antiques yesterday and I had sold 6 jars - I was thrilled! I just opened the booth April 1st and had no sales until Monday, when I sold a few votives. One of the guys at the shop told me I should redo my display on Sunday and helped me do a complete overhaul on it - and I went from selling nothing to $200 worth of sales in 3 days!!! smileys/smiley4.gif

Jen~


That is great! I need to come by and see how things look around there! I am excited for you!


Many Blessings,


Natalie

Wow that's awesome what you did at the antiques store. I'm going to have to tell my dad about how well you did. He owns an antiques store, but before I could even ask he made sure I knew he didn't want my candles there. He sells icky black sooty paraffin candles there for $16 and says they don't do very well. He always tells me people would rather buy candles at Walmart.


Could you maybe take a pic of your display? Maybe if I did a test display in his store and it did as well as yours I could totally convince him.

http://www.naturalmiabella.com/Booth/booth2.jpg


This is a store that rents booth spaces to people, so I don't know if that makes a difference. I think the location is the key with my booth because it's in a shopping plaza area that appeals to people who like this kind of stuff. I know that my sister hasn't had a lot of sales at her booth at an antiques market.Edited by: naturalmiabella

Jen-

BEAUTIFUL store display! My only suggestion is to put a small label on
each bin with the price of the products in that bin- the large sign in the
middle is distracting and breaks up your lovely display. You want people
to focus on the products, not the sign and the prices as the first thing
they center on!

Also, don't forget that retail is NOT your only option with this business,
and that you are not restricted to retailing to your coworkers. (and
remember that those single guys have MOMS, and will probably need
last-minute MOTHERS DAY GIFTS very soon.. Ha!smileys/smiley2.gif )

Don't rule out marketing your products online, when you are out in public
with brochures, free candle drawing slips, a sign in the rear window of
your car, etc.

Always be listening to what people say, and be sure to listen for
opportunities. People LOVE candles. It's easy when you are in a
restaurant to ask your server, "Hey! Do you ever use scented candles?"
and then leaver her a votive as a tip, in a cute cello baggie with a twist tie
and your reorder label with burning instructions attatched- make it a
little THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, ENJOY! card. They will APPRECIATE
it, and you may get re-orders or a new business parter. AND, because
you now turned this meal into a promotional opportunity, save the check,
because now it is a TAX DEDUCTION!smileys/smiley20.gif

There are so many MILLIONS of ways to do this business- it always
boggles my mind when people say "I tried Mia Bella and it just didn't work
for me". The real answer there is that the person DIDN'T WORK FOR IT.

Financial Freedom is Yours for the MAKING!

JUST DO IT!smileys/smiley4.gif

Edited by: UNcommonScents

Hi Jen,


Thanks so much for the pic. It really nice!


Many Blessings,


Natalie

Thanks for all the good advice candle goddess! I think that's an excellent idea to leave votives as "tips"! - I just picked up some of those drawstring bags yesterday at Target in the dollar section - 8 for $1!! Check your local Targets! They have a bunch of wedding stuff on display and I was trying to find some good stuff to use for packaging - I also bought some white rose bunches for $1 that I'm going to use to make my candle votives.

Thanks for the picture, it looks great!


Wow Kitt, that was a lot of great advice! Now I have an excuse to cook less and eat out more often!smileys/smiley4.gif


~Olivia~

Hey, Thanks for the great compliment, Olivia!

My aspiration has always been to become a professional business coach
some day. What a wonderful job, to help others succeed!

Of course, thanks to Scent-Sations, I already get to do that as a sponsor,
with my great Mia Bella team! smileys/smiley4.gif

I think that's my favorite part of this business- I can still be a teacher and
a mentor, but NOW I get to work for ME instead of the government!

(I am a Special Education teacher- I was ready to start working
on my PhD to become a professor!) smileys/smiley3.gif

No more Grad School.. And No more having to work on Good Friday!

Hurray! smileys/smiley2.gif

Wishing you all a blessed and peaceful Easter Weekend, --Kitt