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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye
Considering the thought of becoming a candle maker and conducting candle parties yourself is not nearly as scary as you might imagine. Because instinctual wax candles made of Soy or Palm waxes are hitting the market in a big way, these specialized candles will have your merchandise standing out. Being the candle producer yourself, you are able to control the quality, pricing, time of delivery and benefits. Representing one of the large candle companies marketing their Soy candles or Palm wax candles puts you completely at their mercy.
Party designing for them leaves you collecting the remainder scraps for your own profit. No matter how it looks on paper, the large instinctual wax candle companies are making the gains. You are only their pawn promoting their products. If you do the candle parties, the cost to the company is less than having them hire an ad agency and doing promotional campaigns. Most only offer small cash percentages of the total sales from the party, whenever any, but commonly will sell you their products discounted off the MSRP. Why do they never offer you a discount off the actual merchandising cost of the candle?
Finding Your Niche
Candles can be developed from all kinds of candle wax: Paraffin, Soy wax, Palm wax or beeswax. With the education of individuals concerning health issues, Soy, Palm and beeswax are making the boom in the candle business. You may desire to consider making the instinctual wax candles because they come from instinctual sources, rather than paraffin wax which is derived from petroleum. natural wax candles are also healthier to burn producing less soot, longer burning and do not irritate allergies. For the function of this article, we will assume you have chosen to make Soy wax candles your specialty.
Manufacturing Soy candles is more cost effective over the more dear beeswax. Soy wax can be purchased for $1.50 per pound where beeswax sells for $5.00 and more per pound. The price to produce beeswax is higher so naturally the retail cost of the beeswax is higher than Soy. Quantity purchasing of course reduces the price per pound, but beeswax still will always price more.
Do the Research and Possibly Finding a training Resource
The Internet is the best place to do the research on "How to Make Soy Candles." Most candle suppliers have step-by-step instructions for the do-it-yourselfer. Some of these same suppliers offer themselves as coaches or tutors willing to aid you get started in the Soy wax candle business. It is profitable for them to have you become a success and for you to continue buying your supplies from them. That's a fair trade for their knowledge and expertise.
Soy candle making kits is a good place to start. Take baby steps at first before making the plunge into becoming a candle manufacturer. I suggest purchasing one of their Soy wax candle making kits which range in cost from $49 to $150 and come with basic instructions. Make sure this is a business you will be interested in and enjoy. The best and most successful businesses are those that the owners actually enjoy doing. When you detect the candle making business a real chore and dread the process of making Soy candles, you will fail and lay with other home business owners who have failed.
Calculate the price of buying a minimal amount of Soy wax and supplies to make your first batch of candles. Don't forget to pay yourself for your time to make those candles. Divide the price of your supplies and your time by the number of Soy candles that could be made. This will give you the precise cost for each candle produced. Now, research some of the candle websites to find out what would be a good MSRP for the same type, style, and size of candle. Place your actual marketing cost for your candle somewhere in between the MSRP and your cost to produce it. Lean towards making as much profit as possible. Whenever you review other candle websites, don't be the cheapest and don't be the dearest. Give your product a real value. After all, your wares are handmade Soy candles.
Finding Customers to buy Your Handmade Soy Candles
It has been proven that when you give a little away, your customers will return and buy much more. Select two or three of your closest and honest friends and extended family members to be your critics. As you are learning to make quality Soy candles, give them to these select few. Ask them for their opinions on colour, fragrance and presentation. Don't give away your major candle product. Let them try more inexpensive merchandise like tea lights or votive candles. Doing it this way won't consume too much of your initial candle making supplies.
These select few will enjoy your free offerings and will tell their friends how wonderful your Soy candles are. When you play your cards right, they may even suggest that you do candle parties and offer becoming your first hostesses. This is a subtle way of building a work force without trying. Your future party network is in the beginnings of becoming a reality.
Conducting Your Soy Candle Parties
Candle parties are simple to plan and you will find a large number of clients interested in free products for putting on a small social event. Talk to your product testers that you recruited from friends and family. Soy candle parties are also a great way to network, have fun, and make new friends though making an additional income. Hosting candle parties in retirement homes, trailer parks, recreation halls, etc. will peak the curiosity of potential new clients. Conducting parties in homes provides a relaxed and informal atmosphere that promotes personalised attention to your customers. This wills assistance softens their defensive walls they came with since they know you want them to buy something.
Focus on the Soy candle party being a party instead of a sales event, and it will be easier for you to think of the guests to invite. Send out cute handmade and individualised invitations to the guest list at least three weeks in advance. Don't be shy by not asking them to R.S.V.P. or inviting some of their friends to attend. You need to know how many to plan for as with any party. Three days before the event, personally call each person on your guest list to remind them of the upcoming event.
Purchase a few snacks and beverages from your local discount food warehouse such as Costco, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, etc. Remember, you are putting on a social event, not just a sales party for Soy candles. You want the guests to enjoy themselves and feel relaxed. if your guests are concentrating on being thirsty and hungry, they will not hear a word about your Soy candle products.
Create an inviting atmosphere with a few soy wax candles lit of several different fragrances in strategic areas of the party room. Include little information cards next to the candles indicating the fragrance of the candles. Let your customers experience your product tho' letting them know a little about your fragrance offerings. Create an inviting center display of your merchandise. Place them at different levels using boxes at different heights and covered with a solid coloured piece of material. Maybe consider surrounding your display with real or silk flowers and ivy or consider tastefully arranged fruit.
Party favours are always a plus. A few different Soy tea light candles in an organza bag that your customers can enjoy while at home. These favours will entice customers to make a purchase later or even increase their order after they used a new fragrance tea light. Whenever you are not hosting the party, remember your hostess or party planner. Allow them to choose any Soy candle of their choice for FREE for putting on the party. The cost to you will be minimal, and is an adept investment if leaving the party with a few hundred dollars in orders.
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