SolveYourProblem
Article Series:
How To Start
A Craft Business
Profitable
Candle Making Tips
by SolveYourProblem.com
Do you enjoy making candles, and always seem
to receive positive comments from friends and family? If you
think you have a flair for making eye-catching candles, you
may want to consider a candle business. But before you begin
to market your candles, make sure you follow these five tips
for profitable candle making.
1)
Calculate your costs
Before you begin to think of pricing, calculate the exact
cost of each candle you make. This can be tricky since you
probably plan to buy your supplies in bulk. To calculate the
cost per candle, work out the cost per ounce of each of your
ingredients. For instance, you’ll want to know how much you
are paying for paraffin wax, acid, color, scent, and any other
ingredients you may use to make your candles. Measure how many
ounces of each ingredient you use in each candle, and then
multiply that number by the cost per ounce. This should give
you a good idea of how much it costs you to make one basic
candle. If your candles are accompanied by any type of accessory,
such as ribbons, bows, natural accents, or containers, don’t
forget to add the cost of these to the total cost of each candle.
You should also add the approximate cost of the wick. As a
general rule, you should price your candles 3 or 4 times the
price of production. If you plan to sell your candles wholesale,
pricing should be set at roughly 2 times the cost of production.
2)
Buy your supplies in bulk
It’s always a good idea to purchase your basic supplies, like
wax and jars, in bulk. Contact your supplier and see if they
are willing to provide any further discounts. Most shipping
companies also provide a sizeable discount if you order more
than 200 pounds in supplies. Also, if you use a wide variety
of candle fragrances, consider limiting the number of fragrances
you use until you become better established. Producing such
a variety of candles can make it difficult to turn a profit.
3)
Approach local shops with your candles
One of best ways to become profitable through candle making
is to get your line of candles carried at local shops. Approach
a local store that carries a good selection of candles and
ask to make an appointment with the store manager. Be professional
and courteous—some people aren’t as open to sales pitches as
others, so make certain you don’t come on too strong. If you
aren’t able to secure an appointment with the store manager,
or if the store personnel seem busy or unapproachable, be very
polite and offer to return at another time. It’s a good idea
to leave materials that they can review at their leisure. Be
prepared with brochures, samples, and business cards. Follow
up at another date to see if they’ve had a chance to review
your products.
If you find a store that seems open to your products, offer
to provide them with a few candle samples that they can leave
burning on the front counter. This provides you with good exposure
and free market testing. Also, if customers express interest
in your sample, there’s a good chance that the store will consider
carrying your candles.
4)
Specialize in a popular ‘theme’
If country-themed candles are popular where you live, by all
means, specialize in creating your own special brand of country-themed
candles. Natural candles that incorporate the use of leaves,
twigs, dried flowers and fruit, are also very popular. And,
of course, you will want to consider seasonal and holiday-themed
candles. Find out what sells best in your area and base your
candle creations on this information.
5)
Never underestimate the power of smell
Make sure your potential customers can smell your candles!
Many people work hard on creating beautiful, long-lasting candles,
but package their candles in a way that makes them impossible
to smell before purchase. Most people, whether they realize
they’re doing it or now, sniff candles before buying them.
If your candles have distinct fragrances, make certain the
packaging allows customers to enjoy them. Otherwise, all your
hard work to create sweet and memorable fragrances may not
be readily evident to potential customers.
# # # # # SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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