sockmonkey

SouthernScents, did you buy it off of ebay or something? I would be livid if that happened to me. If it doesn't work and they refuse to take it back I would either go to Paypal and file a complaint (if that's how you paid), or notify my credit card company that you received defective merchandise and the vendor will not replace it. Other than that, you might try writing to company headquarters of the store you bought it from, or even ProvoCraft and let them know about your dissatisfaction. HeavenScentU, the cartridges are available at Michael's, Joann's, Hobby Lobby, Kmart, and Walmart, and you might be able to find them at local craft stores as well. The regular price for them is $89, but you can usually find them on sale for $59-$69. If you look online (ebay and other sellers) you can find them for less. I haven't really done anything with mine yet, other than turn it on and test cut a few letters, but it worked really well. I tried it on cardstock and regular paper and it made very precise cuts, so I guess it would work well for stencil making.

Presentation usually does mean a lot, however when it comes to kids and fundraisers, most folks (parents, relatives, neighbors, co-workers) will order regardless, because they feel guilty if they don't; plus they know they'll be hitting you up some time in the future too. You could give each kid one candle to use as a sample, but 40 candles is a lot, plus if they're younger kids you don't want them handling glass. You could probably use those small tins that people use for lip balms. That would be a good size, is inexpensive, and sturdier than plastic cups. But, do you think kids would lose them? I agree with others, that it would be uncommon for kids to actually have samples, but if you think that would be beneficial, go for it.

Here's a link with a lot of information about them. If you want to find more, just do a search. There were a lot of posts in the candlemaking and business section regarding reed diffusers. http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48784&highlight=reed+diffusers

It's supposed to cut paper and cardstock--vellum to bazille. It also will cut vinyl up to 3 mil thick, according to the Cricut website. I've visited some scrapbooking forums and it seems like a lot of folks are dumping their Sizzix in favor of the Cricut. But I can see why it would be hard to part with something after you've invested so much money in something.

Anybody here into scrapbooking or card making and use a Cricut? The Cricut is all I hear about, so I finally found a good deal on one and ordered it. I was wondering if anyone has any samples of their work they'd like to show.

Ahh! I love a happy ending!

Originally Posted by kinipela "I assumed the check was lost since I had not heard from them. I had left a message for show manager 1, and she never got back to me. During our one phone call, she told me her mother had gotten really sick and died during this time frame. She didn't recall getting that message either, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt on that. Why wouldn't I assume it lost? It had not been cashed, I had not heard anything. How was I to know it wasn't a scam? And they tried to cash the check 2 weeks after the show." Ok, with all due respect, I have to ask...why is it ok for YOU to assume the check was lost, but it isn't ok for THEM to assume you got your packet?

I think the general concensus here is that the application may have gotten lost in the mail, and even if it was not, you should have taken the initiative to contact the promoter much earlier than you did. Everybody has a life to live and everybody's busy, so that's not really a valid reason to say why it took so long to contact them. I'm sure you were posting here during the waiting period between Aug. and Nov. 25, and you surely had to see many threads about craft shows, etc. How could it not jog your memory at any time regarding your own show? No, it does not cost $35 for someone to open an envelope and read an application. In what you have described, it wasn't really a $35 application fee. It was $35 booth rental. The $35 fee goes in part to pay salaries. Someone has to perform workerbee duties--make copies, mail packets, pay bills, review paperwork, and determine placement of booths/vendors, etc. In some cases, workers don't get paid at all; instead of salaries, that amount goes to charity. It also goes to the cost of renting a facility, and paying for advertising. When the form says fees are non-refundable that only applies if you are accepted to the event. Once you are accepted you can't put a stop payment on your check because you changed your mind; your financial situation has changed; you found a better show; you're sick; you've got a funeral to attend; you can't get ready in time, etc. I'm sure they've heard them all. I have only been considering the fact that you were accepted for this event. It didn't occur to me that you may have been rejected. If you were rejected for this event, then yes they would have to return your money. If the manager couldn't remember mailing you a packet, then being rejected might explain it. That is the only way, in my opinion, that you will be able to get your money back.

I don't think I understand what you're going for either, but couldn't you make a chunky pillar--white with black chunks?

It's perfectly legal to have non refundable fees associated with applications. The reason being is that it takes manpower for someone to open mail and process the application. A lot of organizations assess such a fee--universities, apartments, and banks to name a few. However, once an individual's application is accepted, then usually more money is required afterward, provided they meet whatever requirements have been established. In the situation at hand, it isn't clear to me if the $35 fee was truly an application fee, or if it was the entire fee needed to participate in the craft fair.

Is this deja vu, or didn't we have another thread nearly identical to this a while back, only someone wanted to get out one show in order to do another one? Maybe I'm mistaken. One thing that a court will look at is the reasonable expectation the promoter had in expecting that the mail would be delivered by the post office. The information packet really wasn't that time sensitive, nor did it contain anything of a monetary nature that would warrant a signature. It is unreasonable to expect a business to send every document certified or registered as proof that a document was mailed in the ordinary course of conducting business. Have you never mailed anything that didn't make it to it's destination? It happens. Have you never mailed a check only to get a phone call asking where your payment is when you KNOW you sent it? The post office mis-delivers and damages mail all of the time. The promoter could not possibly have known you hadn't received your packet unless you contacted them. Of course, as you say, perhaps they never mailed it, but you know they will never admit to that in court. If you had contacted them earlier they would have been able to mail another packet to you and this whole mess could have been avoided. It could be a matter as simple as someone typing a wrong digit in your address that prevented you from getting it. How would you feel if, as an example, in August someone gave you a $50 check as a non-refundable deposit on candles for a fundraiser and you were going to mail an information packet to this person containing all the pricing information and order sheets needed to carry out the fundraiser. You told them they would have the packet by Nov. 5th. You mail the packet and in the mean time you're busy buying supplies and pouring candles in preparation. You were due to have all inventory ready by Dec. 1st. Then on Nov. 25th the person calls you and cancels their order because they didn't receive their packet. You were courteous enough not to cash their check prior to that date, but then you decide you will go ahead and cash it afterwards to at least try to cover the cost of your supplies, only to find out they put a stop payment on it. How would you react as a business person under those circumstances? The thorn in everybody's side in this issue is actually the delivery (or lack of) of the packet, which will end up being attributed to the post office. I can't believe the person is really willing to go to small claims court, but if they've got enough money and time on their hands anything is possible. I just hope the matter can be resolved fairly for all parties concerned.

A simple "why would you ask that question" should have shut her up. Answer a question with a question and they can usually figure out you're on to them.

I don't know the details of the contract, but they probably didn't have to have a signature on the application. You submitting the check constitutes your acceptance to the terms on the application, and many times a document will state such terms. It may also state "not responsible for lost or misdirected mail," which is probably what they will end up saying happened to your packet even though they have already told you they didn't remember sending you one. How can you prove in court you didn't receive the document if they say they mailed it? You won't be able to. How will they be able to prove they mailed it if it wasn't sent certified or registered? They won't be able to. But they will be able to say that everyone else got their packets and participated in the event. They will also say that you knew since August that packets would be sent out no later than Nov. 5th and that they had no way of knowing that you hadn't received yours until you called 20 days after that date to tell them you were canceling. You had months to prepare for the show and then 6 days before the show you cancel? Most people would have panicked within a few days after the 5th if they had not received the packet and contacted them about it, so from that respect it does not look good.

Maybe hit up small hole-in-the-wall gift shops. Check to see if a laundromat might be willing to sell them on consignment. You usually have a captive audience there with nothing to do between loads, so they'll probably sniff your candles, and will probably have some extra change on them to buy one. Try Craig's List. It's free. If you can't sell them there you might try to barter them for something else. Just make sure you include pictures.

Before you go changing everything, ask yourself this--did the majority of your sales come from this man's store? If not, then it's not anything you should worry about. Only a certain percentage of people in the area shopped at his store. He may be a terrible business person, but expecting people to avoid buying your candles just because they were sold in his store would be like someone saying they will never buy a Lazy Boy recliner because he sold them. You have already created your brand, your look. Changing that now will be like starting over again. Not only that, but for purposes of your lawsuit, if you change the look of your product it will be difficult to prove that your lack of sales are a result of anything he did, and not as a result of your new labels. As far as marketing, what kind of plans do you use now with the clients you have? Do you have incentive or referral plans? Do you belong to any business or crafter's groups? Those always provide a way to toot your own horn. Also, if you teach classes, that gets your name out there. Places like Joanne's pay people to teach classes. Sometimes libraries have community classrooms where they pay you to give a lesson on crafts. Universities may also pay you to teach non-credit classes, and you don't need a degree to do it. At a university here they've had classes for flower arranging, photography, stand up comedy, etc. The class may only last one night, or it might be as much as 10 weeks, but I would think that candlemaking would be a popular class.

Contact NG. I don't know if they manufacture their own fragrances or not, but I do know that sometimes manufacturers will tweak their formulas and have different versions of the same scent. Also, scents can change as they age.

Alajane, I read where you said she claims to have shredded the invoice and never read your warning, but I'm just far too cynical to believe it. I honestly think that she was "spooked" by your message. Maybe she's right. Maybe the candle wasn't putting out a strong throw; but to be fair to her, she shouldn't have been put in the position of waiting for the candle to cure in the first place. I know she was anxious to get the candles, and you were anxious to make a sale, so it was the creation for a perfect storm. This makes me think about that old commercial where they said "We shall sell no wine before its time." The same should be true of your candles. The thing about the situation is, even if the candles are identical to the previous candle she had, it's really not fair to notify her after you ship them, that she has to wait for them to cure properly before she burns them--especially during Christmas when she may have purchased them for gifts. That's the only reason I would consider taking them back.

I guess the number one thing to add to your policy list is never sell candles before they're properly cured. I think the power of suggestion planted the idea in her head that she can't smell the candle. She went looking for trouble. If, at the end of two weeks she's not happy, get the candles back and refund her money. If you made those candles exactly as you have all the others and never encountered any problems you shouldn't have to offer a "satisfaction guaranteed or get your money back AND keep the product" policy. Get those candles and sell them to someone else.

F.Y.I., I had Pink Sugar from them that did the same thing. After I "thawed" it out it re-crystalized later in what wasn't used. The good news is that it doesn't affect the scent.

Amber & Vanilla, and Pink Sugar are top sellers for me.

I haven't run across any anti-bacterial bases yet. But I did find a recipe using lemon essential oil which has anti-bacterial properties. Lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus are supposed to have anti-bacterial properties as well. Thyme for lemon Melt and Pour Soap This is a sweet scented Melt and Pour Soap Recipe with strong anti-bacterial properties. 2lb 2oz clear soap base 2 tsp coconut oil 1 tbsp Lemon essential oil 1tsp thyme essential oil 4 tsp dried thyme leaves 2 tsp grated lemon peels A drop or two of yellow colorant Molds of your choice Follow the step by step instructions on melt and pour soapmaking. Melt your soap base, add in your coconut oil and stir in. Set aside, let cool for a few minutes before adding in your fragrance or essential oils. Add in your lemon peels and thyme leaves along with your essential oils. Pour into your mold, as your soap starts to thicken stir once more to make sure your lemon peels and thyme leaves are evenly distributed throughout the soap. If you don’t restir the soap, your thyme leaves will rise to the surface of the soap which is also attractive, and your lemon peels will sink to the bottom so the choice is up to you. Let harden, unmold, cut and use.

If your sink isn't real deep you might consider a bathtub full of hot water. That way you can probably get most of them in the tub at one time, submerging them in deeper water and possibly generate more heat by leaving the door closed (kind of like a sauna effect).

Some companies only have one catalog that is given to retailers and the public. They often include a cover letter to the retailer thanking them for their interest in the product and lists minimums and to call for pricing, or that wholesale pricing is 50% of list price. It's too late to do it now, but the next time you print one you might consider putting your wholesale price in code. I have one supplier that shows a retail price, but also lists a "stock" number, which is actually the wholesale price in reverse order (the first number is the last digit in the price, so a $125 item may read as 521xyz).

Having a delivery time of 2-3 weeks will not present a problem for most buyers at trade shows. It's not unusual for vendors to tell buyers to allow extra time because they frequently get backlogged with orders during tradeshows, so it's good that you will be able to tell them the anticipated delivery time. I don't know what wholesale policies you have in place, but generally, buyers pay for things 100% up front unless the vendor offers credit terms. Most vendors commonly offer $150, $300, or $500 minimums and then there are the "big dogs" where you will have to spend $1,000 - $3,000 for minimum orders, but they are not really your competition. I think it will be important for you to do more than one show, because in the tradeshow business you need to build a reputation (no different than doing craft shows), so that people know to look for you every time they go to the show. Finally, don't let yourself be intimidated by thinking that you might be overwhelmed with orders. At your first show, people will probably limit their orders to the minimal amount required just because they are not familiar with your product. But as you do more shows and people are used to seeing you and your product then the volume will increase.

Thank you! I'll give that a try.