sockmonkey

I haven't noticed any sweat on my goat's milk m&p. I sell mine "naked." It sits out in the open, unwrapped. When a customer buys a bar I will put it in a plain brown bag (lunch bag) or a clear cellophane bag. I think some types might be more prone to it than others. I used honey m&p, which was a clear amber in color and noticed it seemed to sweat.

Yankee doesn't give "free shipping." They give "freight allowance" based on the amount you spend, up to 6%. If you have a tax ID number (which I assume you do, otherwise you wouldn't be doing business with companies wanting large orders of candles), just contact Root and ask for a copy of their wholesale catalog. If the people you are dealing with are within driving distance of you, then offer them free shipping on their first order of $3000. That should make them put up or shut up. I suspect then they will start whining that they get free hutches next.

I could be wrong, but I don't know why adding stabilizer would be any more likely to cause anything funky to grow in lotions than adding fragrance oils would. The stabilzer was specifically created to be used in your b&b products--the various vegetable oils and powders people sometimes add to their pre-made bases are natural products and therefore subject to deteriorate over time, which can lead to the funkiness you're worried about.

I have a gift shop and carry my own soaps and lotions too, but the primary seller in my store is Yankee candles. The other well known lines that that I carry are: Willow Tree Angels, Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, Stonewall Kitchen gourmet food items, Manual Woodworkers and Weavers, and Duckhouse Dolls. Here is what I would add if I were you: purses, jewelry, tassle dolls, candle accessories. I wanted to get Vera Bradley handbags, but a mall just opened close to here that carries Vera, so I decided I definitely would not be able to compete against the mall, so I passed on it. For you, if no one else around you has it, I would strongly suggest you look into investing in it! The rep told me it was a $7500 opening order, which is a huge amount, but well worth it from what I have heard from other store owners I know who carry it. The money they make off of them is what pays their rent. If you can't swing that, Victorian Heart is another company that sells quilts and quilted handbags (Vera wannabees). I've sold a ton of their bags, which range in price from $12-$30 wholesale. I don't remember their opening order amount, but it's not huge ($100 - $300 range). They have good customer service and ship super fast. They are located in Missouri I believe. Carson is a source for affordable electric tartwarmers ($8-$10 wholesale), and candle plates and shades. They also have other decorative items for your home, which aren't the typical primitive, hokey looking country items you see everywhere else. I don't remember their minimum opening order amount, but they frequently have specials like net 60 for $500 or more purchase. Old Print Factory is a good source for "victorian greeting fans," which are functioning paper fans that come with an envelope suitable for mailing. I think their opening is $100. Fans run around $3 each wholesale, and ladies love them. They also have small purse size mirrors with victorian pictures on them and are similar in price. Something else that might go well with the items in your shop are flower arrangements. I make some for my shop (whenever I'm in the mood) just to make the place look nicer, but I always put a price tag on them, and they always wind up getting sold! Gallery Graphics (min. opening order $200) carries sachets (the type in an envelope) which might make a good addition if you don't make your own. They have some with very pretty artwork on them. They also have notepads, mirrors, and a limited selection of greeting cards, mostly victorian themed. Jewelry would be an excellent addition to your store. I carry a line of stretch bracelets that does very well for me. DM Merchandising is in IL, and has very cheap jewelry. It's great if your niece can make things for you. The only thing about dealing with a lot of "independents" is that they often charge more for their stuff because a lot of times they don't buy their supplies wholesale, or if they do, they don't buy enough to get volume discounts. Maybe you can work something out with your niece if she isn't getting wholesale discounts already. Popular Imports carries a line of tassel dolls that I think might be nice scattered throughout your shop. I never heard of a tassel doll until a customer came in looking for them. I searched and searched until I found these. They are about the size of a Barbie doll, but they have no legs. They've got a silky tassel instead. The body sits on a stand, and is dressed in very elegant, frilly looking victorian clothing. They wholesale for around $10-$11 each. People collect them. Peter Pauper Press mini-books have a $150 min. opening. They are the cute little books you find in Barnes & Noble. Most wholesale for around $2.50 ea. (Thoughts from the Commode is a best seller in my store) If you find some things your interested in, let me know. I've ordered from them all, so I only have to make "re-orders" which are less than opening orders. Maybe we can work something out.

Ok, I just got off the phone with WSP and they told me that you use equal parts of stabilizer & FO and that you don't need to reduce the amount of FO you use. So, if you normally use 3% FO, then add 3% stabilizer. They claimed that it will not be too much liquid. I sure hate to botch up a batch of soap and waste FO's if it turns out not to be correct!

Acorn Soap N Candle Supply - http://www.janessmallgifts.com A Garden Eastward - http://addy.com/brinkley Agbanga Karite http://www.agbangakarite.com/Other-S...er/catalog.htm Aromatic Mills- http://www.aromaticmills.com/ Atlantic Spice http://www.atlanticspice.com Aztec International http://www.atwixend.com At Wix End http://www.buywax.com Bayousome - http://www.bayousome.com Between Friends Too - http://www.betweenfriendstoo.co Bitter Creek North & South - http://candlesupply.com Bolek's- http://www.bolekscrafts.com/fragrance_oils.htm Bulk Foods - http://www.bulkfoods.com Bramble Berry - http://brambleberry.com Camden-Gray - http://www.camdengrey.com Candles and Woodcrafts - http://www.candlesandwoodcrafts.com/...soapmolds.html Columbus Foods - http://www.columbusfoods.com Container and Packaging Supply - http://www.containerandpackaging.com Cotton Blossom Crafts - http://www.cottonblossomcrafts.com Crabapple Soap - http://www.crabapplesoap.com Craft Lobby - http://www.craftlobby.com Craft Molds Plus - http://www.craftmoldsplus.com/ Discount School Supply - http://www.discountschoolsupply.com...ct.asp?sku=3114 Elements Bath and Body - http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/ Emporium Naturals - http://www.emporiumnaturals.com/ Essentials by Catalina - http://www.essentialsbycatalina.com Essential Wholesale - http://www.essentialwholesale.com Factory Direct Craft Supplies - http://factorydirectcrafts.com/ For Soapmakers - http://www.forsoapmakers.com/directo...ers.php?cat=10 FlexusMolds - http://www.flexusmolds.com/ Florida Soap Supplies - http://www.floridasoapsupplies.com/index.html FNWL - http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com Garden of Wisdom - http://www.gardenofwisdom.com Glory Bee Foods - http://www.glorybeefoods.com/gbf/Shop_List.cfm?PC=5&PSC=&ProductCat_Name=Soap%20Mak ing%20Supplies Kangaroo Blue - http://kangarooblue.com MillCreek - http://www.mcsoywax.com/ Moonglow Candles - http://www.moonglowcandles.com Mountain Rose Herbs - http://www.mountainroseherbs.com Mystify Your Senses - http://mystifyyoursenses.com MMS - http://the-sage.com Nature's Garden Candles - http://naturesgardencandles.com Oils by Nature - http://www.oilsbynature.com Olive Tree Soaps - http://www.olivetreesoaps.com/ Packco - http://www.packcoinc.com Paper Mart - http://www.papermart.com Paw Made Soap Co. - http://pawmadesoap.safeshopper.com/ Pine Meadows - http://www.pinemeadows.net Printing by Design - http://www.printingbydesign.net Rustic Escentuals - http://www.rusticescentuals.com San Francisco Herb Co. - http://www.sfherb.com/default.asp Save on Crafts - http://www.save-on-crafts.com/fiberfix.html Scent Works - http://store.scent-works.com SFIC Corp - http://www.sficcorp.com Silicone molds - http://www.flexiblemolds.com SKS Bottle - http://www.sks-bottle.com Snow Drift Farms - http://www.snowdriftfarm.com Soap Crafters - http://www.soapcrafters.com Soap Dish - http://www.thesoapdish.com Soaper Index - http://soaperindex.tayon.com/oils.php Soap Saloon - http://www.soapsaloon.com Soapies Supplies - http://www.soapies-supplies.com Southern Belle - http://www.southernbellesoaps.com Spice Barn - http://www.spicebarn.com Spirit Crafts - http://www.spiritcrafts.net/info.html Starrville Soap & Candle Supplies - http://www.starrvillesoapsupplies.com/ Sun Burst Bottle - http://www.sunburstbottle.com Susanne's Crafty Corner Links - http://crafty.dyskolus.com/links__cosmetics.html Sweet Scents - http://www.sweetscents.com The Chemistry Store - http://www.chemistrystore.com The Soap Goat - http://www.thesoapgoat.com/ The Soap Studio - http://www.thesoapstudio.com TKB Trading - http://www.tkbtrading.com/default.htm To Die for - http://www.todieforsoap.com Tony's Fragrance - http://www.tonysfragranceoils.com Tropical Butters - http://www.tropicalbutters.com Wash Basin Wonders - http://www.washbasinwonders.com/ Wellington Fragrance - http://www.wellingtonfragrance.com Wholesale Bath Confetti - http://www.wholesalebathconfetti.com/ Wholesale Supplies Plus - http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com

Aztec just happens to have it on sale today for $10 per lb. I don't know whether it works in soy or not. Perhaps someone else can chime in on it. http://www.buywax.com/pilot.asp?

I can't believe you're asking this question. I was just wondering about this myself. I saw one post that said to use 1/2 oz of stabilizer and 1/2 oz of FO. I am assuming you need to use equal parts. By the way, you use one for lotion and one for soaps. Do you know which is which? Another thing I wonder--is adding white dye not effective against vanilla?

That's not a bad idea Subtle. In fact, I think it's the best effort so far. How about... Country Girl Candles...Bringing Southern Hospitality to your Home

Question: Why would you have a link to another candle supplier on your site?

I can say there are definitely some un-original people here. I know for a fact there are several who come here, swipe ideas and run back to their other little "private" forums and share "their" ideas. When someone has the nerve to call them out on it, suddenly they get banned from the other forums. They ususally don't give credit for where they get their ideas, they just want to look like experts among their forum peers. The ones who are doing this, you know who you are, and you suck. There. I've said it. It is a sad truth that you can't trust anyone anymore. I don't know how I would handle it if I were in your shoes, but I can tell you I would definitely be livid over the situation. I would give you ideas, but your idea thief of a co-worker would probably read them here, so I will just PM you with them instead.

I've had to create my own templates in Illustrator. Measure the placement of each label on your sheet. Measure the margins on the top, bottom, and left and right margins. Now measure the margins between your labels and create the corresponding dimensions on your template in a dark color. Print a sheet and hold it behind the label sheet. That will allow you to see where you are off. I'm assuming you're experienced enough in Illustrator to know how to use "show ruler" and drag lines and set your starting point at zero. That's really all you need in order to makeyour template. If you've already tried all of this and still aren't having any luck, I don't know what to tell you. The only thing I can think of is that maybe your labels aren't the exact dimensions they are supposed to be, which could be throwing you off. You need precise measurements, and even then you still might have to make minor adjustments because of your printer. One of the things I discovered is that for the particular sheet I was using, the labels were not perfectly centered. The margins differed from top to bottom. Even though they were off only about 1/16th of an inch, that was still enough to wreak havoc with my labels!

Just something to think about...when some people think of country, not everyone of them is thinking of fresh summer breezes, fresh cut grass or honeysuckle. When you say scents of the country or country scents, one of the things that pops in my mind is cowsh*t.

Country Girl Candles ...Get that country home feel Country Girl Candles ...Escape the big city with scents from Country Girl Candles Country Girl Candles ...Leave your cares behind and enjoy the fresh scents of country living.

Maybe I don't understand your question, but in order to get anything identified as "SPF" I'm sure you will need to have it professionally tested before you can make any claims about its rating if you intend on selling it.

Why don't you give us some ideas about your candles. If you make them and you can't even think of anything, how can you expect us to! What style are your candles--what type of container do you use, are they paraffin or soy? What sets your candles apart from everyone else? Who do you expect or want your candles to appeal to? Are they for the budget conscious shopper, or for consumers with extra disposable income?

I give them high marks as well.

I think if a person has skin sensitivities they should know to stay away from things with unknown ingredients. You certainly can't go wrong by listing them, but I was under the impression that soaps are not required to list ingredients.

Send them back and complain to them about false advertising, since they clearly stated on the product that they were beverage warmers. I understand that using them as candlewarmers can in fact, be dangerous, since they were manufactured to be used with a mug, which is quite a bit thicker than a lot of glass used for candles. They should be brought to realize what they are doing is very dangerous, and they are setting themselves up for a lawsuit should a candle explode or fire erupt because they were misrepresenting the product.

I can't vouch for anything regarding inkjet. Call onlinelabels and ask for a free sample.

FYI...Nature's Garden is offering 5% off during the month of May starting today. No special code needed.

I don't think the "big guys" have their own trucks for delivery. They contract out with trucking lines or delivery services like UPS. If your orders are large enough and regular enough, you can negotiate prices that would be lower than what an individual with a one-time shipment would be able to get. The folks at Root, Yankee, etc. can offer free shipping because they make soooo much more than you are able to. Large candle companies are able to buy their supplies soooo much lower than you can becase they can buy directly and buy in massive amounts. Hypothetically, if Root sells a candle for $21, and you sell a candle for $21, Root might only have $2 invested, where you might have $8 You're probably right. His large order did qualify him for free shipping. I bet if he only ordered $500 he wouldn't get free shipping.

I get the crystal clear laser labels from onlinelabels. Prior to crystal clear I had been using the white "waterproof" laser labels because I thought I had to use that type of label to keep my stuff from smudging. WRONG. The crystal clear are perfect. I poured water on top of them, got lotion smeared on them, sprayed alcohol on them and nothing happened. I am so glad they offered free samples so that I could experiment and find that out! Now I use them all of the time.

DANG! Why didn't I read your post earlier today--I just placed an order with them.

I love the clamshells. I've gotten cardboard boxes which can take a beating from getting shuffled around too much, and tear. Plus, it makes it easier to see when you need to re-order. How do you like them?