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summerbug

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Posts posted by summerbug

  1. I just got an email from a boutique on the Ivory Coast asking if I'd ship to their country. I've only shipped to Canada so I am clueless as to what form of payment is the best to accept - considering this is a legitimate request.

    I guess a cashier's check in US dollars - does anyone has any ideas?

  2. I saw a few postings on kiosk that mentioned Bruce's name as a resource. I am considering this for the holiday season but am interested in how well others have done with them - are they really worth it?

    I don't have a store now so I guess I would have to hire people and that means I need to have social security, taxes, etc. set up to take out of their checks? And insurance probably needs to be doubled? Sorry I'm "typing" out loud :grin2:

    Any comments or help is greatly appreciated.

  3. Definitely talk to a lawyer ASAP. If you are working without insurance and as a sole prop., then if anything happens you are personally liable and your personal assets are at risk. You can set up an LLC or S-Corp to protect you from being personally liable. Your lawyer can tell you which is best for you. In VA, it's only a $100 filing fee to set up an LLC, so it shouldn't be cost prohibitive. You will still need to find insurance so that you are covered if sued. The attorney fees alone to defend a lawsuit are probably more than you would want to spend out of pocket. You will also have to keep all assets separated and keep good accounting records. But it is definitely worth it for the liability protection and tax advantages that you will recieve. As far as the private labeling and liability release, again, a good lawyer will be able to tell you what the laws are in your state regarding this and can draft a solid release form.

    I would choose a law firm that practices business law. I would not go to a "general practitioner" who does all sorts of things because they may not be well-versed enough in business law to keep you adequately protected. There are nuances to running a corporation to make sure that the court cannot pierce the corporation and come after you personally. Simply having an LLC is not enough, there are standards for practice that must be followed (such as not commingling assets and sufficiently capitalizing your biz). You can check www.martindale.com or www.findlaw.com to get attorneys in your area. Martindale gives attorneys a rating and AV is the best. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions :)

    Thanks everyone! I failed to mention - I have formed an LLC - through my accountant. AngelaVA - thank you so much for your input - I pm'd ya.

  4. :cry2: I am driving myself crazy! I'm sure I already know the answer to this (Get Insurance and talk to a lawyer!) but I need moral support.

    I am still new - 1 year running a soy candle business - I have a tiny wholesale account and now am being approached by 2 large accounts and I'm driving myself crazy debating on what I should do.

    Right now I don't have insurance - ug! (I'm trying to find something I can afford). And I don't know if I need to talk with a lawyer to set up some type of release of liability form should the retailer alter my candles (i.e. add flammable material) and one of the retailers wants to do private label so I don't know if I need to still have my name somewhere on the candle legally and where does liability fall on private labeling - me still? hence the release of liability should the retailer change something I guess; and so on and so on.

    Sorry to ramble but I am worrying myself out of business - I guess to put my mind at rest I should get the old credit card out and contact legal advice and get insurance.

    Has anyone been through this? I appreciate all the help I can get.

  5. I'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear. I just thought I should have some type of contract that states if the wholesaler makes any changes to the product - like adds decoration or something that - he then assumes responsibility for the change? I hope I am making sense.

  6. HELP!!! Does anyone have a release of liability form they use or some type of contract for use with wholesalers? I have a shop interested in selling my candles and figured I needed some type of contract or release form?

    For those of you who do wholesale to shops what do you use and do you have a sample I could look at?

    Thanks for any help!!;)

  7. I am sooo excited a local shop is interested in carrying my candles. He asked if I do private label and he'd be my first for that so I am undecided as to what to do....

    For those of you who private Label do you include your name somewhere on the product? Do you have an agreement that both of you sign - if so what do you put in it?

    He also mentioned he has a contract with the local convenient stores and would see a potential in the future to sell my candles there. In this case I would prefer not to have my name on the label - I don't want to have my candles associated with purchasing at any local gas station - but I also would love the ching-ching!!

    Any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated!:grin2:

  8. Hello - I'm not sure where to post this....

    I have a client who wants to purchase my FO I use to make the candles he purchases to use in a tart warmer.

    I haven't done this before - do I need to mix the FO with a carrier oil to use in a warmer or will the heat not be an issue?

    Any help is appreciated - I don't want him burning his shop down!!!!:undecided

  9. These are my best seller!!! Been making them for over a year now. They are pretty easy to wick- I generally use an LX 10 now. I use to use RRD 29's. I do use an LX 12 on the darker heavier oils.

    I am using either CBA or 464

    You can't go wrong w/these little cuties!! Everyone just loves them.

    HTH :D

    Do you mind me asking how much you charge for them? I have roughly calculated my costs at .80 each - and I'm not sure what someone would want to pay for this size?

  10. I am looking at the 1.5oz Jam jars located here http://www.specialtybottle.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=17 - the jar has about a 1" opening and is about 1 1/2 to 2" tall.

    I am concerned that this may be a fire hazard because of the small opening and height. Does anyone have suggestions on what type wick to use or if it is not worth even trying?

    Maybe I should use 2oz tins? I am looking for tiny container sample candles other than tea lights.

    Thanks!

  11. Yes, I did hear from her - but it gets worse.

    Here's a recap - I ordered on the 1st of June and received it on the 21st - not too happy with the length of time - but I was ok with it - she included a note stating one FO was on backorder and she didn't want to hold the rest any longer - she would mail it when it came in.

    I then realized I forgot to order a FO, so I called her and emailed her from the 21st through the 28th - I left 6 voice mails and 3 emails. On my last email she finally replied (on the 28th).

    This is what I sent - in blue (her reply is in red)

    > I have tried contacted you via phone and email since last Wednesday the

    > 21st. I placed my order on June 1 and didn't receive it until the 21st.

    > There was a note stating the Lavender is on backorder and you will mail it

    > when it comes in. You charged me for it and the shipping already. I

    > tried to contact you regarding the status and to spend MORE money with you

    > by ordering a 32oz. of Sugar Cookie; however NO one has contacted me and

    > this is begininng to get a little frustrating. I need to be able to rely

    > on my suppliers to get me the product I ordered or to at least care enough

    > to keep me posted. So please contact me asap and let me know the status

    > and so I can add the sugar cookie to be shipped at the same time. If I do

    > not hear from you this time I will have to ask for a refund and pursue

    > other options.

    I do apologize...I apparently left a message on someone else's machine

    Friday. Got your messages and I will give you a call tomorrow (today),

    when I get back from my doctors appointment. Gotta get glasses.

    I checked with the manufacture Friday on the status of our lavender

    backorder & the message I left on whoever's machine, is that once in a

    great while there are a few times that we get back ordered on a fragrance

    due to the availability of the seasons crop since our fo's are so close to

    the essential oils as possible. I have to wait or settle for a lower grade

    with less of the pure oils and lower quality.

    I'd rather wait than compromise our quality.

    They expect the truck to be in the middle of this coming week and then

    just a few days to ship to us.

    I do apologize, it's usually not several weeks on back order.

    I got your message about the Sugar Cookies.

    Do you want me to go ahead and send that?

    Do you want to substitute the Sugar Cookie for the Lavender and then

    reorder the Lavender in a few weeks? Or do you still want it too as soon

    as it comes in. Let me know asap and we'll get it out to you if you need

    the Sugar Cookies like yesterday.

    As always, thank you for you continued support and again, I apologize..I

    thought you got my message.

    I will double check by phone tomorrow.

    Thanks bunches,

    Mel

    I replied and thanked her for the apology and stated that I still want both and we can go over the details when she calls me. Now it is Saturday and I have not heard from her - no phone call like she stated. When I first read her reply I was ok - I like her FO and thought everyone has an "off" day - or days - but now I just don't want to deal with her - there are too many other companies I deal with that are very customer friendly. I will be testing other companies FO so I can drop her!!

    (Sorry for this being soooo long);)

  12. I'm looking for a FO that has a combination of berries, cloves, cinnamon, maybe pumpkin or vanilla (kindof like aromatique peppercorn)- does anyone know of one or a similar combination - I think this would make a great fall scent! I guess I could always get out the beakers and start mixing :D

    any help is appreciated

  13. I have a sample candle the store who wants me to make a peppercorn scent gave me as a guide - and if I'm not mistake I smell an undertone of mint or peppermint and stronger notes of spice - but I can't describe it - ug!! - maybe butter and cinnamon?

    I'm struggling because this store is considering carrying my candles - it could be a "huge" account - but their first scent they are wanting is this da@# peppercorn before I can get them to committ.

    Thanks for everyone's help and comments....

  14. i use godaddy for my site www.harvestglowcandles.com if you want to take a look. I host with them, use website tonight (this is a template driven site builder program), and I use the free Mals Cart.

    Their prices are reasonable compared to having someone build your site - however, you lose some flexibility using the Website tonight software. I will have to say there technical help is hit and miss - I knew more than a few techs - and that's scary cuz I'm clueless with web design!!!

    Overall though I am happy and you just need to keep the name of that one tech that has the answers for your future calls.

    hope this helps you.:D

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