Think Outside the
(Candle) Box

While doing some recent research, I came across a list of the most annoying “Business Cliches” used in today’s business environment. Number one on this list was "Think outside the Box". After reading enough business journals and speaking with various business people, I would have to agree with this conclusion. It would appear odd to start this article with such an overused/annoying phrase and I will avoid the temptation to do it, but the reference can be used.

There is no doubt that the candle market is very much caught up in the current declining retail environment. Methods used previously may not work as efficiently as in the past.  The good news is that there are some ideas that candle makers can do to respond to the changing buying patterns.

The number of consumers moving to larger homes or putting on additions has virtually ceased to exist. Instead consumers are looking for much smaller and less expensive ways to make changes in their lives.  One of them is re-decorating the home on a much smaller scale, maybe 1 room at a time. Now is the perfect time of the year to provide decorating ideas using candles.  The great news is that in many instances you can get free publicity this time of year with newspapers and other news agencies because they are looking for holiday-related subjects.

Free Publicity

1. Write an article on different ways to incorporate your candles into the home decor. One of the ways we have always promoted is to use candles in the fireplace instead of a fire. Other suggestions include scenting the luminaries used outside if entertaining any evening. Be creative and use suggestions that your customers have made on how they used your candles.
   
   
2. Write an article on the safe way to burn a candle.
   
   
3. Editors like stories on timely subjects.  No doubt candles will be a big part of the upcoming holidays. Use this to your advantage and send out a press release highlighting your business and how this is the time of year is a special time.

The key right now is to get your company’s name out to as many people as possible take advantage that this is the time of year more candles are purchased.

Since the topic of cliches is the theme of this issue, it only seems appropriate to use industry specific annoying cliches.  Not sure if anyone over the age of 10 actually uses the first one below but we will go ahead and include it this article.

"None of your Beeswax"
The interest in candles made of natural materials continues to grow in popularity.  Candles made with Beeswax, Soy or Palm are a great addition to any candle line. When making candles using these raw materials bee (had to use this pun) sure to really highlight the materials used in your marketing campaign as well as the labels used. A recent issue of our Enlightner did highlight how to make a candle even more green using 100% recycled glass.

Rolled Beeswax candles are also rapidly becoming of interest because of the ease to make and the fact they are made of 100% beeswax.  These sheets come in a multiple of colors and you will be surprised how easy they are to use. 

"Whole ball of Wax"
(Really had to stretch to use this one phrase.) You may try making unique or custom candles not normally found on retail shelves.   Make extra large candles like 5" x 9", 6" x 6" or even 8" x 8".   Finding unusual size round molds like 5" and 8" diameter may be easier than you think.  Aluminum tubing, acrylic and PVC all make for great molds and most of these materials can be found at the home improvement centers.  Once you have the material all you need to make a base for the molds.   The base can be made using the Miracle Mold Material. This material can also be used to make your own custom mold of any shape or design.  Be sure to check this month's project on other great ideas using this material. 

In most instances Candy, Chocolate and soap molds are all great to use in candles. Soap molds come in some very unique shapes like Frogs and ducks.

Candy molds are great to use for making holiday decorations with beeswax.  This project is quite simple in that you take wick (unwaxed) and make a loop dropping both open ends in the mold and then pouring beeswax into the cavity.  

"Burning the Candle at Both Ends" 
Based on most economic predictions this Holiday Season is going to be very weak. In order to succeed it will take a lot more effort and work than probably past year. Instead of doing 1 Craft/ Festival a week it may be necessary to find that extra show during the weekend or evening. Making more candles and offering them at a greater discount than you have in the past may be what helps you. Many candles are definitely going to be purchased in the upcoming weeks and it is going to be essential to identify what is going to be most successful for your specific business. As with many retailers the key is going to be selling at the right price. 

In Conclusion
We all know the candle market will always be viable the key is finding what is going to work best for your customer base.No matter what direction you decide to go a quality product is what brings back your customers.

Our editor has indicated we have used our allotment of annoying phrases. So let’s hit the ground running (Is that a cliche?) this holiday season.

Hi! I'm Chandler! I can help you learn how to make candles.

CHANDLER'S CORNER

In this issue I have included 2 questions in that they are closely related in today’s market conditions.

1) I see you have been running soy on sale for several weeks does this mean the price of soy coming down? 

To the benefit of all of us the price of Soy wax has been declining.   There are several contributing factors to this decrease;

• The worldwide demand for Soy bean change rapidly due the slowing economy worldwide.
• The forecast for growth in Soybean was much higher earlier the year thus the futures traded at a higher rate.
• As the price of crude oil declines the demand for alternative fuels lost some of its momentum.

Can I mix soy wax with paraffin wax?

Yes, you can. With today’s market it may be beneficial if you are making paraffin candles to include a soy component. Soy is best used in containers and how much you use will depend on what you are trying to achieve. The more you put in the more you can market as a natural-based candle.  By adding soy keep in mind that this will change the candle and wick testing, fragrance throw and coloring may need to be adjusted. 

November 2008

We hope you enjoyed this issue of the En-Light-ener.
Thank you for your continued interest and support.
Our goal is to make this newsletter as entertaining and educational as possible.
Let us know if you have any ideas on how we can improve.

Candlewic Company 3765 Old Easton Road Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901 800-368-3352

 

Issue Index

November 2009 -- Tom Turkey on Candle Making, Candle Kits vs Buying Indidual Supplies, and more...

October 2009 -- Taking the Scary out of Candle Making, Snowball Candle Project, and more...

September 2009 -- 4 Quick Tips to Improve Your Candle Line, Layered Candle Project, and more...

August 2009 -- Is Big Always Better?, Cookie Cutter Candle Making Project, and more...

July 2009 -- How to Set Candle Prices, All Natural Beeswax Garden Flare Candle Making Project, and more...

June 2009 -- 5 Tips for Avoiding Margin Drain, Tri-Color Candle Making Project, and more...

May 2009 -- How To Select a Candle Wick, Chunk Candle Making Project, and more...

April 2009 -- Candle Making Ideas for Summer, Candle Making Projects, and more...

March 2009 -- Mold Techniques in Candle Making, A Simple Candle Project, and more...

February 2009 -- Setting the Right Mood Year Round, Tealight Candle Project, and more...

January 2009 -- Reacquainting Yourself with Candle Making Waxes, Tri-Color Candle Project, and more...

December 2008 -- 12 Days of the Candle Making Business, Candle Making Projects, and more...

November 2008 -- Candle Making Business Cliches, Miracle Molding Material Projects, and more...

October 2008 -- Candle Making Terms Explained, How To Make Mottling Candles, and more...

September 2008 -- Adding on to Your Candle Lines, How To Make Candle Luminaries, and more...

August 2008 -- Candles & Their Fragrances, How To Make Pillar Candles, and more...

July 2008 -- Sunscreen For Your Candles, How To Make Dipped Tapers, and more...

June 2008 -- Fall Candle Season Starts Now, Extraordinary Candle Making Project, and more...

May 2008 -- Green Candle Making, Green Candle Projects, and more...

April 2008 -- Recent Candle Industry Price Increases, Aluminum Mold Candle Project, and more...

March 2008 -- Straight Wax, Exciting New Candle Making Products, and more...

February 2008 -- Business Side of Candle Making, Ice Candle Project, and more...

January 2008 -- Basics of Blended Wax Candles, Rose Floater Candle Project, and more...

December 2007 -- 12 Days of Business, 2007 Candle Making Projects, and more...

November 2007 -- Show Time for Candle Making, Making Snow Candles, and more...

October 2007 -- Ready, Set, GO candle making, Candle Luminaries, and more...

September 2007 -- GREENING Your Product Line and Your Bottom Line…, One-Pour Candle Tins, and more...

August 2007 -- Candle Making's Center of Focus, Making Streak Candles, and more...

July 2007 -- The Latest in Candle Making Products, Votive Candle Project, and more...

June 2007 -- Setting Your Candles' Sale Price, Summer Candle Projects, and more...

May 2007 -- Determining Your Candle Making Costs, Using Extra Candle Wax, and more...

April 2007 -- Natural Wax Buzz Part 2, Layered natural candles, and more...

March 2007--Crucial details of candle making, Candle projects with no melting required, and more...

February 2007--How to choose a candle making mold, Making custom candle molds, and more...

January 2007--"Green" Candle Making, tri-color jar candle project, and more...

December 2006--Looking into the candle making future, 2006 candle projects, and more...

November 2006--Introducing...a candle making introduction, candle projects, and more...

October 2006--Prime time: candle wicks, taper candle projects, and more...

September 2006--Clearly still here:Gel candle making, one-pour tins, and more...

August 2006--Fragrance - the driving force of candle making, a new contest, and more...

July 2006--Planning your production, using granulated wax, and more...

June 2006--Our 35th Year, using aluminum candle molds, how much candle fragrance to use, and more...

May 2006--Summertime candle making, making natural lemon candles and more...

April 2006--Choose the candle wick, making tealight candles and more...

March 2006--Choose the right wick base, blending soy wax with paraffin, making palm wax candles and more...

February 2006--The roll of wax additives in a blended wax world, UV additives, making grubby candles and more...

January 2006--The secrets of soy wax candles, more ways to use candles, making soy wax container candles and more...

December 2005--Planning for the new year, announcing our new home, secrets about wicks, and more...

November 2005--Holiday candle making, ideas to sell more candles, making luminaries and more...

October 2005--Temperture issues when making candles, how to start making candles and more...

September 2005--Choose the right candle mold, ASTM safety standards, and more...

August 2005--Color and Fragrance trends, choosing the right candle making tools, and more...

July 2005--Planning for efficient production, Marketing your Candles, Making Swirl Candles, and more...

June 2005--New market trends in candle shapes and textures, Making Textured Candles, and more...

May 2005--The trends and science of candle fragrances, Making Mottled Candles, and more...

April 2005--How to select the proper candle wick, Top Colors, Making "Earthy" Chunk Candles, and more...

March 2005--Selecting the right wax Part III, Our Top Waxes, Making Floral Candles, Our History and more...

February 2005--Selecting the right wax Part II, Our Top Fragrances, Making Fruit Candles and more...

January 2005--Selecting the right wax, Using blended wax, Coloring wax, Making Layered Jar Candles and more...

December 2004--All about candle making fragrances, Making Grubby Candles and more...

November 2004--Choosing Color for your candle making, Making snowball candles and more...

October 2004--Candle Making Busy Season, Making Palm Wax Candles, Speeding Up Candle Production and more...

September 2004--Candle Wax Melters, Making Sense of your Candle Scents, Making Taper Candles and more...

August 2004--Getting Ready For The Season, Using Votive Pins To Make Votive Candles, No Melt Candle Making and more...

July 2004--Some History & What's New, Paraffin Myths, Making Golf Ball Candles and more...

June 2004--Choosing the Right Candle Wax for Your Needs, Making One-Pour Tins and more...

May 2004--Investigating New Products, Burn Testing, Making Freestanding Gel Pillars & Novelties and more...

April 2004--Candle Making Trends, Rolled Candles with Beeswax Sheets, Making Taper Candles and more...

March 2004--Color Theory & Techniques, Floating Candle Molds, Making Tealight Candles and more...

February 2004--Mold Techniques, Computers and Candlemaking, Making Easter Egg Chunk Candles and more...

January 2004--Marketing Natural Wax and Paraffin Candles, Layering Natural Wax Candles and more...

December 2003--Holiday Greetings, 2003 Year in Review, The 6 P's, Making Icicle Candles and more...

November 2003--Building Your Candle Product Line, Making Holiday Ornaments & Soap-on-a-Wick and more...

October 2003--Marketing Your Candles, Polyurethane Molds, Making Lemon Candles, and more...

September 2003--Packaging & Labeling, Essential Oils, Making Rolled Pillars with Beeswax Sheets, and more...

August 2003--Using Palm Wax, Increasing Your Profit Margins, Using Aluminum Molds, and more...

July 2003--Ultra Violet Light Absorbers, Reducing Shipping Costs, Dipping Techniques, and more...

June 2003--Choosing the Right Wick, Using a Wick Stick, Making Floater Candles, and more...

May 2003--New Products Review, Pouring Temperatures, Finishes For Your Candles, and more...

April 2003--Selecting Paraffin, Natural and “Hybrid” Waxes, Using Pillar Pins, and more...

March 2003--Selling & Marketing Candles, Making it Easier to Make Pillars, Wax Art Crystals and more...

February 2003--Pouring Temperatures, Votive Tips, Making Grubby Candles, and more...

January 2003--Candle Making Safety Tips, Instruction Labels, What To Do With Extra Wax and more...

December 2002--Polycarbonate Molds, Making Clear Snowball Candles, and more...

November 2002--Candle Making as a Second Language, The Story of Chandler, Natural F Wax, and more...

October 2002--Candle Making as a Second Language, Projects Review and more...

September 2002--Accessorizing Your Manufacturing, Making Clear Pillar Candles, and more...

July/August 2002--Making Cinnamon Roll Candles, Clear Pillar Base, New Products, and more...

May/June 2002--Back to Basics, Making F Wax Candles, and more...

April 2002--Making Streaked Candles, Wax 101 part 3: Natural Wax, and more...

March 2002--Making Crackled Candles, Wax 101 part 2: Gel Wax, and more...

February 2002--Making Easter Egg Candles, Wax 101: An Overview, and more...

January 2002 --Review of 2001, Frosty Snowman Candles, New Products, Safety Info and more...

December 2001--Botanical candles, making white candles white and more...

November 2001--Chunk candles, clearance sale!, candlemaking books and more...

October 2001--The new candle market, choosing gels, votive wicks and more...

August 2001--New products, new location , new web site and more...

July 2001--Selling & Marketing Candles (part 3), Candle Burn Times and more...

June 2001--Selling & Marketing Candles (part 2), UV Light Absorbers, Wax Additive Recommendations and more...

May 2001--Selling & Marketing Candles, Burning Instructions, Selecting Sustainer Bases and more...

April 2001--Natural Waxes, Candle Burn Times, Wax Pouring Temperatures and more...

March 2001--Making Wax Inserts, Blended vs. Non-Blended Waxes, Colors, Fragrances and more...

February 2001--Whipped Wax, Wax Art Crystal Wax, Gel Candles, Using Containers and more...