Hi All, my name is Tammy and I make videos about starting my own small candle business.
Welcome to my channel (formerly known as Tammy's Journey). I found joy in two things: finding a new way to manage my mental health and picking up the hobby of candlemaking and figured why not.
So, come join me in my videos as I share a little insight into my world!
The back tops will give you room for 9-10 oz and the bamboo will shave you down to 8-8.5 oz. Ive used those for quite awhile and recently switched jars. Great choice. HTP 73/83 wicks do well in that jar.
3:25: The frosted glass will look lovely displayed. For the last two Christmas holidays, I made whimsical vignettes on a tray-holiday lights, ornaments, figurines, and a form of movement. This year, I am considering adding a candle on a mug warmer to include an aromatherapy experience.
That sounds so decorative. That really sounds like a well-thought-out holiday theme. I think the mug warmer would be a nice touch to showcase the candle.
Thank you. I keep thinking my videos are way too long 😂. Testing is going well with a few hiccups that's expected. I'll be sharing some of the process soon.
Your videos are uplifting. I launched my candle business today and went straight home to watch this video, because I wanted to see what you thought about the supplier's. I lovecCS and Midwest, both are great and I supplement it with hive & honey as well. Good work, lady 😊😊😊
It truly was. It's also amazing to see the type of person he was with all the cool stuff we found. It was like getting to understand my dad in a different light. As hard as it was, I'm so glad it's completed.
I enjoy wood furniture, so I am biased. Beyond the pleasant natural aesthetic, it looks like shelving you would expect to see in a retail environment. The neutral color of the wood does not distract from the products. Your display skills also play a significant role in your display, as you tend not to overcrowd it.
I enjoy wood furniture too. I saw so many plastic display shelves on Amazon and was not a fan of them when it came to candles. And thank you. Overcrowded stuff messes with my anxiety and my energy. I get an overwhelming feeling lol
Thank you for watching ❤. I'm glad you find them inspiring and Yes, take the leap. The scariest part is starting but once you begin new things for yourself and ventures then it becomes comfortable and your new norm. Good luck 😊
You are such a beautiful person inside and out and just know that u deserve everything and more you dream of. And remember to not get in your head because we create our reality with our thoughts, rather negative or. Positive. You should be very proud of yourself and keep up the good work. ❤️
Nice video! I hope the diffusers become a good addition to your business especially the fact that it doesn't take nearly as long to make as it does a candle lol 😅
@@LanaciaMarie Agreed. As a working-class person, I can not afford costly mistakes. Also, learning the rules allows one to flex them to your (lawful) benefit.
I just came across your videos and have watched a couple of them. I love your attitude towards things and your business. I took a look at your etsy store and noticed that you don't have the warmers listed for your wax melts. Do you sell them along with your wax melts? If not, you might want to think about it because it could increase the sales of your melts to those that may not already have a warmer. You could offer them as a set with the melts or offer the warmers and melts individually.
Thank you so much ❤. And you know, I was thinking about wax warmers last year when I was planning everything out. But I'm still looking for a good, affordable supplier, and the warmers are good because I don't want to offer just anything. But I definitely would love to offer those because you're right it would work with my melts and I have plans mapped out for bundles and gift sets that incorporate them. Thank you for the feedback. If you know of any reputable suppliers, feel free to share 😊
You are a sweet person! I think what you wear is perfect! People are not very good people if they feel like they need to make fun of others!! Do you girl!!! I love your videos!! ❤
Thank you so much ❤ And I wish you all the best as well. You will get your business up and running. Remember, not to stand in your own way because we tend to do that a lot in life. And that nothing is impossible. You got this 😊
I loveeed your display. You're doing such a great job and I am rooting for you 100%. I also want to say I'm sorry for your loss; I know that's tough. My daughter's birthday is on the 23rd as well (and my sister's on the 27th) -- I found it sweet how you and your dad share birthdays with my family. You know he's looking down and supporting everything you do and is your biggest fan! I look forward to seeing more of your videos!
Aww! Thank you so much. It means a lot to have all this support. And that's so awesome that your daughter and sister have birthdays similar to my dad and me. Now I try my best to make him and my mom above, proud of me. Thank you ❤
And please, please, please run your websites through an accessibility checker and address the flagged issues. For example, images must be tagged. Videos must have captions and audio descriptions. Look at WCAG 2.1 AA. Start there, the requirements may be higher.
I am unfamiliar with wax melts, but they seem like a good option since we prefer not to burn anything in our home. Instead, I put my candles on a mug warmer to emit fragrance.
@@LanaciaMarie Thank you for sharing that feedback. I was surprised Renegade-San Francisco did not charge us an entry fee. We did pay a donation at the door because we value the effort and time it takes to put on a maker’s market. I don't understand why they don't charge a reasonable entry fee, which should theoretically reduce the maker’s booth fee.
@@civilizeddiva you're welcome. And I agree. From what I read, the entry fee is just a suggested fee. Most people here would pay $20 - $25 to enter. And that would lower the vendor fee. Because $750 for a full booth is a lot to pay for those just starting out.
I'm looking forward to seeing how your testing progresses and learning about the new product you have coming🎉. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
I can relate. I need to offer more and work on discussing my products with the public. I just started making body oils but I haven’t added them to my site yet. I have family members still testing the oils. I’m working on liquid soap which is really hard…. I have failed 3 times so far but I’m going to keep trying. It’s good to go back to the drawing board.
Beautiful display. I need to add some cute things to my table to make it presentable. I know the feeling of not making sales. I have spent hours with no sales and I live in the Florida heat. I bring labels and crossword puzzles to pass time.
Thank you so much 😊. And yes, the right decorations can make your table more welcoming. I tried to find something that is on brand with my label. Check out Pinterest if you need some ideas. And I may think about bringing some puzzles to pass the time myself. Good idea!
19:46: I thought about a similar issue for our first event. My partner has hired a young man to work the event, but if we are there for an extended period, I'm considering bringing some bags and labels to work on. Typical introvert😅. Clients would see it as if they walked into a store and saw a staff member working.
19:10: From my perspective: exposure, marketing, direct client feedback, resources by observing other vendors, and practice for the next event. And maybe you can select venues that have environments that work for YOU and YOUR products.
Well this market I feel is definitely the right fit for me and my products. It was just that the heat wave that day was working against me. It's difficult to find the right venues here because the markets that you think will be the right fit often turn out not to be. I will say that the markets here in the city is definitely different from markets in other states. I will absolutely be practicing more before the next event.
16:29: That blouse color and the slight flutter sleeve look lovely on you☺️. I am also going through perimenopause and wear a neck fan for the hot flashes. I'll have one during our first pop-up this August.
Lovely display table, I like the use of a runner. Good use of shelves and I love that you made Cricut stickers for folks (I use the Maker, Maker 3). The colors were nicely coordinated. Your branding and labels look professional.
Sometimes, as candle makers, we do things for promotional purposes only, which is okay, but like a few of your other viewers say, look into selling other things.Maybe find somewhere that you can buy and boke plushyes, scrunches, keychains,hairbows, little things that are easy to sell for cheap. That way, you can still make money but promote your candles and wax melts. Anyway, we love you. Stay encouraged, stay motivated and understand that everything will not always go the way you want it to go, but it will still be okay.
Congratulations on your tank top, stay cool. Definitely look into other products. I don’t do candles during the summer cause I realize that a lot of people don’t use them during the summer ( I use them year round). Try room sprays and car diffusers. Will try to do some markets this summer. All the best
Hey Tam, I'm sorry to hear that it didn't go so well at the market this time around, sweetie, but next time it will go great in your favor. I understand, woo chile, this heatwave was and is a bear. However, I'm glad that you did get a few sales. May God continue to bless you with strength and your heart in all your enduring since your beloved father passed, but I know you're strong, sis. I admire your strength and perseverance. I can't wait to see your new products and the behind-the-scenes process. Blessings on blessings, sis. Much love, queen. Oh ,before i forget you look good girl in that tank top do you girl always i know its easier said than done but I'm glad you let go and felt free. I can relate how you felt i'm the same . 🥰🙏🏽❤️
Thank you friend 🥰I have to remember that not every event is going to go the way I plan and that there's always something to take away from every event. And thank you for the kind words. It was very freeing to wear that tank top lol
@@LanaciaMarie You're quite welcome my dear friend my pleasure. I agree with your thoughts. I'm glad you felt free with that tank top that just means you now can do it more often so you can feel free and be you, sweetie.🥰🙏🏽
First of all…you look great in the tank top! Wear them Sis, life is too short. Also, sending continued love and prayers your way. ❤ I admire your ability to do a market while dealing with such heavy things! Your table set up looked good! One of my favorite things to do when selling in-person is to simply call people over to give me feedback on my products. I have a video on my channel where I share tips that help me to make sales at pop-ups. In that video I talk about how I engage customers to give me feedback. Keep going! You’re doing great…you’re learning as you go and you get better every time. You are MORE than enough!!! Remember that ❤🫶🏾
Thank you so much ❤ I appreciate this a lot. I will definitely watch that video because that's a fascinating idea. I've been trying to find ways to come out of my shell at markets.
