I agree with you, Ashley. It is good to have boundaries and standards by which you share information and your products. This is great content for small business owners!👍
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing about your experiences + practices. Especially that last topic, it makes me cringe every time I see those questions as IG comments.
Another hit! So many of these are relatable. I do not ever respond to influencers because I simply do not have margins to give anything to a market not even in my region (a big part of our marketing is being a consistent brand in our community). I recently had someone tell me next summer they’ll literally pay me to make products for all the clubs they’re a part of that need donation baskets just to get my name out there which obviously falls in line so I have no issues but thankfully I have time to consider it. The last piece with peers is so good! I absolutely love being a mentor but thankfully I’ve never had anyone cross those boundaries of being on my social media asking things. One business I’ve mentored a lot isn’t even a competitor she makes dog accessories like bandanas and dog mom home decor so we met at a market and I promoted her through the items I purchased and since then she comes to my DMs asking all she needs to know as a new business so it’s been a great relationship and that’s what I expect from other small businesses: share knowledge behind the scenes not on social media where we are all marketing and creating an image 😊
You made several good points that make sense to me. I’ve never thought about all the info you shared? IF someone from a disabled persons group or foundation approached me, I would donate candles. Otherwise, the only circumstance I feel I would donate candles to is someone who would offer something of equal value in return? I don’t know how much time, effort and money you spent to learn how to produce the best and safest candle possible? Maybe making candles came easily to you? However, I’ve devoted a LOT of time, energy and money to learn and perfect my craft! Thank you for investing your time and effort into recording and posting this important video, Ashley! You are a wealth of information and I appreciate you❣️ OH! Thank you so much for providing the link for your amazon store and the ceramic box cutter!! I love this thing!!
Hi, Ashley) Thank you so much for sharing your experience ❤ I just found your channel and maybe there is video about it.. But my question is: How do you manage to find wholesale customers? What difficulties is there? And if there is something you would like to share) Thank you so much again 🌹 Wish you all the best 🙌
There are a ton of difficulties, especially with a product like candles because there will always be a local candle maker near a retailer that isn't me :). I just work to build relationships, connections and genuine reasons why I think my candles would be a good fit, and I go from there! I get a lot of No's
I think that the word gatekeeping is ridiculous. This industry is hard work from learning the science, coming up with product ideas in this heavily saturated business category. It takes months and for some years before they even launch a product to market. When you put it out in the world to have someone on your business page want you to divulge what I have come to bracket as company secrets is disturbing. What about putting in the sweat equity and finding out info for yourself. I don’t really get it. Now if you are a maker/business owner who shares everything then that’s okay and it should be okay to have boundaries for what a business owner is willing to share with others as well. I have seen where folks straight up copy candle names, label designs, even brand ethos and colors due to laziness and maybe down right unethical behavior. So, if there is a maker who shares like Erika then utilize her expertise but if there is one like Ashley who has boundaries respect them both it’s that simple. Can’t believe some of the comments out here acting like they question Louboutin about who makes their shoes or Hermes about who grows the silkworms for their scarves. Just abide in the your lane and if you want to over share then do it, if you don’t then do that too. Let’s not make mountains out of molehills about decisions that does not affect your intention for the business/brand you want to build.
I appreciate this comment more than words can put together. Instead of seeing this in a negative light you just see it as a perspective and an understanding. Thank you because it's exactly how I wanted this to land! I appreciate you leaving this for me to read, and hopefully others!
I 110% agree with this comment and it's so refreshing to see! I have my own channel, and I share quite a bit, but there are things that I will never share. I hate that we live in a time when people feel entitled to know everything about you or your business. I'm noticing that people are so quick to just ask where you get things instead of taking a minute to just google it. It feels really lazy! I've put SO much work into my business, so it feels gross when other people don't want to do the work and want everything handed to them. I recently had someone try to rip off my brand and it made me want to put a wall up and stop sharing anything about my business. They copied my jars, labels, colors, and product photos, and it made me feel so happy that I refused to tell anyone what scents I use because they probably would have used those too!😅 I know that 99% of people aren't trying to be malicious, but it's getting really annoying to hear about people's "gatekeeping" when really the problem is that people are lazy and don't want to put in the hard work it takes to build and run a business.
Thank you, luckily they shut their store down to make changes! They seemed pretty chill about it so I'm just glad it was easy to deal with haha.@@zanel9827
Boundaries are healthy like you and Rebellis Alchemy noted too. I was thinking of the fundraisers who you choose not to donate to. If you have a fundraiser program where they can buy at Wholesale or between Wholesale and retail prices with the required minimum order and down payment, maybe proof of non-profit registration, etc., then it can be a yes, should they wish. And providing we design the program so it’s profitable of course. What do you think?
I think in theory it would be great but might be limited in all actuality but don’t want to have limiting thoughts on it. I find that usually the non-profits or efforts that are reaching out are so tight with budgets that the thought of spending money to make the money might be lost in translation if that’s what’s I’m reading correctly.
I'm nowhere near selling a product, but I feel this about the candle groups sometimes. It makes me not want to share my content because I don't want to act like technical support if I open that door. Every time I answer a question, I get hit with "what's your supplier/supplies/etc and it can be too much and puts me off from contributing
Yeah it’s definitely and overwelcomed stay in many cases which is why I bring the point up of we wouldn’t do this to other brands. I understand our DIY nature but if the setting isn’t there, it’s misplaced!
I’m with you on not working with influencers. I’ve only been hit up a few times but just NO. The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I make candles but also soap and salve and products like that. I have a daughter with special needs and each quarter we make a soap together and give all the proceeds to a charity that supports the Special Needs community in our area. We always sell out and when I do shows people love to hear about the charities we support and often leave an email address for updates. In practice I donated products to fundraisers for these organizations as well but that’s it. Sticking with your mental health ethos seems like a good line to draw.
I started responding to donation inquiries with, "Hi I am not doing donations at this time. However, I would be willing to give you a deal so you could purchase the items and donate them at a discount." I usually get no response lol.
She comes off as extremely condescending, especially to the exact people in her community that are giving her channel views. I worked in the hotel industry for 18 years, & in that 18 years there is one single rule that I will forever standby, & live up to: THE CUSTOMER IS RARELY, IF AT ALL, EVER RIGHT. This is even more true now since opening my candle shop in 2022. These customers will harass, lie, cheat, steal, & even break the law in order to obtain a free item, free shipping, a discount code, my Friends & Family Rates. By showing their gratitude for the free items, or free shipping, or discount codes, the leave one star reviews commenting on the audacity of my team not always supplying them with these bonus features every time. Id much rather talk to or answer questions from my constituents in Candle Making, especially the one's who watch my RU-vid videos whom I've built a rapport with over the years.
It seems that my boundaries that I’ve set for myself and my business and access has struck a nerve. I think that sharing my opinion constructively is allowed so for it to be construed as condescending is interesting. Im wondering why you have such issues with customers taking advantage of your business and products though. That seems quite concerning. Perhaps watching some of my other videos will give a bigger picture that I am more than an open book and simply suggesting better practices as a whole. Best of luck!
Also, just another thing as I read your comment again. She is I, so hi! I’m Ashley! Nice to meet you Christopher. I’m so shocked you’d comment that the customer is rarely ever right. I feel like that mentality is a deathbed for a business. They pay your businesses bills. Not other candle makers. I do see where customers might want to bend the truth or get freebies but if I found that to be a consistent theme in my business I’d be doing a very deep dive in what I’m putting out there and the environment that I’m fostering to make them feel that they need to do that or can take advantage of that. Just my opinion since you shared yours!
Disclaimer I do not do this on business pages, but I can see how RU-vidrs would get this question more as they are the ones monetizing off the views and affiliate links. When someone says oh I have affiliate links and here’s my video on how to make a candle and package it or what have you, you’re positioning yourself as the authority and people are going to assume your mission is to help people. I get it, they are separate to you but I don’t necessarily think that’s common sense. I think about Erika from MBCC, she gatekeeps absolutely nothing and she is probably the OG in this space, so people may think that’s the norm. I don’t think you’re saying anything wrong, but I also don’t think the makers asking the questions have I’ll intent or are trying to steal your customers or sales.
This video is a great idea, I think it’s one of those “well, now you know.” Things - but I don’t think it warrants being condescending only because you ARE a candle RU-vidr, group leader, etc - so lines are murky
Yeah I definitely don’t look at it from a standpoint of stealing sales or Ill intent. I actually think it’s more laziness and lack of awareness that one person is running a business just like the person asking and diluting that business presence by the immediate need to want something for themselves that has nothing to do with the 1. Reel or 2. Promotion itself of said posting business. There is a clear line and I don’t muddy it often or at all if someone really looks and respects what I am sharing and where I am sharing it. Which is why I want to start this conversation always. I don’t post a lot of affiliate links or monetize much. I share because I like to help when and where it’s appropriate. I think it’s great that other channels are an open book no matter where they are but it blurs the lines and doesn’t do our line of work many favors in the long run in my opinion of professionalism. I also don’t think it’s condescending to have the opinion constructively. Hopefully this helps people feel more confident in their lines of communication because it’s not cut off by any means, just channeled differently when thought about.
Hey Ashley! Great content! I get really frustrated with people hitting me up on IG and other platforms for free product. They are persistent, even when politely told no thank you. When they resort to commenting on my posts that I’m not responding to their DM’s I want to punch them! Is that too violent?? Lol Bottom line, it’s just part of it, and I get that. I do engage a few of them to see if they are a good fit.
Hahaha not too violent as long as you don’t follow through I suppose! I feel the same sometimes. It usually always occurs after a very long day when I have nothing left to give and feel very unseen, so i get it!
