One of the best things I’ve done is to get to know my fellows craft makers. I ran out of lavender and my “competitor” brought it to my house. I was able to fulfill an order.
I hadnt seen this particular video and you are right! People shouldn't be so paranoid! No two peoples candles are exactly the same. Or it's unlikely! So everyone has the same shot at making a profitable business. I think that has more to do with business skills than it does what kind of candle you are selling. Everyone's business model is different too. So there is tons of opportunity. People need to do their business and not worry about someone else's business.
THANK YOU JEFF. I was having this conversation last night. I really love making candles, but how do I stand out in what I think is a heavily saturated market. There is a reason I saw this!!
Thank you!!! I just starting a home candle business and I was so scare at the beginning 😟 but as soon as I got my first order I felt confidence 😃 Small order 23 16onz but the feeling was super good! With all the stores in California this lady like my! 🤗 it’s true! There is so much opportunity out there! 👍🏻🙌🏻
Thanks for the encouragement. I live in a rural area, my county only has 19,000 people. The neighboring areas are larger, so there is opportunity. I have gone to 4 large events this year and have had people from the other areas see and buy my candles, so the name is getting out there. I am hopeful and determined that next year will be even better. It's a learning process for sure and it takes time and commitment. Thanks again Jeff! Wish I could attend a workshop but right now I cannot, perhaps next year.
Great video, we are all unique and will do things slightly different. I did hair in a small town for 30 years that had 20 plus salons and we all built clientele’s. I stand by “Just Do You”! ~ Shary~
Thank you Jeff, you made many good points. I’d be interested in knowing how you approach boutique shops to inquire if they would display your candles? All love to you and your fam, have a great weekend!
Thank you so much for putting up this video! My candle business just became official last month and I literally just got a text from my sister this morning saying she wants to make candles for extra money. I felt betrayed to some extent. 😞 Needless to say I really needed this video. Obviously we can’t control what others do so I’m just going to keep working hard on getting my candles out there.
I just came across your channel and I appreciate the content I’ve seen so far. I want to start making candles and create a business out it and everyone I’ve come across doesn’t want to share their “secrets” to producing a great smelling candle, but I appreciate your honesty and help it gives me hope that I can do it too 😊
Thanks so much for this Jeff! I got completely bummed out yesterday when I realized there was another candle maker about 30 minutes up the road. Great reminder.
Just wanted to say Thankyou for sharing your thoughts and knowledge, this video was especially inspiring! Wishing everybody reading this great success.
Thank you so much for this! I’m in the face book group and I did try to ask someone where did they get the mold from and she didn’t want to tell me. I’m so happy I figured out to get molds on amazon or etsy.
than you soo much for sharing. I have watched several of your videos and they are very helpful. i am thinking about getting into candle making, bath bombs, sugar scrubs and bath salts as a business.
Jeff, thank you for this video and the DIY Facebook group! I'm very new to candle making and without your videos and the fantastic people in the group I wouldn't know what I need to do to make a decent candle. The spirit of generosity and commradiere is amazing!
Thank you so much for this! I’m only 3 years in and I enjoy helping others who reach out to me. I’m still learning but I feel there is room for all of us!
This video was really encouraging. I'm looking to start a candle business, and I've been losing my mind try to come up with something unique with scented candles that doesn't involve sculpting, or my non-existant art abilities.😅 Thank you so much!
Wow this video came just on time! Someone was eaves dropping on my business ideas and decided to started their own candle business. Initially I was pissed but then I said to myself “there’s so much opportunity “. However, Start a business that YOU want to start. NOT because everyone else is doing it or someone else you know is doing it. If you don’t have passion behind it don’t do it , it makes no sense and it will show in your product. Good luck to everyone that is starting a business.
Thanks for making this video. Very informational. All your videos are. I hope you and your family are staying safe during this time. I know Washington got hit pretty bad. I’m in Michigan and we are getting hit pretty bad here also.
Thank you for making this video and being the voice of reason! I'm a newbie at candle making and decided to start my own business. I have 2 degrees and can't find a job so I must take the risk. Thanks!
Just received my first shipment of joy wax yesterday based on your last review. I’m excited to try the wax and get this candle thing moving. I’m brand new but starting to do testing and give some away to friends and family for the holidays to start getting them out there. Thanks again Jeff, for sharing, have a great holiday season!
Why do people think someone else getting something, means they will get less? What IS that mentality? More for that person doesn’t mean less for you. You want more, go get it. Everyone uses candles. Do you know anyone who doesn’t use candles? I don’t. It’s like saying we’ll run out of coffee makers. Common now you guys. Sheesh. Newsflash... networking OPENS opportunity. It doesn’t close it. Also there’s this thing where true success is directly linked to connecting a career to a genuine aspect of your authentic self. Don’t worry about what that other guy is doing. Helping others is OK. If they hate it, not much is going to make them succeed anyway. If you love it, you’ve already gained something of value. I started this channel today, with the sole intention of getting help and helping others within the candle making community. Don’t fear competition. It’s healthy. Embrace it and get better than that other guy.
Thank you Jeff. I am new to this and you addressed one of my concerns. Although I plan to focus on fragranced melts and non fragranced beeswax candle jars, etc, which I believe is a niche not many go down. I guess time will tell if I continue down that path. Thanks for all you do. Blessings
Could you advise regarding what would be a good return policy to reduce the number of people trying to return them for various reasons. For example, the customer burns the candle halfway down before deciding they don't like the scent and wants to exchange it.
Good question. Perhaps you could have a no return policy (unless it breaks in shipping or you mailed the wrong one). You could offer a small discount for their next purchase. I'm curious to know what other's do as well.
Hello! I'm new to your channel and love the advice! I'm also researching how to start a small candle buisness. The one thing I'm so CONFUSED about is finding the right name and knowing how to find out if I can use it? I'm just planning on trying local sales thru a neighborhood website and maybe on FB. However, I don't know if I'm supposed to try to register a name, if I am supposed to check if it's trademarked , etc...can you please help me on this? Thank you again for all of your videos, they are very helpful!
can you do one for the gs1 beacuse just to start with a lot cost and is there one you can do to show if they want to create they own label with the software also screen printing on candle jars
JEFF, I really enjoy the direction you are going with respect to the intricacies of candle making and the business. I read a book some time ago by Malcolm Gladwell called Outliers. What most impacted me was his comment about the amount of time it took to become good at a given endeavor. About 10,000 hours to become very proficient and excel. Fleetwood Mac, Rumors album is accepted as the best album they completed. Yet it was the 16th album they produced. The bottom line is it takes time and persistence to get good. I sometimes think that people have the Jack in the box syndrome, order at one window and pick up at the next window. Those that are frustrated at the lack of success makes me wonder if they have the Jack in the box syndrome. Take time to invest in yourself, work at being good, don't be hasty and move too quickly. Thank you for the wisdom you are bringing to the group via these timely videos.
It's a good idea to have some form of insurance just in case the product is faulty and causes a fire. That way you are covered. There are different laws in different countries and different areas of the country you are making the candles as to which types of insurance are required.
Tacoma...Are you familiar with Ejay O’Donnell with the Tacoma Run Club? Long tine buddy of mine through the sticker business as I live on the East coast
@@StandleyHandcrafted Thank you Jeff for reply! One more question please. Can you talk about shelf life of candles or direct me to one of your videos would be great! Thanx Joe ... Merry Christmas to all
Also, Pagans buy lots and lots of candles. Lol. Edit: I know it's true, because I'm pagan. Lol. You don't even have to label it a spell crafting candle. If you have candles, I'm on it. I'm there, bro. Lol. We're always needing more candles. Most buy them weekly? I'll bet Pagans buy them every other day, and if they're all natural that's even better. Lol. But, now I'm starting to make them myself, so...
You said that wax melters would plateau, but the wax melts will not. I know I had coworkers who would buy sentsy like crazy. Of course I was thinking that the person selling that thought she was making money and I was thinking, but you are retailing a "wholesale" product where you could be your own wholesaler by selling your own products and a better profit margin. Especially when you get your sell to groups set up already and understand what they want. And you constantly see more than one Avon lady or Sentsy rep in a community even in the same office building and they are still making money. And handcrafted item would happen less than those pyramid scheme type businesses.
Hey Jeff, hopefully someone can help with this question/issue. I’ve been pouring my soy wax into warm/hot glasses(recommend by another candle maker) so that the wax doesn’t separate from the glass and it was working fine till I went back a week later and checked my candles and they are all separated from the glass in some way. Is this common and I just have to deal with it because I don’t think it looks very pleasing to my eye. Maybe I’m doing something wrong?Any help would be greatly appreciated! ~ Serina
Serina Raetz Very common issue and one that’s really hard to avoid during the colder months. The wax shrinks as it gets cold and starts to shrink and pull from the sides.
I agree with the overall sentiment but the example you use here isn’t realistic. Of the 900,000 people what % are married couples ( 2 people but 1 potential customer) or children. Depending on local demographics this could cut your actual market in half.
Mira, yeah that’s true. Like I said, I agree with the overall sentiment of the video when it comes to competition in the marketplace. I just think it’s easier to create an effective sales and marketing plan when you know exactly who and how many your targeting. Not a big deal to some, I just like numbers.
He repeatedly says IN the video that he's just throwing an example out there and that it's not even close to being exact. His point here isn't abt hard core numbers - it's abt encouraging others to chase whatever dream they may have because there's room out there for anyone willing to do that with some hard work and determination. Maybe really listen to get the gist of the video before you start criticizing someone trying to do the right thing and just cheer on others. If you're a numbers guy - then YOU do the math instead of wasting time here complaining abt something that isn't even the point of the video.
Christee F take it easy! I watched the whole video and as I stated earlier “ I agree with the overall sentiment of the video”. I appreciate his videos and I’m not trying to be rude or attack anyone. I heard his disclaimer about the numbers. My point wasn’t about the actual numbers he used but more of how population doesn’t translate to customers when figuring out your market.
