Hello to all. I have entered a craft show for this fall. Now I am starting to get nervouse. How do you determine how many candles to make for a 2 day show?
Thank you Redmaple, I have been to your website also. You have such a great variety of items. They all look fantastic! I need to find an inexpensive way to do some marketing, I need more sales.
You have been a great help. I think I will stay away from the pillars, they still are a thorn in my side. The ones I am making now don't split as much and burn down the center leaving a tall container looking candle. I love the jelly jars as well, for some reason there is comfort in just looking at them! Thanks for your suggestions.
Hi, I like the questions, it gives me a chance to talk to other candlemakers!
I really concentrate on one size, the 8 oz, jelly jar. That is not to say I don't offer other candles like votives and tealights, I just love making the jelly jars. If I had more $ to invest I might make larger container candles, like a large apocathary. If you are able, I would suggest at least two sizes of container candles. So, to the shows I take, the jelly jars, votives, tealights, melts, and starting this year, pillars and 8oz. tins. I take every candle style I make, I never know what people will be in the mood for! Hope this helps a bit, redmaple
Redmaple, I have another question for you. How many sizes of candles do you take to your shows? I hope you don't mind if I keep asking questions, but you seem to be the one with all the good answers. :lol:
Hi,
I think we offered about 20 or 25 different scents. In the fall, our bakery and fruit type scents seem to do the best, but we always include some popular florals( lavender, lavender vanilla, gardenia etc...) And some clean and earthy type scents. I am so looking forward to this coming fall and holiday season, the summer lull has gone on long enough for me! Good luck, safe and happy candlemaking! redmaple www.tootsiescandles.com p.s. do you have a website?
Hi countrygal... I am down here in Louisiana.... so the weather is still HOT even in october !!!! my show is Oct. 6 th in Denham Springs, right outside of Baton Rouge. Where is Boaz? we would love to move to Florence Al. one day.... we LOVE it over in that area.... are you near there? don't feel like getting the atlas out !!! LOL
do you just do candles? Soy?
I am just starting up this business, so far, good... I am starting to switch to ecosoya advanced... i like the appearence of it mostly.... any imput???
the craft shows are a lot of work, but well worth it in the fall, i did one in June..... just too hot for people to get into buying candles I think,,, do you agree? i know everyone says sales pick up in fall, i did great till about May, then it slacked off....
Diane :)
That sounds like a plan. Mine is a 2 day show so I hope I take enough. I am a bit nervous but I have done this before when I made wooden novelty clocks and fabric clocks several years ago. We will both keep our fingers crossed for wonderful weather. What part of the country are you in?
countrygal.... we will have to swap show stories after our october shows !!!!! the cart sounds really cute !!!! i am going to bring all i can fit in my SUV for show.... it is only a one day show, maybe 200 all together.
does that sound about right ????
i did all those things at the small show i did last month.... great! that means i'm on the right path !!! i do pet odor buster candles with all breeds of dogs and cats on them... i made a big sign that said "GOT PETS?" it got people wondering what it was all about !!!!
The signs we use are a 8 1/2 x 11 with the benefits of soy wax, and each item gets it own quarter sheet sign with the price and item name. I make these myself on my computer. I use large print and keep it simple. Remember a lot of people will wander by and you want them to be able to read at a glance. Then we have a pile of handouts on the table that contain information on properly burning soy candles, candle saftey tips and other product and services we offer ( like home candle parties and fundraisers), always include your contact information, website etc... The last thing I do ahead of time, I make small slips of safety and contact information, and insert one into each shopping bag, that way you don't have to do it when you are busy packing their order. Things can get hectic in a hurry so try to be as organized as possible, have everything ready,(paper or tissue for wrapping, bags, sales slips, PLENTY of change, a caluclator etc...) and don't forget to have fun! redmaple
redmaple, you are awesome. This will be an exciting time for me. My husband has built a cart with wooden wheels. It has 4 shelves and a little roof. I will get started on my candles and let you know how it goes after the show in Oct. Maybe, I will even post a picture of the cart with the candles on it. :lol:
thanks redmaple, that helped.... what all signs do you use? by the way , your website looks very nice !!!! i am planning on bringing about 250 candles , remember, mine are in one of a kind vintage tea cups, creamers, sugar bowls etc... and where the craft show is .... is in an antique village town, so i plan on doing good... i always tend to price my stuff way to cheap though.... got to stop that !!!!! LOL
The simple answer to how much stock do I take for a craft show is... all that u can! You at least need to take enough to fill up the tables you rented so they look nice, and extra stock to fill in as you sell so your table always looks full and inviting. Don't forget to allow room for signs!
At our last show, which was a church craft show, very successful in this area,( midwest) we filled up a standard table (I think they are about 3' x 8') with 6 to 8 cases of jelly jar candles, that was 12 to a case, 30 boxes of votives (4 votives to a box) and filled in the remaining space with a raised display of candles, and signs & ods and ends like tealights and melts. Then we filled in with backstock as most of everything on the original table sold. The best seller was the 8oz. jar candles at $7.99 each or 3/$20.00. Almost everyone bought 3 or 6 to get the price break. The votives at $5.00 a box did not sell as well. Hope this helps, happy and safe candlemaking! redmaple www.tootsiescandles.com
i have asked that same ????? i have a one day show that pulls alot of people in,,,, i am wondering how much i need also !!!!! HELP what all do you sell? I would like to know how others price there stuff to make sure i am not too cheap, i tend to go that way....
craft shows
Thank you Redmaple, I have been to your website also. You have such a great variety of items. They all look fantastic! I need to find an inexpensive way to do some marketing, I need more sales.
Countrygal
www.countrygalssoycandles.com
craft shows
Countrygal,
You are welcome, by the way, I love your website, such a nice variety of beautiful candles! redmaple
craft shows
You have been a great help. I think I will stay away from the pillars, they still are a thorn in my side. The ones I am making now don't split as much and burn down the center leaving a tall container looking candle. I love the jelly jars as well, for some reason there is comfort in just looking at them! Thanks for your suggestions.
Countrygal
www.countrygalssoycandles.com
craft shows
Hi, I like the questions, it gives me a chance to talk to other candlemakers!
I really concentrate on one size, the 8 oz, jelly jar. That is not to say I don't offer other candles like votives and tealights, I just love making the jelly jars. If I had more $ to invest I might make larger container candles, like a large apocathary. If you are able, I would suggest at least two sizes of container candles. So, to the shows I take, the jelly jars, votives, tealights, melts, and starting this year, pillars and 8oz. tins. I take every candle style I make, I never know what people will be in the mood for! Hope this helps a bit, redmaple
craft shows
Redmaple, I have another question for you. How many sizes of candles do you take to your shows? I hope you don't mind if I keep asking questions, but you seem to be the one with all the good answers. :lol:
Countrygal
www.countrygalssoycandles.com
craft shows
Thanks for answering Redmaple. I am currently working on my website & will post when available.
craft shows
Hi,
I think we offered about 20 or 25 different scents. In the fall, our bakery and fruit type scents seem to do the best, but we always include some popular florals( lavender, lavender vanilla, gardenia etc...) And some clean and earthy type scents. I am so looking forward to this coming fall and holiday season, the summer lull has gone on long enough for me! Good luck, safe and happy candlemaking! redmaple www.tootsiescandles.com p.s. do you have a website?
craft shows
Thank you for the information Redmaple. How many different scents did you offer at the craft show?
craft shows
Hi countrygal... I am down here in Louisiana.... so the weather is still HOT even in october !!!! my show is Oct. 6 th in Denham Springs, right outside of Baton Rouge. Where is Boaz? we would love to move to Florence Al. one day.... we LOVE it over in that area.... are you near there? don't feel like getting the atlas out !!! LOL
do you just do candles? Soy?
I am just starting up this business, so far, good... I am starting to switch to ecosoya advanced... i like the appearence of it mostly.... any imput???
the craft shows are a lot of work, but well worth it in the fall, i did one in June..... just too hot for people to get into buying candles I think,,, do you agree? i know everyone says sales pick up in fall, i did great till about May, then it slacked off....
Diane :)
craft shows
That sounds like a plan. Mine is a 2 day show so I hope I take enough. I am a bit nervous but I have done this before when I made wooden novelty clocks and fabric clocks several years ago. We will both keep our fingers crossed for wonderful weather. What part of the country are you in?
Countrygal
www.countrygalssoycandles.com
craft shows
countrygal.... we will have to swap show stories after our october shows !!!!! the cart sounds really cute !!!! i am going to bring all i can fit in my SUV for show.... it is only a one day show, maybe 200 all together.
does that sound about right ????
craft shows
i did all those things at the small show i did last month.... great! that means i'm on the right path !!! i do pet odor buster candles with all breeds of dogs and cats on them... i made a big sign that said "GOT PETS?" it got people wondering what it was all about !!!!
craft shows
The signs we use are a 8 1/2 x 11 with the benefits of soy wax, and each item gets it own quarter sheet sign with the price and item name. I make these myself on my computer. I use large print and keep it simple. Remember a lot of people will wander by and you want them to be able to read at a glance. Then we have a pile of handouts on the table that contain information on properly burning soy candles, candle saftey tips and other product and services we offer ( like home candle parties and fundraisers), always include your contact information, website etc... The last thing I do ahead of time, I make small slips of safety and contact information, and insert one into each shopping bag, that way you don't have to do it when you are busy packing their order. Things can get hectic in a hurry so try to be as organized as possible, have everything ready,(paper or tissue for wrapping, bags, sales slips, PLENTY of change, a caluclator etc...) and don't forget to have fun! redmaple
craft shows
redmaple, you are awesome. This will be an exciting time for me. My husband has built a cart with wooden wheels. It has 4 shelves and a little roof. I will get started on my candles and let you know how it goes after the show in Oct. Maybe, I will even post a picture of the cart with the candles on it. :lol:
Countrygal
www.countrygalssoycandles.com
craft shows
thanks redmaple, that helped.... what all signs do you use? by the way , your website looks very nice !!!! i am planning on bringing about 250 candles , remember, mine are in one of a kind vintage tea cups, creamers, sugar bowls etc... and where the craft show is .... is in an antique village town, so i plan on doing good... i always tend to price my stuff way to cheap though.... got to stop that !!!!! LOL
craft shows
The simple answer to how much stock do I take for a craft show is... all that u can! You at least need to take enough to fill up the tables you rented so they look nice, and extra stock to fill in as you sell so your table always looks full and inviting. Don't forget to allow room for signs!
At our last show, which was a church craft show, very successful in this area,( midwest) we filled up a standard table (I think they are about 3' x 8') with 6 to 8 cases of jelly jar candles, that was 12 to a case, 30 boxes of votives (4 votives to a box) and filled in the remaining space with a raised display of candles, and signs & ods and ends like tealights and melts. Then we filled in with backstock as most of everything on the original table sold. The best seller was the 8oz. jar candles at $7.99 each or 3/$20.00. Almost everyone bought 3 or 6 to get the price break. The votives at $5.00 a box did not sell as well. Hope this helps, happy and safe candlemaking! redmaple www.tootsiescandles.com
craft shows
i have asked that same ????? i have a one day show that pulls alot of people in,,,, i am wondering how much i need also !!!!! HELP what all do you sell? I would like to know how others price there stuff to make sure i am not too cheap, i tend to go that way....