Learn How To Make Soy Candles at Home

How to make soy candles at home. Simple instructions for amazing results. It's Candle Making Time!

Learn how to make incredible soy candles at home. Simple instructions for amazing results. It's Candle Making Time!

Do I Need Insurance for My Candle Business?

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This is part 3 of the Starting Your Candle Business series. If you haven’t already, please be sure to read part 1 and 2!

You’re ready to kick off your candle business, but there’s one lingering question…..

Do I need insurance for my business?

The best answer is YES. Do you legally HAVE to have it in the United States? No. But, it is definitely recommended that you get some liability insurance just in case.

Can you imagine going along in your business, building it up, things are going great, candles are flying out the door, the money is rolling in. Then, someone starts a fire in their home while using one of your candles…..

Well, it’s their own fault, you say, and I had a warning label on the candle, you say.

That may be true, but they could still take you to court and even if the judge rules you are not at fault, you still have all those legal fees to pay for and that alone could cripple your business and even hurt your personal life!

Now imagine that were to happen when you are still trying to get your business off the ground and you aren’t making much money yet! Yikes!

So, really, it is very important to get some insurance for your business. I am hoping that by writing these articles on starting your candle business, that you will be able to get off to a great start and be able to pay for that insurance with the profits from your business fairly quickly.

What if you sell only tarts/wax melts or flameless candles?

From doing some research, I’ve come to the conclusion that wax melts, at least, could be looked at along the lines of soap, although maybe not quite the way soap is, since you are not using the melts on your skin. There is still the risk of someone’s child putting them in their mouth, or even someone getting a rash from handling the melts, who knows!  There definitely is not the high risk like candles with a flame, but there is still risk, as with anything. You would need to decide whether you are comfortable taking that risk.  You might find, however, that it could be easier to find business liability insurance for flameless, non skin care products such as melts, but that is something that each insurance company is probably going to differ on, and you’ll need to discuss with your agent and see if they can work something out.

How much is business insurance for my candle business going to cost?

I was able to contact a few insurance companies that actually will at least consider covering candle makers. The ballpark figure I got? $500-$1000 a year.  Now, the cost is going to depend on lots of different factors about your personal business, so in order to get an accurate quote, you will need to contact an insurance agent yourself. That way they can look at your specific needs.

Apparently Farmers will cover candle makers, and I’m sure you can find an agent in your area since they are a very large insurer.

Here are the insurance companies/agents I contacted that do provide business insurance for candle makers. I may add to this list as I hear of others:

Agent: Andrew Core
Insurance and Financial Solutions Registered Rep
Farmers Insurance Group
541-359-4791 (Office)
541-221-1693 (Cell)
541-359-4797 (Fax)
acore1@farmersagent.com
http://www.farmersagent.com/acore1
260 E 15th Ave Suite D
Eugene, OR 97401

Agent: Lori Paul
Business Insurance Solutions
107 West Q Street
Springfield, Oregon 97477
(541)744-1806

Here are a couple other places that offer insurance specifically to crafters, soapmakers and candle makers:

Here is a price quote from the Indie Business Network website:

“$1,000,000 annual aggregate coverage is $398 per annum, or $2,000,000 annual aggregate coverage is $453 per annum. Additional premiums will apply for larger companies and for those requiring additional coverage. Product liability insurance is a benefit of membership in Indie Business Network, and the two items are separately prices. Membership is $150/year.”

  • Insureon The link takes you to a very informative article about the different types of insurance for crafters/candle makers. You can fill out a form online to get a quote too.

I hope this is enough info to get you started! I am hoping to do more research on insurance companies and maybe create a directory eventually. But what I would do, if I were you, is start with the companies above if you can, and get a solid quote. Also be sure to look up local brokers and see what they can do for you. Write down any questions you have ahead of time so you can be sure to ask them when talking to the insurance agent.

Be sure to shop around, take the time to get the best quote with a company you feel comfortable with!

Do you have liability insurance for your candle business? If so, I’m sure everyone would love to hear your experience and who you go through for insurance, so post about it in the comments!

Next:

How to Price Your Candles Part 1

 

Candle Business Coaching and Community

Soy Candle Making Supplies Giveaway-2014!

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Winner: Amanda Bekker from Australia! Congratulations!

 

It’s the holiday season and I thought this would be a wonderful time to do a giveaway!  As you probably already know, I released my first eBook at the end of August and it has been doing so well. I am so thankful to all of you who have purchased it so far and to those that have contacted me letting me know that you are loving it!  It makes my day when I receive emails like that!  I thank the Lord for helping me get the book finished after working on it slowly for 2  years lol.

So, here’s the thing, because of all the sales of my book, I am able to afford to do a pretty good size giveaway. I am so excited to do this and can’t wait to see who wins!  I plan on doing more of these in the future, and maybe some smaller gift certificate giveaways too between now and Christmas where there will be more than one winner. I am researching at the moment, about which suppliers offer gift certificates.

Today we are going to start off with a bang!

The winner of this giveaway will receive $80 worth of soy candle making supplies! I was planning on only doing one kind of candle making kit, but then I decided to just go ahead and give the winner more of a choice of what they want. This giveaway is open to United States , Canadian and Australian residents only. I was hoping to be able to include more countries, but I would need to find suppliers that I could order from overseas myself in order to have it sent to the winner. I was able to find a couple Australian supply companies that I could sign up with to order online, and then ship to the winner if the winner is from that area.

So if you win, here are your choices:

  1. Tell me what type of kit you want and I will order the supplies and have it shipped to you. Choose one: Jar candles, votives, melts
  2. If you don’t need a kit and already know what supplies you like or want to just pick what you want, you can go to one of the candle making suppliers websites below and send me your list of supplies that you would like (up to $80 worth) and I will order them and have it shipped to your address.

Here are the candle making suppliers that  you can choose from if you are choosing your own supplies and not one of the kits. Your whole order will need to be from just one supplier due to shipping charges.(If you have a favorite supplier that isn’t listed, and you win the drawing, just let me know! I may or may not be able to order from them if they are outside the US).

 

So here are the rules!

  • *Everyone must leave a comment here and tell me what supplies you would choose if you win!* AND Enter your name and email address on the contest form below.
  • Optional: Use the share buttons after you enter your name/email below to Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google+. You can also copy and paste the referral url and email your friends and family so they can enter! You get an extra entry for each person that enters the giveaway by using your special referral url so share as much as you can!
  • Giveaway is for residents in the United States, Canada, and Australia only! (I really would like to include everybody, but it’s just not possible at this time! Sorry!)

[contesthopper contest=”1139″]

Choosing a Business Name-Starting a Candle Business Part 2

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So in part 1 of this Starting Your Candle Business series, I talked about the very first steps you need to take before starting your candle business. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, you really should go on over and read it before moving on to part 2.

So, once you’ve gone through the steps in part 1-

  1. Buying some supplies, or a soy candle making kit and making some candles
  2. Testing your candles
  3. Having friends and family try some candles and obtaining feedback
  4. Deciding on whether to keep inventory or make to order
  5. Deciding on what kind/sizes of candles and how many to start with
  6. Thinking about how you can stand out, what makes you and your candles different?

Now you need to decide on your business name.

You’ve probably already been thinking about this, I’m sure, but now you need to really nail it down and set it in stone.  Some things to think about when coming up with your business name:

  • Do you want to use your name in it such as “Sally’s Soy Scentsations” .  Using your name in the title or not, really doesn’t matter as long as it flows nicely and stands out.
  • What do you want people to think and feel when they hear and see your business name?
  • Does your business name give people an idea of what your product is? For example, if you wanted to do a rustic themed candle line, and that’s what you plan on focusing your business around, then you might think about a business name that conveys that idea (“Country Candle Creations”). Same if you are wanting to do modern looking candles, or all natural candles. If you are going for a variety then of course use more of a general name, but still one that would stand out. A wonderful way to find some more unique way of saying a word like “Country” or “Rustic” or whatever else you might be thinking of for your business name, is to look up words in a Thesaurus. You can find all sorts of different ways to say the same thing that might sound more interesting or unique!
  • Also, you might think about the initials of your business name. Do you want the initials to form your logo? How would it look in that form? Think about the title “Work At Home Moms”, well, it is usually shortened to WAHM and most people know what that is when they see it, and it kind of has a cool sound to it.  Another example, a big one, is DQ (Dairy Queen).
  • Try not to make your business name too long. Short and sweet is easier for people to remember.
  • Check out the competition and gleen ideas from those and of course make sure any ideas you have aren’t already taken.
  • Make it creative and unique and have fun.

Another important factor to check is if the .com domain of your name is available. This is something that many  overlook and don’t consider. Even if you aren’t planning on doing business online today, you just never know if you might go that way later on.

I recommend, once you’ve chosen your business name and the .com version of it is available, go ahead and purchase the domain.  It only costs, at most maybe $15.00 a year, but many times you can find domains cheaper than that.

If you want to go ahead and purchase web hosting then the domain name is usually included with your account. I personally use Bluehost for this website and some others that I have and I highly recommend them.

If possible, you want the website domain name to be the exact full name of your business. People are more likely to type www.sallyssoyscentsations.com if that’s the full business name, than www.ssscentsations.com or www.sallysscentsations.com etc… They know the business by it’s full name usually, so unless you are very well known by a shortened name, like DQ, then you want to use your full business name in your web address (domain).

There are lots of domain suffix’s out there now, so why is it that I should be so concerned with getting the .com version?

Why not .net or .me or .us?  Well, think about it this way….What do you automatically think of when you go to type in a website address? Yep…. .com and possibly, just maybe .net, but that’s about it!  If it’s a non profit organization, then you would probably think of .org, but you aren’t non profit, so don’t even use that one lol.

Anyway, even though there are now tons of domain suffix’s out there, .com is still the very best one to choose.

What if I have an established business name and the .com  version is unavailable?

Well, that is exactly what happened when my brother wanted me to build a website for his espresso business a couple years ago. He had been in business for 12 years before getting a website done, and when I went to check the domain name availability, his business name was already taken (by someone that was just sitting on it and wanting hundreds of dollars for it…..but that’s beside the point). So we went with the .net version, which was, thankfully available.

Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. If he had the money, or even if I had had the money, I would have gone ahead and bought the .com version. I think it’s that important. I wonder how many people have typed in .com to find his website only to come upon a page that says “this domain is for sale”.  Some of those potential customers probably just left and didn’t try to find the correct website. Many probably typed his business name into search or tried .net possibly, but still, that is a loss of some customers that we really don’t want to happen!

So back to choosing the business name.

It’s good to make a list and just jot down any ideas that pop into your head, even if they seem silly or off the wall at the time, just write down any ideas you can think of. Look up those ideas in a Thesaurus like I mentioned above and jot down any interesting words you find there.  Then you might want to just sleep on it.

Take a couple days or more if you need to and just mull over that list to see what sounds the most attractive and interesting and what goes well together.  Get the list down to 2 or 3 of your favorites and then ask friends and family to choose which one they like best. If you are on Facebook or some other social website, you could have your friends there vote on which they like best!

Of course, you can go with whatever you are most comfortable with, but having others give their opinion can give you some great insight so you can make a more informed decision. Once your business gets going, it’s not a good idea to change business names in mid-stream, so make sure you pick one that you are sure about.

I’ve got my business name, now what?

Well, a good thing to do is to register your business name with your state if you live in the US. Now, where I live, in Oregon, I believe at the time I registered mine, it was only $25 and that was good for a few years before having to renew. It’s going to be different from state to state so you’ll need to check with the business department in your area on that.

 

Business name…..Check!

Up Next: Do I Need Insurance for my Candle Business?

 

Anyone else have any great advice to give someone that is trying to choose a business name?  How did you come up with yours?  Share in the comments!

 

Candle Making Business Coaching and Community

What Wax Should I Use for Soy Wax Melts?

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What wax is best for soy wax melts and tarts?

Here is a question I was asked a little while ago, and I thought I would go ahead and post it and answer it here:

Question

“Hi there! First off love your site and have found it very helpful! My question is can I make soy melts using my 100% soy wax that I use for my container, jar and tealights candles? Or do I need to buy a soy wax specific to pillar candles? Thanks, your help would be greatly appreciated ” Stevie

Answer

You can use the 100% soy wax, but the problem is, it most likely isn’t going to release from the molds very well so you would need something like a mold release spray. The other problem with making tarts with that is when someone uses them in a warmer, they won’t be able to pop them out very easy when they want to put a new one in. So I recommend using a votive/pillar blend wax or you can add an all natural modifier to the 100% soy.

Here are a couple votive blends you can use:

Ecosoya PB (Pillar Blend) turns out beautiful votives and tarts. (Available at quite a few places online, so you can just do a search for it to find someplace closest to you)

P-100 Ultimate Pillar Blend. This is a new one by American Soy Organics . I have recently tested this wax out and I really like it. Turned out beautiful votives as well. You can now get this wax at CandleSoylutions too.

Candle Cocoon Soy Votive Wax Haven’t tried this one yet, but I’ve heard it is a good one too.

Soy Modifier (all vegetable). This hardens the wax, supposed to reduce frosting, and I have used it in Golden Brands 416 wax to make some test votives. It did help with release from the molds, but it kind of got a frosted look and didn’t keep a nice smooth color. I still need to do more testing with this modifier though. It may work better with a different wax or different amounts.
You can get the soy modifier from American Soy Organics and Candlesoylutions.

So, for those of you reading this post…. Have you used 100% soy wax for making wax melts or tarts? If so, how do they turn out for you?

Simple Fall Centerpiece Craft-Autumn Candle Decorating Idea

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fall candle centerpiece

 

I LOVE Fall! I love Summer too, but around halfway through I am looking forward to Fall and cooler days and nights and all the beautiful colors. I think Fall decorating is probably right up there with Christmas decorating. I don’t usually get to do much decorating in my home, but the other day when the boys were at a friends house so I could get a candle making video done, I decided on a whim, to stop over at Hobby Lobby and find some decorations to make a Fall centerpiece. I found some great stuff and Fall decor was 40% off, so that was a huge plus (because I think some of their stuff is a little pricey….).

So instead of the video I had originally planned, I ended up doing this fall centerpiece craft. It was so simple and turned out beautiful! Now if only I had a diningroom table to display it! But, alas, my house is too small for a dining table. Someday.

Supplies

Now, I bought all these supplies at Hobby Lobby because there were certain things I knew I wanted to get there, so I just ended up buying all the supplies there. I am persuaded that you could stop in at the Dollar Tree and buy most of these supplies and save even more money, although their leaves tend to not be very good quality and they don’t look as real as the ones I got from Hobby Lobby.

Also, keep in mind that I did not use all of the leaves or pinecones, so you would have enough of those left over to make something else!

  • 1 package of fall leaves $4.79
  • 1 bag of pinecones, nuts, etc… $7.19
  • 1 bag of 3 small corn on the cob decor $2.09
  • 1 bag of decorative rocks (I bought mine at the Dollar Tree) $1.00
  • 1 large platter (the one I bought at Hobby Lobby was only $1.99 since it is a coated plastic or something but it looks nice and it is sturdy)
  • 1 decorative glass container large enough to put a smaller glass candle inside $2.99
  • 1 small glass container candle (I used a 4 oz. Roly Poly that was from a Partylite candle). The fragrance is Sweet Potato Pecan Pie from Candlesoylutions.   You can make one yourself, or you could just buy a small jar candle. You could also just stick a tealight in there as well, or a votive inside a tight votive holder, or even a small pillar candle would look wonderful.  Just be careful with the pillar candles or if you are using a taper candle because the wax may drip onto the rocks, so, especially with the tapers, you would want to put it in some sort of holder that will catch the wax.

Instructions:

All you do is place the larger glass in the center of the platter, then place the leaves all around and then the pinecones, nuts and corn on top of that. Very simple! You can put rocks in the larger glass or you could do dried corn or some other non-flammable decor (marbles, shells, etc…). Then place your candle inside the decorative glass on top of the rocks or whatever you have inside.

I did not glue my decorations onto the platter, but you could certainly hot glue them so you can have a permanent decoration, or leave them loose so you can rearrange into something else later if you like. If you have kids that might like to grab at it, I would go ahead and glue the leaves and pine cones down at least.

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