Creating candles is loads of fun. A lot of people actually turn their love of candle making into a legitimate home business. You will need to do your research before selling your candles. Just knowing how to make great looking candles is not enough, you will also need to know how to promote and market them. Ordering quality supplies and dealing with customer service are other areas you will need to think about.
Everyone knows that candles are a very popular item and have been for a long time, so you can rest assured that there is a market for such products. However, unless people know about your candles, no one will be purchasing them. You will need to work out the details of where and how you plan on selling your candles, and also get peoples attention and interest in them. Places such as flea markets, yard sales, and craft shows are a great place to start. You also have the options of doing a bit of Internet marketing for your candle creations.
Purchasing ad space on the internet can be a huge expense although it doesn’t have to be. Creating articles about your business or a blog will get peoples eyes on your offers. There are also many places online where you will be able to set up a website for your products. Many web hosting companies offer site building services and tools in helping you build website to sell candles. In addition shopping cart services and credit card processing are many times added into your hosting fee which is usually around $20 per month. This is far cheaper than renting a booth at a craft show.
Putting your candles on auction sites such as Yahoo or Ebay is a great way to get started in selling your candles online. With satisfied customers you will receive positive feedback which build up into trust resulting in more sales. Before you attempt to do any advertising, you will want to decide the types of candles you will be offering. Pictures of your products are a must, people like to see what they are buying. After your business starts turning a profit you will want to consider buying supplies in bulk for bigger discounts. This will create larger profit margins.
The biggest advice you can get in creating a successful candle making business is offering your product at a reasonable enough price that the buyer will purchase it. But you will need to cover the cost of your time and supplies, while generating a reasonable profit. Don’t kill your business from the start by cutting corners in cheap supplies resulting in inferior products. After the word gets out that your candles are poor quality it will be impossible to maintain sales.
To attract more buyers consider offering promotions. You can also provider free shipping for your candles on the internet auction sites to have an step up on the competition. Many Ebayers will purchase a product with free shipping versus one with low shipping. You may also consider offering a free candle with the purchase of three or something to that effect. Include a personalized card if your buyer is giving the candle as a present to someone.
Think about offering some type of personalization service. What this means is that customers can ask for a particular color or type of candle and you will create it for them. This is often times a little more expensive for the customer, but they are likely willing to pay for you going the extra mile. Customer communication is the key to a successful business, make sure they know exactly what they will be receiving before committing to the project.
All businesses experiences problems that come up once in awhile. This is inevitable. But if handled properly by giving good customer service, they will be more forgiving of such problems and likely turn into a repeat customer. Always provide your customers a way to get in touch with you. Create a resolution to any problems that you will both be in agreement with. Always outline your return policies on your website as well so that there is a place customers can read that information.
Creating your own business is a exciting time, and selling your candles gives you a business where you can be proud of the quality of the product you are making. Don’t cut corners and take the time to learn the basics of every aspect of the business from how to make candles to how to market your candles before jumping in. This will help ensure that it is a fun business venture for you and one that is sure to be quite profitable.
