"I Dare You to Stick Your Nose in My Business"

Hello SOWPUBers,

I have a request. I am learning how to make candles. Yes, I said candles. Very simple, low tech candles. Melt the wax, add a sent, pour the wax, let it harden, sell the canlde. Simple business process that anyone can do. I am brainstorming ideas about a theme to market my candles around. For example, start a free recipe site and forum, for homemakers to share recipies and chat about their lives. I would have a candle of the month special geared around the recipe theme and according to the holiday/season of the year. Another idea is to have a praise/worship/inspiration theme site and tailor the candles around this theme. Get the idea? My favorite is a romance site with tips for you and your special someone to "hook-up" romanticly. I'm no Romeo but i've learned a lot in the grocery line sneaking peaks into Cosmo, and others, trying to figure out what makes women tick. I could be the "Romance Doctor" giving advice. And the candles could be tools of love, romance and fantasy. OK, maybe i'm a little dillusional. I just read a stat that said 95% of all candles purchased are purchased by women. Knowing this, what other themes come to your minds concerning women and developing a candle theme around?

Any assistance is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Mitch

Seems you have a good start of something here - making a monthly themed candle that people can buy.

Why not take it one step further and have a true "Candle of the Month" club. People subscribe and every month they automatically get sent a candle or candle set depending on how you structure your package based on an upcoming event.

Lots of companies do "X of the Month" clubs - records, books, wines, cheeses, etc. You name it and you can find an of the month club selling that way.

You can even use paypal to set up the subscriptions so billing is automatic if you don't have a way to do that already.




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Hi

do you use paraffin in your candles?

Paul


C O T M

DNO

My sister teaches people how to make candles and so I know a bit about it. I liked your idea of a romance site.

You said 95% of women buy candles. Now find some statistics which show that women love candle. Than develop a site for males only - a romance site - explaining the males that women love candles and it would make a terrific gift. This way you differentiate yourself from other candle makers. You target males - while others target females.

You could also jv with a local card store to sell your candles (my sisted does that). Candles is a novelty item - and sell really well in card stores.

The candle a month club idea is really nice. Has some potential.

One more thing you could do is offer some card or a certificate or something with the candle - which says why this candle is good. A poem with a candle increases sales. A love story in which a male gives his lover a candle will work great too. My sister started packaging the candles as a gift item and added the 1 page unfolded cards in it - and her sales increased dramatically.


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