Candle Bussiness Help

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peo2009

  • #1
    Hello.. I am 17 and im thinking about starting a bussiness in Candle making..

    Im just asking for some general advice on how to go about it.. e.g where to buy and where to sell them

    I found a decent website.. and from what i worked out with around £200 i could get it up and running, following with a few sales to local people e.g Friends and family i think from the looks of it i could get this running pritty quickly..

    Just wondering is this a good idea or would i be best of going and getting a crappy job somewhere in local shopping centre stacking shelves?

    Thank you
     
    Mike W

    Mike W

    Free Member
    • Aug 19, 2010
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  • #3
    peo2009 said:
    Just wondering is this a good idea or would i be best of going and getting a crappy job somewhere in local shopping centre stacking shelves?
    Click to expand...

    As patientlady says, doing both might be a better way of kicking things off.

    The website itself, once it's done, won't take up a lot of your time at all. So then it comes down to the time you need to spend making candles. And that could be done at anytime (I assume).

    Having a job, bringing in some money, could help you keep living and having fun whilst, at the same time, you're building the business. And once the business is going well enough and needs more of your time, you can jump ship.

    Hope that helps.

    Mike
     
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    peo2009

  • #4
    Well seeing as currently i cant find really any jobs, i do spend over an hour a day every day looking. What do you think best path would be?

    I thought i could either Focus on getting a job and then do both of them.
    or i could make money doing odd jobs for people and getting £10 a go and then focus on doing the bussiness while looking for a job..

    What do you think id be best off going for?
     
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    mobyme

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    Jan 12, 2004
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    N.Wales
  • #5
    The candle business is absolutely cut throat, you could not buy a good quality wax for the price of candle in places like Asda & Tesco.
    Handmade candles do attract a premium though if they are distinguishable from the run of the mill.
    Do not try to go down the road of trying to compete on price you will get nowhere.
    To get started you could try getting in touch with David Constable at http://www.candlemakers.co.uk/ he's a mate of mine and probably Britain's number one candlemaker.
     
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    brianbeecroft

  • #6
    I'm really please to see that you are taking control of your future. As the others have said having a job and running your own business is a great way to start and many of us have been down that route.

    Any cottage type industry is reliant on the costs or the raw materials and the time it takes you to make the items and then to sell them. This will often make your bottom line quite low and tie up a lot of your time. There are very few of these businesses that make enough to be classed as full time, they are often classed as "pin money" incomes. That's not saying that it's not worth doing, but do the sums now and consider the bottom line, be aware that it is very easy to be over optimistic.

    Selling a service or skill is a good way of earning a decent income. As an example, I'm involved in teaching within the beauty industry. If a nail technician works in a salon they will normally earn around minimum wage or work on a commission basis. But if they are self employed with their own client base they will normally earn £20-£30 per hour.

    There are lots of other trades too that are worth considering: photography, plumbing, accountancy and many more.

    Again well done for taking control, and hope it all works out well for you.
     
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    Rookery

    Free Member
    Oct 17, 2010
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  • #7
    Mike W said:
    As patientlady says, doing both might be a better way of kicking things off.

    The website itself, once it's done, won't take up a lot of your time at all. So then it comes down to the time you need to spend making candles. And that could be done at anytime (I assume).

    Having a job, bringing in some money, could help you keep living and having fun whilst, at the same time, you're building the business. And once the business is going well enough and needs more of your time, you can jump ship.

    Hope that helps.

    Mike
    Click to expand...

    I read the original post a bit different and assumed the website was the source of candle making supplies. I suggest you invest your £200 on candle making supplies and start by selling them on a Saturday market stall and Sunday car boot and see how it goes.
     
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    LicensedToTrade

    LicensedToTrade

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    Nov 7, 2009
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  • #8
    I'm by no means an expert on the candle industry, so take my comments as those of a casual observer.

    I get the distinct feeling that you may have already missed the boat on the candle market. 5-10 years ago people wouldn't shut up about candles, they were everywhere you went, a living room wasn't complete unless it looked like a church with a full ensemble of 20 or more candles. But it would seem that this obsession with candles has tapered off in recent years, and throughout this peak many many people set-up their own businesses that sold candles. It may just be a little oversaturated.

    I may be completely wrong, but my advice to you at this stage would be to make sure you have carried out thorough research on the market before you start looking at setting up a website.
     
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    D

    Drpepper

  • #14
    The one thing you must do is pop along to the spring fair in Birmingham between the 6th and 10th of Feb - details here

    As Licensedtotrade has already said you may have missed the boat on this one, but if you go to the fair you can see what other people are doing (the very many other people) and what they are selling them for to the trade and retail. This will give you a very good idea if it's viable. Just remember that 100's of people doing the same thing isn't a positive though :)
     
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    FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper

    FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper

    Free Member
    Sep 14, 2009
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    Barrow-in-Furness
  • #15
    It's not a bad idea, I run a small online shop selling candles as a bit of a sideline.

    I also looked into handmade candles before Christmas and you are right to get enough bits to get started will cost you less than £200. It certainly isn't as easy as it looks and it takes a lot of trial and error especially selecting suitable wicks.

    I think it is a feasible business if you look at the higher end. You can't compete at the lower end of the market. If you can create unique candles (shapes/colours), personalised candles (for weddings/gifts etc) or look to create a high end brand of scented candles then you can create something with a good enough markup to live on.
     
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    peo2009

  • #16
    Hello.. First off thanks for all the replies and advice it is all helping

    But as Rookery said, I am not yet talking about setting up a website, when i mentioned the website i meant i found a good cheap place as a source of supplies..

    Also if anyone knows any websites for any good information about Marketing that would be greatly Appreciated :)
     
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    Edd_Smith

  • #18
    I started my first business in my second year of sixth form (also aged 17) and ran it part time while still at school. When i left i took it up a notch and ran it full time. Now aged 23 i have never worked for anyone but myself.

    HOWEVER i had parents who were willing to support me and didnt expect me to pay rent while i was getting going.

    So it depends how much you need the cash, a business cant be rushed because you need to make money quick:)
     
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    peo2009

  • #19
    Edd_Smith said:
    I started my first business in my second year of sixth form (also aged 17) and ran it part time while still at school. When i left i took it up a notch and ran it full time. Now aged 23 i have never worked for anyone but myself.

    HOWEVER i had parents who were willing to support me and didnt expect me to pay rent while i was getting going.

    So it depends how much you need the cash, a business cant be rushed because you need to make money quick:)
    Click to expand...

    Well saying i dont get a job yet and just focus on this.. i will still be on benefits for the next 7 months so i dont have to worry about paying my parents anything untill i get a job..
     
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    NewGirlInTown

    Free Member
    Apr 21, 2011
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  • #20
    Hello there!
    I don't know if you are still interested in the candle thing anymore, but have you heard of Scentsy?? The just launched April 18th and they are huge in the US. You could be an Independent Consultant for them and the business is already set up, websites and all. If you are interested send me a PM and I will get you some information! :) Huge opportunity in the candle business, one of a kind stuff!!
     
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    C

    coxdabd

  • #21
    Hey there, I think that's fantastic that your starting your own business, sometimes the best thing to do is to just go for it, sometimes if you stop and think about the pitfuls you would never get started as Deborah Meaden once said. Stay focussed and remain passionate! Good luck :)
     
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    sue Campbell

    Free Member
    Feb 9, 2016
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  • #25
    Hi is it ok to ask for a wee bit of advice? My friend and i have been decorating candles and we are beginning to look at making and selling them. I was told today by someone who is self employed that we need special certificates to sell candles that are perfumed rather than unperfumed ones, is this the case? thanks very much in advance :)
     
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