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A friend of mine actually does something quite similar, so it IS possible!
She makes clay figurines. It started as clay jewelry resembling food, but as orders came in for other things, she started to expand what she will make. Now she makes anything from cupcake earrings to mechanical birds to anatomically correct human hearts.
Now, don't get me wrong, it's by no means going to make you rich, but if you love what you do, you'll be happier making enough money to survive than you would with a crappy job and a ton of cash.
She started by just making a few things as a hobby and posting the pictures up on facebook. She got a whole lot of "Wow, can you make me one of those?" that she started to make them for other people. She made a Facebook group, invited everyone she knew, and had them invite everyone they knew. She was quickly up to 1000 members, and still growing. From there she made a website and directed people to it. She opened up to every area of sales she could find, from Etsy, to Deviantart, to Ebay. Soon she was being featured in local magazines and on various websites all over the internet. (This is in Toronto by the way). A few local stores have asked to carry her products, but she's declined because she doesn't want to go wholesale; she doesn't stock much, but rather creates every order custom, and shows pictures of sold items that she will sometimes replicate. She does, however, leave a business card at these stores. Now she's been invited to shows and has a few dates lined up where she will make a few pieces to sell there, and take orders for more. Some days she has dozens of pieces lined up, and these can go for 70-80 dollars each.. Believe me, she has no shortage of customers, and has often had to cut off the waiting list to give herself time to catch up.
So I guess that just goes to show you that you can do what you love and make a living at it. I mean, she's not rolling in cash, but she's making enough to live on; she can work from anywhere with an internet connection. On the side she sells her extra unused supplies, like bags of colored sand, and she orders her supplies (like jump rings) from other, similar suppliers, which then advertise for each other.
Here is her website if you'd like to have a look http://monsterkookies.com/ . She doesn't update it as much as she used to because she gets more income from other sources, but it's still good for a look.
The one thing you need to be careful of is being unique. If your just making plain - old candles, well, anyone can get those anywhere, I can run to the dollarstore and get 3 for a dollar! It's already a huge market. Try to make your order as unique as possible. Maybe you can pour messages or shapes into your candles. Take custom orders for scents, shapes. Maybe you can carve designs into them, or carve them into interesting shapes. Maybe you can run a service where you'll put things in candles, like submerging a gift for someone in the wax (y'know what I mean?)
Good luck!
(Anatomically correct chocolate heart with a bite from it - made from clay)
http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs46/f/2009/176/3/e/Anatomical_Chocolate_Heart_by_monsterkookies.png
(Donute and Toast ->)
http://th01.deviantart.net/fs45/300W/f/2009/075/9/9/Buttery_and_Sweet_Lovers_by_monsterkookies.png
Source(s):
http://monsterkookies.com/
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Candle-making can be a time-consuming and rewarding career. Like any small business, you should first decide what kind of product you would like to sell. It is better to experiment and see what type of candle you prefer to work with before diving in. There are different types of wax from which to choose. Paraffin, beeswax, and soy are your main choices. You can create votives, pillars, jar candles, or tapers.
One of the first things you should do is contact your local small business association about rules and regulations that you must follow. You will also need a tax ID number to run your home business. You may want to open a separate checking account to use just for your candle business. Consult an accountant about how best to keep records so that tax filing is simple.
Candles are a popular home-based business, so you'll want to look around to see what is offered in the area where you live. Browse craft shows and craft stores to see what others offer. You may find local classes in candle making to help you get started. There are also a large variety of books and online resources that will help you on your way.
Start up costs will depend on what you may already own. Any home business needs a good computer, high quality printer and separate phone line. If you already have these items, your start up costs will be considerably lower. The computer is needed for bookkeeping and other record keeping. The internet is also a great place to sell your candles, so you need a computer to run your website.
You will also need some basic candle-making tools. You'll want to decide what kind of candles you wish to make before buying supplies, including shape and type of wax. These supplies are available from a large variety of suppliers. You can purchase them from a local retailer or from an online supplier. Do some research to find the best price for what you need.
This is a list of supplies you will need to make your candles.
- wax - The most common types of wax are paraffin, soy, and beeswax.
- fragrance additive
- dye additive
- Stearin - This is stearic acid. It helps with the overall quality of the candle.
- wicks
- wick holders
- thermometer - You will need one that has a temperature range of 100 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- pots and bowls
- knives, stirrers, and ladles
- scales
- molds and mold sealers for any candle other than jar candles
- jars - If you wish to make jar candles, you will need these.
Once you have your equipment, start experimenting with different candles until you find what you want to produce. The combinations of colors and fragrances are almost limitless. Take your time perfecting your candles. You may want to have friends and relatives burn some of your candles, and let you know what they liked and didn't like about them. Experiment with additives and scents until you find some that you love. Be creative with the scent and look of your candle.
Decide on a name for your business. A good name and creative packaging will help you sell more candles. The more unique your product, the more memorable your business will be. You can create and print your own labels at home with a high quality printer. Run some ads in your local paper and have business cards printed. Carry the business cards with you where ever you go.
You will need to decide on a price for your candles. An easy way to do this is to charge by the ounce. Add up the costs of your materials by what you use for each ounce of candle. This would include the wax, scent, wick, dye, additives, packaging, and the container if you are making jar candles. Multiply the number you come up with by the number of ounces in each candle. For the retail price, you'll want to take the price per candle and multiply it by three or four to get your selling price. Do some research in your area as well. See what comparable candles are selling for. People are willing to pay more for quality products, but you don't want your price to be so high that they shop elsewhere.
Next, decide where you will be selling your product. Most candlemakers begin selling their candles at local craft fairs or craft stores. You can start a website to reach a larger market. Find local gift stores that carry candles, and see if they might carry your line.
Take your time, and don't give up if you have a product you believe in and love. Remember that building any business takes time and hard work. Once you have a product that is high quality and that you believe in, word will get around, and your business will grow.
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lesliec
A friend of mine sells candles for a living and does very well. She makes them at home and has been doing it for years. Honestly, she told me that it was very difficult in the beginning because she needed to search for clients to sell them to. She was selling to her friends and then her friends helped her by bringing it to their places of work and from there it just kept speading. After her business had more customers, she started selling to local small business and mom & pop shops at discounted rates when they purchased the candles in bulk.
It takes a lot of time and effort to get it started but when there is a will, there is a way! If you are the type of person that gets frustrated easily or starts things and do not finish if they are working below your own expectations, then this would not be the career for you.
If you are an outgoing person, have the motivation & finances for financial start-up, and don't mind the "sales" aspect of business then candle making/selling could be right for you!!!
Source(s):
Personal Experience
Tags: career, candle, selling, business, making
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you also require a lot of skills for it like say the basic skill needed for learning candle-making is the power of imagination.
you can read more from the web site it self i have given the source -
Source(s):
http://educationtimes.com/educationTimes/getArticleDetail.do?sectionid=10&a...;
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| August 10, 2009 03:49 PM |
She makes clay figurines. It started as clay jewelry resembling food, but as orders came in for other things, she started to expand what she will make. Now she makes anything from cupcake earrings to mechanical birds to anatomically correct human hearts.
Now, don't get me wrong, it's by no means going to make you rich, but if you love what you do, you'll be happier making enough money to survive than you would with a crappy job and a ton of cash.
She started by just making a few things as a hobby and posting the pictures up on facebook. She got a whole lot of "Wow, can you make me one of those?" that she started to make them for other people. She made a Facebook group, invited everyone she knew, and had them invite everyone they knew. She was quickly up to 1000 members, and still growing. From there she made a website and directed people to it. She opened up to every area of sales she could find, from Etsy, to Deviantart, to Ebay. Soon she was being featured in local magazines and on various websites all over the internet. (This is in Toronto by the way). A few local stores have asked to carry her products, but she's declined because she doesn't want to go wholesale; she doesn't stock much, but rather creates every order custom, and shows pictures of sold items that she will sometimes replicate. She does, however, leave a business card at these stores. Now she's been invited to shows and has a few dates lined up where she will make a few pieces to sell there, and take orders for more. Some days she has dozens of pieces lined up, and these can go for 70-80 dollars each.. Believe me, she has no shortage of customers, and has often had to cut off the waiting list to give herself time to catch up.
So I guess that just goes to show you that you can do what you love and make a living at it. I mean, she's not rolling in cash, but she's making enough to live on; she can work from anywhere with an internet connection. On the side she sells her extra unused supplies, like bags of colored sand, and she orders her supplies (like jump rings) from other, similar suppliers, which then advertise for each other.
Here is her website if you'd like to have a look http://monsterkookies.com/ . She doesn't update it as much as she used to because she gets more income from other sources, but it's still good for a look.
The one thing you need to be careful of is being unique. If your just making plain - old candles, well, anyone can get those anywhere, I can run to the dollarstore and get 3 for a dollar! It's already a huge market. Try to make your order as unique as possible. Maybe you can pour messages or shapes into your candles. Take custom orders for scents, shapes. Maybe you can carve designs into them, or carve them into interesting shapes. Maybe you can run a service where you'll put things in candles, like submerging a gift for someone in the wax (y'know what I mean?)
Good luck!
(Anatomically correct chocolate heart with a bite from it - made from clay)
(Donute and Toast ->)
Source(s):
http://monsterkookies.com/
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Other Answers (4)
August 10, 2009 11:58 AM
If you are looking for a home business, candle-making might be a good choice. The retail candle business is a 2.8 billion dollar business. Candles are popular gifts for Christmas, weddings, housewarming parties, and birthdays. Candles come in a variety of shapes and sizes ranging from small tea light candles to large pillars and everything in between. Candle-making can be a time-consuming and rewarding career. Like any small business, you should first decide what kind of product you would like to sell. It is better to experiment and see what type of candle you prefer to work with before diving in. There are different types of wax from which to choose. Paraffin, beeswax, and soy are your main choices. You can create votives, pillars, jar candles, or tapers.
One of the first things you should do is contact your local small business association about rules and regulations that you must follow. You will also need a tax ID number to run your home business. You may want to open a separate checking account to use just for your candle business. Consult an accountant about how best to keep records so that tax filing is simple.
Candles are a popular home-based business, so you'll want to look around to see what is offered in the area where you live. Browse craft shows and craft stores to see what others offer. You may find local classes in candle making to help you get started. There are also a large variety of books and online resources that will help you on your way.
Start up costs will depend on what you may already own. Any home business needs a good computer, high quality printer and separate phone line. If you already have these items, your start up costs will be considerably lower. The computer is needed for bookkeeping and other record keeping. The internet is also a great place to sell your candles, so you need a computer to run your website.
You will also need some basic candle-making tools. You'll want to decide what kind of candles you wish to make before buying supplies, including shape and type of wax. These supplies are available from a large variety of suppliers. You can purchase them from a local retailer or from an online supplier. Do some research to find the best price for what you need.
This is a list of supplies you will need to make your candles.
- wax - The most common types of wax are paraffin, soy, and beeswax.
- fragrance additive
- dye additive
- Stearin - This is stearic acid. It helps with the overall quality of the candle.
- wicks
- wick holders
- thermometer - You will need one that has a temperature range of 100 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- pots and bowls
- knives, stirrers, and ladles
- scales
- molds and mold sealers for any candle other than jar candles
- jars - If you wish to make jar candles, you will need these.
Once you have your equipment, start experimenting with different candles until you find what you want to produce. The combinations of colors and fragrances are almost limitless. Take your time perfecting your candles. You may want to have friends and relatives burn some of your candles, and let you know what they liked and didn't like about them. Experiment with additives and scents until you find some that you love. Be creative with the scent and look of your candle.
Decide on a name for your business. A good name and creative packaging will help you sell more candles. The more unique your product, the more memorable your business will be. You can create and print your own labels at home with a high quality printer. Run some ads in your local paper and have business cards printed. Carry the business cards with you where ever you go.
You will need to decide on a price for your candles. An easy way to do this is to charge by the ounce. Add up the costs of your materials by what you use for each ounce of candle. This would include the wax, scent, wick, dye, additives, packaging, and the container if you are making jar candles. Multiply the number you come up with by the number of ounces in each candle. For the retail price, you'll want to take the price per candle and multiply it by three or four to get your selling price. Do some research in your area as well. See what comparable candles are selling for. People are willing to pay more for quality products, but you don't want your price to be so high that they shop elsewhere.
Next, decide where you will be selling your product. Most candlemakers begin selling their candles at local craft fairs or craft stores. You can start a website to reach a larger market. Find local gift stores that carry candles, and see if they might carry your line.
Take your time, and don't give up if you have a product you believe in and love. Remember that building any business takes time and hard work. Once you have a product that is high quality and that you believe in, word will get around, and your business will grow.
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lesliec
August 10, 2009 02:55 PM
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August 10, 2009 01:31 PM
Yes, it can, but you have to be the right "type of person" for the career. A friend of mine sells candles for a living and does very well. She makes them at home and has been doing it for years. Honestly, she told me that it was very difficult in the beginning because she needed to search for clients to sell them to. She was selling to her friends and then her friends helped her by bringing it to their places of work and from there it just kept speading. After her business had more customers, she started selling to local small business and mom & pop shops at discounted rates when they purchased the candles in bulk.
It takes a lot of time and effort to get it started but when there is a will, there is a way! If you are the type of person that gets frustrated easily or starts things and do not finish if they are working below your own expectations, then this would not be the career for you.
If you are an outgoing person, have the motivation & finances for financial start-up, and don't mind the "sales" aspect of business then candle making/selling could be right for you!!!
Source(s):
Personal Experience
Tags: career, candle, selling, business, making
Helpful Answer?
(1)
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Helpful: brian san
Tip twizztedtiffi for this answerVoted as best: masontx
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August 10, 2009 01:33 PM
I depends upon what you consider a successful career. Generally candle making is only pursued as a line of extra income or as a hobby. I would be surprised to hear of anyone making a full living at it, and even if one did there would be no benefits like health insurance or retirement. On the other hand, it would be fairly stress free if your lifestyle did not require much money.
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August 11, 2009 09:13 AM
Candle making is a beautiful art involving a lot of creativity. Though an immensely satisfying profession, it requires a lot of discipline. Candles were usually lit only during Christmas time, but today, candles are used for various occasions – for festivals, for gifting purposes, for aroma therapies and more. Definitely, the market for candles has grown in India. "The new trend is to display a variety of candles at home. One may not burn the candles; but will use them as objects d'art, incorporating them into displays, as an accent piece,” says actress Rati Agnihotri. She makes candles and sells them through her store 'Om 2 Home' in Pune. you also require a lot of skills for it like say the basic skill needed for learning candle-making is the power of imagination.
you can read more from the web site it self i have given the source -
Source(s):
http://educationtimes.com/educationTimes/getArticleDetail.do?sectionid=10&a...;
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