My business Adventures

Under Construction

2007-07-11T20:12:00.001-05:00

Thats what it soon shall say on my site. I want to narrow down my selections on my website. I think it will be easier for prospective customers to navigate. I will still offer my you pick it we make it policy, by request. I will cut down the selections to pies, tarts, pillar, votives, and containers that I have in supply.
If a specialty order comes in I will honor it. Any party favors I will still do. Party favor and gift help will still remain. I am looking forward to reorganizing the site & hoping it brings greater success!

Will be needing Flyers

2007-07-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

I want to send flyers out to local real estate agents & brokers to promote my candles for their open house. I think they would be great for them. Making the house smell wonderful when they hold open houses will make a sale more inticing.
If anyone makes flyers at a good price please let me know.
If there are any other jobs out there that would benefit from my candles, please let know.
Question of the week: What is your best way to market?

Sorry!!

2007-06-21T20:59:00.000-05:00

Im so sorry I did not post last week. Things have been a bit crazy here. It was my daughter's 3rd birthday. We had a party for her in the park. It was great! It was also Father's Day. So we were busy!
I am happy to see that someone is interested in Candle of The Month Club! Im real excited about that! I will be ordering 4th of July supplies which I will also be using for a going away party for someone going into the Navy. Those will be gel candles with star embeds in Sea Spray. Cant wait to make those!
Whats one of the best perks of being a candle maker? Your house smells soooooo nice when you make the candles! I love it! And you get to experiment with so many scents you would normally not even bother trying! Its a real experience.
Question of the week:
What is your favorite candle scent?

Here's Pie In Your Eye

2007-06-08T18:26:00.000-05:00

I have been working on a supply for getting consignments in some local stores. I made lots of different things & they r all great, but I LOVE my pies! They came out great! I hope they will be a big seller.

I have a few people interested in ordering some pies. If you would like to order one feel free! Just let me know what you want.

I also got my Inc kit today w/ my corporate seal. Im so excited!

I have my consignment agreement all ready to be copied.

Next I have to finish making a few more supplies, write a price list & develop a tracking system for merchandise in the stores.

Question of the week: What is your favorite kind of pie?

Artistic Candles by Marie, INC. !!!!!

2007-06-01T19:51:00.000-05:00

Thats right! I am getting incorporated! Im sooo excited! Now dh is jealous that his business is not Inc yet! LOL!
I am also looking into liability insurance. If anyone knows of one thats good for a candle maker please let me know.
I gave in my donation basket to my old job. They loved it! I cant wait to see how much the bids go up to for it. It going to be in an auction.
I made a bunch of pie candles today. I love them! They r too cute! Hope they r a hit when I go around to the stores.
My daughter has been sick on & off this week. Some kind of virus. She threw up last night & this morning. She seems to be doing better now.
Question of the week: I really need info on liability insurance, please advise if you can!

So Honored!

2007-05-24T19:30:00.000-05:00

I was nominated for the Biltimore's Who Who Among Women Executive's and Busniness Owners for my area! I am so shocked and honored! I was in this when I graduated high school with honors.
Wish me luck that I get accepted. It will give me good exposure!
Otherwise I am busy making my supplies to go out to the stores for consignments. I made a draft consignment agreement too. Getting there slowly but surely. I hope everything will be well recieved!
Question of the week: Have you ever recieved a nomination in something such as Who's Who? If so, explain!
I also just wanted to share the latest family pic taken on Mother's Day!

Networking

2007-05-17T18:24:00.000-05:00

I have been looking high & low for new places on the internet to network on. I want to have as much exposure as possible. I have also been forming my own groups where ever I can. Its basicall an extension of my site where I promote sales & contets we r having as well as conversation about candles in general. If you r on a social network, look for my group, I Love Candles, and join! If you are on a social network & cant find my group, let me know. Maybe your on a network I can join!!
Question of the week: Whats your favorite social network on the internet?

Lets Start To Think About Dad

2007-05-08T20:58:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, Mother's Day isnt even here yet and Im already talking about Father's Day! But you know what, it will be here before you know it! If your anything like me and most people I know, it can be had finding a gift for the dad's in our life sometimes. Well, I think you should get candles for him! Do you think thats too girly? Well I think not! I have some nice masculine scents that any man would like.
Here are some examples: Curve for Men, Eternity for Men, Happy for Men, Hugo Boss, Pleasures for Men, Tommy, Very Sexy Him, Drakkar, Beer, Barbershop 1920's, Dark Knights, Fireside, Leather, New Car, & Pipe Tobacco.
Visit my site & submitt an order for a price quote if you would like this unique gift for him.
Question of the week: What is your ideal Masculine scent?

The Train Kept On Rollin'

2007-05-01T19:45:00.000-05:00

Keep moving forward. Thats a great motto to follow. I try to follow it. Its hard at times.
Well, my first contest, Signature Scents, is officially over. Now I have the task of picking out a winner from the entries I have recieved. Should be fun picking out a new scent for the company. I finally decided on the next contest, The Ugly Candle Contest. Basically, if you have an ugly candle you have to submit a pic of it and if you have the ugliest candle then you will win a beautiful one from Artistic Candles by Marie.
I started a list of stores I want to see if I can get a consignment agreement with. Right now I have a list of over 50 stores. I think I will stake them out first to see which stores are most suited for my candles. I also have to make an agreement.
Well, on a personal note, I am going through some health problems. My thyroid levels have plummeted. I am now on meds for it. It leaves me so tired. I work out at the gym & work my butt off but I dont see results. Well, now I know why! I hate genetics!!
Question of the week: WHat is the motto you live by?
Here is my Meez, lol. Cant wait for the new movie!!!!!

When you think you did good...

2007-04-24T16:54:00.000-05:00

it all comes apart. I recieved an order from someone. I will keep the person nameless. I made their order, EXACTLY as they ordered it. They purchased the package w/ a free item. I also added a free-bie in the package. I also paid for half the shipping. I emailed the person to make sure all was ok & that the package arrived ok. It was there & fine, but the customer complained about the part that they got for free?! Everything that they paid for was there, everything was made how they wanted. The presentation was very pretty. Even the free item was intact, and forfilled its purpose.
I dont understand why someone would complain about the thing thats free? It doesnt make sense to me. I do whatever I can for my customers and I felt I did alot for this one. I mean I even forked out my own money to help pay for delivery. I checked up on the person, not many people do that. But I still get a complaint, or a remark about it. IDK, maybe Im expecting too much from people. I know just because I think something is great doesnt mean it is to someone else. But I could really SOOOO understand if there was an issue with the part that they paid for, or if the free item was broken, but it all was fine.
Im at a loss. I hope my next few orders go good & I feel better again.
Ok, question of the week:
What do you do when a customer complains after you have done everything in your power to make a good sale?

New Territory

2007-04-17T16:03:00.000-05:00

I want to enter into new territory. I wtill want to sell to the local mom & pop type stores around here. I really want to promote those wood wick candles. They r not really around here yet & I want to get a leg up on it. I will offer other things if they want them as well. If anyone knows anything about consignment, please let me know.

I sent out mompacks last week. Mompacks r business cards, coupons, any promotional material that you send to other mompackers & they will give the packs out to their customers or at events. I hope to get a good response from them. We shall see. I sent out some business card packs and some bulkier packs with coupons & stuff in them. Im excited to see what happens.

Ok, Im starting a question of the week! Post your answers!

This weeks question:

We need a new contest topic. The contest going on right now is signature scent. You make up your own scent & if we like it we will use it on our list & you will get a 2 ounce votive in your scent. (log onto http://www.freewebs.com/artisticcandlesbymarie/ and go under the contest page if you want to enter).

What should the next contest be? Something candle related. Let me know!!!

Last week at a glance

2007-04-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

This week has been interesting for Artistic Candles by Marie. We are working on Mother's Day Gift Baskets. We have a great deal! Buy a candle package and get the basket for free! We actually only have 1 basket left for purchase, so if any of you want one, better order it now! Hope onto http://www.freewebs.com/artisticcandlesbymarie/ & go under Mother's Day Baskets to order!
I also decided to donate a basket for the gala at my old job. I will do all wood wick candles for this basket in different scents. SO Im excited about that as well!
So, I am looking to sell candles at some small stores local to me. Does anyone know how I go about that? Do I just go in the store & ask? I will give them a sample to try & see if they r interested. If anyone has experience w/ this please let me know! It will be much appreciated!
Hope all my loyal readers r doing well!!

Home Sweet Home

2007-04-03T17:55:00.001-05:00

Well our vacation was great! The kids (and me) loved Disney. We did all the parks & did as much as we could.
Of course I kept my eyes open for new ideas for my candles. I am so happy I did cause in my travels I discovered wood wicks for candles! They r too cool! They burn the candle like normal but they make crackling counds as they burn. So, I found a distributor of the wood wicks & I adding them to my store! Check them out at my site.
I hope this will be a big seller. I think they r too cool! I guess this vacatiob had added benefits!

In Florida!!!!

2007-03-25T20:14:00.000-05:00

We are vacationing in Florida! Of course I am still checking in on orders & stuff.
We are enjoying Disney, Sea World, & Universal.
Yesterday we were in Miami. I LOVE Miami Ink! I sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo wanted to meet them! But they were closed! Waaaaa! SO I slipped a letter to them under the door and a few busniess cards. I wonder if I will get a response!!
I plan on reaching for the stars, literally! When I get back I want to see when Steven Tyler is around his home (he is touring in Europe). I am going to make him a line of candles for him. I have a whole scent line based on Kama Sutra. That should be right up his ally, lol.
I have met him before in NYC & he was awesome! We hugged for a pic. I love him! I love when he is performing w/ Aerosmith! He is awesome!!
I really hope he will like my candles! Maybe he will even order from me!

Feedback

2007-03-11T16:40:00.000-05:00

I went to a bridal shower this weekend. One of the ladies there had placed an order with me and she had just recieved her candles this week. She LOVED them! I was so glad! She said they smelled sooooooo good, had a nice scent throw & was VERY VERY long lasting. I was so glad to have some postitive feedback!
After the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on marketing to get more orders. I did recieve a fairly large order to work on, so Im happy about that. I am part of mompack & I have to make like 250 packs to get out by the end of the week! WIsh me luck! LMAO!

Starting Up

2007-03-04T13:34:00.000-05:00

I am starting my own candle making business. I love making candles, so I am really happy about this business venture.
I am trying to do what I can to advertise, but there isnt much money to start up with. So I am doing what I can. If there in anyone out there w/ cheap but good & unique advertising ideas, please let me know!
Check out my site if your like. I worked very hard on it & continue to add on & change it all the time! www.freewebs.com/artisticcandlesbymarie/
I have had a few orders already & had great feedback. I cant wait to get more orders!
Keep reading & checking back to see how my business adventures go!