Saturday Night Fever!

Well, how does that title grab up??? You could call it a fever as hot as it has been today! But actually I am just wrapping up finishing some pillars I made for a couple of orders and thinking. You know, I know people like to do searches for things and then click on every link that shows up under them and that is what they are supposed to do! But, the searches that show up are called ppc - pay per click. Every time someone clicks on my link to go to my website it cost me money. Now that is fine if they end up ordering from me but if they are doing it just to occupy their time, no that is not fine! So to that end I have decided to try some other avenues for advertising.

I am on Facebook, Handmade Georgia, and Artfire. The links are below.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=107131717411#/pages/Glenwood-GA/The-Candle-Shoppe/107131717411

http://www.handmadegeorgia.com/profile/ElainePope

http://www.artfire.com/users/rubyelaine

Now I am still trying to learn all this stuff. To me it gets rather complicated. You know the old saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"? Well, that where I am!!

Well, back to my candles. Just thought I would let you know.

PCI Compliance

I have to tell you, this PCI compliance thing is a bunch of bull******!!!!!! There are probably about 230 questions you have to answer and I would need to be a network specialist or whatever you call them to even begin to know what they are talking about! Most of my answers were "n/a".

A little ole business like mine doesn't even have all that stuff they want to know about. Anyway it is a bunch of crock!!! But if you don't become compliant the bank that processes all credit card transactions charge you a monthly fee. You would not believe what all it cost just so my customers can use their credit cards and not have to go through PayPal to complete the transaction!!!

Oh well, cost of doing business I suppose but you would think little people like me wouldn't have to fool with all that crap!!!!

AUGUST SPECIAL

August special is: Buy 1 at regular price and receive 2nd at half off. This applies to internet orders only, no other discount or special applies. This offer is available on select jars & pillars.

FYI:
Well, I have made my decision on which soy I will be using. Now to try and find the time to get more scents tested before I put them on my website.

If you have not seen my special sale this month or on my email list for newsletters I have a 20% off all orders $25.00 and over. This applies to online sales only.

Hello! Hope everyone is having a good week-end. I know I say on my website I take Saturday's off but the truth is if I have an order I usually end up working. It beats cleaning house!

Just thought I would note that I do have my bath & body products up on my website and will be adding my soap probably during next week. If you want to check it out you can click here.

I am still testing soy wax and think I have found the soy I will be usuing. I have tested several scents but there are still several more I need to test before I put soy candles on website. I want to have probably 8-10 scents to start off with. Of course once I get them up if there is a scent you want that I have you can always choose unscented and then write your name in the message box. Of course I will have to make one just to be sure. I think with this wax it is going to have to cure for probably about a week. Would love one with shorter curing time but I am working with what I already have to keep from having to buy more!

Something New

Hope everyone is having a great 4th of July! Our 4th is very low key as we just sorta "piddle" around, my husband and myself! Our son and family celebrate with their friends so it's just me, hubby, Pepper, & Patches!!! Slept in late this morning, until Pepper finally said it's been long enough and made me get up!

I sorta started "piddling" in my shop and decided to pull out my soy wax! I have 2 different kinds of soy that I have had for a long time and decided to give testing another try! Probably in for a bunch of headaches but today is a holiday and not "working" at anything. Will start back officially working Monday AM early.

I am testing 1 scent in each wax to see which has the best scent throw. Really love the scent I am testing - Eucalyptus Spearmint. If you have looked at my new oils this month you will see that I am on a "Eucalyptus Kick". Really do like Eucalyptus that is mixed with other scents and the ones I have smell really good.

If I am successful will only do soy in 1 size container and that will be the tumbler that holds about 9oz of wax. I will probably leave it uncolored as a lot of candle makers say they have trouble with "frosting" when they color. I will probably call this like a spa/aromatherapy line and only do a few scents. Don't want to or have the time to test all my many scents in soy.

When I am ready to start selling soy, if I pass the test! I will post to that effect and also the scents I will be offering. Probably will have a special page for this on my website so it will be easier to order. Of course most soy has to have a curing period of at least a couple days so that will have to factor in with ordering. I do not keep candles made in advance, only make them fresh when ordered.

Now back to "piddling"

The discount of 15% using code BLUE is no longer effective.

Well, as you can see I have changed the looks of my Blog. I have also changed the looks of my website - http://www.thecandle-shoppe.com/

It would not do for me to have a web designer do my website because I would go broke just changing it all the time. I like to change things around and decided to try a new look today.

As I said on my website from time to time I offer specials that only appear on my blog. Well, I have decided to "do it again" This time all you have to do is enter BLUE in the Discount Code space and click to apply code to receive 15% off your order. This discount cannot be used with any other codes or specials. I don't know how long this will be in effect but I will post when it is no longer valid.

I still have not completed my B&B section. Still workinig on it in my spare time. Hope to have it up soon though.

Feels like summer time has hit Georgia today so everyone stay cool.

Well, here it has been a month and I haven't written anything. I had told myself I would do better but haven't. Been busy with a fundraiser and then wholesale account. Trying to work orders in between all of this. So lets see what has changed!

My aroma beads have sold well locally. I know I really like them. I discontinued my 10oz apothecary jar on my website and added this jar - It holds 9 oz of wax and sells for $7.99. I really like this jar. It has a really slick smooth look to it, somewhat elegant!

I also made some very pretty I think, chunk candles in Fruit Medley. This is a picture of them. They are really fun to make and I want to make more in different colors when I have time.

I have also been working on my B&B line and hope to have that added to my website by week-end. I will have lotion and soap with Goat's Milk, Shea Butter, and Aloe Vera gel.

Also will have bath/shower gel, body spray, and my perfume. I think my perfume is really great. Used to I only had 1 kind for me because I was the type to buy expensive perfume. Now I can make my perfume and have lots of different designer scents! I have both women and men's designer scents and will be adding more.

As I find all my stock-piled candle jars I will be adding them to my sell page. Keep checking it because you will really find some good buys there!

Well, that's about all I can think of for now.

New Item

I have added Aroma Beads to my line of flameless scenting. Aroma Beads are fragrance absorbing clear plastic beads that fragrance oil and dye are added to. It is really amazing how these little clear beads can absorb the oil. I used to sell Smelly Jellies online but now only sell them locally. A lot of candlemakers have quiet making Smelly Jellies and now make the Aroma Bead so I decided to give it a try. I really prefer them over the Smelly Jellies. I have a bag of the beads in my car and I can smell them every time I get in it, which I really couldn't smell the Smelly Jellies. Probably my "candle-nose" has a lot to do with that. I have some customers that wouldn't be without the Jellies.

You can use them as air fresheners in sachets, smelly jelly jars, closets, automobiles, lockers, shoes, vacuum cleaners, drawers, in vacuum cleaner bags, air cleaner vents, etc. I like mine in the organza bags but some customers prefer the smelly jelly jars. In the organza bag they are so easily thrown under the seat in your car or put them in a drawer. You can also put the loose beads in a pretty decorative glass dish and set several about your room.

I don't have them on my website yet but they will be added in the next day or so. They can be purchased in the organza bags or the smelly jelly jars.

I have to get to bed now! Been working on a fundraiser and always like to get to a good stopping point before I stop, and I am there.