Make Your Candle Making Crafts a Profitable Hobby

There are a number of candle making crafts that are so easy that even children can take part in the fun. Additionally, if your business plan to sell your wares is already in place, this can be a way to use candle making crafts to teach your kids about how business works. It can even boost your sales, since many people love gifts made by the creative minds of children.

But whether or not you have kids that are involved, candle making crafts are a good way to get started in a business that can be rewarding and fun. The nice thing about candles is that there are techniques, but no set rules regarding creativity, only the chemistry that makes up the product.

Once you have worked out the proper ratios of fragrance, dye, and wax, you need to let out the inner artist. Working with wax, you can be as creative as you want to be because the basic technique is always the same. Candle making crafts are all based in the same science. The only difference between them is the research, development, and artistry of the candle. As you progress, the basic tenets of the craft will become second nature, and your artistic eye will become your most important tool.

The basics are simple. Apply heat through boiling water to a pitcher that contains the wax. In the big companies, there are large kettles that have a water barrier in which they melt the wax. If you can picture that you are simply working on a smaller scale than a manufacturer like Yankee or Old Virginia Candle Company, the rules for candle making crafts become simple and finite.

Next, the big companies are very specific in their measurements. This is not to reduce waste, although that is a byproduct. In most cases, the dye and fragrance used in candle making crafts are petroleum based. When mixed with wax, they actually create a suspension. If the ratios are inaccurate or the mixture is not performed properly, the result will not be what you want at all. If the dye isn’t mixed right, the colors will be spotty in the finished product, or it may be duller than you expect. If the fragrance doesn’t mix properly, as the candle burns the scent will be very strong at times and then nonexistent at others. So another trick is the prodigious use of stirring. Again, the big companies use yard sticks to constantly stir the mixture until its ready for pour. For this, you may want to consider buying a few paint stirrers from the local hardware store. The dye may bleed into the wood, so be sure to get several for different color varieties.

Finally, wick placement is a crucial part of candle making crafts. The way the wick sits determines how the finished product will burn. After the pour and as the wax sets, be sure to keep an eye on the wick from the top to bottom. Candle making crafts are not difficult or foreboding, but perseverance goes a long way in building beautiful candles.

Candle Making Crafts - How to Make Money With Your Hobby

The first thing most people wonder when they get good at making candles is how to make money with your candle making craft. The truth is, people love candles, candles are a consumable item so people will always buy more, and customers are always looking for a unique twist on the average candle.

So the first thing to remember is that your candle making craft must be something that catches the eye of the consumer. Yankee and Old Virginia Candle Companies have cornered the market on the run of the mill, ready made candle in a jar with fragrance. Unless you have a factory, 50+ employees, and a research department, you probably aren’t going to break into this market. This doesn’t mean you can’t turn a significant profit, only that you have to be creative. For example, in Lynchburg, Virginia, corporate home of Old Virginia Candle Company, there is an artisan who makes enough money with her candle making craft that she advertises on television and receives orders from all over the country. Her specialty is a technique in which she makes large scented candles in a mold and while the wax is still pliable, she shaves into the candle creating unique curled wax along the candle’s sides. This is the type of eye you must have in your own candle making craft.

Another issue that you must look at as you begin is accepting a smaller markup to begin your business. Do not expect to be able to price yourself into the market with your candle making craft at rates that rival the bigger more established companies. But also, don’t sell yourself short. This seems like a tricky high wire act, but it’s really not. Just like when you were coming up with the proper wax and wicks to use, do your research. Go to the local Walmart and find out what poorly made corporate candles sell for. Then stop at the mall and see what Yankee sells a candle similar to yours for. Your candle making craft should sell somewhere squarely in between. After you’ve found the range in which others are selling their work, sit down and figure out the wholesale cost for the candles that you intend to sell. Stay as far away from the low end of the price research as you feel comfortable with. Remember, you do not want your candles to be compared to Walmart prices, because they will look cheap and people will associate that with poor production.

Finally, to make a profit with your candle making craft, you must determine where you are going to sell your candles. It’s probably best to begin selling to friends and family first and let the word spread. Another option is a local farmer’s market. Also, check out the local consignment shops in your area. The internet is another good way, but keep a couple of things in mind. First, there are some free sites like Etsy where you can sell for free, but this will limit your exposure. If you pay for your own site, this will add cost to the candles in the form of web development and promotion. You must decide if it is worth it to do either. You can make a profit with your candles, just remember these tips and plan accordingly.