Frugal Tips
To Implement When
Starting a Soy Candle Business

By Diana Bays

So you've decided to start a Soy Candle Business!  Starting a candle business can be an expensive endeavor, there is equipment to buy, supplies to buy and it seems the list just keeps on going. We try to save money on the equipment but we never use anything or cut back where it would compromise the finished product. We never skimp on the actual supplies such as wax, fragrance oil, and coloring.  In this article I will share some frugal tips we implement in our own business. 

Equipment & Supplies You Will Need

• Melting Pot ~ At Wal-Mart you can by a Presto Pot for $19.99 (this will be the best $20 you will spend and you will end up purchasing more as your business grows.)
• Digital Scales ~ E-bay is great place to find digital scales at a great price.
• Digital Thermometer ~ Wal-Mart has a digital thermometer for a little over $10.00.
• Pouring Pitchers ~ We buy plastic pitchers at the Dollar Store for $1.00.This will only work for making soy products.  We buy a pitcher for each scent we pour.  Write the names of the scent on the side of pitcher with a magic marker and use that pitcher just for that scent.  After you are done pouring just wipe out with paper towel, no need to wash.
• Spoons For Mixing ~ Wal-Mart has a bag of 5 long handled plastic spoons for $1.00.  We buy enough so we have a spoon for each scent and when done using wipe off with paper towel and store with the pitcher.  The pitchers will stack with the spoons in them.
• Measuring Cups ~ We like using glass jars for measuring fragrance oils.  Recycle jars from your kitchen.  We use baby food jars and the glass jar dried beef comes in are both great for measuring oils for small batches.  Any glass jar that you can wash will work.  Cost: FREE
• Measuring Spoons ~ Stainless Steel ~ We got these at Wal-Mart
• Candle Containers ~ Search the internet to compare prices.  You also need to compare the shipping cost.  Some candle makers order from their local Wal-mart.  We use jelly jars and have found it to be cheaper to order online.
• Soy Candle Wax ~ You can find many great companies to order from online.  It can be difficult to decide which company to use but you'll probably want to use the one closest to you, the shipping cost will probably be the deciding factor.  We always use high quality wax; never compromise your product to save a few dollars.
• Fragrance Oils ~ There are many, many places online to get your fragrance oil.  We only use high quality fragrance oils that will give us a highly scented product.  Try the sample size before buying larger quantities. 
• Wicks ~ We try to order our wicks when we order our fragrance oils to save on shipping.  Try to combine shipping as much as possible, the cost of shipping will eat away your profit.
• Wick Holders ~ To hold the wick centered we use canning lid flaps.  We drill a hole in the center and slip the wick through the hole (we also use a spring style clothes pen to hold it taut.
  

More Tips

 ~ We save our newspapers to line our counters.  You can also go to your local newspaper office and asked for old papers, they will usually give you as many as you want.
 
~ To extend the life of your digital scales place it in a large zip lock bag.  We use the gallon size and you will be able to see through it and it will protect it from the wax and oil spills.

~ We use generic paper towels, wax paper, and such from the Dollar Store or Wal-Mart.

~ One thing we have to do to make a high quality and safe candle is to test.  Testing can cost a lot of money but It Is Necessary.  There are ways to cut the cost.  When you’re testing which wick to use we pour the 2 sizes we sell but don’t add the wick.  When you get ready to do your test burn make a hole down the center.  We use an ice pick or a wooden skewer (Wal-Mart has the wooden skewers for $1.00 for 100.)  Cut the wick tab off and insert the smallest wick you think will work.  If that wick isn't’t right pull it out and try the next size and so on.   When we are done testing we wash the jars and write tester on it and use it for the next test.

These are a few of the cost saving tips we implement in our business.  The most important thing to remember is to never compromise your finished product to save money.  You can save your money on the things that don’t change the end product.  I hope you find these tips useful and have a successful candle business.

©2006 by Diana Bays

This article was written by Diana Bays Co-Owner of Olde Village Depot,
Olde Village Graphics, and The Prim Krafters Journal.

All Rights Reserved © 2008 A Prim Krafters Journal
A division of oldevillagedepot.com  

Special Friends

Favorite Forums