How to Start Candle Making Business
This article throws a light on the steps to take to start a candle making business. Despite all modernity, technology and, especially electric light, candles have not gone out of style. They continued with their charm and gained importance in several branches, such as decoration, bringing luxury and sophistication to the environments. They are also used in parties and events, whether to erase old women celebrating birthdays or decorating wedding cakes. It is still used as a form of reverence for beliefs and religions.
As a type of business, candle is an interesting product, since it is in continuous use and consumed quickly. That is, you use it and as soon as it ends, you need to buy another one to replace it. Therefore, the competition is quite expressive and deserves attention when planning to set up a candle making business. The demand for ordinary candles, plain, simple and white, is continuous, and with a history of purchases it is possible to see high sales peaks during the different seasons of the year. The market for decorative candles is growing every day, as well as aromatic and votive ones. Handmade candles have been expanding steadily, as their audience is very specific and in line with current philosophy.
Candle making is surprisingly profitable. The profitability of such a business is about 250%, and in some cases it can reach several thousand percent! Of course, the manufacturer earns most of the profits, not resellers or sellers. This product is in demand: people collect decorative candles or simply decorate their homes with them, besides, they perfectly fulfill their role as souvenirs.
Candle making can be organized at home, which significantly reduces the start-up costs of the business. One person can handle the production of such products. Of course, if you do everything yourself, then you will not be able to earn much, but this small business can serve as an excellent additional income to the main one. The manufacturing process can take you so much that it becomes your hobby. And what could be more enjoyable than a hobby, from which, in addition to the pleasure of doing what you love, you also derive material benefit?
The candle, in its most traditional form, consists of a solid cylinder, with a wick surrounded by combustible material. This, in contact with the fire, becomes liquefied and absorbed by combustion.
Even with human development and the discovery of several other sources of artificial lighting, candles still occupy a prominent place with society.
Whether to decorate and give a nostalgic look to different environments, candles are also used to decorate birthday cakes, weddings or any other celebration. Some beliefs and religions also use them in their manifestations of faith.
Interested in starting your own candle making business? We have prepared this article with the main guidelines for you who want to start up a candle making business.
In summary:
- How to Start
- How to Make a Candle
- Success Tips
How to Start
You need to know who the traders, competitors is already in that market, who are the collaborator. Anyway, talk to customers and ask why they buy a certain brand of candle and don’t forget to check who are those that have been involved in the candle making business.
Your first customers will be wholesalers and retailers, so as they are the ones who will sell your product, try to please them in a way that has an affordable and flexible payment method. Just like orders and deliveries.
My suggestion for you that is starting, is to set up a well-organized business plan for your company. This way you will have a full idea of how the factory will work, what it needs and where it wants to go with the business.
Target audience
The second step in setting up a candle making business is to draw up a business plan and thereby define your actions and the target audience. Will they be ordinary or handmade candles? What are the needs of your audience? What is the differential of your candle making business? Using creativity and focusing on niche markets, such as developing environmentally friendly products, can bring a really competitive advantage.
Businesses are structurally divided between industry, administration and the production area, as well as spaces to store raw materials, inputs, equipment and the final product. Therefore, when thinking about the structure, one must take into account the size of the property, but also the location. It can be removed from the city or not. But it is important to take into account local and / or regional suppliers. The closer, the greater the savings in transportation.
Location
A big question of who is looking to invest in this type of business is in relation to the choice of location. Basically, you should look for a region in your city where people are passing by frequently. Then choose the commercial area of the city.
You can even set up a candle shop near churches or similar places, but the most recommended is to find a popular shopping street in your city to settle. It can be close to party supply stores, decorative items stores or even small variety stores.
The internal space does not have to be very large, because you will need to have only the area for display and sale of candles, a space for the service desk, a bathroom and a small stock (if necessary).
Legality
Another very important detail is also the issue of the legalization of your candle making business. Therefore, it is essential to hire an accountant to assist you from the beginning.
In this process, it will be necessary to register to obtain license from the city hall, permit from the fire department and other bureaucratic details.
Suppliers
Do you already know where to buy paraffin wholesale to make candles? This will be very important for the operation of your candle making business. After all, it is necessary to have great suppliers to meet the needs of your business.
So take the time to research who your suppliers will be, test their raw materials and then make a decision on where you will buy most often.
Marketing and sales
There are many channels for candlestick marketing:
- Souvenir shops, counters in shopping centers, esoteric salons;
- Establishments segment: cafes, restaurants, hotels, hotels;
- Religious organizations, including church ones;
- Design studios and event firms;
- Beauty salons, offices, massage parlors.
Online sales are another important distribution channel that allows you to sell your candle to the end customer. You can sell candle in online stores, on forums, through social networks.
Based on this, a marketing strategy is built. It is necessary to negotiate personally or through a sales manager with the owners of shops, restaurants and other firms. It is recommended that commercial offers be sent to potential customers by email.
It is useful to create your own website, Instagram page, group in social networks and promote them.
Showcase quality products!
Make it public on the internet, post photos of the candles you sell, if someone asks for one you don’t have, don’t just say that it doesn’t sell, talk to your suppliers to find out if you can get it. People often lose the customer for fear of trying to find the right product.
Get in touch with candle manufacturers, make partnerships to spread the name of the factories and sell a good and quality product.
When you set up a candle shop, also check the way to renew your stock whenever you need it, especially at times of specific events such as Easter, Christmas and All Souls Day.
Always have an updated stock so that when these days of bigger events arrive you do not have any losses, because just because you don’t have the candle at the moment, many times, you lose a customer forever.
Staff
As soon as you start your candle making business, you must prioritize the service to your customers, because if they are very well attended, they will return to your enterprise.
However, in order to go ahead with your business, you do not need to hire many people to work in your factory. Because everything will depend on the number of machines, and therefore, they may have between two or at most three employees.
Remembering that you must instruct your employees very well, because everyone must have specific training to work. In order not to waste the raw material and to work in the greatest possible safety.
How to Make a Candle
The candle has been an essential part of our homes for centuries. If for a long time it was only used for lighting, it is now an integral part of the decoration of our interiors. Color, size, shape and even medium, every aspect of today’s candle comes in an impressive variety, to satisfy all tastes.
This is also true for the composition. We know that the paraffin-based candle gives off unhealthy vapors, because it is nothing other than a petroleum derivative. We have no idea of burning oil in an enclosed space and then coming to breathe there… But that’s what we do with paraffin candles! Soy wax candles have the advantage of being a vegetable and vegan product, since the wax in them does not come from bees.
Accessories, Ingredients and Equipment
It is important to have everything you need ready for use right from the start. You will thus obtain the best possible result, and you will facilitate each step of the production!
For the design of your candle (s), you will need:
- wick stickers
- wick holders
- a thermometer
- a jug
- a glass or metal pitcher or saucepan
- a scale
But also…
- Containers
- soy wax
- wicks
- perfume
- dye (optional)
Calculation of the necessary ingredients
Choosing and ordering all the equipment can be scary, but rest assured! To make things easier, we’ve listed here the information you need to avoid making mistakes.
- Choose your container
To calculate the required quantity of each item, you must first choose your container (or mold), and decide on the number of candles you want to make.
For example, you can recycle a jam jar for an original look, or even glasses, all in a zero waste perspective. In any case, your pot or mold will decide the quantity of ingredients needed for your candle
- Select the right bit
The wick is the most difficult element to choose: too thin, the candle will melt forming a tunnel, too wide, the heat emitted may burst your container, or simply, the candle will burn out too quickly. The ideal is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions by purchasing the wick that corresponds closest to the diameter desired for your candle.
- Calculate the amount of soy wax needed
Your container defines the amount of wax required. The calculation to be made is as follows: volume of the container in milliliters x 0.77 = weight of soy wax in grams.
You must then round up above, to avoid the risk of running out of wax during your manufacture.
- Calculate the amount of scented oil needed
Now that your wicks and your soy wax amount are selected, it’s time to calculate how much scent oil you need.
This varies depending on the strength of fragrance you want, but it is generally recommended to put 6 to 10% oil compared to the soy wax used.
The calculation formula will therefore be: wax (in grams) x 0.10 = scented oil (in milliliters)
- Calculate the amount of dye needed
If you want to add color to your candle, you can choose to tint your wax yourself or buy a wax that is already tinted. There is usually one block of dye for every three kilograms of soy wax. Add the dye by chips (for example using a vegetable grater) until the desired shade is obtained.
Making your candle
You’ve got it ready, so it’s time to get to work!
First step: Prepare the workspace
You must first prepare your workspace: free a table or kitchen worktop in a place with a temperature between 19 and 24 ° C, ideal for cooling the wax.
Step two: Prepare the containers
Place a wick in each container using a sticker, which will secure the wick to the bottom. Use the bit holder to keep the bit straight and centered.
Step three: Measure and melt the wax
Pour the wax into the graduated container and weigh the necessary amount using your scale.
Melt the wax in a double boiler. Wait until the wax has completely melted and raise the temperature to 80 to 85 ° C.
Then remove the container containing the wax from the water bath. Don’t forget to put out the fire!
Step Four: Add the scent oil and tincture
If you want, now is the time to add the tincture!
Add your tincture to soy wax at 80-85 ° C, whatever form you have chosen. Mix everything to make sure the color is even. Dip a cold spoon into the mixture: the cooling wax on it allows you to observe the final shade. Adjust the amount of dye accordingly.
Still while the wax is at 80-85 ° C, add the scented oil and mix for two minutes so that the mixture is homogeneous. Some perfumes must be mixed while the wax is cooler: follow the manufacturer’s instructions by checking the temperature of the wax using your thermometer.
Step Five: Pour in the wax
Once the temperature of the wax has dropped to around 55 ° C, pour the wax into your containers.
Step Six: Cool Your Candles
For best results, place your candles in a room at equal temperature for twenty-four hours, until they solidify.
For ideal cooling, leave space between each candle, which will allow air to circulate.
Success Tips
So, here are some tips for investing in your new venture:
- Make a plan before starting the business, to project a long investment period;
- Make the selection of personnel to work in your establishment, with the purpose of only hiring qualified people;
- Always have renewed stock, so that as soon as the customer requests something you have available;
- Be aware of the changes that occur in the market, so that there is always news, as customers are very fond of innovative products.
Now that you have a sense of how to start up a small candle making business, start by doing market research and also start courses so that you have more knowledge in the business and can better educate your employees.
See that specializing is always good, so that you have greater control over your enterprise.
My final tip is that you have to be very careful when doing business. For your establishment to move forward, you must have attention, patience and persevere. I wish you a lot of success right now and I hope these tips have been useful!