Make Money Selling Candles
Make Money Selling Candles
Many people dream of starting a small home-based business and grow it to the point where it can not only support them and their family, but ultimately bring them success and financial freedom. After all, pretty much every big business out there had humble beginnings. But since starting a business usually requires a lot of money (ask people who are looking to open a laundromat business), people tend to gravitate towards those businesses where you don’t need a lot of money to get started.
One such opportunity is the business of selling candles. Very often, people dismiss it as something that’s not very viable, but it’s actually a pretty good business model. Candles are what is called a consumable item, meaning that once it’s completely burned, it has to be replaced. Plus they’re not expensive items. That means that people don’t feel uncomfortable spending money on them. So you’re selling a cheap item, that needs to be replaced often. Not a bad proposition if you ask me.
As for the question of “where’s my target market for selling candles”, here’s the answer. People don’t really give a lot of thought before spending a couple dollars on a few candles. Because it’s such a cheap purchase, they don’t feel guilty about it. And that’s very good news for you. This is also a business that doesn’t require a lot of money to get started. It’s pretty common to hear people say that they started their profitable candle selling business from their kitchen table and grew it from there. If you’ve got a creative side, then it’s even better: you can be as creative as you’d like. Just keep in mind that your prospective customers must also like your creations in order for your candle selling business to make money.
There are countless places where you can sell your candles. Once you have some inventory, either from candles you make yourself or candles that you order from a wholesale vendor, then you’re ready to start selling. Start off with your friends and family, and also offer your product to local shops where people know you and will support your business. It’s a good idea to try local craft shows, which usually happen once or twice a year. This is a good setup if you like traveling. You can set up a calendar of craft shows happening around the country and be there to sell your candles.
If you’d rather handle the business without all that traveling, auction sites offer an excellent outlet for your candles. eBay is one of the most visited websites on the web, and you can set up shop there and make as much money (if not more) than you would by other means. The only caveat to the eBay option is that with lots of traffic comes lots of competition from other sellers trying to do the same thing you are. Of course, there’s always the possibility of opting for a lesser known auction site. There will be less traffic, that’s for sure, but there will also be less competition, so you might end up winning by getting a larger piece of a smaller pie.
Whether you’re selling candles that you make yourself, or are selling candles that you buy in bulk, make sure that your product is of good quality. The reason is that word of mouth is the best advertising you can possibly get, as people who have bought your product and enjoyed it will share it with their friends, family, and neighbors, giving you high marks for quality. Some of them will try your product based on just the recommendation of someone they know and trust. You don’t have to do any selling, your satisfied customer has taken care of that for you.
Should you choose to sell your candles online, but want more control than you’d get with being an eBay seller, then you should definitely consider having your own site. This is even easier if you choose to associate with any one of the big candle selling companies out there. As a part of your package, they offer you everything you need to set up a professional online presence. You get assistance from choosing your domain name to setting up a shopping cart so you can accept credit card and check payments online, and including an “admin” interface to allow you to upload photos of your products and their description. As said previously, most of the established candle selling companies have that sort of assistance built into their packages.
If you treat candle making and selling as a hobby, it will bring you hobby money; if you treat it as a big business, it will bring you big business money. Big corporations are into candle making and selling, so why shouldn’t you go for a piece of the pie? Candles are sold pretty much everywhere these days: specialty stores, home furnishing shops, mail order, craft shows, auction sites, gift shops, and so on…
In summary, a candle selling business is a good choice for starting a new and profitable business. You can make a profit with your candles, just remember these tips and plan your business accordingly.