How to Start a Soy Candle Business
Lots of new businesses require you to invest tens of thousands of start-up dollars and wait one, two or even three years for a return on your investment. If that scenario doesn't appeal to you, perhaps you should consider the soy-candle business. Soy candles have been growing in popularity, and with close to 50% of American homes burning candles on a regular basis, the potential market is tremendous. There are many ways to get started with your soy-candle business, but probably the easiest way is to find an established wholesaler or a company looking for sales agents or affiliates. Many companies will supply you with your initial inventory and supply you with sales training for a very small investment, anywhere from around $50 to about $500 depending on the company and the training you require.
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Instructions
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Research soy-candle companies looking for sales agents and soy-candle wholesalers. The easiest way to do this is online, although local newspaper classified sections, Craig's List and your local yellow pages are also excellent places to check. See the "Resources" section below for links to Craig's List and some online resources.
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Decide on one or more marketing plans for your candle business. Marketing methods can include home-candle parties, placing candles in beauty and nail salons for consignment selling, offering soy candles to real estate agents, landlords and others who may offer them as free gifts, selling at flea markets and swap meets, selling on eBay or even opening your own brick-and-mortar soy-candle shop.
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Purchase the inventory required for your particular marketing plan.
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Make contact with potential customers based on the sales/marketing approach you have chosen. Initial contact can be through email or phone, although personal contact may be the best way to secure clients.
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Be creative. Although making your own soy candles can be a time-consuming process that can take away from your sales and marketing time, it may pay you to work out ways of making at least a portion of your own inventory. This will allow you greater control and also may allow for greater profits.
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Tips & Warnings
Study all aspects of marketing. The more marketing knowledge you have, the better your business will flourish.
Check out your local competition before starting your business. Find a way of doing some aspect of your business better, faster or cheaper than your competitors. When selling on eBay, keep in mind that selling at a break-even price can be slightly profitable if you make money on shipping and handling charges and can do enough volume.
