8 Easy Steps to Starting Your Own Candle Business

Candles are not only perfect as gifts or giveaways, but are also one of the most reliable, affordable, expressive, long-lasting, and stylish decorations in our houses and offices. That is why they are always in demand all throughout the year or whatever the season is.

And, if you're an independent seller, you can definitely compete with established candle businesses around because the customers today are not after the brand or trademark anymore. They lean more on the quality and style of candles, which more and more independent sellers offer right now at great, great prices.

And so, there is no competition, really, to speak of. It's just about how to make customers patronize your candles' style, quality and performance. Therefore, no matter who you are and where you are in the world, as long as you have what they need, they will look for you. Some customers are even willing to spend extra for international delivery.

You can actually start a candle business by just buying wholesale and then selling them online for a fair amount, just enough to make a profit. But, it is essential that you know how these candles are made so you can better relate to your clients. This is very fundamental in every kind of business venture.

The owners must learn the ins and outs before actually offering anything. They must master all the aspects of their products. This way, when challenges comes, they can always come up with the best solution immediately; thus, preventing any loss and maintaining their competitive edge against their competitors in the market.

Where can you learn about how to make candles? Well, thank you again to the internet because all sorts of candle-making and marketing lessons are available online. You can take an online class, enroll in a short course through websites like udemy, read blog posts and articles of famous candle makers, and eBooks from Amazon, and of course, watch tutorials videos on YouTube like the one below (from Tracy Porter).

For your target audience to recognize the existence of your business easily, you need to launch something different from what others in the market are already offering. You have to stand out from the other candle brands. You have to think about, why should people buy your candles? Is there a new experience that you can give them and how awesome is it? Will it create a good lasting memory?

Look for a reason why people should try your candles and turn that idea into reality while seeing to it that the quality is impeccable. You don’t want to offer candles that are only good-looking but with poor quality. Remember that clients always prefer a product that can give them good results at an affordable price.

So think about your niche. A good example is offering soy candles with fresh wine scent. You can also target wedding clients by making unity homemade candles. Another great idea is trying all-natural, organic ingredients like flowers, beeswax, and more. How about decorative candles targeting varying establishments?

It just really depends on what you are passionate about. For instance, you are a huge fan of animated characters. If that is so, then you can make anime candles for all the anime lovers all over the world.

Now that you have an idea of what niche to target, it is time to plan everything. This will serve as the blueprint of our business. In our business plan, we will tackle all aspects that will involve our chosen venture, specifically the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, or simply called SWOT.

And, this means that we will conduct a comprehensive research of our target market, come up with the best marketing strategies, list all the possible expenses and the budget, and of course, project your income goal.

You have to register your business to the appropriate government agency in the city pr state where you live. There are a few documents to be submitted so you can operate legally as a retail business. You just call who’s in charge and ask for a list of the requirements. You can also hire someone to do this for you.

However, depending on where your business operates, you are typically asked to submit a tax certificate, employer identification number, and more. Just make sure to comply so that you can avoid any legal issues that can affect the performance of your business in the future. When included in a controversy, your brand name will surely be affected, which can result to loss of customers.

Aside from having a physical store where you keep and display all your candles for sale, it is very important that you have a solid, strong presence online. So you need to create your own online candle store.

Highly recommended is Candles Space because the site offers free sign up for both sellers and buyers, which is really good for beginners in the market, and it a wide network of connections to candle lovers all over the world.

List everything on a piece of paper, from the basic to the accessories so you will not spend too much time and energy shopping online. If ever you see a wholesale deal, then go for it. This is best since you can get the supply at a lower price than individual buys.

It will make the whole process easier if you have a wide connection with candle makers and suppliers so do not forget to join relevant groups and associations. They can also help you in being updated with the latest trend in the market.

This is where the different social media platforms are proven to be very effective. Join social media networks like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for free. These sites will allow you engage with your customers in a personal and convenient way. In turn, you will get to know their real needs and offer the best for them.