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Selling Candles
Simple Candle in Simple Votive Holder
An Easter Large Jar Candle
Selling Candles
How My Experience Selling Candles Began
It was probably an inevitable thing to some degree, for me to start selling candles with a candle company like Partylite. I was a stay at home mom at the time that wanted to make money and I love candles. Since the time I have sold candles in this way, there are now many more companies out there, like Scentsy, and Mia Bella, etc. So there are options to choose from. Here, I want to share my story and experience selling for PartyLite Candles. It was a fun and interesting part of my life, even though I no longer sell candles.
I was invited to a home party that one of my friends was having. I actually was unable to attend this first party do to a schedule conflict, but I was invited to browse the catalogue and I could place an order. I actually did place an order for these cute candle holders that turned out to be just the tops of the candle! I was very disappointed actually, it seemed strange to me and unclear. Oh well...
My First Candle Party
I was invited to a home party that one of my friends was having. I actually was unable to attend this first party do to a schedule conflict, but I was invited to browse the catalogue and I could place an order. I actually did place an order for these cute candle holders that turned out to be just the tops of the candle! I was very disappointed actually, it seemed strange to me and unclear. Oh well....
Later, another friend invited me to her candle party. This was nothing new to me in the 90's, as everyone was having one kind of a party or other. I thought a candle party sounded wonderful! I was invited to come see some candles, a demonstration of how beautiful they looked. It was to just come for a relaxing time with some friends with some refreshments. Come and relax and see beautiful things that I knew I would love? I was in!
At my friends condominium that night, we had a nice time watching the demonstration and visiting, and browsing the book of candles. I remember thinking, "these are expensive for me, a stay at home mom on a limited budget." Still, they were a somewhat fair value if they indeed turned out to be really nice candles. They were indeed nice candles with nice fragrances.
We were asked to consider how candles are made, how cheap candles are made cheaply and don't burn evenly, nor smell good all the way through the burning of the candle. They passed around a container that was labeled with all different colors of votive candles and that was like candy to these ladies!
The consultant proceeded to light candles in the dimly lit room, and it was a very lovely presentation actually. The party in question, was given by a woman who I have to describe to be kind of pushing in her efforts to get people to not only like the candles and buy, but to get them to book their own parties and join PartyLite!
If you don't have money to buy candles, then you are kind of a perfect target for them to go after. I took the bait after some encouragement from the consultant and my own mother and some friends, because what can it hurt to try and start with your own party, right? I got my kit, had my first party, and was on my way.
Can You Really Make Money Selling Candles?
I really did make some money selling candles, and not just in earning candle product! It is easy to spend your paychecks on candles and supplies as you can probably imagine. I did take advantage of specials and little buys that made my parties very fun and made people want to book their own parties. So it was a little investment that I made pay off for myself.
One little idea I got was from a meeting I attended, where the consultant gave out a pretty little mauve colored tea light, wrapped with tulle and a ribbon. It was little but very cute! I loved it, and took the idea and made little stacks of tea lights to give away at my parties to those that wanted to book parties or do other things. We played games, etc.
I did make some money for being out a few hours at night doing these parties. Say you make 200.00 when all is said and done. You maybe spent four hours or so on the party, and depending on how well you do, you just made 50.00 an hour! Not bad for a stay at home mother. I enjoyed it, and was not a high pressure kind of sales woman. I would never be comfortable with that. Sales can be higher or lower than that, but the most important thing was making others want to have a party in their home or apartment as well. Some will want to sign up, and this is a great way to increase revenue over time.
My best tips for other sales people are to make them want you in their home, and helping them to feel welcome and have a good time. You want to train your hostesses to make a large invitation list, and to follow up with them. Encourage people to bring a friend by offering a free gift to both of them if they come! Offer them all the goodies you can, while not spending too much money, and you will go far in these businesses.
Another tip is to help the ladies feel like it is a treat to be in the home they are in, and have the lights dimmed so they can really relax and have fun. They love the candle light just like I did. It works!
I did end up moving, and slowing down my business, but I have many reminders around my house now of PartyLite and their great product. I continue to be a huge fan of candles.
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