Candle Business PRO

#057. We break down what it really takes to get your candles into retail stores through wholesale without wrecking your schedule or your margins. We walk through readiness, the exact assets buyers expect, simple wholesale math, and the follow-up system that turns first orders into steady reorders. 
• checking wholesale readiness by planning for a 100-candle order and a realistic turnaround time 
• setting shipping e...

#056. Thermal printer or full-color label printer? Craft fairs or wholesale? SEO or social? If you’re building a candle business or wax melt business, the “right next step” can feel confusing fast, so we answer six real questions submitted by listeners and lay out what actually works when you’re trying to grow. We start with thermal label printers and get specific about why they’re ideal for shipping l...

#055. Your maker business can be creative and still run on clean numbers. We walk you through Makers Manager, the inventory and costing software we co-founded, and show how it’s designed to replace the messy stack of spreadsheets, notes, and half-finished systems that creep into candle businesses and other handmade brands over time.

We start with the dashboard view that tells you what matters right now: inventory value...

#054. Most candle businesses don’t struggle because the product is bad. They struggle because the systems behind the product are shaky. We’re answering listener-submitted questions that hit the real pressure points: candle safety testing, how to avoid costly mistakes, how to reduce cost per unit, how to stay consistent when you’re doing everything alone, and how to find wholesale accounts that actually respond.

#053 We lay out a practical selling roadmap for candle makers who feel confident making products but unsure how to find customers. We break 60+ sales ideas into 12 categories so we can choose the right channel for our time, margins, and goals. 
• building online and direct sales through Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, Facebook and Instagram shops, and TikTok Shop 
• positioning Etsy listings for gift buyers and using the Ets...

#52. We answer the question we get nonstop: what we would do differently if we had to restart our candle business today. From product focus to SEO to wholesale, we lay out the exact moves that save time, cash, and years of trial and error. 

• leading with candles to build cash flow, delaying room sprays and most accessories until demand is proven 
• treating accessories as add-ons, avoiding bulk buys that trap c...

#51. We answer listener questions that hit the real pain points of candle making, from knowing when a recipe is truly ready to sell to keeping fragrance strong through the full burn. We also share how we source supplies and how we built a candle brand from zero customers by getting specific about niche and ideal buyer.
• Knowing you are done testing when the same candle recipe burns perfectly more than once 
• Re-testing...

#049. If you've ever felt like your candle business is taking more than it's giving, this one is for you.

In this episode, I'm answering a question from Jessica, a candle maker who has a retail shop open two days a week while still working her full-time job to cover the overhead. She put it perfectly: she's robbing Peter to pay Paul. 

Sound familiar?

I break down exactly how to get a grip on your candle bu...

We break down candle pricing using real numbers, starting with true cost of goods and ending with a price that can support growth. We also explain why a simple multiplier often fails and how a clear customer avatar makes pricing feel obvious instead of stressful. 
• defining cost of goods sold for candles including materials and packaging 
• accounting for supply order shipping fees handling fees and tariffs 

#047. We answer community questions about how to find customers, earn repeat sales, and promote a candle brand without relying on ads. We share practical ways to define your target audience, choose sales channels that fit your margins, and use social media to drive email sign-ups instead of empty follower growth.
• defining a specific target customer and building the entire brand around them 
• using price point research...

We answer five real questions candle makers ask when they are trying to go from hobby to a profitable, scalable brand. We share hard-earned lessons on scents, vessels, inventory mistakes, and practical ways to get more customers to your website without wasting money. 
• starting a candle business from home and growing step by step 
• choosing sales channels beyond online and markets, including corporate gifting and ...

#045. We answer listener questions on how to grow a candle business without getting swallowed by competition, and we explain how to choose sales channels that match your strengths and your life. We also share practical steps for wholesale outreach, safe candle shipping, and a testing plan that helps you dial in a consistently great candle.
• finding your candle business superpower and leaning into it
• choosing sales channels...

#044. We answer rapid-fire candle making questions with the exact choices and testing habits that support a real candle business. We keep it practical: pick reliable wax, simplify your testing, and build inventory only after customers show you what they’ll buy. 

• why we use Golden Brands 464 soy wax and when coconut soy makes sense 
• how to avoid “designer waxes” that can disappear 
•...

#043 Your first candle sale is not a marketing problem, it’s usually a foundation problem. We sit down and map the real early steps of starting a candle business so you can stop guessing and start building something stable: learn the craft, test with structure, and document every detail so your candles get better fast instead of repeating the same mistakes.

We also talk about resources that are actually worth your time...

#042. We answer five real questions from candle makers and break down what actually drives profit, from sales channels to wholesale outreach. We share practical guidance on supplies, startup cost, wax selection, and pricing so you can build a candle business that fits a clear niche and grows with intention.
• why a candle business is not profitable at the beginning without a clear selling plan
• choosing sales channels beyond...

#041. Candle making can look peaceful from the outside, but builders know the truth: a tunneled candle, a dead market day, or a wholesale pitch that gets ghosted can mess with your confidence fast. We’re talking about the one thing that quietly changes everything for a candle business: having the right people around you. Not a giant audience, not a random group chat, but real accountability and real mentorship that keeps you ...

#040. We share a focused roadmap for starting and scaling a candle brand, from tight product lines and niche research to fragrance load testing, wholesale, markets, and smart payroll. Along the way we explain what “luxury” really means, which waxes perform, and how we replaced a salary.

• starting lean with one vessel and up to six scents
• defining a niche and target buyer for clarity
• mapping a 10-step l...

#039. In today’s new video, I’m answering questions from makers just like you, including:

• How to grow when time is limited
 • Whether wholesale makes sense part-time
 • The biggest mistake we made when we launched
 • And how to get a stronger scent throw

After building our candle company to over $2 million in sales, there are a few things I would absolutely do differently if we were starting toda...

#038. Thinking about starting a candle business but not sure where to begin?

In this episode, I answer real questions from new and growing candle makers about how to actually build a profitable candle brand. We cover choosing the right sales channel, Etsy vs Shopify, finding your niche, standing out in a crowded market, wholesale strategy, social media presence, and even practical tips for working with 464 soy wax.

After building our...