How I Price My Candles (After $2.7M in Sales)

60+ Ways to Sell Candles

#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 Etsy Seller Handbook as a guide  • expanding through wholesale with line sheets, catalogs, and pricing that can sustain 50% of retail  • starting local with boutiques, gift shops, decor stores, florists, garden centers, and specialty grocery programs  • using Faire for exposure and letting big accounts find us  • growing revenue with private label for boutiques, bands, podcasters, realtors, breweries, distilleries, and wineries  • creating events and experiences through pop-ups, markets, pouring parties, and Airbnb Experiences  • landing corporate and B2B gifting orders for onboarding kits and client holiday boxes  • building recurring revenue via monthly or quarterly subscriptions and VIP memberships  • driving seasonal sales with gift guides, PR outreach, and Black Friday and Cyber Monday planning  • multiplying reach with collaborations, bundles, and limited edition artist partnerships  • using fundraising and cause campaigns to build community and volume  • selling custom and personalized candles for weddings, memorials, retirements, birthdays, and milestones  • pitching hospitality partners like boutique hotels, spas, salons, vacation rentals, and upscale restaurants  If you have other ways that you are selling your candles, I would love for you to drop those in the comments below. Also, if you find this episode helpful, I would love it if you would like and subscribe. Grab the free 60+ Ways to Sell Candles Worksheet here: https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/60ways Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2505721/fan_mail/new] SPONSORS & DEALS 💼 View exclusive deals only for podcast listeners [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/deals] *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/free-checklist-of-candle-making-business-tools-and-supplies-podcast] 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/best-candle-making-course] 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/wholesale] 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/membership] *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/candlebusinesspro] 📹 Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@candlebusinesspro] 📸 Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/candlebusinesspro] *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/candle-business-pro/id1817473065] 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0CvKE6uKHT2JIm3Rv2QUpd?si=2490aa7e71bc4283]

What I Wish I Knew Before Growing My Candle Business

#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 cash in slow-moving inventory  • starting on Etsy for built-in shoppers while building Shopify early for owned data and long-term growth  • using SEO basics across Shopify and Google tools, focusing on titles, metadata, and search intent  • pricing by choosing a clear customer avatar, then working backward from shelf fit and value expectations  • setting margins that fund ads, promos, and email incentives, avoiding the pain of raising prices later  • pursuing wholesale early with boutiques that already serve the target buyer, using a seasonal outreach plan  • avoiding SKU overload at launch, keeping scents and vessel options tight until customers guide expansion  • learning from a bulk label purchase mistake, validating demand before investing heavily  • keeping retail staffing lean, paying well to retain talent, and choosing locations built for foot traffic  • tracking simple business data consistently so scaling becomes repeatable instead of guesswork  If it has, I would love it if you wanted to hit that like, subscribe button.  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2505721/fan_mail/new] SPONSORS & DEALS 💼 View exclusive deals only for podcast listeners [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/deals] *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/free-checklist-of-candle-making-business-tools-and-supplies-podcast] 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/best-candle-making-course] 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/wholesale] 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/membership] *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/candlebusinesspro] 📹 Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@candlebusinesspro] 📸 Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/candlebusinesspro] *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/candle-business-pro/id1817473065] 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0CvKE6uKHT2JIm3Rv2QUpd?si=2490aa7e71bc4283]

Stop Guessing And Start Selling After Your Candle Tests Pass

#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 wick, wax, and oil combinations to confirm safe repeatable results  • Fixing fragrance fade with cooler pours, proper stirring, and avoiding an overly hot wick  • Calculating fragrance oil by percentage and starting tests around 8%  • Setting realistic hot throw expectations for soy wax versus paraffin or coconut blends  • Choosing reputable suppliers and avoiding unreliable sourcing that breaks consistency  • Building brand awareness by defining a niche and designing for one ideal customer  If you could do me a huge favor, that would be just to like and subscribe to this. Then if you want to have a question of yours answered on an upcoming episode, please put it in the comments below. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2505721/fan_mail/new] SPONSORS & DEALS 💼 View exclusive deals only for podcast listeners [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/deals] *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/free-checklist-of-candle-making-business-tools-and-supplies-podcast] 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/best-candle-making-course] 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/wholesale] 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/membership] *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/candlebusinesspro] 📹 Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@candlebusinesspro] 📸 Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/candlebusinesspro] *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/candle-business-pro/id1817473065] 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0CvKE6uKHT2JIm3Rv2QUpd?si=2490aa7e71bc4283]

Fix Your Candle Business Money Problem Fast

#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 business finances, especially when you're part-time and every dollar has to work hard. Here's what we cover: Why your first year is really about data collection, not growth How to do a 90-day expense and revenue audit right now The bank account move that makes tracking so much easier Why I call it the thermostat vs. thermometer approach to expenses Supply ordering timing and how to stop over-buying How to keep your product lineup lean and still grow revenue The candle of the month strategy that creates FOMO without big upfront cost How wholesale, fundraisers, and email can extend your revenue without extending your hours What "protecting the floor" means and why it changes how you make decisions We've been through these tight seasons ourselves. From our kitchen table to three brick-and-mortar stores and over 170 wholesale accounts, the seasons of up and down never fully go away. But once you understand them, they stop feeling like failure. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2505721/fan_mail/new] SPONSORS & DEALS 💼 View exclusive deals only for podcast listeners [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/deals] *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/free-checklist-of-candle-making-business-tools-and-supplies-podcast] 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/best-candle-making-course] 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/wholesale] 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/membership] *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/candlebusinesspro] 📹 Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@candlebusinesspro] 📸 Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/candlebusinesspro] *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/candle-business-pro/id1817473065] 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0CvKE6uKHT2JIm3Rv2QUpd?si=2490aa7e71bc4283]

How I Price My Candles (After $2.7M in Sales)

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  • using software to track COGS pricing and inventory  • avoiding random 2x 3x 4x pricing without customer data  • choosing one ideal customer and pricing for that buyer  • researching boutique price bands to set a realistic target  • working backward to reduce costs while keeping perceived value  • planning for overhead like markets payroll rent design and marketing  • understanding keystone wholesale pricing at 50% of retail  • deciding whether direct to consumer or wholesale fits the margins  • using markets to test pricing fit versus customer fit  Check out makersmanager.com to learn more.  If I can help you with anything when it comes to your pricing, just leave a comment below. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2505721/fan_mail/new] SPONSORS & DEALS 💼 View exclusive deals only for podcast listeners [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/deals] *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/free-checklist-of-candle-making-business-tools-and-supplies-podcast] 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/best-candle-making-course] 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/wholesale] 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! [https://www.candlebusinesspro.com/membership] *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/candlebusinesspro] 📹 Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@candlebusinesspro] 📸 Connect on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/candlebusinesspro] *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/candle-business-pro/id1817473065] 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0CvKE6uKHT2JIm3Rv2QUpd?si=2490aa7e71bc4283]