Candle Crafting ~ Adding Value with Accessories!

Candles are a wonderful gift item, which is one of the reasons I selected the craft at the start. They're pretty, they smell good, there are many fragrances to chose from and they're relatively inexpensive, for a gift.

I have my regular line of candles, that are done in our house glass, the Hexagons, the Apothecaries and the Tureen Glass. But, I like to do a little something extra special for each (and every) holiday that has marketing potential. As Candle Crafting is my main income, I do accessories to that craft, to give added value and increase a candle's gift potential...and, in turn, its retail value.

When you do gift baskets, you want the ingredients to tie together in some way. This is a St. Patrick's variation on my Housewarming Gift Basket. You also want your focal point to be the candle, as the director of mood for the gift. The fragrance I use for St. Patty's Day is called English Ivy. It's wonderfully fresh and green, crisp and light...a beautiful break from the heavy fragrances of Winter! This fragrance is at home in the kitchen, so very much so! The basket ingredients reflect that...here's the breakdown, with our costs, approximated.

• The basket, itself...in green, suitable for St. Patty's Day @ $1
• The basket filler grass, also in green @ $1
• Two St. Patty's Day print kitchen towels @ $1 each
• Set of Woven Coasters or Trivets @ $1/set
• House Blessing Hearthstone @ $1
• The Candle...$1 on the glass; $1.50 on the wax; $1 on the fragrance oil and wicks
• Handpoured Goats Milk Hand Soap $3.50 (a friend of mine makes these)
• Cellophane gift basket wrap to hold everything in @ $1

The cost on the basket is $ 13, plus $1 in packaging (don't multiply, just add at end) There are a couple of ways to figure what you want to sell gift baskets for, pricewise. The first is straight retail...four times your cost. That would make this basket $52. Now step back, and look at that...if you're restricted to selling locally, whether it's from home or at craft fairs, ask yourself, will your market be willing to pay that? This will list out on Etsy with that price, but showing a sale price of $48, shipping included in the Continental U.S. But, at Porch Stand? No, I'd be looking at these baskets till next holiday!

The next way to go is to list that retail price with a special Luck o' the Irish Discount of 25%...that places our price at $39.50, much more palatable to the locals. I use this approach with my consigned goods. That's a perfectly acceptable price for our St. Patty's Gift Basket.

A third way, and this just makes sure you don't sell yourself completely short on the deal, is to take what you'd regularly be charging on the candle $13.50, and the regular retail on the soap, $5, and add the extras at no mark-up, $6. That method places the St. Patty's Gift Basket at $24.50. Don't go below that price, even in clearance! Especially if you're at a craft fair where you've had to pay an admission fee!

The St. Patrick's Gift Bag is easier to figure...it's the candle, the scarf, and the bag. Dollar Tree...gotta love 'em!

• The Candle...$1 on the glass; $1.50 on the wax; $1 on the fragrance oil and wicks
• The Scarf...aren't these cute??? $1
• The Bag $ .35...rounding up to .50 for the sake of convenience... again, it's wrapping, so don't multiply this, just add on at end.

With These would retail out at $18.50, which is totally a good price. You could discount to $15, and that's about as low as you want to go.

I've got the glassware for the Spring Fling and Easter Baskets...and the baskets. Haven't picked up the accessories, yet...Dollar Tree hasn't transitioned out the St. Patrick's Day. Next week, though! Boy, the time sure does fly! I'd better get busy, again! Until next time, my friends, keep on Steemin' on!

If you want, check out my online retail presence...I've yet to see how @steembay works...that's in the future, too!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/geminigardenscandles

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