When it comes to generating online business ideas, selling candles might not be something you would think of right away. But, with the current popularity of candles made from materials such as soy wax and beeswax candles, there is definitely a market for them.
The main problem you instantly face in this situation would be knowing how to get started and what steps to follow.
If you've never sold anything online before or don’t know much about candles, it can be daunting to start your own candle-selling business. But, don't worry. This post will show you how to start selling candles online in just a few simple steps.
Let's get right to it.
How To Start An Online Candle Business
The following are the steps you need to take to start selling candles online.
1. Choose Your Candles
Before doing anything else, you need to choose the candles you want to sell. Do some research if you're not sure what type of candles are popular right now. Look for trending scents or unique styles that will set your own candles apart from the rest.
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However, to get you started, the following are some types of candles that are popular among buyers:
Knowing the differences between these types of candles will help you decide which ones are right for your candle-making business. For example, soy candles are popular because they are environmentally friendly and have a long burn time. If you're looking to appeal to eco-conscious customers, soy candles might be the way to go.
On the other hand, beeswax candles are known for their natural honey scent and beautiful golden color. They also tend to be a bit more expensive than soy candles, so beeswax candles might be the right choice if you target a luxury market.
Once you've selected the type of candle you want to sell, it's time to move on to the next step: your target market.
2. Define Your Target Market
As with any other type of business, having a target market in mind when selling candles is essential. Who are you trying to sell your candles to? Consider age, gender, location, and interests when defining your target market.
For example, if you're selling soy candles, your target market might be women ages 25-40 who live in urban areas and are interested in health and wellness.
If you don't want to get into a niche market, you could always go with a broader market. The benefit of this is that it allows you to test out different types of candles and see which ones are the most popular among your target market.
I would advise you to choose one market and go with it. Trying to serve too many needs at once can be overwhelming, and you might not be able to appeal to anyone.
3. Make Some Candles
After selecting your target market, it's time to start making some candles. If you're not sure how to make homemade candles, plenty of online tutorials and resources can help you.
The typical steps involved in this process are as follows.
Source Your Materials
In this initial step, you will need to gather all your supplies to make your candles. This includes things like wax, wicks, molds, and fragrance oils.
You can find all of these materials either online or at your local craft store. I would recommend buying in bulk if you plan on making a lot of candles, as it will be cheaper in the long run.
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Measure And Prep Your Wax
Once you have all of your materials, it's time to start measuring out the wax. The amount of wax you need will depend on the size and type of candle you're making.
Once you have the correct amount of wax, it's time to melt it down. You can do this either in a double boiler or in the microwave. If you're using the microwave, be sure to do it in short bursts and stir often to avoid scorching the wax.
Customize The Mixture
Now that your wax is melted, it's time to customize the mixture. This is where you will add things like fragrance oils and colorants. The amount of fragrance oil you add will depend on the strength of the scent you want. A good rule of thumb is to start with 1 ounce per pound of wax. You can always add more later if you want a more aromatic scent.
As for colorants, you can either use liquid candle dyes or powder pigments. Again, start with a small amount and add more until you get the desired color.
Finish Your Candle
The final step is to pour the wax into your mold and let it cool. Once it's cooled, you can add a wick and trim it to the desired length.
And that's it. You've now learned how to make candles and are ready to start selling them online. So don't be afraid to experiment with different scents, colors, and styles. Obviously, the more you practice, the better you'll become at making candles.
4. Outsourcing The Candle Making Process
Instead of going through the process of making candles yourself, another option is to outsource the production to a candle-making company. Many companies specialize in private label candle manufacturing, which means they will produce candles according to your specifications and even put on your company’s branding.
The pros of outsourcing the candle-making process are that it's less time-consuming, and you can sell a larger quantity of candles. The cons are that it's more expensive and you have less control over the quality of the candles.
If you're looking at companies that can help with the candle creation process, you might want to ask them about their experience with creating specific types of candles, including:
Ask them about their process, what’s involved, what support they can offer if things don’t live up to expectations, etc. Based on their answers, you should be able to get a good idea of whether or not they're a good fit for your needs.
5. Build Your Online Store
This is a crucial part of selling candles online, as your store will be the first thing potential customers see.
There are a few key things to keep in mind when building your store. The first is the platform. The easiest way to go about this is to use Shopify, as this platform has been built from the ground up for eCommerce stores.
You also need to make sure your store website is optimized for search engine ranking. This means using the right keywords and having high-quality content. Using Shopify, various SEO features and plugins are available to help with this.
Also, consider the various product categories you’ll need to include in your store. For example, you might want to create separate sections for pillar candles, tealight candles, etc. The goal is to make the shopping experience as easy and enjoyable as possible for your customers.
The great news is that as a platform, Shopify offers a fourteen-day trial period so you can test out the features on offer and see if it's the right solution for you.
6. Populate Your Store
Once you've built your store, it's time to populate it with products. The best way to do this is by writing high-quality product descriptions. This is your chance to really sell the candles and convince potential customers to buy them.
Make sure to include things like:
It's also good to include multiple images of the candles from different angles. This will give potential customers a good idea of what they're buying. If you can include testimonials or reviews from happy customers, that's even better. This social proof will help increase conversion rates.
7. Promote Your Candles
Now that you have a store full of products, it's time to promote your candles and drive traffic to your website.
There are several ways to do this, but some of the most effective are:
These are just some of the most effective ways to promote your candles online. By using a combination of these methods, you should be able to drive traffic to your store and start making sales.
8. Fulfill Your Orders
Once you start getting orders, it's time to fulfill them. This involves packing up the candles and shipping them off to the customer. If you're just starting out, it's good to use a fulfillment service like Shipstation or Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). These services will take care of packing and shipping your orders for you.
This is an excellent option if you're just starting out, as it means you don't have to worry about the logistics of fulfillment. As your own candle business grows, you can always move to fulfill orders yourself. This can be more cost-effective, but it does require more work on your part.
9. Offer Great Customer Service
Once you start getting orders, it's also essential to offer excellent customer service. This means being responsive to any questions or concerns your customers might have. It's also necessary to make sure that you're shipping your orders on time and keeping your customers updated on the status of their orders.
By offering excellent customer service, you'll be able to build a good reputation with your customers. This will help encourage them to buy from you again in the future.
10. Upsell And Cross-sell
Once you've made a single sale, it's good to try and upsell or cross-sell to your customers. Upselling is when you try to sell a more expensive version of the product that the customer has already bought.
Cross-selling happens when you try to sell a related product to the one that the customer has already bought. For example, if someone buys a candle from you, you could upsell them by selling them a candle holder. Or you could cross-sell them by selling them a diffuser. You could also have essential oils that go with the diffuser.
By upselling and cross-selling while still providing valuable products, you can increase the average order value of your customers. This will help make candle-making profitable and grow your business further.
11. Analyze Your Data
This is a step that many people are reluctant to do, but it's so important. You can see what's working and what's not by analyzing your data. This will help you make better decisions about running your business moving forward. It will also help you to save time and money by avoiding mistakes.
There are several different software programs that you can use to track your data. Google Analytics is an excellent option as it's free and easy to use.
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Once you start tracking your data, you should begin to see patterns emerge. This will give you a good idea of where to focus your efforts moving forward.
Some key data points to consistently look at include:
By analyzing your data, you can make better decisions about how to grow your business. This will help you avoid making mistakes and increase your chances of success.
12. Never Stop Growing
The final step is never to stop growing. This doesn't mean that you need to be expanding your business constantly. But it does mean that you should always look for ways to improve. This could involve adding new products, improving customer service, or finding new marketing channels to promote your products.
It's essential to always be moving forward and growing as a business. If you're not, you're likely to stagnate and eventually fail.
Additional Candle Business Success Tip
Here are a few more tips that will help you to succeed with your candle business:
You can set your candle business up for success by following these tips. Just remember to constantly be growing and improving to stay ahead of the competition.
Having A Physical Storefront
A great thing about having a candle business is that you can start small and scale as your business grows. One way to do this is to start by selling your candles online with a very low barrier to entry. Once you've built up a customer base, you can consider opening up a physical storefront.
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Having a physical storefront has several advantages. First, it allows you to reach a new group of potential customers. People who are out shopping are more likely to stop in and purchase something if they see it in person.
Second, it gives you a place to showcase all of your products. This can help promote new items or seasonal collections. Third, it can help to build brand awareness in your community. When people see your candles in stores, they'll start to associate your brand with local quality and luxury.
Opening up a physical storefront can be a great way to take your candle business to the next level. Just do your research and plan carefully before making the jump, as it obviously also has its own disadvantages.
Final Thoughts
Selling candles online can be a great way to make extra money or even start a full-fledged business. The key is to have a well-thought-out plan and to execute it flawlessly. If you want to start a candle business, use the above material as a reference to help you get started.
Finally, consider that any business has its ups and downs, and a homemade candle business is no different. You have to put time and effort into this business to see results.
