Saturday, December 20, 2008

Do you need a new fundraising idea?

Simple, Fun and Profitable Fundraising


For most organizations, successful fundraising generally includes the following components:
Simplicity - Select fundraising projects that are simple and require little or no investment. The best fundraisers are those that can be easily repeated again and again with ever-increasing results.
Fun - Put the 'fun' back in fundraising. Avoid fundraising projects that are complicated or burdensome for volunteers and supporters. Doing good ought to be enjoyable for all involved.
Profitability - The amount of money brought in from fundraisers must be worth the time and effort spent on them.
You are probably reading this in hopes of finding a fundraiser that meets the above criteria. Well, this is your lucky day! I do indeed have such a fundraiser, which many organizations like yours have used successfully.
What could be simpler than selling scented candles? National surveys show that 80% of all U.S. households burn candles. Keep in mind that candles are a consumable product that customers replenish on a regular basis. It would be nearly impossible to reach out in a crowded room without touching a candle user.
There are a variety of approaches to candle fundraisers. Some groups choose to set up a booth or table in some strategic location, while others prefer having volunteers circulate order forms to candle users in their life who are likely to be supportive of their organization's objectives. No matter which method is used, the candles are paid for with the money collected, so there is no investment or risk involved.
Selling scented candles is definitely fun. These candles are highly fragranced, and since there are almost 100 scents to choose from, buying them is a lot of fun, too. Visti our list of scents: http://www.gjh.scent-team.com/jarsvotives.php They are long-burning premium candles that are made from a vegetable wax blend (a feature that appeals to people who are health and/or environmentally conscious), virtually soot free and not derived from petroleum byproducts. Once your supporters realize they can buy great smelling, good quality candles that don't soil and pollute their living space, they'll never go back to the other kind again.
Our signature scent, Sweet Orange & Chili Pepper, is the top seller year round. Popular holiday scents include White Chocolate & Coffee, Christmas Pine, Mulberry Spice, French Vanilla, Pumpkin Spice, Home for Christmas, Cinnamon Raisin Bun, Holiday Cookies, Hot Apple Pie, and Crème Brulee. If your fundraiser is being held outside of the holiday season, you might want to include Cucumber Melon, Angel Wings, Chocolate Kiss, Coconuts & Lime or Victorian Rose. Each month a new scent is released, giving you even more choices. Take a look at for all available options and pictures of the candles. I will be happy to make suggestions about scent choices for your fundraiser - just ask!
There's money in candle sales. The profit on each candle sold is very high. Because of their competitive price and extraordinary quality, it is easy to develop repeat customers for these candles. As a result, subsequent candle fundraisers become easier and more profitable.
In case you are dubious about the viability of scented candle fundraisers, let me provide you with some interesting data about the candle industry to help you see their potential.
U.S. retail sales of candles are estimated at approximately $3 billion per year.
Manufacturer surveys show that more than 95% of all candles are purchased by women.
Two-thirds of candle buyers say they use candles once a week or more often.
Approximately 65% of candle sales occur outside of the holiday season.
Fragrance is by far the most important characteristic impacting candle purchases today, with three-fourths of candle buyers saying it is "very important" in their selection of a candle.
Both men and women consider candles to be a highly appreciated gift for a wide variety of occasions, such as birthday, anniversary, housewarming, hostess "thank you", Mother's Day, Christmas, Chanukah, etc.
More Candle Fundraising Options
In addition to the basic candle fundraiser outlined above, I can offer another type of candle fundraiser that is appropriate for Internet-based fundraising, or when many of your organization's supporters are geographically distant. It may be utilized on a stand-alone or supplemental basis. Your supporters can buy candles directly from www.FlickerScents.com and, by entering a special I.D. code during checkout, notify me that your organization will benefit from that purchase.
Ready to get started? Interested but still have questions?
Please email us at: www.FlickerScents@comcast.net

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Candle Burning Tips

Inside the Lab is where Carmen works his magic. He is constantly striving to improve the candles in any way possible, and is undergoing various phases of research at any given time in order to provide YOU with the highest quality, best performing candles in the world! There are a few things to be aware of when burning any candles, not just our candles. Some you may know about - others may surprise you. Here are Carmen’s Secrets to Candle-Burning Success and Frequently Asked Questions from the field... if you follow his guidelines, you can be assured that your Mia Bella’s Cleaner Burning Gourmet Candles will perform at their highest level!
Burn your candles a maximum of 3 to 4 hours for best performance
Never burn your candles unattended!
Trim the wick so the length does not exceed ¼" - if the wick is longer, it will cause the candle to burn hotter and hotter
Our candles use 2 cotton wicks instead of 1 for more complete combustion
For maximum performance from your votives, burn them in a snug glass votive holder - don’t just place them on a plate or other surface or they will collapse and not burn for long at all!
Drafts in a room that are created from ceiling fans, high-traffic areas or counter/floor fans can and will change their performance! For best results do not burn the candles in areas where there are strong drafts.
Our candles are manufactured above standard acceptable flash points on all candles - period!
The candles flame height should be between ½" and ¾" - no more! If your flame is higher than ¾", you need to either trim the wick or blow the candle out and start over at a later time.
If your candle flame is too low and you are not getting a complete wax pool, you can pour out some of the wax pool to allow the flame size to increase and burn hotter and thus, more completely.
A little wax left on the inside of the jar as the candle burns down is really ideal because that means the candle is not burning too hot.
Please note that wicks do NOT burn down with the candle - they must be trimmed.
The wicks are the single most important aspect to any candle and they MUST be maintained and trimmed when necessary because all parts of the candle get absorbed and released through the wick!
Our candles are not "soot-free" - they are "low-soot" or if you prefer, "90% soot-free". The wax we use is a proprietary blend of all-natural renewable materials, but not the fragrance oils. Since there is approximately 10% fragrance oil in our candles (which may produce a very small amount of soot), they cannot be classified as 100% soot-free - no candle can unless there is no fragrance oil in it (Unscented) or if it uses all-natural fragrance oils (which don’t smell good).
The other question I get asked a lot is whether or not we use essential oils in our candles - the answer is no. We use only the highest quality fragrance oils from the world’s leading fragrance companies and spare no expense to give you the most realistic and incredibly smelling candle in the world!
Thanks for taking the time to read about how to maximize the performance of your Mia Bella’s Cleaner Burning Gourmet Candles. It basically comes down to maintaining the wick and observing the performance.
Visit our site for a complete listing of candles and other Gourment Products. ww.flickerscents.com

Some of my favorite oils

May 2008
A Few of My Favorites
Without a doubt, we all have our favorites. I'm not talking about wine, or kids, Without a doubt, we all have our favorites. I'm not talking about wine, or kids, or friends, I'm talking about essential oils! There are just those few that you can't do without. I have decided to list my top 3 since the special this month is purchase 3 or more essential oils and get the scent stones free! So here they are, my favorites, and why I love them so. (And yes, it was tough to narrow it down to just 3!)
Sweet Orange- calming yet uplifting, this essential oil is extremely versatile. First of all, if you aren't already cleaning your appliances (stove top and refrigerator especially) with Sweet Orange, you should try it! Not only does it take the sticky off the surface, but it smells so fresh and clean. I also use Sweet Orange when I mop the floors. It works great with a cup of vinegar, 2 gallons of water, and about 20 drops of Sweet Orange. It makes your floors shiny and leaves a wonderful aroma. Sweet Orange is also good for uplifting your mood. So if you are a little down in the dumps, place a few drops of Sweet Orange on a scent stone and let the sweet aroma uplift your mood.
Tea Tree - anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-infectious, this oil is the trend setter for all oils! Tea Tree can be used in many different ways, my favorite being in the unscented Pure Bath skin cleanser. Not only is Tea Tree good for any skin irritation or rash, but it is excellent in treating acne. Just add 25-30 drops of Tea Tree to your Pure Bath unscented skin cleanser to make the perfect summertime all over body cleanser. If you have problems with acne on your back, it is good for that too. Another renowned use for Tea Tree is for nail fungus. With the anti-fungal property, it works to clear nail fungus. Just 2-3 drops morning and night and you will see results. Oh, and Tea Tree takes care of stinky feet too! Another great use for Tea Tree is in the toilet. Yes, just add a few drops to your toilet bowl to disinfect and get rid of the ring. Check out our cleaning kit or our recipe page online for more ideas on green cleaning.
Rosemary - antiseptic, analgesic, diuretic, stimulant and an antidepressant, this oil packs the punch! Rosemary is also a wonderful oil to use when suffering from muscle pain, arthritis, and rheumatism. Add 30-40 drops of Rosemary to 4 oz. of Grapeseed oil to make the most wonderful body oil that helps sore muscles and joints. Not to mention the Grapeseed oil is a fabulous skin hydrator. Rosemary is also good to use when you are trying to increase hair growth. Adding Rosemary to the Pure Bath unscented shampoo will give your a shampoo that will increase circulation and speed up hair growth. Rosemary is also good to help with memory enhancement. When you are trying to focus on a project, run for the Rosemary and place a few drops on a scent stone. Rosemary should not be used in pregnancy and it is not to be used by people with epilepsy.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Laundry Testimonial

I wanted to let everyone know that I went to a "Green" seminar. I ordered two bottles of oil...Lavender and Eucalyptus. I already has purchased the ingredients (all 2) for my laundry detergent. Well, my oil arrived yesterday and I added it to my powder, did my first load, and boy was I impressed. 1/2 cup did a large load of laundry. It smelled so fresh. I then put 3...yes 3 drops of Lavender on a damp washcloth and added that to the dryer. My whole basement smelled good and my towels smelled great !
I have used "Green" items for the past 6 years, but I now have a favorite laundry detergent. And I can change the scent from time to time...
Have a Scent-Sational Day!

Friday, May 2, 2008

Create a Dream Business with Candles

Candles and a Home Based Business -

Creating Your Dream Lifestyle Starts Here!


Thank you for stopping by and taking some of your valuable time to find out more about these wonderful clean burning gourmet candles and the rest of our product line. Please look around to learn more about our unique, trend-setting products, lucrative fundraising program, or our affordable, highly profitable and unique home business opportunity.
If you've looked around at other home based businesses, I promise you will find something here that is fresh, new and exciting!
Are you searching for a business and a company that offers you an in-demand, unique product that you feel proud to market?
Our Candle Home Business offers...
A gourmet alternative wax candle that is a step above the rest!
Candles that are premium, triple scented, longer lasting, and healthier.
Our Master Candle Makers design products made from a combination of all natural vegetable wax.
These Candles are nearly soot free, meaning no black mess on your jars or walls.
A luxurious and profitable line of bath and body products.
A fun, profitable and unique business opportunity.
A home business for less than $50 (Company website included).
An award winning team and one of the most successful teams in the company. This means valuable support and training for you and your business. We provide solid training and support.
With our unique home business you have the ability to earn in many distinct ways...
Retailing
Fundraising
Corporate Gifts
Gift Baskets
Expos & Fairs
Home Party Plan
Office Party Plan
Consign your products at Craft Stores, Gift and Consignment Shops
Work Your Business Locally, Nationwide, Online or any combination
Build a Team of other partners and earn Residual Income
Here are just some of the things we offer:
Personal Business Plan and Strategy to fit your needs and desires
One on One and Team Coaching
Team Training Website
Weekly Team Coaching Call
Personal Web Site and Online Business Building Coaching
Training Manuals for Home Parties, Fundraising, Sponsoring and Online Business Building

Everyday, someone ordinary creates extra-ordinary wealth! That someone can be you! Your own home candle business is one way to create what you want!
Have you ever picked up a newspaper, read a book or watched a news story detailing seemingly average people who create a fortune, while creating a dream lifestyle for themselves and their families? How did they do it?
Spend the next few minutes here http://www.flickerscents.biz/ and educate yourself on a system you can use to create the lifestyle YOU choose, creating massive wealth in the process. You will be provided with the tools and information to make one of the most important decisions of your life!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

What our candles are all about !

You may be wondering what the difference is between a "soy" candle and a "natural wax" candle.It can be confusing. At our company, we started as a pure "Soy" candle and our "Mad Scientist Candle Maker", Carmen Milazzo soon discovered that pure Soy wax does not hold the scent as strongly as he desired. His goal has always been to create the strongest, best smelling NATURAL WAX candle in the marketplace.So, he began experimenting with blends of Soy, Vegetable and Bees Wax. The results have been amazing and that is what has created our Gourmet Candle!Today, we no longer differentiate between "Soy" wax and "Vegetable" wax. So we prefer to call our candle a natural wax candle.One thing is for certain, our candles contain no paraffin or petroleum products!Here is the "official" stance on our candles from the company -Looking for a great performing soy candle? So were we until we found out about a better way to m ake soot-free candles!Although soy candles are one of the newest innovations in candle technology, many "gourmet candle lovers" have been switching to natural vegetable waxes instead! The inventor of our natural vegetable wax candle was one of the original innovators of low soot and soot free candle technology.

Like most candle makers of that period (late 1990s) he started his quest by working with soy wax. He soon found that although soy was indeed a great way to create a low soot candle, it wasn't (in hisopinion) the right material for gourmet candles!In his opinion, gourmet candle burners want strongly scented candles that cover a larger area and give a more realistic scent. What he found was that natural vegetable wax candles not only burned just as clean as a soy candle, but could hold more scent. More scent means a better "gourmet" candle. With our candles the consumer gets the healthier qualities of a cleaner burning candle, but they also get maximum value and performance! It isn't necessary to sacrifice performance for a healthier alternative. The performance you will get with our gourmet blend is incredible to the very end!We challenge you to test one of our natural vegetable wax candles. We feel confident that you will agree with us that soy candles "just don't hold a flame" to natural wax candles!!

Want to know why we are so confident?? Because we also took the challenge....and now we only burn natural wax candles. In fact, we only burn, ONE specific natural wax candle....If you are looking for the best smelling, best performing, lowest soot producing candle on the planet...you've come to the right place! Experience the difference! Try a our Gourmet, ScentedCandle and find out why more and more homes across America are enjoying this amazing candle experience!See more about the products at my Online Product Catalog: www.flickerscents.com

Or to start your own business today go to: www.flickerscents.biz