How to run a successful carved candles business in 6 months
The Art and Business of Carved Candles
Ever notice those gorgeous, colorful, curved, carved candles that have multiple layers? Those candles didn't just carve themselves. They are carved by a skilled candle maker that masters the art of dipping candle cores into many different colors of wax and carving them for hours until the perfect creation is made.
Although carved candles are beautiful and take time to master, it is a tough skill to master. But don't let that discourage you. Starting a hand-carved candle business can be whatever you want it to be.
I have seen the most intricate, complicated carved designs on all different types of shapes that you wouldn't ever believe for a second that it was in fact a candle that burns and melts away.
If you are looking to start a candle making business and aren't sure what type of candles to make, it's time you took a dive into carved candles. It's a fun craft that, in due time if mastered, you'll be able to make a profit and expand your skills.
Carved candles are overlooked because of their learning curve. Not so many people will put the time in to learn the skill and push through. If you are ready for a challenge carving candles might be the candle making path for you. Ready to learn how to scale a carved candle business? Keep reading.
Research and Identify Your Target Market
So who exactly buys carved candles and why would they? The candles aren't scented and aren't your typical wicked container candle with a cute label. You need to be creative and detailed when trying to find who is actually interested in purchasing your handmade carved candles.
Here are some people who might be within your target audience
Home Decor Enthusiasts: People who are passionate about decorating their homes with unique artistic items would love hand-carved candles. They are usually looking for a statement piece, something that makes their home stand out and has special meaning to them.
Gift Shoppers: Carved candles can make a thoughtful and memorable gift for any occasion, especially weddings. Have you ever seen a carved wedding candle? They are one of the best gifts a candle maker can give to someone.
Collectors: Some candle lovers love to collect unique candles as part of their hobby. If you create a one of a kind carved Christmas candle, I'm sure a collector would love to get their hands on it.
Event Planners: Event planners purchase all types of candles for their events. Hand-dipped carved candles make great centerpieces and can be personalized to fit the occasion.
Retailers: Never ever give up on the little shops all around you that aren't just online. Retailers with a large clientele are always looking for unique items to sell in their shop. During the holiday season, a unique carved Christmas candle will have the customers begging for that candle to be under their tree.
Develop a Unique Brand and Product Line
Branding is one of the funniest but most difficult things when starting a candle business. Your business has to look the same wherever it is, which can be challenging. Consistency is key while building your brand, but don't worry here's how you can get started with building a unique candle brand and product line.
Define your brand identity: Yes we know you make carved candles but it's time to niche a little further. Who doesn't your company serve and why? What are your brand values? What is your brand mission? What does your brand stand for?
Take a few hours and really understand the type of brand you want and how you want your customers to feel every time they light one of your hand-carved candles. Identify your target audience and understand their needs. Do they like barn candles? Perhaps they would love a carved candle that works well with lantern candles. It's up to you to dive deep into their interest.
Brand Personality: My candle brand is similar to people like me. Is your brand similar to people like you? If not that's fine, there are multiple ways to have a brand personality.
Is your brand playful or serious? Are people looking to purchase your carved candles to make a candle gift set or are they looking for candle decor ideas surrounding your carved candles? These details matter because you want your carved candles in front of the correct people.
Create Jaw-Dropping Visuals: This is the part where there are no limits to your creativity. People need to feel your carved candle business through the screen. Have photos of your candle in the window, or a beautiful woman ready to blow out the candle.
Have a photo of your carved candle burning as the candle centerpiece. If you make memorial candles, have your carved candle showcasing a beautiful memorial to commemorate someone special. Customers need to feel connected to your brand. The best way to feel that connection is through amazing photography.
Tell Your Brand Story: Every brand has a brand story, what's yours? I personally always resonate with a small business brand that tells us their raw story and gets personal. If you have a personal story to share with your candle customers, tell them. Your brand story is a part of you.
Set Up Your Workshop and Gather Essential Tools & Materials
Now let's get into some of the meat and potatoes of the carved candle blog post. Your workshop is your everything. This is where you will be spending hours at a time mastering your new carved candle skill.
If you want to make the best luxury candles, you need the best and most useful candle equipment a candle maker can buy. Here are some tools you'll be needing to get started. As you grow your business, you'll invest in better, more efficient equipment.
Candle Dipping Tank
Carved Candle Wax
Carved Candle Base Wax
Start Carved Candle Molds
Candle Wicks
Candle Carving Tools
Candle Gloss
Carved Candle Dye
How your carved candle shop should be set up.
Depending on the type of dipping tank you purchase (a lot are on the expensive side, I started with multiple pouring pots in a large water bath and used that for practice) you might need a lot of power.
Make sure when you are plugging your dipping tank in that it's not blowing out a fuse. I made that mistake when I realized half of my kitchen and candle shop were all on one power fuse. The dipping tank requires a lot of power, so be mindful of that.
Have a good chair that is easy to clean if wax gets on it. You will be carving and sitting, and trust me, wax will get on it. If you want to be comfortable while you are dipping, you need to make sure your chair is a good one that won't break on you.
Have a great carving knife. I've seen people use all different types of knives for their candle carvings.
Master the Art of Carving Candles and Experiment with Different Techniques
Now this is where things start to get tricky and challenging. When I started dipping my candles, I created a blob of curved-up nothing. My first candle was a complete embarrassment, but I had so much fun doing it. Once the laughter wore off, the frustration started to kick in. Some challenges that I faced took some time to fix.
The first thing you need to do is find a day that is dedicated to dipping your carved candles. I say day because you need a few hours ahead of time to melt your wax. I made the mistake of not scheduling my dipping time and completely forgot about how long it's going to take for my wax to melt.
Because my dipping tank requires a lot of energy, I made sure all my cooking, laundry, and any electrical work was finished so the only power I was using in the home was my candle dipping tank.
If you want to experiment with multiple colors, understand that the more colors you want, the more expensive of a tank you are going to need. My advice is to start off small and do a simple Google search for carved candles near me, and I'm sure you'll find a local supplier.
If not, you can place orders on Etsy, which is where I purchased mine once I was ready to invest. But in the beginning, I used multiple pouring pots and melted my candle pots on a hot plate until I was ready to make a purchase.
Technique is something I am still working on. My dream is to develop a technique for beautiful carved Christmas candles, but that takes time. You need to find the perfect carving tools that work with your hand. You need to see what type of designs are perfect for you and find the best quality wax.
I experimented with many brands and suppliers throughout the years, and I always keep an eye open for new products. Understand this skill takes years to master, but you'll be good enough to start selling your art within 6 months to a year if you practice every day. Don't give up!
Turn Your Passion for Carved Candles into a Thriving Business
Carved candles are a unique craft that not a lot of people are able to master. If you have a passion for candle making, give carved candles a chance and make some of the most beautiful candles you've ever seen.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this entire post. If you're interested in starting your own candle business, be sure to check out my other blog post, "9 Things You Need to Know Before You Start a Candle Business." There, I emphasize some of my biggest difficulties with owning a candle shop and provide ways to avoid certain mistakes.
I look forward to seeing you in the next post. Good luck!
