Gel Candle Articles: Selecting Your Glassware

By now, most of you have hit every Michael's, the Libby - Anchor Hockey Outlet mall, and any store that remotely looks like it carries glassware. After hours or days of searching, you've probably come across something you think will work-or will it?

Although the glassware is visually beautiful, it's expensive. You begin to second-guess the cost of making a candle using this type of glass. With doubts running through your mind, you set the stemware back on the shelf and head off to your local Goodwill store.

On a good day you clear their shelves and feel like you did okay for yourself. Although your pockets still have change in them, you find the selection of stemware you purchased somewhat limited. You begin to worry whether or not you have enough glassware for the craft show you're supposed to do in two weeks.

So what do you do now? Instinctually you find yourself standing in the craft department of Wal-Mart, once again putting the old reliable ivy bowl and roly-poly glass into your shopping cart. There's plenty to be had, they're cheap, and they work well.sound familiar?

Don't feel too bad, we've all be there-done that. There's nothing wrong with the old reliable ivy bowl or the roly-poly glass. They work very well for gel candles, but there's more out there for you.

Your local floral supply and restaurant dealers' carry a wide range of stemware and most suppliers will work with you. Some will sell wholesale, or give you a break on the quantity of stemware you purchase.

Never pass up a good sale at one of your local department stores. They have beautiful stemware and well worth looking into.

Now I know what you are about to say, it's too expensive. How can I make any profit if I have to pay that much for one piece of glassware? Well, lets take a closer look at this.

Lets say you want to make two candles. Both candles will have the same design. Both will have the same base and embeds, only the glassware will be different. You purchase one piece of glassware from a floral supplier for $2.00; the other is the old reliable ivy bowl from Wal-Mart for $ .77. So which candle is going to cost more? The glassware for $2.00 right? Or is it?

Lets take a look!

Compare:

1 pound of gel = about 18 oz
1 pound cost $1.70
price per oz = $ .09

As you can see, sometimes the cost of the container isn't the problem.

Also keep this in mind: Is the glassware easier to come by, or is the gel? Have you added in the cost of shipping? More importantly, how does the overall look of the candle compare when making it in the different style of stemware?

This method isn't going to work every time for you, and I'm in no way telling you to give up on the old reliable pieces-this is only a suggestion.

Cost the candle out and see which is the best for you or which one sells the best.your customers will let you know.