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What It's About
After coming across handmade scented candles in a boutique shop, one man starts his own candle making company.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
Marc's initial candles were white wax in clear glass with a white label, but he wanted something more progressive. After doing some searching, he found an amber-colored glass cube he really liked. The initial version didn’t sell so well, but 9 months ago he started selling a new version with a redesigned label created by a local graphic designer and the new glassware, and sales have really taken off.
If something isn't working with your service or product, it's never too late to make a change.
Fun Fact
Since the implementation of Meeting & Market, Marc has experienced glassware shortages, glassware outages, label issues, a bad batch of wax, a bad batch of oil that didn’t mix well with the wax, and so forth. He also worries about selling wholesale and not being able to meet people’s needs due to glassware issues.
That said, he's since switched to a new company and has sourced clear cubed glassware that will allow him to expand his options to offer three different volumes.
Notes from Chris
Episode 80
What do you do if your day job is a seasonal one, meaning that you have several months off or at least a time of year in which your work is much less busy? You start a side hustle, naturally, and that's exactly what Marc Gaskins did in today's story. Marc has a restaurant equipment business that he runs during the busy, wedding season in Charleston, South Carolina, but he often gets bored when business slows down during the hot summer months of July and August and the cold winter months of January and February. He needed something to fill his time, and, after coming across a line of handmade scented candles selling for $85 a piece at a boutique shop, he decided to tackle the world of candle making himself. Prior to this idea, Marc had absolutely zero experience with candle making. Everything he now knows about the process he learned online watching YouTube videos. It wasn't always easy for Marc—he had to make many adjustments to his product in order to get to where he is today, but his resourcefulness and business savvy have helped him immensely along the way. Usually it's better to work with the skills you already have, but Marc's story proves that there is much to be said for learning a new process too. There are lots of resources out there that are available to those who look—is there something you've always wanted to learn that might make a good hustle? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:- Meeting & Market: Learn more about Marc and his handmade candle line
- Shopify: Marc used Shopify to create his website. They're offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
- CandleScience: Marc credits his knowledge of candle making to this company who not only creates instructional videos, but sells candle making products as well
- Glassnow: The initial company where Marc sourced his amber glass containers for his candles
- National Farmers Market Directory: In addition to selling on his website, Etsy, and Amazon, Marc also sold his candles at his local farmers market. Find your local farmers market here!
- USPS Mail Carrier Makes Clay Imprints for New Parents: How a USPS mail carrier and court interpreter created an $800/month hustle serving new and expectant parents
- Skillshare: If you're looking to learn a new skill to help your side hustle, check out the courses at Skillshare. Right now you can get a full month free for being a Side Hustle School listener!
