Candle Business PRO

Sabastian Garsnett

The Candle Business Pro Podcast is your go-to show for turning your passion for candle making into a thriving business. Hosted by Sabastian Garsnett — co-founder of Garsnett Beacon Candle Co. and creator of Candle Business PRO — this podcast shares the real strategies that helped us grow from small-batch pours to three storefronts and 140+ wholesale accounts.Whether you're just starting or ready to scale, each episode dives into practical, proven tactics around branding, markets, product launches, email marketing, pouring parties, fundraisers, and more — all through the lens of a candle business.New episodes drop weekly. Hit subscribe and join a growing community of makers who are ready to go pro.

  1. 1d ago

    Before You Launch Your Candle Line, Listen To This

    #64. A candle business can feel overwhelming at the start because everything matters at once: your products, your website, your pricing, your marketing, and that big dream of opening a shop. We take listener questions and turn them into a clear, realistic path you can follow, even if you’re still working a nine-to-five and building your brand at night. We start with the foundation: why a Shopify store acts like your brand’s “home address” online, how to think about owning your domain, and what it really takes to get traffic without waiting forever. Then we get tactical about stacking revenue streams the smart way, including wholesale candle outreach you can do on a schedule, markets that give you instant feedback from strangers, and pouring parties that can become surprisingly strong sales events when you collect payment upfront and bring inventory to sell. We also dig into the questions makers argue about nonstop, like how to make the “perfect candle.” Our take is simple: it depends on your customer. Soy, paraffin, and blends all come with different expectations, and the best candle is the one that gets reorders, five-star reviews, and referrals. Finally, we cover how to decide what to restock, how long to test scents before cutting them, when renaming might fix a slow mover, and how to phase out products that don’t fit your business anymore. If this helps, subscribe on your podcast player, share it with a maker friend, and leave a review so more candle entrepreneurs can find us. Send us Fan Mail WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group 📹 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Connect on Instagram *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    Before You Launch Your Candle Line, Listen To This
  2. 1d ago

    The Packaging Trick That Adds $8 to Every Candle

    #63. Trying to sell candles to everyone is the fastest way to build a brand nobody remembers. We walk through what it really takes to go from making candles as gifts to running a candle business with repeat customers, higher perceived value, and a clear point of view, starting with the not-so-fun basics like product liability insurance and safe candle testing. We get specific about niche marketing and target audience selection, including how we think about pricing, label design, and where our candles belong on the shelf. If you are setting up a Shopify store, we also talk about the part most makers underestimate: driving traffic with the right sales channels and messaging that speaks to one customer, not a vague crowd. From there, we answer a question candle makers debate constantly: how often should you retest a candle formula? We share a realistic approach based on change management, retesting when fragrance oils, wicks, wax, or vessels shift, not on an arbitrary schedule. We also dig into candle subscription boxes and monthly candle clubs, including how to structure tiers, when to launch, and why holiday, Valentine’s, and Mother’s Day promos can fuel recurring revenue. Finally, we cover packaging strategy, premium versus cost-effective options, and how to create an elevated unboxing experience without letting box costs crush your margins. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a maker friend, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show. Send us Fan Mail WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group 📹 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Connect on Instagram *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    The Packaging Trick That Adds $8 to Every Candle
  3. 1d ago

    How to Sell Candles to Wedding and Event Planners

    #62. Launching a candle business can feel like you need a full collection on day one, but that mindset quietly drains your cash and your confidence. We share the simplest advice we wish more new candle makers followed: start small, get to market, and let paying customers tell you what deserves your time, inventory, and label budget. We talk through what happened when we launched too big, why “perfect” can become procrastination, and how a lean lineup of five or six scents can help you find your niche faster and sell more consistently.  We also get highly practical about candle testing. You will hear our real testing process for brand new scents, including why we test three candles at a time with different wick sizes, how we compare burn performance side by side, and why each fragrance oil needs its own testing even if everything else stays the same. If you want safer candles and fewer weeks lost to re-testing, this workflow is a game changer.  From there, we dig into candle vessel sourcing and supplier strategy: why you should shop around, how shipping impacts your true cost, and how to choose vessels that match your brand positioning, whether you sell elevated statement candles or budget-friendly jars with strong labeling and scent. We also explain how to get your products in front of wedding planners and event planners with a niche-specific catalog that highlights options, personalization, and the profit they can make by working with you.  Finally, we answer a big brick and mortar question: what to add when your store is profitable on paper but not paying you yet. We share what has worked for us, including candle bars, consignment, activity nights, wholesale support, and hosting events so your shop becomes a destination, not just a candle shelf. If this helps, subscribe, share the episode with a maker friend, and leave a review so more candle businesses can find it. Send us Fan Mail WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group 📹 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Connect on Instagram *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    How to Sell Candles to Wedding and Event Planners
  4. 1d ago

    How to Start a Candle Business the Right Way (100 Fans = 6 Figures)

    #61. Most candle makers don’t fail because they can’t pour a candle. They fail because they start too big, chase the wrong benchmarks, and never build a repeatable system. We’re answering real listener questions on how to start a candle business strong and keep it moving in the right direction, even if you’re brand new and feeling stuck on where to begin. We talk through a simple “recipe” that removes the chaos: one vessel, one wick, one wax, and one fragrance oil, then a tight collection of scents that you test in front of real customers. You’ll hear why niche marketing matters so much for handmade businesses, how to stop trying to make candles for everyone, and how focusing on a specific target audience helps you create true superfans who buy again and again. We also get honest about hot throw, including why soy candles won’t match the high-intensity scent of many paraffin big-brand candles, and how to choose the wax that fits your customer’s expectations. From there, we dig into the details that make a candle brand memorable: the unboxing, the thank-you note, and small surprises that build customer loyalty. We share practical label tips too, including hiring affordable design help with editable files, plus smart options for label printing through reputable companies or local print shops. Finally, we lay out what scaling actually looks like: refining what works, building systems for markets or wholesale, and using an email list, SEO, and the right sales channels to grow without chasing every trend. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a fellow maker, and leave a review so more candle business owners can find us. What part of your candle business would you simplify first? Send us Fan Mail WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group 📹 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Connect on Instagram *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    How to Start a Candle Business the Right Way (100 Fans = 6 Figures)
  5. 1d ago

    Candle Tools and Supplier We Actually Use

    #60. Shipping, sales, inventory, wicks, vessels, fragrance oils, and equipment choices can feel like a thousand separate problems until you look at them as systems. We move fast through listener questions and give real-world answers from the day-to-day of running a candle business, with tips you can apply whether you sell on Shopify, Etsy, at markets, or face-to-face. We start with shipping because it’s one of the easiest places to lose money or lose a customer at checkout. I explain how we use Pirate Ship for postage, why we like the workflow, and how flat rate shipping keeps things simple for both you and the buyer. We also share the exact structure we use to encourage bigger carts: a $5 flat rate up to $125, then free shipping, plus why we adjusted the threshold as costs increased. From there, we tackle consistent sales and the marketing habits that actually create momentum. The big takeaway is simple but powerful: consistent sales come from consistently showing up. That includes posting regularly, doing markets if they work for your lifestyle, and building an email list you own. I break down our two-emails-per-week approach and why a non-sales “connection” email can drive surprising results. We also cover maker tools and production decisions: inventory and sales tracking software (including our pick, Makers Manager), when Shopify reporting is enough, why accounting and payroll are separate needs, and recommendations on wicks, glass suppliers, wax melters, and fragrance oils. If you’ve been stuck blaming the wick or hunting for the “best” oil, we’ll help you test smarter by looking at wax type, wick fit, and long-term supplier consistency. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next Q and A, share this with a maker friend, and leave a rating and review if the tips help you build a stronger candle business. Send us Fan Mail WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group 📹 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Connect on Instagram *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    Candle Tools and Supplier We Actually Use
  6. 1d ago

    Why My $6 Lemon Candle Made $300,000

    #59. Hiding behind beautiful product photos can feel safer, but it can also cap your sales. We get real about what actually moves a candle business forward when you’re shy, introverted, or just not sure you want to be the “face” of your brand. I share why customers buy from people, how storytelling builds trust faster than a perfect website, and what to post when you don’t want to feel salesy. Then we switch into the practical stuff that saves money and stress: how we ship fragile glass candles with a simple, repeatable packing method using perforated bubble wrap and packing peanuts, how to reduce breakage between jars, and why trying to solve every “what if” (like melted candles) can quietly stall your growth. You’ll also hear how we think about consistency, service, and learning from real shipping data instead of fear. On the ecommerce side, we dig into Shopify setup that supports a candle brand long term, including tags, collections, and SEO that helps shoppers find scent notes like vanilla. We also tackle the big platform question: Etsy vs Shopify. I explain why “do both” often wins, how Etsy works as a marketplace for gift searches, why Shopify matters for owning customer data and email follow-ups, and how to think about fees as customer acquisition costs. We wrap with a clear path from home business to brick and mortar, including wholesale momentum and creating an in-store experience like a pour-your-own candle bar. Subscribe for more candle business strategy, share this with a maker friend, and leave a review so more creators can find the show. What question do you want answered next? Send us Fan Mail WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group 📹 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Connect on Instagram *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    Why My $6 Lemon Candle Made $300,000
  7. Jul 15

    You'll Never Succeed at Wholesale Until You Know This

    #057. We break down what it really takes to get your candles into retail stores through wholesale without wrecking your schedule or your margins. We walk through readiness, the exact assets buyers expect, simple wholesale math, and the follow-up system that turns first orders into steady reorders.  • checking wholesale readiness by planning for a 100-candle order and a realistic turnaround time  • setting shipping expectations and learning constraints like USPS weight limits and box planning  • deciding how to approach stores and why emailing can be cleaner than walking in unannounced  • building a wholesale catalog that answers buyer questions fast without overexplaining  • defining minimum opening orders, reorder minimums, and product quantity multiples that protect production  • pricing for wholesale using the 4x retail rule and keystone wholesale terms to avoid losing money  • reducing costs by consolidating supply orders and managing shipping fees  • tracking true cost of goods and margins with tools that factor in shipping and supplier changes  • driving reorders with a nurture sequence plus merchandising tips, promos, and seasonal deadlines  Grab those free resources in the notes below. You can also check out more information about our wholesale course if that's of interest to you. Um, but just grabbing that free download at uh candle businesspro.com slash wholesale.  The other thing I recommend is our software, which is makersmanager.com. I have a free trial if you want. Uh, you can get that in the show notes below as well.  If you have any questions, comments, definitely drop them in the notes below. DM me on Instagram if you would like, just at Candle Business Pro.  Send us Fan Mail WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 Free Candle Business Supply List 🚀 #1 Candle Making Course 🧪 Mastering Wholesale Course 🧞‍♂️ Join the Inner Circle! *** CONNECT 🐦 Free Facebook Group 📹 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Connect on Instagram *** SHOW LOVE 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

The Candle Business Pro Podcast is your go-to show for turning your passion for candle making into a thriving business. Hosted by Sabastian Garsnett — co-founder of Garsnett Beacon Candle Co. and creator of Candle Business PRO — this podcast shares the real strategies that helped us grow from small-batch pours to three storefronts and 140+ wholesale accounts.Whether you're just starting or ready to scale, each episode dives into practical, proven tactics around branding, markets, product launches, email marketing, pouring parties, fundraisers, and more — all through the lens of a candle business.New episodes drop weekly. Hit subscribe and join a growing community of makers who are ready to go pro.

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