Home » Home & Style » Gift Baskets » Let Your Light Shine

Let Your Light Shine

© Jowoanna Williams

I love candles! They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and fragrances. If you take a simple meal of meatloaf and potatoes and serve it by candlelight it changes the entire aura surrounding the meal. It's no longer meatloaf and potatoes it's filet mignon and herb roasted potatoes. With candle sales nearing 3 billion dollars annually it's obvious that I am not alone in my love of candles.

Here are some interesting statistics on the candle industry. According to a survey conducted by the National Candle Association (NCA) 96 percent of all candles are purchased by women. Women also use candles more frequently than men. Younger people tend to burn candles more frequently than older adults do. Forty-two percent of candles are burned in the living room followed by 18 percent in the kitchen. I was surprised to learn that tea lights are the biggest sellers followed by votives and container candles. The study also says that fragrance plays a big part in the purchase of candles with 75 percent of consumers (men and women) saying that they purchase a candle because of its smell.

While doing research on candle companies I got an idea for an unusual way to promote candle sales and accessories. The idea is for a retail establishment however, if you are home based think about the party plan concept of other well know companies, use that concept and make it your own. This idea would also work in conjunction with a promotion for spa and/or bath products as well, since as most ladies will attest to, nothing beats a nice candlelit soak in the tub.

Go to your local dollar store, discount store, garage sale, wholesaler or anywhere you can get lots of candles cheap; preferably white or crème for the added touch of elegance. I suppose you could use colored candles but I don't know if you'd get the same effect. Go throughout the entire store and place candles in strategic places and in groupings. If you can dim the lights do so or host your spa extravaganza in the evening when the sun is starting to set. If you have chocolate about to expire or leftover from Valentines Day set it out on silver trays for customers to nibble on (of course keep some to sell as well). Go to Wal-Mart or some other retailer and buy an inexpensive paraffin wax treatment kit and offer a free hand treatment to any customer that spends a set dollar amount.

The copyright of the article Let Your Light Shine in Gift Baskets is owned by . Permission to republish Let Your Light Shine in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.