The idea of this business is not new. Nevertheless, household and decorative candles are still in great demand. But if you are interested in this business idea, evaluate all its advantages and disadvantages in advance. First of all, the profitability of candle production is not as great as they say. However, this indicator is still higher than that of other types of industries, and reaches 200-500%. In addition, competition in this segment is quite high, and it will be very difficult for a new manufacturer to break into the market.
On the other hand, candles are a hot commodity that is always in demand (though this applies only to original souvenirs, which are readily bought as a gift and to decorate the interior). In addition, candles have a long shelf life (under appropriate conditions), so production losses will be negligible even if you were not able to sell the planned volumes of products. And finally, the biggest plus of candle production is the lack of large upfront costs for its organization.
To start work, a small room with an area of 10 square meters will be enough. m for the installation of a machine for casting candles and additional space for storage of finished products. However, there are certain requirements for the production hall. It should be equipped with a good exhaust and ventilation system. In addition, it should be kept at a low temperature (otherwise your products will begin to melt in the hot season). Of great importance is the cleanliness of the premises, especially if you produce candles of all kinds, including for decorating confectionery.
The technology for producing household candles is simple: crushed paraffin melts at high temperatures, is poured into molds, where the wick is pre-inserted, and cooled. Then the finished candle is removed from the mold and packed in polyethylene or cardboard boxes. Candle casting equipment is produced in our country - in Moscow and Novosibirsk. Its cost is about 250-300 thousand rubles, and productivity - about a ton of products per week. Foreign-made equipment is more expensive (approximately 500-600 thousand rubles), but, according to experts, it is significantly superior to Russian in quality. You can save and buy used equipment. But in this case, the risk is great that you spend more money on its repair and debugging. To work in production, you will need at least two workers (when working in two shifts).
Note that on technological equipment it is possible to produce only simple candles, which are also called household candles. Sophisticated curly, decorative and colored candles pour by hand.
The first batch of raw materials (wax, paraffin, cotton wicks, pigments for coloring, fillers, etc.) will cost 150 thousand rubles. The cost of paraffin is about 70 rubles per kilogram, cord for a wick - 2 rubles per meter, pigment - 1500 rubles per kilogram, fillers (aromatic additives, dried flowers, etc.) - 3-5 thousand rubles per kilogram. For the production of candles, technical or beeswax is often used. Beeswax itself is too hard, but when melted it gives a pleasant smell. Therefore, a plasticizer is usually added to it. Technical wax is more flexible, but it is flavored with additional additives.
In any case, get ready for long experiments with consumables. The acquisition of ready-made proven technology will cost a round sum, and it is not always possible. Almost all entrepreneurs who work in this field find their recipe by trial and error using wax, paraffin, stearin, ceresin and other components in different proportions. In addition, keep in mind that the qualitative characteristics of the same raw materials produced under the same GOST can vary significantly.
Souvenir candles in the form of various figures, nominal, aromatic, round candles in a sleeve for aroma lamps, romantic and gift giant candles are in the greatest demand. Making candles to order can be an additional source of profit. Large companies often order candle products as souvenirs, business cards, candles and candles with embossed logos and other company symbols. If you plan to produce such candles, you can not do without the help of an artist who will develop sketches. Before you launch your products into mass production, make a few samples. With their help, you can calculate how much time and money it takes to produce one candle, and understand whether it is cost-effective.
Think in advance where you will sell finished products. As a rule, these are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes, markets and shops specializing in esoteric goods. Handmade piece candles are more often bought by young people. They are also used to decorate the interior. Products for such a target audience can be advertised on the Internet - on local sites and forums. Do not forget about your own site with high-quality photos and a description of the candles you make.
Candlestick business is subject to seasonality. Candles are most in demand from November to March-April. The peak of sales is during the New Year holidays. In the summer, as a rule, they hardly buy such products (except for confectionery candles). The retail price of one candle is from 50 rubles and above. Decorative gift candles and candles made to order are sold at prices ranging from 500 to 1000 rubles apiece. The average price of a multicolored scented decorative candle in retail is about 25-300 rubles. Its wholesale cost rarely exceeds 100 rubles per unit.
If you managed to establish sales channels, then you can recoup all the costs of production and begin to receive a stable profit six months after the start of work.
Liliya Sysoeva
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