So it was Easter again, I can’t believe how quickly they come around as I get older! However, along with lots of chocolate, some delicious food (including a cheese fondue and gin tasting) and an Easter egg hunt, we also attended our 5th market in Loch Sport.
It started out as a dreary day, very cold, gusty winds and a bit of rain, but that 5am wake up is always worth it when you get to chat to potential customers and talk about your brand in a regional town in Victoria - Loch Sport.
It is run by the local Lions Club, which is a great cause to support, and for only a small fee, the exposure is great. The day started with a cup of tea (to warm my hands up), followed by a bacon sandwich - how very British of me (hopefully you knew that already)!
I had a helper this time, our neighbours daughter who loves candles, and was very excited to come down early to support me all day. And of course I fed and watered her, and gave her some pocket money for her awesome sales skills!
The day started a little slow, I blame the weather, but by about 10am the market was booming. There were around 15-20 market stalls, all local Victorian business which is so awesome to see post Covid. Fortunately for me, I was the only Soy Candle business there, which makes a change, but I’m always happy to have healthy competition.
This time around I had some new products, a few new scents I was testing including Orange & Goji Berry, along with Lychee & Guava - and there were both an absolute hit (coming to my website very very soon, the labels are in production)! I also took wick trimmer and snap bar wax melts, which had a lot of interest. If you’re unsure, a snap bar looks like a bar of chocolate, but you can’t eat it! You break off a square of too and put them in your wax melter with a tea light candle underneath. The smell is just as great as a candle.
However, during the day, the wind picked up and the gazebo definitely took a hit, unfortunately snapping one of the holding bars, which meant I had to hold onto it for the rest of the afternoon. Well until I took the roof off and just stood under an empty frame!
I took quite a lot of candles down with me this time in hopes of a great day, and I was not wrong to do so. The Clementine Sangria and Peppercorn Spice sold out within a couple of hours, shortly followed by the Vanilla Cigar and the Lemongrass & Lime. It’s hard to tell an overall favourite, but they would be my top four best sellers.
The day wrapped up around 2pm, so we packed up the remainder of candles, and headed home for a well deserved gin and lay on the sofa!
All in all, I do love a local market, the vibe was awesome and it’s so great to see everyone demonstrating their unique and bespoke products.
I really look forward to the next one, but in the mean time, I’ve just added a monthly mystery box to my store. I’ll send you a candle every month which will be a complete mystery every time. You’ll get an existing or even a new fragrance that I’m testing, and I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.. so check it out!
Stay safe, take care and thanks for supporting me in my adventure to becoming Melbourne’s #1 candle business .. or even Australia’s.. aim high Marc!