A New Season for SparklePuss Soy Candles

Our mission is to offer the best smelling and most highly scented soy candles that burn efficiently and safely to our retail customers. That is our top priority. Next in line is the TOTAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE with our company.

-Is the website appealing, fresh and easy to use?
-Are graphics & informational text presented in a simple format with honest product claims?
-Are we able to "under-promise and over-deliver" on our presentation?
-Is the total price package a value for the customer while providing a fair profit to the company?
-Is the customer acknowledged when an order is placed and notified of approximate delivery time?

and...

-Does the customer receive orders in a timely manner?

This is where we notice our systems begin to breakdown.

An executive conference was held on February 28th to discuss these issues with the goal of improving our processes. (this sounds SO official and corporate!!)

In attendance were: SparklePuss webmaster (me), production manager (me!) & our shipping manager (me!) & operations manager (me!) & our chief financial officer (me again!) who discussed the efficiency of our systems for online ordering, candle manufacturing, packaging & distribution. It is agreed that one half additional employee is needed to continue our current level of production, but that the timing is not right for this kind of investment in the growth of SparklePuss.

It was unanimously decided to discontinue future wholesaling and reduce our scent offerings from 46 to 9 for a period of one year. This includes the temporary elimination of limited edition, year-round holiday scents and aromatherapy lines. Fall and holiday scents will be launched in August continuing the Nine Lives theme with nine scents. This reduction will allow the production schedule to stay ahead of demand by producing candles ahead of ordering. The weary staff is ECSTATIC about this new change! This plan was then presented to the stockholders (my husband!) and happily acknowledged as a great step toward financial and physical health of the company and its' executive officers. :)

With the new direction of SparklePuss as well as the increase of activity in our perfume divisions, SparklePuss is announcing the debut of NINE LIVES by SparklePuss.

We are happy to offer our customers a 9oz candle for $9 each in 9 scent choices with only $9 flat shipping!!! We will continue to offer free shipping for orders over $99. And we plan to offer special deals with the purchase of two candles, stay-tuned!

In addition, here is AWESOME NEWS!!! SparklePuss will continue offering soy wax melts AND we'll offer our new line of HOME FRAGRANCE OILS for simmering and flame-free scenting. Our home fragrance oils will be available in ALL 46 "retired" scents along with the 9 new scents. Many will be happy to hear about the return of our sampling program. Scented soy tealight testers will be available for 99 cents each or pack of 9 (plus one unscented) for $9.

We love what we do and we love our customers!!! We know while some of you may be disappointed in our new scent reduction, we encourage you that these changes will establish a firm foundation for the gradual and certain growth of SparklePuss and makeScents, LLC. That, of course, is vital to your future enjoyment of our fine products. :)

Help Find Nicholas Francisco

Latest news is that there really wasn't anything in the car to help investigators. They searched the Federal Way area with dogs this afternoon and may have a lead or two but nothing solid to lead them to the whereabouts of Nicholas.

The next step is a prayer vigil on Wednesday and the urging of people to spread the word far and wide...that's how lost people get found!

There is a 30-second blurb on YouTube that gives all the vital information...please pass along this link!

http://www.youtube.com/user/findnicholas

http://www.mailpen.net/

We continue to lift up Christine Francisco in prayer. Thanks for YOUR help!

Man Missing in Seattle Nicholas Francisco

My friend CG emailed me the other day about her friend who was missing. His wife is a fellow Etsy-seller. We are hoping to get the word out any way we can so he might be found.

He left work on Wednesday night and never came home. His car was found today in Federal Way.

Have you seen him or know someone else who has? There is a cash reward for information leading to finding him.

Please see http://mailpen.net

AND

local news www.komotv.com and www.king5.com

Thanks for taking the time to look!!! Blessings to Christine and the children at this difficult time.

Nature Prevails - SPRING EQUINOX debut

I find it exhilerating that no matter what is happening in the world of man (election year, for example), the world of nature continues its' unrelenting march through seasonal cycles...I'm noticing Magnolia buds swelling, the sure sign of spring. Primroses and baby daffodils grace my porch (finally)! It took a visit from my college roommate to get me out to Molbak's this February.

Speaking of spring, today is the OFFICIAL DEBUT of Four Seasons Fragrance SPRING EQUINOX!!

Spring Equinox scent description...aliven your senses with our light, fresh citrusy blend. This fragrance uplifts with lemon, bergamot, mandarin and sweet rhubarb. It stimulates with sweet jasmine, green tea, carnation, fennel and cool peppermint. It excites with amber, musk and oakmoss. Energize and revitalize yourself! Fresh, green, & citrus-energize & revitalize yourself!

Visit FourSeasonsFragrance.com to get yours today!

Dudley Dooooo-Right Overkill

My children have been sick.

Dudley DoRight has been on the tube...non-stop! That guy's voice is REALLY getting on my nerves! And have you noticed, these old cartoons are SO politically INcorrect! I have found myself cringing at a few things!

On a brighter note, I can see my dining room table again, thanks to my dear friend Michelle.

Check out these WHALE pictures my sister posted on her blog, incredible!! I'm not in the mood tonight, but I want to post two photos for you that my sister took from a seaplane. The girl can do amazing things with her camera and she is just an "amateur" point and shoot with her Sony digital camera! Sick.

Anyways, SO many exciting things going on here.

First off, you all must know I found my box of lids! Just trust me, that is a GOOD THING!

Four Seasons Fragrance is HAPPY to announce the DEBUT OF SPRING EQUINOX!

Spring Equinox scent description...aliven your senses with our light, fresh citrusy blend. This fragrance uplifts with lemon, bergamot, mandarin and sweet rhubarb. It stimulates with sweet jasmine, green tea, carnation, fennel and cool peppermint. It excites with amber, musk and oakmoss. Energize and revitalize yourself! Fresh, green, & citrus-energize & revitalize yourself!

Rhubarb must be the best thing this spring because weeLUXURIES.com is offering a LIMITED EDITION Healing Heel Stick™ in RHUBERRY.

RHUBERRY scent description...like fruity scents? oh my goodness, this was an impulse purchase and we are PLEASANTLY SURPRISED by this scent!! we are now HOOKED on this fruity/tart extremely yummy scent!! An exotic blend of strawberry & rhubarb. simply a MUST-SMELL! (this really is wonderful, I'm making a special JUMBO stick for ME!)

I know you are all waiting for the next newsletter and that is in the works for delivery Tuesday morning next week.

Have a terrific weekend!

My Hands are REALLY Soft

Aaaaah. I get SO much enjoyment out of pouring Healing Heel Sticks by weeLUXURIES it is insane! Tonight's quickie batches before bed are: NEW passionfruit zest, oatmeal, milk & honey along with - oh - I didn't do the last one! Yuzu citrus is next! The best part is I start off with the lighter scents and end with the stronger ones...right now my hands smell like passionfruit (because I spilled a lot)!!!

I have a FUN product on the back burner for new Lemon-Lollipop.com maybe next week I'll have a chance to work on that!

I really needed to get out my email coupons today, it is already February 4th!

Next week I'll be trying my hand at this light box tutorial (scroll down the page)...thank you Jenna Lou for your newsletter! I've been SO looking for something simple like this! I have my supplies...now for the fun!

More to say but MUST go to bed!

Come back soon!

Attached at the Hip

Yes, me...and my computer are attached at the hip. I think I've been sitting here for what seems like days. But I love it...I sat down three days ago and I can't get up!

But here's some good news:

-weeLUXURIES.com is getting fresh new labels for our regular and JUMBO size Healing Heel Stick and Hand Stick. Wahoo, big job, but an awful lot of fun!
-Lemon-Lollipop.com is getting the word out about FREE lemon lollipops in each and every order. And not just tiny sphere suckers, but gourmet Candy Creek Lemon Lollipops, oh, get ready!
-SparklePuss.com will be listing sale items in our new eBay store. Check out the sale items here: http://stores.ebay.com/SeattleScents

We are looking forward to providing brick & mortar establishments with wholesale packages for weeLUXURIES.com, FourSeasonsFragrance.com and Lemon-Lollipop.com so if you know of a store who would be a good fit with us, let us know!

Thanks for reading and come back soon!

Is it SPRING Yet?

Ah. February 1st. Once I make it to February, I know I'm going to make it! The daylight is lasting longer and I can "feel" the earth turning toward plumped up buds on the trees and swelling daffodil tips. I noticed this week the Magnolia buds are beginning to swell...ah.

What's NEW?

http://www.lemon-lollipop.com/ YAY! I'm REALLY excited about this new offering from makeScents, LLC.

Introducing TEN new perfume oils by Lemon-Lollipop.com - QUALITY PERFUME FOR EVERYDAY.

Our new scents include:
*LEMON LOLLIPOP (clean & sweet)
*GROOVY PATCHOULI (earthy & spicy)
*WEDDING WHISPER (sheer floral)
*ROMANCE NOVEL (sexy musk)
*OUT IN THE GARDEN (fresh air)
*IN THE KITCHEN (tropical floral)
*SHOPPING DIVA (soft floral)
*BIRTHDAY GIRL (vanilla!)
*WIRELESS WOMAN (earthy)
*CHOCOLATE FOREVER (oriental woody)

We love wholesale orders! These look SO CUTE together on the perfume display! If you sell to women...you gotta have these! Irresistible at $7.95 suggested retail.

Four Seasons Fragrance launches SPRING EQUINOX after Valentine's Day-this is an appealing FRESH scent...yum!

Have a terrific weekend!

Michelle