Growing in popularity are fundraisers that offer a calorie-free alternative, with candles being an unusual yet practical choice. This article looks at some of the newest Australian companies to offer their own unique products for fundraisers.
In a nutshell
Fundraising Idea: Australian made candles
Suitable for: everyone
Profit: varies from 10% to 50% of sales
Updated March 2019
Candle fundraisers can be done all year round, although they are particularly suited to Mothers Day, Christmas and in the lead up to the colder months.
Some of the advantages of selling candles include:
- they are calorie-free
- candles are non-perishable
- they make great gifts
- they are practical.
Living Fundraisers
Living Fundraisers
Website: https://livingfundraisers.com.au/products/soy-wax-candles/
Well known for its seed fundraisers, Living Fundraisers now also offer a range of beautifully packaged soy candles in a range of scents offering up to 32 hour burn time. Fundraising groups order a pre-packaged box of candles, which contains five scented candles including lemongrass, cherry blossom and fresh fig and vanilla. Purchase price for each box is $45. Each candle is sold for $15, making the profit per box $30 (40%).
Clair Scent Decor
Website: http://www.clairscentdecor.com.au/
Clair Scent offers two types of candle fundraising. One option has children’s artwork being printed onto a special moulded glass jar label containing a 100% soy candle (30 hour burn time). Children are only limited by their imagination and these make a beautiful gift. A variety of fragrances are available. Candles cost the fundraising group $10 each, and a markup of at least $5 is recommended, making the profit 50%.
Clair Scent Decor
They also offer a candle drive option with up to 8 of their most popular fragranced soy candles. Samples are provided and fundraising groups will receive 20% of all sales made. Please note Clair Scent Decor is based in Victoria, so groups outside of the state should contact them directly to find out about postage costs and options for fundraising in other states.
Gem Candles
Website: http://gemcandles.com.au/fundraising/
Gem Candles offers their fundraising program completely online. Organisers are sent order forms which they hand out to families to seek orders from friends and neighbours, (no samples are provided). People pay upfront with their order, so when the fundraising event is over, and the final order is made and paid for, the candles are sent to the school or group together with a cheque for 33% of the sales made (minus postage and handling costs).
Each candle is sold for $29.95 and the fundraiser earns $9.95 per candle sold. Gem Candles are unique because in each soy candle there is a piece of jewellery embedded inside, worth between $10 and $30 and the candle itself can be used as a massage oil.
Soy Candles
Website: http://www.soy-candles.com.au/
Soy Candles are based in Gisborne (Vic) and now offer custom made candles for fundraising groups, rather than just mass producing. When a group requires candles for their fundraising Soy Candles offer a personalised service, discussing exactly what you will need and the various price ranges, the jar styles, wax types and fragrances. They also specialise in workshops, so if you live in Victoria you could always attend one of the classes and learn how to make candles yourself to sell for greater profit.
Get started by emailing frosa.katsis@gmail.com
Lucerna Candles
Website: http://www.lucerna.com.au/
Lucerna Candles are based in the Illawarra (NSW) and make their products in Australia from Australian sourced ingredients. They offer fundraising groups an easy three product fundraising program: small soy wax candle in a tin, large soy tin and a large soy candle in a glass tumbler. The candles are available in a range of six scents including coffee bean, sugar dusted cookie, frangipani and bubblegum. Order forms are provided and payments must be taken up front. The sale price for each range from $9.95 to $32.95 and the fundraising group profit ranges from $5 to $15.50 (50% profit). There are no minimum orders and the candles are made fresh, arriving within two weeks of the final order. The fundraisers are available across Australia, and discounted or even free courier costs are available with large orders.
Hikari Candles
Website: https://hikaricandles.com.au/
Hikari offers two options for fundraising groups across Australia – with a traditional order form process, or with a unique code allowing you to operate entirely online (or a combination of both). The fundraising package can be customised to include melts, tealights and medium candles, but the most popular product is a large soy wax candle (80 hours burn time), with a few different fragrance options such as Coconut, Lemon & Lime, Lemongrass & Ginger or Strawberries & champagne. These are available for $20 each with a RRP of $30, making the fundraiser a profit of $10 per candle. You can also choose to decorate the candle with a customised label using your school or club crest or logo, making it a perfect fundraiser for graduation, Holy Communion or other special events such as a centenary event.
