My Candle Testing System | How I Track My Test Candles & Products.

[@sylmarie6494]

No, Wade, YOU rock! You're saving my life as a new startup. I have spent so much money testing and buying ingredients to make samples, etc. I was afraid of talking to my accountant because I feel like I've wasted so much money, BUT I've learned a great deal in the process. I love formulating (which is my strength) so learning about this incredible software is amazing and I'm so thankful that you made these lectures. These lectures are better than getting an undergraduate degree and YES I'd be interested in taking your course.

[@BlackTieBarn]

Thanks so much for such nice feedback. I appreciate that. :)

[@BlackTieBarn]

I prefer method #3. How about you all? Also, I know it's small to see the screen share on a phone... lots of info on these pages. So I would recommend laptop or desktop for this video. :)

[@jacquemcdonald7215]

You are just the best! Thank you thank you. Question, I have a ton of pics in my notes as I burn through each product. No way to incorporate them in the product notes???

[@BlackTieBarn]

Thank you! Oh nice. Great point and question. I'm not sure off top of my head. Because it's not really built to be a testing system ?(i just use it as such) it may not. But I'll certainly look into it

[@bbnatural8688]

@@BlackTieBarn Wade, did you ever figure out if pics can be added in CraftyBase (adding to tests)?

[@BlackTieBarn]

@@bbnatural8688 Hey, well since CB isn't really meant to be used for testing specifically it doesn't have a dedicated feature/function for that. But, what I have found is that if you go the route of adding "Test Products" you can upload attachments to that product which you could use to upload photos with markups or captions on them. But Im not sure beyond that.

[@lialim2703]

You are so dedicated, with the work and the teaching ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊

[@BlackTieBarn]

😊 thank you

[@moircandlecompany]

Hello...Thankkkkkk Youuuuu so much when I tell you I have created manuals and excel sheets to track everything and back when I first started I saw you talk abt it l..but was not yet ready, now I am.....signing up under your link thankkkkk you again this was right on time! Grateful for this video

[@BlackTieBarn]

You are welcome. Thanks so much for the feedback!

[@moircandlecompany]

@@BlackTieBarn 🌸🌸

[@whitesagemarket110]

I had CraftyBase since around 2017 for soap making and just canceled my subscription. Back when I first subscribed there really wasn't any information out there about how to use the system and I'm not very techy! So seeing how you use it is Really Helpful, maybe even enough to have me re-subscribe! Thank you for all your helpful and informative videos!

[@BlackTieBarn]

Thanks! Yah I hear ya. It can be tough to use at first and doesn't suit everyone or every business. But until or unless I find something else that can do better for less, I'll be using it for sure. ;)

[@D3232I]

Love this testing system utilizing CB. And of course option 3 rocks lol

[@rebeccahatfield]

🙌🏻 I feel like Hallelujah should have been playing when I saw this video come up. 😆 I spent yesterday cranking out work so I could watch this today uninterrupted. After watching? Hallelujah could have played then as well. Much needed as this is an issue I knew I needed a solution to, but hadn’t had the time to research. Thank you!! 🖤

[@BlackTieBarn]

Np! ;) thanks rebecca!

[@jeanettejenkins8861]

Thank you! Just a token of my appreciation for all of your hard work!!

[@BlackTieBarn]

aww, thanks so much Jeanette! That is very sweet of you!

[@jeanettejenkins8861]

@@BlackTieBarn ♥

[@thegroundedwick2332]

I both appreciate and enjoy your videos! such good information!! I particularly have enjoyed the crafty base playlist. I plan to begin the process of learning candles, testing, etc very soon. I plan to use crafty base

[@BlackTieBarn]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Glad to help. More to come. :)

[@joycooke4252]

Def going with option 3…‼️

[@BlackTieBarn]

I absolutely am getting a kick out of the fact that you are binge watching my videos right now. And commenting as you go. Handcraft and Chill. You chose me over Netflix. 😆🤣

[@joycooke4252]

@@BlackTieBarn omg I love it! Another T-shirt! 🤣

[@BlackTieBarn]

@@joycooke4252 🤣

[@jaymismith196]

This is an incredible amount of information! Thanks for sharing ☺️

[@BlackTieBarn]

No problem. Yah, its a lot and definitely not applicable to everyone. Thanks for watching

[@jaymismith196]

@@BlackTieBarn I just love that you showed all the different options and let us decide what works best for us. I just started with CraftyBase last month (from your suggestion). While I’m loving it, I NEVER would have thought to use it for this purpose. I just entered a round of candles that I’m testing tonight and it’s genius. Thanks again for all your time and effort :)

[@BLKROBN]

THis is an important topic and thank you for explaining testing processes. My only question is how do the tests get deducted from the materials if they were just tests? Does archiving the fails register them as used materials?

[@kirstenlong9482]

So you had me sold on Craftybase and then today I was thinking "how do I enter in my test candles? Let's see if Wade has a video on it" and low and behold YES! The way you explain the details and logic behind things is very appealing. One question: You noted that using these methods will deduct your inventory for testing (a must) but what about the cost aspect? Without selling the test product per se does Craftybase just consider these testing materials and related costs "indirect" or just noted for accounting purposes these were costs? Thanks!

[@BlackTieBarn]

Up to you how you categorize it. It can be testing which is I clouded as costs of goods regardless if fhst particular candle is sold or not. Cogs is a misleading term sometimes. It's all cost that goes into making products that sell. Product development and testing is certainly part of that process. So those materials used will be part of your inventory difference at end of year. Or. Just expense testing as a regular expense account called research and development or something separate from cogs.

[@kirstenlong9482]

@@BlackTieBarn thanks this is helpful. I suppose a true state of your business financially would include the R and D in terms of COGS. Which approach do you use out of curiousity? I assume all 3 approaches you outline in how to enter in the testing into Craftybase accounts for these testing costs in COGS? Thanks again for your great videos and willingness to engage with others attempting to work in the business :)

[@BlackTieBarn]

​@@kirstenlong9482 Craftybase will include it in cogs if you enter it that way which mot of the time is... yes. But, you can make it an expense account like R&D if you want. &D could be both though as you mentioned. Its completely up to you honestly. Probably best to ask your CPA. But most importantly is just picking one and staying consistent. The issue I have with R&D being part of COGS is that... it doesn't always end up as part of COG of a product I make and sell. For example, you do some R&D on a product that never works out and never becomes part of your product line. Then its not really cogs at that point. It was a bustiness expense only. If that makes sense. Now... lets say you have an established product already. Every time you make and sell that product, there are COGS for that of course. Well, if you occasionally grab one from random batches to test. I would 100% consider that COGS still because you are doing quality control of a product you actively sell. I hope this helps. again, there isn't one way to do this though.

[@aquarels]

Your videos are so helpful 💚

[@BlackTieBarn]

Thanks!

[@naomiroberts6554]

The title had me hooked, this is just what I need, however it requires a subscription to Crafty base😭 Would have been great to have a manual option.

[@BlackTieBarn]

Yah, sorry... I use the software to do it. I'll work on a manual method for everyone as well but craftybase is awesome. I use it for so much stuff!

[@naomiroberts6554]

@@BlackTieBarn I did subscribe to a trial of craftybase as you’d recommended it in a previous video and I can see the potential of it…It was taking so long to upload all my ingredients. My fault I’m too impatient! 🤪 But thanks for ALL your content! So Informative and never dull 😁

[@Historycandles]

Great video Wade!! I'm in. Tired of using spreadsheets to track everything. I like Method 3 the best. The only question I have about that method is...you have your original product with the original recipe. Once you add the variants, lets say 8%, it will show the 8% in the title so it's easy to see in the variant tab but it's not changing the original recipe to 8% FO. When you actually create the tester candle at 8% fragrance load are you manually calculating the new recipe or changing the original recipe to the testing %? Thanks! -Matt

[@BlackTieBarn]

Hey Matt. Two options. 1) don't create a recipe for method 3. Just add the materials directly into the variant when you manufacturer it. 2) create a recipe in original product and just edit it as you make the variant (like changing the fo %). Hopefully this is what you were asking.

[@susanhill7885]

Thank you so very much Wade. That is so amazing. I’ve been using Craftybase for 9 months and didn’t know about this test candle option. I’ve used a different method that is very time consuming and I had to dig. However, when it’s a success what do you do with recipe? Do you copy it into the product. I thank you and look forward to your reply. Sue from Down Under.😀

[@BlackTieBarn]

Hey Susan. I actually just use the test product to create a new Real product. Thst wait my teat products and all my notes history stay separate. I keep it named "test..." and then just archive it.

[@susanhill7885]

@@BlackTieBarn Thank you very much Wade. I appreciate you getting back to me.

[@susanhill9381]

Hi Wade, Thank you so very much for sharing this information with all of us. I have viewed this video several times and am wondering if option 2 or 3 would be best for me. You don't go too much into option 2 which is totally understandable. However, I am currently testing 10 Christmas recipe candles using same jars but different waxes, wicks, oil percentages and different oils. I am using 3 - 5 different oils in this recipe. Do you thank option 3 is correct or should I use option 2? I thank you once again for your help and look forward to your reply. Have a fantastic weekend! Warm regards Susan Hill from Australia

[@RuthieRobles]

👍👍👍

[@BlackTieBarn]

❤