Spring is almost here!!

Oh my, I do not know if I have been ever so excited to see spring arrive as I am this year! I guess it is a sign that I am getting older! LOL By the time my husband is ready to retire, I should be ready to move to Florida and park myself in the sun. But for now, I am still here, working away and making the best of it.
Speaking of making the best of it...the move has been a great improvement! I want to say thanks to all of you that have stopped by the new location and told others about our move. The new location has proven, in a very short time, that it WAS the right thing to do. You never know about these things and you can always second guess your decision but not this time, thank goodness.
Be sure to stop by and check out my newest scent: Cherry Limeaide, it will surely get you ready for spring! Also, I have been able to find Crushed Pineapple again, so it is back!! =)

Have a wonderful week!

1st Day of our Open House...

started out badly. I get to the store and go to turn on the lights and see that the back doorknob had been broken. I cannot open the door from the inside, so I go outside and walk around back to see if there is anything out there. The other side of the doorknob is out on the ground and you could tell that someone had tried to use a crowbar or something like that to open the door. Amazingly when they did tried to pry it open, it jammed the lock into the frame and made it where you could not open the door. I also had another lock on the door, so they still probably would not have gotten in. But what a way to start my day! Urgh!

Thankfully, my day did improve, as I had several friends come by to hang out with me, and fix the door. =) I was so discombabulated (is that even a word?), that I forgot to take any pics! But, the pink and green cupcakes I got from Jackson Bakery were awesome!
Now, hopefully tomorrow will go better! Think Positive!

New Warmers for 2011

New Store Now Open

I am so excited to have the move completed. I am still trying to organize everything but I do believe that when I am done it will have a great flow and work more efficiently than our previous location.

I do wish to invite everyone to my Open House Celebration being held January 27th - 29th. I will have snacks and specials, what everyone enjoys: food and shopping! =) Purchase any warmer and receive 5 Soy Melts FREE! All Soy Candles 25% off! And do not miss out on all of our clearance items that are all 50% off.

Oh the moving process!

Well everyone knows that moving can be an absolute pain but it is really a pain when there is 7 inches of snow on the ground! I was stuck at home for nearly 2 days and then our heat at home went out on us. But, we have some great friends and they helped us out and we were able to get the heat fixed. Praise the Lord! I am now trying to get things moved from the old location to the new and that is a challenge in itself. Trying to not break my neck on ice! LOL But I will be able to get it all done, just maybe not as fast as I was hoping to. I am still planning on having the new store open on the 18th. I hope you will be able to visit the new location soon! Have a great week!

SLC is on the move!!

A few months a ago I sent out a survey that many of you were kind enough to fill out and return to me. The information that I received back was wonderful but also contained info of things that I felt could not be changed....until now. I have had a door of opportunity come open and have taken a leap of faith in moving the store to a new location. This was a hard thing to face, since of course no one likes to move! Also, I know that the business has seemed to move a lot in the past couple of years. But, I felt that the location I am presently at, just did not offer enough visibility and foot traffic to support my business.

The new location does offer visibility and foot traffic, now it is to be seen if it will provide more customers. But this is where my wonderful customers could be a great help to SLC. I would love it if all of you would help me spread the word in letting others now that we have moved. Let your friends that have never shopped with us before know also. We love to meet new people and have an opportunity to gain new customers.

Details of the move:

*SLC is moving to a new location and will be having new days and hours of business

321 Browns Ferry Road (aka Food Lion Ctr) in Lookout Valley.
Days of operation: Tuesdays - Saturdays.
Tuesday - Friday 10 to 6 and Saturdays 10 - 3.

Thanks to all of you for your support over the past 10 years!

Lisa - owner SLC

SLC News

Wow 2010 is here! Things are changing here at SLC and all for the good! I am extending the days of operation for the store. Beginning Feb 2nd, the days will be Tuesday - Friday 10-6, and Saturday 10-3. I am excited about the expansion of days and hope that this will help my customers.

I am also pleased to say that I am moving the store right next door to my present location. The new space is larger and will enable me to expand what I can offer to all of my customers. I am hoping to be moved in February. Just go to the same location as before and you will still see the store there. :-)

Along with the move, I have the opportunity to offer classes. What kind of classes?? Well, I am hoping to hear from all of you what you would like to attend? I know that I will be having a rag quilt class. I am hoping to have a beginners crochet class, and a stamping class.
Please email me a slc@southernlightscandles.com and tell me what you would be intersted in. This will greatly help me in scheduling classes for you, my customers.

New Year Already?

At the end of each year I find myself reflecting and wondering how in the world it flew by so quickly. This year is no different. Where does the time go? But in this time of reflection, I see things that I can feel good about. This is really good considering the year that most of us have had! My kids are growing up so fast and it is a great joy to know that they will in time, change from wonderful kids to wonderful adults! It is a blessing beyond measure.
Then I reflect back on the great opportunity I was given: To open my retail store once again. Who would have thought that I would have ever been able to do so. It has been a great joy to reunite with a lot of the customers that came into the old store! The chance to serve new customers and just do be able to do what I love has been truely awesome.
So, I look forward with great anticipation this coming year, 2010! May all of you have a wonderful New Year and be blessed beyond measure!

Happy New Year!

Lisa ~ Southern Lights

Thank You!

I feel the need to send out a big "Thank You" to all of my customers. A year and half ago I closed my retail store that I had been in for three and half years due to being broken into on two separate occasions. At the time, I was so discouraged and disappointed over the whole situation and felt that I would never be able to have a store again. During this hiatus, I was still running the business from my website but you know, it is just not the same. Granted it keeps the business "out there" but it does nothing for the person who enjoys the interaction with their customers. I enjoy getting to know my customers as more than customers but as friends.

So now that I have been blessed with the opportunity of opening up a retail store again, I have to say that it still "fits" . You know like that favorite pair of shoes that you have that are older than dirt but feel so good you hate to get rid of them. They just fit!

I have enjoyed having the store open again. Meeting new customers and renewing friendships with those of you that use to shop at the old store. It is a rewarding day when I have the opportunity to go into the store on Thursdays ~ Saturdays each week.

Words cannot express my sincere appreciation all of you and I look forward to seeing you in the store in the near future! THANK YOU!

Lisa ~ SLC

Pics of the store....

BURNING A CANDLE PROPERLY:
Have you ever wondered why your candle seems to burn right down the middle?? Seemingly wasting half of the wax and your money at the same time??

Can you believe that it could be something as simple as burning it in a different way? I know what you are thinking...how many ways are there to burn a candle?? Well, there is really only one way to burn it and get your moneys worth, so let me tell you the secret....

The first time you burn your new candle is the most important burn. Your candle has a memory and will tend to only burn and have a melt pool as big as the last time you burned it. So, the first burn sets the pace of how your candle will burn in the future. Make sure to have enough time to let it have a full melt pool, which means that it should be liquified all the way across the top of the candle. Typically, on the first burn it can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the diameter of the jar being used. Before you burn it the next time, be sure to trim the wick to about 1/4 of an inch. Trimming the wick is very important, as this will help to cut back on excessive smoking from the candle. Trimming of the wick also will not allow the flame to be too large. Each time you burn your candle, allow time for a full melt pool. You should not have any wax left of the sides of the jar, which means you are not wasting your money! Do not burn your candle for more than 4 hours at one time, allow it to cool, trim your wick and then re-light.

I hope that this will help you save money and enjoy your candle even more!

OPEN HOUSE

I am so excited! SLC will be having an Open House on November 5th, 6pm to 8pm. I would love for everyone to stop by. I will be providing food and there will be specials that will only happen that evening! Have you got your Christmas shopping list ready yet? If not, better get to it!

Local businesses...

My business, as many of you know, is located in Lookout Valley, which is at the base of Lookout Mtn. This is a outlying community of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is centrally located at the Georgia/Tennessee state lines, and not too far from Alabama either. It is a community that boasts of several wonderful small businesses. I thought I would take a moment to highlight some of these and encourage anyone that may be in this area to be sure to stop by and check them out.

CC's Antiques www.ccsantiques.com
HillBilly Willy's BBQ www.hillbillywillys.com
Result's Personal Training (Cummings Hwy)
Murphy's Eatz & Sweetz www.murphyseatz.com
Country Diner (Brown's Ferry Rd)
Fireside Grill (Cummings Hwy)
Lookout Valley Pool & Tan (Cummings Hwy)
O'Dell's Grocery (Cummings Hwy)
Sun & Shade Lawn/Garden (Cummings Hwy)
Accent Printing
Southern Lights www.southernlightscandles.com

This is just a small list, there are plenty more. Every one of these are locally owned and operated, not chain stores. Please help your local businesses by shopping locally.

Something to think about...

I stumbled across this while visiting one of my suppliers websites. I thought it was interesting and am passing it along to all of you.

In the economic enviroment we are currently in, I thought it to be something to take note of, especially for anyone that may live in a small town where the small businesses are probably getting hit the hardest.



3 Think about which three independently owned businesses you'd miss most if they were gone. Stop in and say hello. Pick up a little something that will make someone smile. Your contribution is what keeps those businesses around.

5o If just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.*
Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 of the employed population did that.

68 For every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays there. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

1 The number of people it takes to start the trend.....you.

Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy.

Visit http://www.the350project.net/

SLC has a new blog!

I have added a new blog in hopes that if you haven't stopped by Facebook or looked at your emails, you will still be able to find out what's happening through this medium.

As everyone knows, we are still in a recession and times are tough. But with that said we still want to be able to celebrate the holidays or other special events in our lives. Traditionally this has been done through gift giving. A time honored tradition, but one that this year may be a struggle to do. I know exactly how everyone feels, as I have had to rethink my gift giving this year also. That is why I think it is so important to still find "the gift" but at "the price" that is in the budget you have set for this year.
I have found several items this year that I think fit the bill. Do you have a secret pal at work or church? I have some great items that would be great as a gift basket of goodies. A pocket calender, refrigerator magnetic calender, cork coasters, and great Christmas cards. Put all of that in a basket or gift bag and you have a great gift for under $20.00!
Have a family member that you are not real sure what to buy for?? How about an electric warmer? Everyone would like to have their home say "Welcome!". Once again you can spend as little as $10.00 or a much as $18.00, either way you will have a great gift that they will enjoy all year for less than $20.00.
Do they already have a warmer? Well take my word for it, they will love to have melts for it! Help them out by getting them stocked up for next year.

I hope that these ideas have helped you in planning for your Christmas shopping!

Lisa ~ Southern Lights