Updates & Upgrades for 21 Feb

I’ve been rolling out some site updates over the last few days that I hope improve your user experience.

Database Optimization. Site speed has improved, especially in peak search hours. We’re zipping right along here.

Listing Page Redesign. A new layout for the vendor profile pages. It looks so much nicer, right?

Newsletter. The Melt Pool is a weekly roundup of industry happenings, helpful resources, and other information that’s designed to help you run a safe, sustainable business. Sign up, won’t you?

What’s Next

Vendor Access. We’re in the final stages of testing the “claim” form so that vendors can access and manage their own listings here. I’m hoping to have that ready by next week.

The Wax Finder. I’ve been compiling a list of where to buy waxes. (Sneak a peek below.) It’ll eventually have its own searchable database but this is a great start and I’m sure it’ll be a handy resource for the community.

The Gel Wax Candlemaking Guide. As a long-time gel wax user, it’s been fun seeing interest in its use start to rise in the community. However, there has been some misinformation circulating in the groups that could lead to the creation of unsafe candles. I’m creating an up-to-date, step-by-step guide for modern gel candlemakers. Here’s what I want to scream from the mountaintops: any fragrance you use in gel wax MUST be non-polar AND have a flash point over 170 degrees Fahrenheit. If the FO doesn’t satisfy both criteria, it is UNSAFE.