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Make Big Money Producing Candles
- By Business World
- Published January 18th, 2010
- Smartmoney
- Unrated
SINCE the President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua led government of Nigeria has failed to make good its promise to Nigerians of generating 6,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2009, to alleviate the effects of incessant nationwide power outage, alternative sources of power has always been a booming business. As there is no determinable date of end to epileptic power supply in Nigeria, candle light remains relevant in our daily lives and therefore candle making will continues to be a thriving business.
The Project
The project is candle making business. A candle is a “round stick of wax with a wick through it which is lit to give light as it burns”. Although we are in the age of electrical illumination, light from candle wax has got its own charm and pleasure. Candle as an alternative source of light is a daily household necessity.
It is also in common use by religious organizations, hotels, restaurants, private individuals, offices, etc. Candles are available in various shapes, sizes, forms, and colours to suit different situations and requirements. The sizes may vary from 4cm in length and a few millimeters in diameter to about a meter or more in length and 15cm or more in diameter. Apart from the straight cylindrical shape of uniform shade for general lighting purposes, artistic and decorative candles are also produced in a variety of fascinating shades and imaginative figures.
This simple instrument of light to illuminate dark environment can make one a big time rich entrepreneur with little initial capital investment. An unemployed youth ( educated or illiterate), pensioner or retiree, the gainfully employed seeking to be his own boss can become an entrepreneur producing candles, thereby providing employment, reducing poverty and disease among the populace.
Raw Materials
All the raw materials needed for candle production are cheaply available in Nigeria. They include paraffin wax, wick/thread, pigment, and stearic acid. Stearic acid is a solid saturated fatty acid from vegetable and animal fats and oil. A small quantity is required to blend the paraffin wax. Stearic acid is available at the various vegetable oil making companies across the country.
Machinery/Equipment
The necessary machinery for candle production are in different sizes depending on the number of candle sticks required. They include:
(i) molding machines
(ii) paraffin wax boiler
(iii) automatic cooling system
(iv) industrial gas cylinder
(v) water tank.
All the machines can be locally fabricated. The moulding machines are in different sizes and the costs vary from one fabricator to another. The different sizes are:
24 sticks of candle making machine
50 sticks of candle making machine
100 sticks of candle making machine
200 sticks of candle making machine.
All the machines can be operated manually.
Production Process
Candle making follows six simple production processes as enumerated below:
Stage 1
A melting pan is filled with paraffin wax, stearic acid and pigment (if coloured candle is desired).
Stage 2
Heat the whole mixture to about 120 degrees centigrade and not below 100 degrees centigrade. Too much or too low heat affects the quality and shrinking of the candles. Therefore, it must be ensured that the 120 oc maximum and 100oc minimum are maintained.
Stage 3
Put wick into each candle mould.
Stage4
Drain molten mixture into candle mould.
Stage 5
Allow cooling of the mixture in the mould by passing water through the surface of the mould.
Stage 6
Manually drive a piston plate into mould to bring out the end product.
Market
The end product of the production process is packed in nylon bags according to already predetermined numbers and packaged in cartons ready for the market. Candle is a mass consumption item widely used for lighting and illumination in households, churches and other religious houses, hotels and restaurants. The demand for candles is on the increase in recent times due to incessant power outage across the country. Artistic and decorative candles also have very good market potentials.
Profitability
Great profit abounds in this business as research has shown that a 200 per cent return on investment is achievable in the first year of operation which guarantees short pay back period.
Interested investors can contact the writer for a cost-benefit analysis of the project.
Investment Cost Estimates N
Pre-operational expenses 50,000
Factory Premises 50,000
Machinery & Equipment 100,000
Working Capital 40,000
Contingency 10,000
Total Investment Outlay 250,000
The Project
The project is candle making business. A candle is a “round stick of wax with a wick through it which is lit to give light as it burns”. Although we are in the age of electrical illumination, light from candle wax has got its own charm and pleasure. Candle as an alternative source of light is a daily household necessity.
It is also in common use by religious organizations, hotels, restaurants, private individuals, offices, etc. Candles are available in various shapes, sizes, forms, and colours to suit different situations and requirements. The sizes may vary from 4cm in length and a few millimeters in diameter to about a meter or more in length and 15cm or more in diameter. Apart from the straight cylindrical shape of uniform shade for general lighting purposes, artistic and decorative candles are also produced in a variety of fascinating shades and imaginative figures.
This simple instrument of light to illuminate dark environment can make one a big time rich entrepreneur with little initial capital investment. An unemployed youth ( educated or illiterate), pensioner or retiree, the gainfully employed seeking to be his own boss can become an entrepreneur producing candles, thereby providing employment, reducing poverty and disease among the populace.
Raw Materials
All the raw materials needed for candle production are cheaply available in Nigeria. They include paraffin wax, wick/thread, pigment, and stearic acid. Stearic acid is a solid saturated fatty acid from vegetable and animal fats and oil. A small quantity is required to blend the paraffin wax. Stearic acid is available at the various vegetable oil making companies across the country.
Machinery/Equipment
The necessary machinery for candle production are in different sizes depending on the number of candle sticks required. They include:
(i) molding machines
(ii) paraffin wax boiler
(iii) automatic cooling system
(iv) industrial gas cylinder
(v) water tank.
All the machines can be locally fabricated. The moulding machines are in different sizes and the costs vary from one fabricator to another. The different sizes are:
24 sticks of candle making machine
50 sticks of candle making machine
100 sticks of candle making machine
200 sticks of candle making machine.
All the machines can be operated manually.
Production Process
Candle making follows six simple production processes as enumerated below:
Stage 1
A melting pan is filled with paraffin wax, stearic acid and pigment (if coloured candle is desired).
Stage 2
Heat the whole mixture to about 120 degrees centigrade and not below 100 degrees centigrade. Too much or too low heat affects the quality and shrinking of the candles. Therefore, it must be ensured that the 120 oc maximum and 100oc minimum are maintained.
Stage 3
Put wick into each candle mould.
Stage4
Drain molten mixture into candle mould.
Stage 5
Allow cooling of the mixture in the mould by passing water through the surface of the mould.
Stage 6
Manually drive a piston plate into mould to bring out the end product.
Market
The end product of the production process is packed in nylon bags according to already predetermined numbers and packaged in cartons ready for the market. Candle is a mass consumption item widely used for lighting and illumination in households, churches and other religious houses, hotels and restaurants. The demand for candles is on the increase in recent times due to incessant power outage across the country. Artistic and decorative candles also have very good market potentials.
Profitability
Great profit abounds in this business as research has shown that a 200 per cent return on investment is achievable in the first year of operation which guarantees short pay back period.
Interested investors can contact the writer for a cost-benefit analysis of the project.
Investment Cost Estimates N
Pre-operational expenses 50,000
Factory Premises 50,000
Machinery & Equipment 100,000
Working Capital 40,000
Contingency 10,000
Total Investment Outlay 250,000
