PAM DESIGNS is a home based business in our 11th year. We began by ordering all kinds of glassware, gel types, embeds, wicks, fragrances, etc., and made/tested them all for almost a year before we sold our first product. I guess you could say we are one of the "original" gel candle makers! We’ve tested just about every gel candle related product there is, and continue to do so as new items are introduced. We don’t want to be the biggest - we want to be the best, so the best is all we use. We did and do  the same for all our soaps, air fresheners, incense, etc.,  and as we add new lines of products, we thoroughly test them too before we make them available to the public.  
I have been selling thousands of quality gel candles/tarts, soaps, and air freshener products worldwide, strictly through word of mouth.  I strive to make your purchase a  delightful experience! I continually test every design for artistic appeal, and all materials for safety, and will not sell candles or any product  I wouldn’t proudly and safely burn in my own home, or personally use! I strive to not only exceed your expectations, but  to totally delight you with my creations! I offer a HUGE selection of styles, to give you lots of variety. And please remember that the majority of our products are made fresh, at the time your payment clears.

 A SPECIAL NOTE

I ship hundreds of gel candles, gel tarts™, soaps, body products, and air freshener products weekly, around the world. Each product is made by me in my home based shop WHEN YOU ORDER. None of my products, except the sample category, are made and on the shelf.
This is a full time business, and I try hard to keep the lead times down, but with the volume of orders processed, it’s not always possible. Additionally, some items, such as the aroma bead ornaments & incense, can take up to two and a half weeks to complete. Some essential oils take much longer to be absorbed by the beads/cones. I cannot rush your order and ship you a quality product.
It is your responsibility to read the lead times (listed on every page), individual Category and/or product leadtimes(if any), and payment leadtimes; and realize the additional time, depending on the shipping method you choose, if a holiday falls after you place your order, etc.,  to determine if you can wait for your shipment.  Your order is begun the day after you place it. For this reason, if you decide to cancel ANY order, there will be a restocking charge of 25% .  I work 7 days a week to insure you are receiving the finest products possible. So if you desire to purchase quickly, please ask first if your request can be accomodated. If I can’t help you, perhaps you should consider a store in your area, or I may be able to refer you to someone else on the web. Thank you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

- Why are these candles so expensive?

Of all the different types of candles, patented Penreco gel is one, if not the, most expensive waxes. In the past year, wholesale gel prices have risen 70%(due to the increase in oil prices). This is one reason. Without going into all the specifics, for paraffin, soy, palm or beeswax candles - even handmade - you melt, dye, scent, and pour into jars or molds. With our gel candles, there are many embeds, color combinations, etc. that must be added in stages. They are labor intensive, and costly due to the additional items added.  And they burn so much longer than comparable sized candles made in the other various waxes, that the value is still a bargain.  Even the floaters are made in several stages of multi colored gel, or are painted. They are not cheap imports. Many popular brands at chain stores have lower burn times and may still have lead wicks! Products on this site are all custom made here, in the USA, in our shop. You cannot find the unique designs, or such a long burning floater anywhere with all the custom options available.

- If I buy a large quantity, can I get a discount?

Although we do not sell wholesale to new business accounts any longer, the candles on the site are  wholesale priced already. Generally, we cannot offer additional discounts, as we will not sell at or below cost. If you are interested in quantities of any one design at 500 or larger, we will negotiate a better price for you.

- Why does it take so long to get my items?

There are several reasons your order can take awhile to receive. First, if you pay by credit card, regardless of when the charge shows on your account, it takes 3 full business days to clear into our account. That is when your order is put in full production. Due to the high incidence of internet fraud, we want to make sure that you actually did order the products. Secondly, if we are very busy(and this can change daily), your order can take longer than stated leadtimes. Please remember we are a homebased shop, not a factory and there is only so much room for products in process, plus they are all handmade, one at a time; not mass produced. I am the only one that makes all the products you see, I work full time, 7 days a week, and ship hundreds of candles weekly. No one wants to get your order out to you in a timely manner more than I do. Thirdly, if you specify USPS parcel post delivery, your items may take up to 15 days to reach you after your items are made! For some reason, USPS ships all parcel post packages to California from Las Vegas before they go to their destinations. I have no control over this. As stated elsewhere on this site, you may save a few cents in shipping charges with parcel post, but you lose in receiving your order quickly.

-Why has shipping gotten so high?

On May 14th, 2007, the Post Office raised their rates for all national/international services, and cancelled many of the less expensive international shipping options. We DO NOT try to make extra money on shipping charges! Shipping is the actual amount by weight, plus a minimal handling charge to help defer the cost of packaging/insulation materials.