FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is candle making?
With pure raw materials such as paraffin, stearin, beeswax, soya, rapeseed and sunflower you can make the most beautiful handmade candles. The two main methods of candle making are dipping and pouring. With only a small investment, you quickly have extensive options for manufacturing attractive, creative candles. For dipping, we supply easy-to-operate dipping equipment that quickly leads to a professional-looking end product. If you prefer to pour candles, you can use one of the many different molds in which you let a casting mix harden. Other working methods are rolling, cutting, punching or stacking. In addition, there is a world of possibilities in the field of decorating and packaging; the presentation of your product is important when you think about selling. Whatever you choose, the Gildewerk family assists you, gives courses and workshops and supplies all raw materials, equipment, tools and other necessities for the small-scale or larger candle making industry.
What is soap making?
The demand for small-scale, but responsibly manufactured soap products is growing rapidly. With our pure raw materials for soap bars (Palm-free/Palm RSPO/Olive-coconut/100% olive/Organic/vegetable); with our self-developed soap machine that is experienced as the best; and with our safe working methods, you can manufacture products as a traditional soap maker that rise above the usual in shape, smell and color. Liquid soaps (with more and more different raw materials), melt & pour soap, bath salts and bath caviar are also very popular with artisan soap makers throughout Europe.
Whether you work with our soap granules or liquid base soaps or via the cold process method, Gildewerk supplies all raw materials and equipment that meet the highest requirements in terms of quality, hygiene and safety, as well as the strict European cosmetics laws.
What kind of budget do I need?
Even with only a small investment, you quickly have options for manufacturing attractive, creative candle or soap products. We have budget ideas that can help you determine whether an installation fits your budget. The various start packages are also a cost-effective way to get started. Whatever your situation, Gildewerk can help you get the most out of your budget.
Let us know what your plans are and send your questions to holland@gildewerk.com or call 31 – (0)23 – 532 22 55
Does Gildewerk also have a showroom where I can browse around without this costing me money?
For a first orientation, we would like to invite you to visit our showroom. We can show you what the different installations consist of, so that you can estimate which ones are most suitable for yourself or your participants. We have starter packs for many installations, with which you can easily determine whether an installation fits within your budget. We can only reserve time for you after an appointment. Your visit is of course without obligation and free of charge. Make an appointment via holland@gildewerk.com or call 31 – (0)23 – 532 22 5531 – (0)23 – 532 22 55
The workshops - when are they?
To keep up to date in your field, there are workshops in the spring and autumn. You will be introduced to the latest trends and techniques and useful tips and tricks will be discussed in detail. Workshops for entrepreneurs are usually put together on request and by the customer. They are one-on-one, and as a customer you can also bring several people. The workshops for institutions are jointly organized with several institutions and have a program drawn up by us. We can also provide courses at home. Arrange an appointment via holland@gildewerk.com or call 31 – (0)23 – 532 22 5531 – (0)23 – 532 22 55
Does Gildewerk provide further support or am I on my own?
The Gildewerk family also offers extensive support outside of our workshops and courses. If you have any questions or if something doesn’t work, you can always call or email us. We are happy to speak to you in your own language to answer your questions or solve your problems. Gildewerk employs multilingual experts. Mail holland@gildewerk.com or call 31 – (0)23 – 532 22 55
Why is it so important that you work with our Quality System?
Gildewerk’s unique Quality System makes responsible soap making a lot easier. As a soap maker, join our Quality System and you are assured that you comply with the strict European Cosmetics Legislation in an affordable way. As an individual soap producer, it is very costly and time-consuming to arrange all processes in such a way that the increasingly strict European Cosmetics Legislation is complied with. Our Quality System ensures that you do not have to worry about this and that your soap products always comply with the European Cosmetics Legislation.
Since Gildewerk’s Quality System has been active, many European manufacturers have joined us. We take over product responsibility from you, so you don’t have to worry if you are checked by inspection authorities, such as the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) in the Netherlands, and you receive questions about your soap products, processes and production space. We do this at a very competitive rate, which ensures that you save thousands of euros compared to if you would ensure that you meet all legal requirements yourself. We don’t think it’s a superfluous luxury. The subscription also provides benefits such as faster delivery, regular training, discounts on products and a three-year personal certificate of craftsmanship. For more info look at https://sqseurope.com
What are the latest trends?
For candle makers and soap makers we send out various publications every year that discuss new trends in the industry. For example, there is the Trend Color Folder, which discusses fashionable, well-coordinated pigments and dyes. But we do much more. If you want to stay informed, it is best to visit the Gildewerk blog or follow our activities on social media. Visit our Gildewerk blog.
Why do you buy from Gildewerk?
Gildewerk is the specialist for traditional candle makers and soap makers. Success assured. The love for the profession has brought us where we are today. Today we have the knowledge, experience and professionalism to assist all our customers in a proper, personal way. Our range is wide and very complete; thousands of quality products that have been carefully selected by experts and, if necessary, are renewed with (even) better products that meet the highest standards.
Gildewerk offers convenience and support to anyone who has questions or when something goes wrong. That is why there are so many candle and soap makers that are part of Gildewerk’s international family circle. We all belong to the family of passionate craftsmen.
Why is Gildewerk equipment so important for good results?
Why is Gildewerk equipment so important for good results Whether it concerns the small-scale casting of soap or candles, the automatic mixing of raw materials or the production of soap pieces with the Gildewerk Soap Machine, you must be able to rely on the fact that you can work without any problems. Safety, solidity and ease of use are therefore important features of Gildewerk’s diligent workhorses. We also design and supply tailor-made equipment. This is well thought out, of reliable manufacture and especially suitable for the somewhat larger, (semi) professional candles or soap making. We have our own technical department that develops, builds or assembles our equipment ourselves. The technical service also ensures that our equipment continues to meet the most recent safety requirements.
Choosing the right equipment requires personal advice and detailed information. Call or write us for an appointment and for more information about the attractive prices of this equipment. Mail holland@gildewerk.com or call 31 – (0)23 – 532 22 55?
Do you charge VAT?
In the Netherlands, 21% is added to all orders sent to an address in the Netherlands. In the rest of the EU we charge 21% VAT, unless the company has a VAT number, they pay 0% VAT. Outside the EU we always charge 0% VAT and you must comply with the regulations of your own country.
When will my order be shipped?
We will make every effort to ship items within one week. If there is a delay, we will contact you by email and inform you when your order ships.
Why is shipping so expensive?
We use a European postal service calculator to determine the actual shipping costs for your order and do not earn ourselves from the shipping costs. We will continuously investigate options to pass on lower shipping costs to our customers and make changes at our discretion.