be a major concern for many retailers, Miller adds, where paper party goods, clothing or other similar combustible displays could get too close to the candle flame.

Also be sure to place burning candles at least 3 in. apart from one another to ensure they don’t melt one another, and keep away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans or air currents that could lead to flame flare-ups.

Lumi-Lite’s Safer Taper product is designed to self-extinguish when the candle burns down to 3 in. above the base. Photo courtesy of Lumi-Lite Candle Co. Inc.

Talk to Your Customers
Just because customers walk out of your store with a new candle purchase doesn’t mean they will know how to properly use it once they are in the home. Train your sales staff to talk to your customers about candle safety at check-out, making the customer aware of the burning instructions on the bottom of the candle and possibly even running through them quickly.

For added measure consider printing a few candle-burning tips on decorative cardstock and insert them into the take-home bag for an added measure of customer service. Or ask your candle suppliers for educational brochures you can pass along to the end-user.

Ask your candle manufacturers whether their glass containers are fire-safety approved—glass products that are not up to code can burst if they get too hot. Photo courtesy of Lumi-Lite Candle Co. Inc.

Becker suggests retailers could do a better job of communicating candle safety to their customers by making the message more visible as well as verbal.

“I would suggest a big sign near where candles are displayed or the cash register which emphasizes the three message points on labels,” he says. “Whatever will raise the awareness that candles are to be burned with care.”

The two biggest days for candle fires are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day which are both just around the corner. Take an extra step this holiday season toward making sure your customers have a safe, candlelit holiday celebration.

Alison Medina is a business and retail writer based in Atlanta. A graduate of The University of Georgia, she has been able to marry her love of writing to her obsession with shopping, creating a shopaholic’s dream career.