Patron Satisfaction and Ambiance

Ambiance is a crucial factor in having a positive dining experience, according to Technomic, a fact and insight consulting company in their recent study on restaurant guest satisfaction. The results were based on findings from 123 major American chains, including The Cheesecake Factory®, a Candle Impressions® flameless restaurant. 

"...although ambiance can easily be overlooked because of its intangible nature, it can also be an important factor in a consumer's decision to visit a restaurant. Ambiance is associated with higher consumer experience ratings and overall satisfaction."


Although it's no surprise, 91% of casual-dining customers say the ambiance of a restaurant plays a major role when deciding where to eat. As it turns out, ambiance can also be can be a deal breaker when it comes to overall satisfaction:

"Ninety-eight percent of consumers who rated a restaurant's atmosphere and ambiance as very good also rated their overall visit favorably (excellent or good)." However, when the ambiance was bad or very bad, the overall satisfaction dropped to merely favorable. Ouch! 

The Cheesecake Factory®, known for their amazing cheesecake assortments and by candle lovers as a Candle Impressions® flameless franchise, did outstandingly well when it came to restaurant ambiance. Scoring 88.8% on the "Ambiance Composite Score," The Cheesecake Factory® was rated as having good to very good ambiance in the full-service restaurant category. Congratulations! 

Although a seemingly small detail, ambiance can make or break a dining experience. Subtle details in lighting can relax your customers and create an experience far deeper than merely eating. By summoning feelings and appealing to customers on a emotional level through ambiance, your guests are more likely to return to your restaurant to recreate that enjoyable experience, time and time again. 

Interested in learning how Candle Impressions® can give life to your brand by adding ambiance to your restaurant? Email hospitality@candleimpressions.net. 

For the full Technomic press release, click here. 

Flameless Candle Vignette Tutorial

A vignette is an arrangement of objects in a small grouping to create a certain look or portray a mood. Vignettes provide you with the opportunity to add personality to a space and incorporate seasonal décor trends. Think of it as a 'still life' that is strategically constructed: every object serves a specific purpose, yet works together to create an overall appealing display. 

Where are Vignettes Commonly Located?

• Night stands
• End/side tables
• Coffee tables
• Font hall desks 

The Key: Light 

Incorporating light into a vignette will ensure it becomes the focal point of a room and gives the look life into the evening. Light also enhances the colors of other objects in the vignette and instantly creates a soothing atmosphere. Candle Impressions® Flameless Candles—beautiful and safe—are the perfect light source.

Steps to Creating a Beautiful Flameless Candle Vignette:

1. Begin by selecting a tray you love. The tray will help define the boundaries of your vignette, which will prevent you from over-cluttering it with too many objects. By using a tray as a base, you'll be able to easily move the vignette around your house.  

We chose an antique silver tray ($20 at an antique store) as our base. Silver is making a comeback in decorating, plus the shiny surface reflects light which helps draw the eye. Using a mirror would also work if you're going for a more modern look.

2. Select a few treasured objects and trinkets to add to the vignette. To go with the theme of our tray, we decided to use more silver: an antique silver cocktail set and modern silver candlesticks to update the look. Now is your chance to tie-in some new décor trends or seasonal objects into the vignette. Many vignettes also include stacked books to help create different heights for objects to be placed. 

3. Select which Candle Impressions® Flameless Candles you would like to use. We started with a few smaller candles, a Flameless Mini Hurricane (available in a pack of 2 from Bed Bath & Beyond) and one of the three candles included in our Flameless Decorative Jar Sets (available at BatteryOperatedCandles.net). You should start with the candles you absolutely want to be included so the rest of the vignette can be created around those favorites. 

4. Now you want to begin arranging the objects and flameless candles on the tray. We recommend placing the taller objects closer to the back and placing candles in locations you know will best show off or reflect the light. You can also use candles as a way to put a spotlight on your favorite objects. 

Steps 2 - 4

5. Now that you have the basics down, you can begin adding larger Flameless Candles, like our Wax-Finish 9" Flameless Tapers from Bed Bath and Beyond to the vignette.

We recommend taking pictures of each vignette you create in case you want to experiment with other arrangements. That way if you decide against a new design, you can recreate the previous one in seconds. Below is another Candle Impressions® Flameless Candle Vignette we created during the process. Here we added some of our Cream Wax Pillars and Cream Wax-Finish Votives. 

NOTE: Don't forget to use the timer option on all of your candles. We recommend setting the 5-Hour or Programmable Timer on at dusk. 

Why use Candle Impressions® Flameless Candles in your Decorative Vignettes? 

The benefits of decorating with Candle Impressions® Flameless Candles extends far beyond the general safety and convenience of flameless candles. Candle Impressions® is best known for having the longest battery-run times in the industry (one set of 2 'C' batteries can last up to 3,000 hours) and, most notably, for our exclusive patent on the authentic Realistic Wick Design.

Since vignettes are mainly seen during the day and on lower-standing tables, it's important your flameless candles look beautiful from all angles, on or off. All other flameless candles use an external LED bulb or faux-flame, which draws unnecessary attention to the fact the candle is flameless if viewed from any other angle than head-on. The authenticity of Candle Impressions® allows our Flameless Candles to seamlessly fit in with timeless treasures and complements the look, rather than monopolizing it by taking attention away from your prized trinkets. 

Pet Safety & Lit Candles

Time and time again, we hear horrible stories of cats singeing their fur and dogs knocking over lit candles and causing a fire. If you love your pet enough to pet-proof your yard, why take an unnecessary risk in your own home with lit candles? Any flame—whether attended or not—opens the possibility of your pet getting seriously hurt or even killed. 

Barb, now a Candle Impressions® Flameless Candle enthusiast, told us a terrible story about her family cat, Smokey.

Smokey used to love sitting beside candles because of the heat they emitted. One night Barb forgot she had a candle burning in her kitchen and suddenly heard Smokey’s pained cry from the dining room. Smokey had rubbed herself against the candle and lit her long fur on fire—singeing her entire left side. Barb got there just in time to prevent any serious burns, but Smokey’s fur still hasn't grown back. Barb now uses flameless candles because, as she said, “it was a tough and, worst of all, unnecessary lesson learned. It just should never have happened.”

Smokey

Smokey is not the only pet enticed by candles. The flickering flame is mesmerizing and the new scents are intriguing to all curious animals. Ironically enough, some people light strongly scented candles to overpower the odour of their pets. Lighting a candle in a room a pet frequents—which it must if it has left an odour—is just asking for trouble. Rather than covering up odours, just eliminate them altogether with cleaning methods. It may be more expensive, but it’s worth it. Lighting a candle is just a Band-Aid on the problem, but it’s a Band-Aid that could create a much larger sore. 

Scared? You should be! An injured pet is no joke and there is nothing worse than feeling like you’ve let your furry friend down. But enough of the sad! Here are some pictures of Tofu with some Candle Impressions® Flameless Candles to cheer you up. 

Tofu having fun!

Safe, pet friendly, and convenient, there is no reason not to switch over to Candle Impressions® Flameless Candles. Plus, you can even buy lovely scented Flameless Candles if odour is still a concern. Your pets will thank you and you’ll thank yourself once you snap some adorable photos like these.

Tofu likes the Vanilla scented candles

Nothing is worth risking the safety of your pet, and ultimately your entire family, if a fire breaks out. One accident can lead to a lifetime of heartache and guilt. Yesterday was national "Love Your Pet Day," so go on! Love your pet.

Looking to make the Flameless switch for your furry friend? Click here to find a store carrying Candle Impressions® near you.

DIY Grunge-Glam Flameless Candle

Bring a little 90's Grunge-Glam to your home with this easy DIY with Candle Impressions®! All you need is:

• 1 Cream 6" Candle Impressions® Flameless Pillar ($12.35 on Amazon)
• Rhinestone tape ($1.00 - $3.00 at craft stores)

Candle Impressions® Flameless Wax Pillars are perfect for this craft because they won't melt onto the rhinestone tape and ruin the look. This craft would also be great for teenage girls to add a little sparkle to their bedrooms! 

The tape cuts surprisingly well as long as you cut between the rhinestones, just don't cut it too short. After that, all you need to do is stick the tape on the candle: it's that easy! 

Just be careful when applying the tape that you aren't going off-track. If the tape begins to bump, that means you didn't follow a perfectly straight line so you'll have to re-do it. If the tape is no longer sticky, add super glue, but only a bit! 

This Flameless Candle DIY would look great with colored rhinestone tape, too. There were tons of fun colors at our local craft store that would be perfect for Easter or at a wedding.

Think you'll give it a try? Comment below with what color of rhinestone tape you'll use!

Until next time!

- Elle. E. Diva 

Valentine's Day Story

For Valentine’s Day we debated showing you crafts, sharing recipes and product ideas—all of the usual. But we’ve decided to share something else: something personal, meaningful, and good.

Love.

What better way to share love than through a story. To us—the people of Candle Impressions®—this isn’t just any story. This is the love story of Don & Dollores. Don, one of Candle Impressions® very first and most dedicated employees, and Dollores, the apple of his eye.

The first time you meet Don & Dollores you can’t help but smile. Coming across a love so genuine is rare and your heart warms just being around them. After 50 years of marriage, Don & Dollores prove to you that love is real and you can’t help but hope—with all of your heart—that one day you’ll be just like them.

“Dollores and I met in 1962 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia... we were 23 and 21. I was standing there [in the Metropolitan department store] with two of my sales managers … as soon as I saw her, I told them to stand still, ‘don’t move,’ that I would help her … She had just moved to town and was looking for a kettle. She was gorgeous.” It was love at first sight.

Once Dollores met Don, she didn’t stand a chance against his charisma. When asked what made her fall in love with Don, she simply answered: “Don.”

“I can’t even begin to put into words what actually ‘made’ me fall in love with Don … his depth of love and commitment went without question … his warmth and generosity simply stole my heart.”

Wedding of Don & Dollores, 1963

And so Don & Dollores married in 1963, only a year after they first met, and three years later they had their first of two daughters. They were starting a family together, but not without ups and downs, working together to bring out each other’s strengths and conquer one another's weaknesses.

After 50 years the number one lesson Don has learned is that marriage is “all about compromising and negotiating … it’s how you deal with the difficult issues that cement and strengthen the relationship and get you to 50 years.” When you are faced with difficult times, Don says the best thing to do is “hang onto [your] first thoughts [of when you met]. It will help you be kind to your partner and forgive … think the best of your partner and know in your heart that you are working towards the same end.”

A lot changes over 50 years, but according to Dollores that change is positive: “At the beginning, there’s always a huge physical attraction and emotional connection, and while it’s all-consuming and exciting, you have to know that it will change to a different, yet deeper kind of love… which takes understanding, communication, and commitment.”

 Don & Dollores' 50th Anniversary

Don has been working alongside the founding members of Candle Impressions® for 28 years. Don immediately jumped on the opportunity to work with flameless candles in 2003 when he heard John Bacher, our current Senior Executive VP, was getting involved with them.

Don and Dollores continue to represent Candle Impressions® at trade shows across Canada and the US. They still love showing off the novelty flameless candle and hearing the personal experiences of our customers: “You get to hear how our flameless candles have made a difference and that adds the extra incentive to want to be there and reach new people … When you believe in a product, you embrace it and want to share it. The trade shows give us that wonderful opportunity,” says Dollores.

Rather than the usual, we’ve shared with you the often forgotten, yet fundamental, purpose of Valentine’s Day. Love.

What will you share this Valentine’s Day? 

DIY Place Cards

Whether for a casual party or a glamorous wedding, place cards add a personal touch and ease the flow from cocktail hour to dinner. But if you're throwing an extra special event, why not use the place cards as a nice keepsake or party favor for your quests? These DIY Flameless Votive Place Cards make the perfect take-home gift and your guests will remember you—and your amazing party—every time they light them.  

Materials:

• Flameless Votives (6 Pack Flameless Wax-Finish Votives for $14.99, batteries included)
• Gold glitter letter stickers ($3.00 - $6.00 at craft stores) 

Now for the not-even-that-hard part: adding the stickers.

The trick is to have a steady hand and make sure you're placing the letters in the same general area with uniform letter space. If you make a mistake, simply remove the sticker, reuse it, and try again. 

Voilà! 

Now it's time to set your table! Nothing is more embarrassing than setting the table wrong (we speak from experience!). Visit Canadian Living for a quick guide on how to set your table to save yourself  an awkward moment!

Your place cards are technically supposed to be placed in top left corner (parallel to the water glass, slightly above the bread plate and desert utensils), but you can have a bit of fun with that. We chose to place our Flameless Votive Place Cards directly on the plate. 

If you plan on reusing the flameless LED votives, the stickers can easily be removed. It's better to remove the stickers sooner than later, just in case they leave a residue on the wax. 

Comment below with any questions and good luck!

- Elle E. Diva 

Psst! These flameless votives would look great with a variety of other stickers, too. Three-dimensional butterfly or flower stickers for spring would be especially beautiful.

Valentine's Day Guide

Valentine’s Day is the one day a year you’re allowed to be shamelessly cheesy and over-the-top romantic—but how are you going to say ‘I love you'?

First, think of something that’s going to create a romantic experience. Don’t just give a gift and be done with it: give or do something that will create a memory. The problem is, creating an experience takes planning and planning takes time… and who has extra time!

The solution: give a gift that will lead to a night of activity. For example, don’t give a box of chocolates, give a chocolate fondue set.  

Here’s a list of other great ideas:

• Smoker (buy a small meat smoker and smoke some fun creations together)
• At-Home Sushi Set (mat, seaweed, sticky rice, sushi-grade salmon, etc.)
• Mussels (make more than one pot to experiment with different wines and sauces)
• Lobster (bring home live lobster for an authentic seafood experience)
• Lebkuchenherzen Decorating (large German gingerbread hearts—decorate them together with nice messages to keep forever) *good family activity
• Carcassonne (fun board game for 2-5 people) *good family activity 

Second, create a romantic (but safe) atmosphere. That means Candle Impressions® flameless LED candles, please!

Don suggests the Iridescent Icicle Flameless Candles—they are his absolute favorite. Wait, you don’t know who Don is? Be prepared to meet Don, the love expert, on Valentine’s Day for something special.

“[While] all of the flameless candles can be used in every aspect of entertaining, the Iridescent Icicle Wax Pillars add that extra punch,” says Don, the mysterious love expert. These beautiful flameless candles are available in 4, 6, and 8 inch heights and feature a programmable timer. Get your flameless candles in time for Valentine’s Day in 4 inches or 6 inches at Amazon.com. 

Another great choice are the Mini Wax Flameless Candles, specifically the Mini Hurricanes.

They come in packs of 2 and are made of beautiful cream wax with a subtle vanilla fragrance. We love these flameless candles because they look good anywhere and for any occasion. They’re great for placing on coffee or side tables while you sit back, relax, and enjoy a nice glass of wine. If you want to make them “love” themed, simply add a heart sticker to the front. Voila! A Valentine’s Day candle. Pick up your Mini Wax Flameless Candles at Bed Bath & Beyond, batteries included.

Every night you light your flameless candles, you’ll be reminded of that special night you shared together.

Good luck with your Valentine’s Day preparations! Remember: it’s the thought that counts. 

- Elle E. Diva 

Moroccan Trend

Last year we noticed Moroccan prints were trending. This year we've noticed something even better is trending: Moroccan-inspired lights. 

It's hard to go wrong when decorating in Moroccan style. The colorful, fun nature eases the pressure to be perfect and lends itself to more personalized decorating styles. There are no rules, only fun.

If you're a QVC shopper, you'll be happy to know the online QVC store has a Moroccan Candle Impressions® Flameless Candle. 

QVC Moroccan Flameless Candle

This 6" Wax Flameless Candle comes with a Programmable Timer and has a battery-run time of 1,000 hours on a single set. The color is so vibrant, it's a great way to incorporate a little Moroccan into your house. 

Looking for a challenge? There are plenty of DIY Moroccan lantern tutorials we love. The timer and remote control option on Candle Impressions® flameless candles makes them a great light source for lanterns, plus you don't need to worry about heat emitting any toxic fumes from the paints used on the lanterns. 

We love this Moroccan Lantern Chandelier Indie Fashion and Beauty created. It would be so beautiful in a front hall with high ceilings, over a dinner table, or outside under an overhang. 

To make this DIY a lot easier, you can use Candle Impressions® Flameless Pillars with a Remote Control. With battery-run times of 1,000 hours on a single set of batteries, opting for the 3 Pack Remote Control Set is much easier than wiring it into your electrical system.

Let us know if you've found any Moroccan DIY crafts worth doing.

Enjoy!

- Elle E. Diva