All About the Maker

Hey there! 
Thank you for reaching out! I am a candle obsessed mama of three little girls who rock my world! This Soy Candle Business I created is my second pride and joy! I’m excited to share the story of how it was created with you! (It’s long.. so bear with me). 

• Getting Started: When I had my first daughter back in 2020, I really wanted a cleaner burning candle of my own to have around her constantly, as I was very health conscious for her sake. I had previously shopped at Bath and Body Works, and I hit up any sale that they had going on, and I bought any great yummy candle that I could get my hands on. The problem was that all of the store bought candles had flaws, the ingredient list was not the best, and the emissions given off those candles were not ideal for a little newborn to inhale. Soy Candles perked my interest with how naturally clean the wax was, but they were on the higher end side for costs, and I was not sitting the best financially to fork out that kind of money for the way that I burned candles. I really wanted to make my own candles for my own use (as it was “cheaper” I told myself) and so I did. My candle making endeavor began. 

• Just a hobby?..: So making candles is not easy.. sure there are the “melt and pour” wax types out there but the true art of Candle Making is not that simple. It is actually quite complex. I spent hundreds of dollars out of pocket trying to mix and combine and test my original candles the way the “pros” make their own. Some of the early candles had heating element issues, fragrances throws were low, and wicks just did not quite create the melt pools I needed for the jar. I almost threw in the towel quite honestly.. This “Art” was no where close to an art.. my house was a live-in Chemistry Lab it seemed. Haha! My husband was not impressed. Today I always preach that candle making is a true science- which is very true. Sure the outcome now is lovely, but it took me so much time and testing to rule out the flaws, and mistakes that I had going on! I read up on so many articles, DIY pages, YouTube tutorials, ect. EVENTUALLY, after months and months of testing candles all on the side of my 40 hour a week job, I came up with my soy candle “recipe” for our candles that we still use to this DAY. Family and friends LOVED the candles and I beamed with pride knowing that I had finally figured out the “code” to candle making at last! I had zero intentions on selling big. This was just a sweet escape from “mom life” as I throughly enjoyed the start to finish process, and selling some on the side helped keep my over head costs low for all of the ingredients which was the ultimate goal. I had done it finally. Clean burning candles at a lower cost for me! Lol. 

• The Business Plan: So my hubby and I got engaged back in late 2021 and so the wedding planning began. Weddings are not cheap- especially with already having a child. The idea of selling my candles at craft shows locally became a growing idea that Fall. What a slick way to quick make a buck I figured to help us afford our dream wedding. Plus it was prime candle buying time for everyone! Well to tell you the truth.. the craft shows went almost “too” good. I was HOOKED. I loved the constant compliments, the great sales, the social interaction, and of course sharing my small town story of getting started doing this hobby all by myself. I was in awe at how fun this truly was to “own a small business”. Being able to create a product that people loved and enjoyed and then came back to buy more of was unbelievable to me! This was way too cool! So the process of gaining our L.L.C began at the end of the busy craft show season, and we haven’t looked back since, and here we are today. Selling locally off of Facebook lately has consumed a lot of my time with filling orders and joining local craft events year round to additionally sell at. Recently we have shelf space of our candles in at some of the local boutiques too! It’s so crazy to see us growing like this! The real question I was always hearing was about the same too. “Do you have a website”. Well.. after a good year of hearing that I am proud to say “YES”. We sure do! 

• Future Goals: So.. I am very much tossing around the idea of opening up my own store front. I’m expanding our product line from not just Soy candles, but to other all natural “good for you” products that most big chain retailers out there today do not sell to the full extent. I want to offer you all products that are well made, with excellent ingredients and locally available. Teaching Candle Making Classes at our future store as well has also  been a likely option down the road too! Like a “Sip and Soy” class with your choice of beverage to bring in with your friends to enjoy a night creating one of our beautiful smelling candles the way that I do behind the scenes. Of course this will take some time to fully arrange and make the plans hit the ground for, but every little sale now helps prepare us for the bigger dreams of this little business that may just lie ahead! I greatly appreciate your business, feedback and genuine compliments. It makes my DAY. No sale is unnoticed. I put so much pride and love into each product we design and make in hopes that you love them all as much as I do!

As the saying goes, “With God all Things are POSSIBLE”. Stay tuned for further updates from us and follow us along on Facebook. 

~ Kaitlin 

Owner/ Founder of Minnesota Babe Candle Co LLC.