The candlestick makers
New Scotland Candle Company to open shop in Kentville
In 2015, Erin Wilson and Mark Beaudry found themselves with more Mason jars at home than they knew what to do with.
Rather than throw them in the recycling and forget about them, they decided to make soy candles, and eventually turned a hobby into a thriving small business called New Scotland Candle Company.
It was important for the couple to use soy wax as a sustainable alternative to paraffin wax, which is a petroleum derivative.
“In our personal lives, we were candle consumers. We would go to craft shows and we’d usually walk out with candles. We had used soy before and preferred that,” says Wilson. “[Soy] burns cleaner, it burns longer. Generally, most people don’t like to go back to paraffin after they’ve tried soy.”
After making a few candles and doing some research, they began to think that there might be an opportunity to turn this pastime into something more than a hobby.
“It seemed like there might be some degree of viability for a business. We had made up some labels and took a few of them and we went to the Dartmouth flea market, just to see if people would buy them,” says Wilson. “And we made $85 that day. So, it kind of went from there.”
New Scotland Candle Company has evolved into a full-time job for Wilson.
For Beaudry, who also works in IT security, it has become a parttime to full-time job.
The business has been so successful, in fact, that it has outgrown the couple’s Port Williams’ home.
“It’s to the point now where our entire second bedroom is full of finished candles and supplies,” says Beaudry.
“We have 10 boxes of wax sitting in our living room in front of the TV. Every closet is full.”
In order to regain some of their own home and meet demand, New Scotland announced that they will be opening their first physical storefront on 381 Main St. in Kentville.
After researching other locations, they decided that the space was right for several reasons.
“Location was a big part of it, feeling like there would be a good amount of traffic there. It’s easy to find. The Kentville Farmers Market takes place right in that Centre Square parking lot in the summertime,” says Wilson. “And it’s got the small retail space in the front, but it’s got a good amount of space in the back for storage and production.”
The new storefront also has the advantage of being a six-minute drive from home. This was done to appease Digby and Fundy, the cats who are the actual owners of New Scotland Candle Company.
“They are most definitely the decision makers,” says Wilson. “Digby is the nosiest cat on the planet, so he’s in shipping and receiving. Anything that comes into the house needs to pass inspection. Fundy is mostly the quiet manager who tests the structural integrity of boxes and makes sure Digby doesn’t get out of line.”
“We’ll be doing our best to take care of them,” adds Beaudry. “We’re hoping to have hours which will allow time for Erin to come home for an hour every day for lunch and check up on them.”
Tens of thousands of candles into this adventure, neither Wilson nor Beaudry can quite believe it’s real. In forcing the couple out of their comfort zone, the business has helped them forge a sense of home within the community.
“We’re both relatively quiet, reserved people. It’s a lot of putting yourself out there and waiting to see what people think. That can be quite intimidating. People have been lovely,” says Wilson.
“It is just the sense of community that we’ve been able to build here. It’s heartwarming to see people enjoy this little thing that we make.”
The duo is targeting a mid-February soft opening that they plan to announce on social media.
“We’ve received so much love and support over the years, and especially now. It’s just learning how to push ourselves out of our comfort zone a little bit,” says Beaudry. “We just wanted to sell one candle, and it kind of developed into this.”
Once the new store is open, New Scotland Candle Company will still be at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, as they’ve always done. Customers can also still find them on their website, www.newscotlandcandles.ca, follow their Instagram or look them up on Facebook.