We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Denise Kunkelmann. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Denise below.

Alright, Denise thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I’ve always had a love for candles, so when I thought about starting a candle business, I figured it couldn’t be that difficult. But as with most things in life, it turned out to be much more challenging than I initially expected. It requires a lot of time, research, and financial investment. There were many aspects of starting a business that I hadn’t anticipated.

For example, it took several months just to settle on a name. With the candle market being so saturated with startups, many names I came up with were already taken. But we didn’t let that discourage us. After much brainstorming, we finally chose Joyful Jar Candle Co. as the name of our company.

When I say “we,” I mean my husband and our three kids, who each play an important role in different aspects of the business. Once we had the name, we turned to a local college that offers business development assistance. They helped guide us through the process of forming an LLC for our company.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always loved having a candle lit in our home to create that cozy, inviting atmosphere. However, I realized that many candles I’d purchased from big-box stores over the years were actually toxic when burned. This inspired me to create a candle that’s completely natural and free from harmful chemicals, but still smells amazing.

I began the journey of testing various waxes, wicks, and vessels, which turned out to be a bit overwhelming. There are so many options to choose from, along with countless vendors and suppliers. After a year of research and trial and error, we finally developed a high-quality candle at a fair price that burns clean and smells great.

Our candles are made with all-natural soy wax, cotton wicks, and a blend of fragrance oils and essential oils. They’re paraben- and phthalate-free, so you can feel good about burning them in your home.

We started selling our small-batch, hand-poured candles at local markets in our area, and I absolutely love it. I enjoy connecting with fellow vendors who share a passion for their craft, and it’s always rewarding to meet people who stop by our booth to check out our candles.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

When I decided to start this candle business, I had no prior knowledge of how to actually make a candle. So, I dove into researching everything I could online to learn how to create the perfect candle. I spent hours reading about different waxes and wicks, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the many options available. I also watched countless online videos from established candle makers, learning from their experiences and the lessons they’d already learned.

Next, I purchased various waxes and wicks to test in different vessels. After many costly failed attempts, I finally started seeing some success. Eventually, I created a candle I truly fell in love with.

Our candle company is still in its early stages, and we’ve financed this journey ourselves. Starting a business of any kind comes with its risks, but for us, starting small and local has been key. I couldn’t do it without my husband, who is my business partner and biggest supporter.

There are still many challenges to overcome. Currently, we’re in the process of building our online store. As I mentioned before, there are so many aspects of running a business that I hadn’t initially considered, and learning to juggle all of them has been eye-opening. For example, I now wear many hats—product photographer, social media manager, website platform expert, SEO strategist, email marketer, and accountant, to name a few. Each day brings something new to learn, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming.

I’m in my early 50s, and I wanted to create something I could truly call my own. My advice to anyone passionate about a product they’ve created and eager to share it with others is simple: start small, take it one day at a time, learn something new each day, and never give up on doing something that brings you joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://joyfuljarcandle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfuljarcandle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoyfulJarCandleCo/

Image Credits

The pictures I provided were not taken by a professional photographer. They were taken either by me, or a family member.