We recently connected with Amy Harris and have shared our conversation below.
Amy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
Soon after we moved to Arizona in August 2018, I attended a local market and purchased a couple candles. When I got home, I placed them in two different rooms and lit them. As I watched one start to flicker, I thought to myself “I can’t believe I just spent money on something that I’m literally lighting on fire.”
That lit a spark! Why can’t I figure out how to make these? It was right then I decided to learn how to perfect the craft.
I spent countless hours reading online guides, watching YouTube tutorials, and joining forums where candle makers shared their tips and experiences. I learned about different types of waxes—soy, beeswax, paraffin—and the importance of wicks, fragrances, and dyes. I created a detailed research plan to explore the essentials of candle-making, which included understanding the chemistry of waxes and the art of blending scents.
The testing phase began in my kitchen, melting wax in a double-boiler on the stove. Within a month, I ordered an industrial grade 65-lb wax melter. At the time it was a pretty significant investment, so there was no turning back. I reached out to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to start a partnership where they would receive a portion of every sale from the candle business.
I recruited neighbors to volunteers as testers and provided them with various candles/scents to give me honest feedback about things like scent, the burn, etc. It was a great way to get valuable feedback and introduce my new business to the neighborhood.
When I had decided on the vessel, wax-type, wick, and fragrances, I started thinking about how I was going to grow the business. Things I needed to do included obtaining relevant permits, setting up a work space, building a website, expanding the product line, designing labels, and really start to building and marketing the brand. Mali + Casey Candle Co. officially launched on April 19, 2020 – the very start of the pandemic.
Over the course of the last four years, it hasn’t come without its challenges. The testing of new products, the failure or many, have led us to where we are today. We have rebranded more than once, left Etsy and started our own website, created social media pages, launched and retired different products, and placed our products in several retail locations.
Our current line of products include candles, wax melts, room sprays, home fragrance oils, reed diffusers, car diffusers, and now a line of luxury perfume (small 10mL bottles we call Pursefumes). Since our launch in 2020, we have raised over $60,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and supporting our military and first responders.
Today my focus is on sustaining and growing the business. This involves refining processes, expanding product lines, and continually engaging with customers.
Starting Mali + Casey Candle Co. was a journey marked by a series of deliberate steps, each filled with its own set of challenges and triumphs. From that initial spark of inspiration to the ongoing work of running a business, every phase has been a blend of passion, persistence, and creativity.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Did you know smell is the first person someone notices when they walk in a room?
Mali + Casey Candle Co. is a premium candle company dedicated to honoring and supporting our military and first responders. Our mission is to create clean, high-quality home and car products that evoke warmth, comfort, and a sense of home.
Our product line includes seasonal and classic scents in a variety of products: candles, wax melts, room sprays, home fragrance oils, car diffusers, reed diffusers, and Pursefumes/Pocketfumes. All of our products are made with the cleanest, highest-rated ingredients.
A portion of every sale benefits the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T), providing mortgage-free homes to our military, firefighters, and law enforcement killed in the line of duty leaving behind small children.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Living in a digital world gives us the opportunity to showcase our products online and on social media – meeting our customers where they are.
In the beginning, I wanted every person to “like” our page. But I quickly learned that those weren’t necessarily our prime audience. We began offering a free wax melt at local markets to those who followed us on social media to get those active shoppers on our page.
Consistency is also key – posting regularly on both your page and stories is a great way to stay top of mind with your customers. We offer a variety of posts – tips, behind the scenes, product info, testimonials, etc. to show a wholistic picture of who we are and what we do. Planning is essential; sitting down and schedule 2 weeks of social content is a great way to stay on top of the posts without having to worry about them each day.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Our fall/spring calendar is packed with local markets across the Valley. Getting our products in front of shoppers – where they can see, feel, and of course smell is key in continuing to grow our customer base. We have found that markets are the best way to introduce shoppers to our products. Exceptional customer service and new launches throughout the year is what has kept them!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mccandleco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mc_candle_co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mccandlecompany
Image Credits
Angela Schoening Photography