We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Patrick Allen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Patrick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

**The Story of WicksNWax: Crafting Candles with a Purpose**

In the midst of uncertainty and change in 2020, two hearts decided to take their lives into their own hands. Patrick, a dedicated restaurant manager, found himself grappling with the fear that his workplace might never reopen. Meanwhile, Gina, his wife and an ER nurse, was on the front lines, working tirelessly to save lives during a global pandemic.

With their worlds turned upside down, they decided to channel their energy into something positive, something that would not only help them but also make a difference in their community and the environment. It was during this challenging time that WicksNWax was born.

Patrick turned his focus to an unusual source of inspiration: empty champagne bottles from the restaurant where he worked. He realized that these beautiful bottles, which would otherwise end up in a landfill, could be upcycled into something extraordinary. Together with Gina, they embarked on a journey to craft candles with a purpose.

Each candle was not just a source of light and fragrance; it was a symbol of hope, resilience, and environmental responsibility. The process of repurposing champagne bottles was a labor of love. The bottoms were meticulously sanded and polished to perfection. Wicks were carefully placed, and scents were handpicked, creating unique and eco-friendly candles.

In October 2020, they made their debut at the Bradenton Public Market in Downtown. Patrick never expected anyone to buy a candle from him, but the response was overwhelming. People not only loved their captivating fragrances but also embraced the idea of returning the used candles to be upcycled into new ones.

This marked the beginning of a beautiful journey, not just for Patrick and Gina but for the community they served. As their small business grew, it became evident that their candles were more than just products; they were symbols of sustainability, craftsmanship, and the power of positivity during challenging times.

WicksNWax quickly found its home in the hearts of locals, and its reputation for eco-friendly, handcrafted candles with captivating fragrances spread far beyond the local market. With each candle, they contributed to making the world a little greener, one upcycled champagne bottle at a time.

As they continue to grow, Patrick and Gina remain committed to crafting candles with love and purpose, inspiring their community and beyond to light up their lives with warmth and sustainability. WicksNWax isn’t just a candle business; it’s a beacon of hope, resilience, and positive change in the world.

**”Join us on our journey, and let’s enjoy candles the eco-friendly way. We hope to see you at a market soon!”**

Patrick, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

**WicksNWax: Crafting Eco-Friendly Candles with a Passion for Sustainability**

Welcome to the world of WicksNWax, where we illuminate your life with eco-friendly candles crafted from the heart. Our story is one of passion, resilience, and a commitment to sustainability, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

**The Origin Story:**

Our journey began during the tumultuous year of 2020. Patrick, with a background in restaurant management, was faced with an uncertain future as his workplace struggled to survive the global challenges. Meanwhile, Gina, a dedicated ER nurse, was on the front lines, bravely fighting the pandemic. In those trying times, they sought a purpose, something that would not only provide for their family but also make a positive impact on the world.

**Eco-Conscious Ingenuity:**

Patrick’s inspiration came from an unconventional source – discarded champagne bottles from his restaurant. Instead of allowing them to become waste, he saw an opportunity to breathe new life into these bottles, turning them into stunning candle vessels. With meticulous care, these bottles were transformed into unique, polished candle holders. And thus, the essence of WicksNWax was born – combining art, eco-consciousness, and craftsmanship.

**Our Unique Offerings:**

At WicksNWax, we’re not just selling candles; we’re creating a sustainable lifestyle. Here’s what sets us apart:

– **Eco-Friendly Practices:** We’re proud to be at the forefront of sustainability. Our champagne bottle candles breathe new life into discarded glass, diverting waste from landfills and minimizing our environmental footprint.

– **Diverse Collections:** Our fragrance collections cater to a wide range of tastes, from refreshing aquatic scents to cozy and comforting aromas. Each candle carries a distinct personality that transforms your space.

– **Artistry in Every Candle:** Crafted by hand, every candle is a masterpiece. The bottoms of champagne bottles are sanded and polished, wicks are carefully placed, and fragrances are thoughtfully selected. The result is a piece of art that you can light.

– **Local Engagement:** Our strong ties with the local community mean that every candle embodies the essence of our hometown. We celebrate local charm and invite you to be a part of our journey.

– **Return and Reward:** Our commitment to sustainability doesn’t stop at crafting eco-friendly candles. With our unique program, you can return completed candles for recycling, and in return, you receive discounts. We believe in creating a circular, eco-conscious economy.

**Our Most Prized Achievement:**

We’re incredibly proud to have found a place in the hearts of our community. From small beginnings at the Bradenton Public Market in Downtown, we’ve grown into a brand that’s known for sustainability, craftsmanship, and captivating fragrances. It’s the impact we’re making, the candles we’re crafting, and the community we’re building that we hold dear to our hearts.

**Our Invitation to You:**

We’d love for you to join us on this journey. WicksNWax isn’t just a candle company; it’s a movement for positive change. We invite you to enjoy candles in an eco-friendly way and be a part of our mission to create a greener, more sustainable world. As you explore our collections and indulge in the world of fragrances, you’re not just buying a candle; you’re becoming part of a story, a mission, and a movement.

We look forward to lighting up your life, one sustainable candle at a time. Let’s celebrate the art of sustainable living together.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

We primarily sell on our website, www.wicksnwax.com, which allows us to have more control over our branding, customer experience, and product presentation. However, we also use other platforms like TikTok Tok Shop and Shop Manatee ( and online local small business marketplace) to expand our reach and tap into their established customer bases.

We are a COVID born business and part of our mission is to be apart of the small local business culture. Our main source is local farmers markets in our area. These markets thrived during COVID and we built customer relationships and personal relationships with the market community. In doing this, we decided as a business to be true to the hard times of COVID and not open a brick and mortar. In an ever changing world of commerce we decided to stick with the weekly markets with also making our products available easily online.

We participate in the Bradenton Public Market on Saturdays in Downtown Bradenton, University Town Center, UTC Night Market on third Thursdays. We also participate in markets in St. Pete and Tampa regularly.

As a small business you want as much visibility as you can but with the type of products we offer we need “shop time” to create our products. Our products are all hand crafted and the candles are hand poured. We love being able to have our products easily accessible for ordering online but we also love the community of the local Farmers Market culture.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been participating in local markets. The markets usually generate a good customer base along with the promotions and help of neighboring vendors. There are so many other small businesses out there and to have that community help us while helping others is something very special. We have participated in cross marketing with other local small business to get some visibility from other businesses view points as well. Going to a local market may seem like an old approach to commerce. In times like these, having an affordable place to setup and display your products while being able to have a direct face to face conversation with a potential customers is so important. E-Commerce is the most convenient way to sell however there are many rewards in selling in person at local markets. We get a chance to really expand on our products and showcase our Eco-Friendly and amazing smelling candles.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wicksnwax.com
• Instagram: @wicksnwaxfl
• Facebook: Fb.com/wicksnwaxfl
• TikTok: @wicksnwaxfl