Indie Wednesday: David Peters of Chandler Candle Co.

I have a particular affinity for really good scented candles. So naturally when I came across David and his Chandler Candle Co. display at Randolph Street Market last month, I had to stop and sample his wares. As a candle connoisseur I was impressed by David's choice of scents and ended up picking up three candles for myself that day. One of those candles, the hearthside scent, has been filling Captain Dapper HQ with the loveliest of scents ever since.

David's career as a candle maker, or chandler, is relatively new. Like many hobbies-turned-careers, it started with a desire to recreate beloved but no longer available candle. By the time David was able to recreate the exact scent he wanted, he was hooked on candle making. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Name: David Peters/Chandler Candle Co.

When did you launch your business? May, 2013

What was the inspiration for starting Chandler Candle Co.? Making candles had been a hobby of mine and thanks to my husband Luke and our close friend Todd, I had been toying with the idea of starting Chandler Candle Co. for awhile. They're both entrepreneurs and had encouraged me to start a business of my own for years. We daydreamed and talked about it; there was a lot of "One day when you have a business..." and "Someday, when I have a store..."

What did you do before you started your business? I worked in retail for 10 years and then I helped my husband with his business.

How did you become a chandler in the first place? I had purchased a really great candle - Fresh Cut Grass - from this great little shop in Columbus, Ohio.  It smelled so clean and so fresh, I didn't want to burn through it! Of course I eventually did, and when I tried to buy another I discovered the shop had closed. I couldn't find another grass-scented candle that came close to smelling as good, so I decided to try making my own. How hard could it be, right?

Pretty hard, as it turns out. Sure, making a candle that functions as a candle is easy enough. Container, wax, wick. Done. But making one that actually smelled good was hard. Making one that smelled exactly like that Fresh Cut Grass candle I loved so much was harder still. It took a lot of trial and error, but eventually I found the best oils and the right combinations and concentrations to get the scents I wanted. By that point I was hooked.

Who is your biggest inspiration as a small business owner?
Definitely my husband Luke and our good friend Todd.  They're both so passionate about their businesses and it's totally contagious.

What are the advantages of supporting indie businesses? Indie businesses have a genuine passion for what they do. They must if they put up with all of the highs and lows of being the little guy, right?  They care deeply about where there materials come from, how their products are made, and the integrity of their brands. All of that comes through in your experience as a customer. Don't get me wrong - I love shopping at the mall as much as the next guy - but it's just not the same.

What’s your advice to someone launching a new retail business? Remember that you have to actually launch it. Obviously, you'll want everything to be perfect, but don't allow yourself to get bogged-down with revisions, updates, and the resulting delays. You'll get a much better idea of what works and what doesn't once you're actually "open for business". You may discover that things you could've spent weeks tweaking are total non-issues. Set a realistic launch date and hold yourself to it. Trust your gut, make informed decisions, stick with them, and move on. Otherwise you'll always be starting your own business rather than running your own business.

If an angel investor dropped $50,000 on you, how would you invest it in your business? Why do you ask?  Do you know a guy?  =)

Here's my wish list:

- Larger quanitites of supplies to get better price breaks on stocking-up.
- New pictures for our website.
- Expanded online marketing campaigns.
- A marketing kit for prospective wholesale accounts.
- A booth at some wholesale tradeshows.
- Materials and packaging for making candles in a smaller size.  Probably travel tins.
- Equipment, materials, and packaging for soaps and lotions in our best-selling scents.

The rest I would save and put towards opening a Chandler Candle Co. storefront.

Thanks, David!

Visit Chandler Candle Co.

Images: David Peters