Short Summary
In 2009 JB Candle & Soap Co. was created in the kitchen of Julie Stotler. It started out as a crafty idea to make soy candle and soaps for birthdays and holidays for friends, family, and co-workers and just grew from there. Julie would receive calls from the recipients of these candles and order more from her to give as gifts.
With an idea and a growth of sales, a whole production had started in her kitchen to fill these orders and extras were made to fill future orders. With a surplus of stock, she started to set up and craft shows, nearly selling out each time.
With limited working space in the kitchen and storage in the basement, Julie can only make so many candles, and the need is greater then her kitchen size will allow. With a bigger facility and storage, she will be able to soar with her sales. Julie & her husband decided that it is time to turn this profitable hobby into a professional store front venture right in her hometown of Berkeley Springs, WV. With the new business name of Berkeley Springs Candle & Craft Co. there will be no limits to their success.
What We Need & The Perks You Can Get
Berkeley Springs Candle & Craft Co. has figured out that they need approximately $45,000 to open their doors with full product by February 2015. With the current candle and craft earnings after expenses, savings, and working extra overtime, they will only need to raise $25,000. The money will be going towards:
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Supplies in bulk such as jars, soy wax, fragrances, wicks, lids, labeling
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Hire employees & train them in the craft of candle making (3 to start)
- Equipment for higher production volume
- New Kitchen appliances; stove, oven, fridge
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Additional shelving fixtures for storage and retail
- 4 months of rent during start up process and first month open for business
- Professionalize our homemade web site
- Certified as "Made in America" (we are eligible in June 2015)
- Legal and accountant fees
Berkeley Springs Candle & Craft Co. is offering great perks for your donations and some of the perks will last a whole year or longer!! First, they are offering a hand written Thank You letter stating the amount you donated for tax purposes and will be sent out to you approximate a month after the campaign is over. Another perk is that they are going to have a "Wall of Thanks" where everyone that helped them out will have their name (unless specified not to) on the wall for everyone to see how you helped. This will happen when they decorate their retail space. These two perks will be going to everyone who makes a monetary donation. Depending on the amount you donate determines the extra perks which are listed to the right. These perks will be sent out starting March 2015.
Approximate Burn Times for our soy candles:
- 4 oz 20-25 hours
- 8 oz 40-45 hours
- 16oz 75-85 hours
- 26oz 110-120 hours
Recipe for Success
Julie is no stranger to the candle and crafting world. Her credits include candle making, jewelry making, graphic design, and vinyl work, the list is endless. She stumbled upon this business by trying to create a new gift to give to family and friends. Julie has a Bachelors Degree and holds a bunch of certifications including Entrepreneurship in Small Business. Julie is no stranger to business. A decade ago, she owned and ran her own successful Massage Studio when she lived in NJ with 4 employees until she decided to close the doors and move to her home in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
Berkeley Springs is a small town in the mountains of West Virginia known for it's historic spa and art-filled town approximately 90 minutes from the Washington/Baltimore metro area. A tourist town from March to November, It's warm mineral springs, world class dining, blocks of distinctive shops, full-service spas, elegant B&Bs and historic inns draws people from all over the country and world.
Not only known as a historic town with the medicinal waters, but Berkeley Springs is also known as the Quirky Business Capital of West Virginia. Click here to see some of the Quirky businesses in the area.
With the talents of Julie's candle craft making, the quality of candles and an awesome location, combined together, will make a great recipe for success!!!
Our Challenge
Berkeley Springs Candle & Craft Co's biggest challenge is to be able to raise the funds inorder for them to start crafting the handmade mass production of aromatic creamy soy candles. Without crowdfunding, she will not be able to move to the next phase and will just continue to make soy candles in her kitchen.
Other Ways You Can Help
PLEASE PASS THE WORD AROUND!!! Another way you can help is to get the word out to people that Berkeley Springs Candle & Craft Co. are in need of donations to get them into a home. You can use any social media such as:
- Facebook
- Twitter
- AND Indiegogo Share Tool.
Video Credits
I would like to mention some of the business where I used their store front photo in my video presentation.
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Portals New Age Shop
- Sage Moon Herb Shop
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Rock of Ages
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Star Movie Theater
- Lion's Lair
I will also like to give credit to Travel Berkeley Springs (
www.berkeleysprings.com) for a section I took from their website and placed it in the 'Recipe for Success' section.