Mandy Lawson has built a small independent business of making candles out of recycled, reusable wax. She set up wax deposit boxes around Nelson, for people to donate their scrap wax, which is then melted down, lightly scented with natural essential oils and formed into new candles.
Each candle, hand-crafted and processed individually, is a one-of-a-kind, functional art piece; no two designs are the same.
Mandy says “I started this business out of my love for candle making and a passion for recycling. I’ve made candles for over 20 years and, when I started thinking about turning my hobby into self-employment, I looked around our town and found that no one was recycling wax. That’s when I started the wax recycling program that developed into my small business”
Owning a business has its rewards and challenges. It’s sometimes tricky staying focused! For this, I’ve learned to plan ahead, be prepared and practice efficient time management. With the help of Community Futures’ workshops and staff, I started getting the tools and know-how I needed to try and be the best small business owner I can be!”
