Candle Wick Shoppe Celebrates a Decade of Candles and Community
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 21, 2018)
Ferndale, MI – “Without your team, you don’t have anything.”
That’s one of the biggest lessons that Jacki Smith has learned being co-owner of the Candle Wick Shoppe in Downtown Ferndale. As the magical little store on W. 9 Mile approaches its 10 year anniversary, it’s the people who have been part of the Candle Wick family that Smith and her family are the most grateful for.
“Each person brings something new,” she said.  “New skill set, new products, new way of looking at things.  Every person that comes in changes us, and we’re better for it.”
Smith went into business with her sister Patti Shaw 25 years ago, making candles to sell online and at fairs.  Coventry Creations is now an internationally-recognized brand, with sales around the country.  Candle Wick Shoppe in the basement of the Community Arts Building in 2008, and moved to their current, street-level space in 2015. With the help of their current manager Patrick Vincent they’re increasing sales on their Amazon store as well.  “He’s really excited about engaging the online community,” Phoenix said.
Others have left their mark. “Dawn Massie really made it her own for a while.  Dawn and April [Brown] partnered with Mejnos and we’ve had a really fun relationship there.”
“Emily Mason moved on to run another part of our company,” Smith said.  Shaw runs the Reiki part of the business, doing readings and organizing classes.  Smith keeps her focus on candles and products, including the new line of Witches Union items. And Phoenix takes care of business.
Wally Szymborski was one of the earliest managers of the store, back when it was located in the basement of the building next door to where it is now.  “When Wally came he was the face into the community.  He was the face into the Chamber [of Commerce].  He was the face into Affirmations.  He was the one who was outgoing and building bridges when we didn’t have the time,” Smith said.
As the business grew, Smith and her husband Tony Phoenix found themselves being more and more active in the community too.  Smith started going to DDA meetings to find out more about the City’s plans for things like parking and development.  She quickly knew she wanted a place at the table, and joined the DDA Board. She also got involved with the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.  “You learn a lot from other businesses,” she said.  “When I’m at a meeting and I have Jerome [Raska] from Blumz right next to me, we’re helping the overall community, but we’re also swapping information and we’re both growing our businesses.”
The plans for the future are to “keep being deeper and better for the community,” Smith said.  Candle Wick Shoppe is a sponsor of Ferndale Blues and Music Festival, Movies on Vester Street, and Ferndale Pride.  They recently partnered with Howe’s Bayou to provide a good meal for homeless guests at Renaissance Vineyard and they’re involved with supporting programs at Ferndale Schools.
“A big moment of gratitude was watching people in the community come in during the holidays and spend locally.  Knowing they impact us is a good reason to want to impact the community, and to carry that spirit through,” Smith said. “My life is better.  Most of my friends and the things I do are because of Candle Wick Shoppe being part of the community.”
The best-selling candle is the “spiritual cleaning,” and the magic of supporting one’s positive thoughts and energy is not just something that gets sold, but it’s something that nourishes the Candle Wick Shoppe team.
“If things don’t go right, we step back to gratitude. What is going right?  What are we thankful for?”
That philosophy of appreciation for employees and for the community is likely to help Candle Wick Shoppe as they head into the next ten years of candles, magic, love and community.
Learn more at http://www.candlewickshoppe.com.