Wildside Candle Company, a Dover New Hampshire-based business that’s lighting up the candle industry—quite literally—with it’s unique approach.
Owner Christa Williams has been a freelance bookkeeper for 27 years, and Wildside has only been in business for about three years. “I’ve always helped other people run their businesses, but I’ve always loved candles. My family and I went to a candle pouring workshop in 2019, so I figured it out and just started making hand-poured candles at home. I opened here in April 2022.”
Williams makes all the candles herself. She offers candle pouring workshops, she sells candles directly online, she does custom branded candles for businesses, and she sells in boutiques. “This is my full-time business,” says Williams. “I am expanding. I’m starting to add other products like room sprays. My eventual goal is to be national.”
Besides her witty sometimes cuss-word-laden labels, Wildside specializes in hand-poured 100% sustainable soy candles with a commitment to candle sustainability. We all know for example the dilemma of what to do with empty candle jars. Wildside accepts your old jars, which they will clean, and refill with a scent of your choice.
What stands out about Wildside the most, however, is Williams’ focus on a candle gifting philosophy. She believes each candle is a gift, whether for the buyer or someone in the buyer’s life. This philosophy extends to her workshops, where each participant makes two candles, often keeping one and gifting the other.
“The whole idea of gifting has become a core part of our business.”
