Our Story

Our Candle Story

This was written by Mom (Marie) a few years back, but I think it is nice for customers to be able to see where Beckley Candles (formerly Beckley's Best Blends) started.

Our business was born entirely on accident. It was 1999. My husband, Joe and I have six kids between the two of us. Extra money wasn’t easy to come by – especially for a family on a budget (and when I say budget, I’m using that term broadly.)

Though I never knew there was a word for it, I’ve always practiced the Danish way of life, hygge, which includes lots of candlelight. Since candles weren’t in our weekly budget, Joe suggested that perhaps they could be if I learned to make my own. And so I did.

At first, it was only for ourselves, but as I gained confidence and got better at the process, I began to make gifts for friends and family. I was working a factory job at the time, so there were plenty of potential customers, all around me. And like that word spread, I began taking orders, and Beckley’s Best Blends (though it would be a couple of years before we took our show on the road.)

Our business has grown with time, but it’s still just the two of us. Joe and I are truly a team. He is the full-time candle maker/producer now, and I’m in charge of all administrative duties, as well as customer service. Joe makes the candles, ships the candles, and does all the heavy lifting/loading. I do everything office related; scheduling, ordering, website, etc.

Every business has its landmarks, and so does ours. For us, the three major milestones were:

  • Going full-time. Joe was already a self-employed contractor. Since his work was mostly seasonal it was an easy switch for him. And I never looked back once I left my corporate job. Leaving the security of a full-time position with benefits was scary, but I have never regretted that decision. It was getting up the nerve to make the jump from employee to self-employed, that caused my anxiety. Joe, who has never had to punch a time-clock, kept reminding me that everything would be fine, and he was right!
  • Starting a website. Our first website went live in 2004 – that opened new doors and allowed our customers the ability to reorder, which was a tremendous step for our growth.
  • Hiring bookkeepers. This could be the single best thing we ever did — for my sanity. :)

Our motto is ‘Lighten up!’ and our tagline is ‘Get Lit!’ We want our customers to have a unique experience when they walk into our booth. We hope to serve as a reminder to not take life so seriously. We know we have succeeded when we hear the laughter erupt! Our mason jar style is so versatile it fits with any decor: farmhouse, vintage, primitive, contemporary, modern, shabby chic.

Though we love our way of life, running a business may be demanding. One of the biggest challenges we’ve had has been letting go of what’s not working. I’m a creative at heart and am always coming up with new ideas. Thank God Joe is the complete opposite. We balance each other out. Ying-Yang. So, in essence, our biggest challenges have always been to listen to each other and find a solution together. Letting go of the need to be right and putting the customer’s needs first. Being of service always wins.

We’re often asked how we manage to work and live together. That has never been an issue for us; we are rarely apart. We practice what we preach: we look for opportunities to laugh more and lighten up. We’ve learned to listen to each other and have let go of the ‘hustle’ mentality. Joe is an avid fisherman, and I’m a photographer. We both love the outdoors, and that gets put on the schedule — ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE — when planning our year. PERIOD. Making sure we have time for our hobbies and each other — away from the candle shop — is our top priority. Putting the big rocks in the bucket first is the key to [our] success.

xo,

Marie & Joe