Analog Candles
Photos by Emma Highfill, Rose Wheat Photography
Analog Candles are all about subtle but rich scent, quality and value. These all-natural candles are 100% soy, with no paraffin or toxins. Each 9-ounce, hand-poured candle burns for about 35-40 hours, and the scents are natural, and not overpowering, but will fill a room with fragrance. The line-up includes staple scents that are always available, such as lavender and wild vanilla, but also includes scents to suit the season and special offerings. Currently, you can savor the delicious smell of toasted pumpkin, to set that fall mood.
The idea for Analog Candles came to Elaine and Jon DeMeo on a date night. The two discussed a number of possibilities for Elaine to do some work from home, and on the drive back from their relaxing evening, Jon suggested candles.
“I had been talking about learning to make candles, and it seemed like a good opportunity to learn something new and share it with others,” Elaine said. “Candles can help people’s homes smell nice and be inviting, and it gave me an outlet for creativity and warmth.”
Elaine decided on the name Analog because she loves how candles can create a moment, a time-out from our busy, digital lives. She wanted to bring people back to the analog and encourage face-to-face conversations. For Elaine, the work of blending scents and pouring candles is also an analog moment, an opportunity to use her experience and skills to create something lovely with her hands.
Of course, learning how to make candles and run a business took hard work, too. Elaine wanted to make quality candles that her customers would truly love, so she went into research mode. She learned all she could about sourcing ingredients, candle-making techniques and scents.
“I know it seems like I could have just whipped this out in no time,” Elaine said, “but it was about a year of research and preparation, and a lot of trial and error. I put together a book as I worked, of recipes and the results of my experiments into what works and what doesn’t.”
Her favorite part of the process is the creation of new scent blends.
“Every scent tells a story for me. Each scent marks something in my life. Wild vanilla, for example, is about how having a family and kids might seem pretty vanilla, but it’s a wild ride sometimes, too.”
Elaine honed her technique for making a candle that will burn evenly and long. Her candles are poured in a two-stage process, with 12 hours of hardening between layers. Her special candles, such as the Whirlybird Espresso, can sometimes take up to four pours to get right.
“Every detail is important, and customer satisfaction is huge,” Elaine said. “We’re a part of this community and it’s important to me that we deliver a quality product.”
Fortunately, Analog Candles had a big head start in marketing the candles once they were ready to launch, with Jon DeMeo as part of the team. As the owner of Top City Creative, a local design, video and marketing company, Jon knows branding and social media. Elaine and Jon worked together on the design and marketing plan.
“We had a lot of conversations at night after the boys were in bed,” Elaine said.
Elaine loves that a micro business, run from her own home, allows her the flexibility to work around her family’s schedule and to take things at a slower pace.
“We didn’t want to grow the business too fast or say yes to everything right away,” Elaine said. “It is hard to say no at times, but we’ve taken it slow and easy and seen our sales continue to grow.”
Analog candles officially began in March of 2018. Elaine had chosen to make a candle that would be small enough to sit on a windowsill. She committed to getting all of the details right, including good jars and strong, high-quality wicks, set straight in the candle. She used all natural ingredients, keeping a high standard for the sake of her family as well as her customers.
“I didn’t want a home filled with chemicals,” DeMeo said. “I was making these candles in my kitchen, around my own kids. I wouldn’t want to sell anything that I wouldn’t use in my own home.”
Analog has partnered with other businesses in Topeka in wonderful ways. Diane Horn of Made Maker Pottery designed an 18oz candle jar that can be refilled with any of Analog’s candles. Blue Jazz Coffee Roasters collaborated with Analog to create an espresso scented candle, speckled with real coffee that was roasted here in Topeka. Analog also worked with a local artist to create a label for their Topeka Blend Candle. The design includes many places important to our community, such as the Capitol Building, the Brown v. Board National Historic Site, and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.
Elaine and Jon are open to more opportunities to work with small businesses.
“Whatever doors open up, we’re willing to walk through,” Elaine said. “We all benefit when we spend with small businesses and when we support each other.”
Elaine has plans to make city-inspired candles featuring a local artist from other Kansas cities. She would also love to do more fundraising for the community by making custom labels for groups or special events. Currently, she donates 10% of her profits to local charities, but she’d like to do more. On down the line, she also hopes to invest in helping other micro businesses get started.
“I would love to invest in others in the future,” Elaine said. “I’m so grateful for all of the support and advice that I’ve received, and I would love to give back.”
https://www.facebook.com/analogcandles/
IG: @analogcandles
