A new 'refreshed' Northeast Candle Co. reopens in Ellwood City

ELLWOOD CITY — The Northeast Candle Co. reopened Tuesday.

Owner Mark Miller said everyone who stopped in received a chance to win a ticket to the New Castle Bridal Fair & Woman's Expo on Jan. 30.

Miller said they closed on Christmas Eve because after a year in business, they took the time off for strategic planning and to refresh the store.

"We needed to evaluate what we did right and what we could have done better," he said.

Miller didn't set out to open a candle store, but he knew he wanted to start a business and considered a number of options.

"I knew I wanted a small business. I like to cook and bake, but Ellwood City has a lot of wonderful eateries and bakeries, so I didn't go in that direction," he said.

As Miller was browsing the internet, he looked at candles, and with partner Amelia Bailey, checked them out on YouTube, and the Northeast Candle Co. was born.

They studied the information and the learning process began. Although soy wax is difficult to work with, they decided to use it because it is safe and doesn't release toxins. The other two ingredients are cotton wicks that contain no tin or zinc, and premium fragrances that are phthalate-free, non-toxic and dye-free. They used the same safe additives in their soaps and lotions.

"We went to Walmart and bought the supplies, and a year and half later, we perfected our products," Miller said. "I'm a teacher at Riverside, and Riverside is in the Northeast School District so I used the name. I didn't think Riverside Candles would sell well in Ellwood City."

They started by selling the candles online and business was going well. They expanded their products to include soaps, lotions and body mists. When the pandemic caused a lockdown, they continued to sell online, delivered to homes, left the orders at their doors, and they also sold outdoors in front of Milk House Meats.

Bailey said she realized how well they were doing when she showed up at Milk House Meats one very cold day and there was a crowd of people waiting for her.

"They swarmed around the car and they were taking boxes out of my car, they were looking through them and shopping. As soon as I would sit a box on the table they were taking products out of it," she said.

Their first workshop was in their basement, which they quickly outgrew, and got more space at a friend's motorcycle business, but soon realized they would need more space. In August 2021, they opened their retail location at 216 Fifth St., Ellwood City.

Renee Hiser, Bailey's cousin, has learned all the techniques and makes the products. Everything is made on-site, and it is very time-consuming. A small batch of 20-24 candles can take three hours or more.

Bailey, whose busy schedule includes being a student at UPMC Jameson Nursing School, has found that the name of the product is important.

"Lavender wasn't selling well, so I changed the name to Traveling Lavender because Mark's mother has a lavender plant that she keeps moving from place to place. Immediately it became a best-seller," she said.

Bottomless Mimosa with the familiar mimosa scent is another best-seller.

Miller, of North Sewickley Township, who graduated from Beaver Falls High School and LaRoche University, worked in sales and management for seven years before returning to LaRoche for his teaching certificate. When Miller was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease seven years ago, he had immunotherapy treatments and though the odds were against him, he recovered.

"I am so grateful and will never forget how the community supported me when I was diagnosed," Miller said. "I’m just humbled and blessed how well this business is going."

Miller and Bailey are excited to be part of the Ellwood City community. They invite people into their pleasantly decorated store with the essence of quiet and serenity and shop for luxury quality products at affordable prices.

Miller said they don't have sales but to be sure and ask about their VIP program.

This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: Northeast Candle Co. reopens in Ellwood City