An East Lancs couple have embarked on a new business venture together, creating and selling scented candles set in wine bottles.
Jordan and Carly Young, originally from Rochdale but now living in Clitheroe, started Bottle Wicks after being inspired by a street trader on holiday.
The pair had always thought about starting a business together but were convinced this was the avenue they wanted to go down once they returned home.
Jordan said: “We were in Milan last year and we took a day trip up to Lake Como. There was a street trader there doing similar to what we’re doing now.
“Since then it’s been a bit of an itch we’ve wanted to scratch. We’ve always wanted to do something separate to our full-time jobs so a couple of months ago we decided to just go for it.”
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When asked why it was specifically candles they wanted to go into, Carly said: “We’ve always loved candles.
“Particularly in winter, there’s nothing better than getting in on a Friday night after a busy week at work and relaxing, lighting candles, and having a glass of wine.
“It started out almost as a joke, like ‘do you think we could actually make a business out of this? We’ve given it a go and actually, for a unique, novelty gift idea we’re really happy with the product we’re producing.”
The workload between the pair is split, with Jordan cutting the bottles down to size, polishing them and sanding them, while Carly focusses on the wax and the pouring.
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The bottles are all sourced locally while the wax is bought from a supplier in the North East.
Carly said: “The wax is 100% natural soy wax sourced from a British-based company. We’re trying to keep our carbon footprint low, we’re using recycled bottles, as many natural and ethically-sourced products as we can.
“We want to get a good quality product but with a sustainable, conscientious element as well.”
Interest has been high already, despite only launching earlier this month, and both Jordan and Carly already have plans on how they want to scale the business in the future.
For now, though, they are happy to be following their dreams of starting a venture together.
They said: “To be able to do a job we both love, that gives us the flexibility to be home more and get that work-life balance that everybody would like is the ideal for most people.
“It’s a labour of love, it’s not a job if you love what you’re doing. And the house will smell great!”
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