For Seller

By: Kimi Lasser

Many candle lovers have never really stopped to compare large chain stores to locally owned and operated boutiques or shops. There are, however, many reasons why shopping local is better.

The first and most important reason for shopping local is to support local business owners. So the money spent stays in the community and helps the local economy.

Many have a lot of pride in their craft by making the candles by hand and also use local ingredients. In a local boutique where the products are made in the store, the staff knows exactly how the candles are made, how they work best, and which scents compliment each other. Therefore, the staff can answer many difficult questions that can help make the most of your candles.

For a local candle shop to survive in a small town or city, the product must be excellent quality. Because of this, a lot of advertising is done solely by word of mouth, “a friend of a friend told me about how great your candles are!” So the shopper knows his/her purchase is going to be of the highest quality.

Candles make excellent gifts for all types of people. When shopping for out of town friends or relatives, local candles leave a lasting impression. Instead of a tacky souvenir, such as a key chain with the name of your city, local candles accomplish the same idea but with style and scent. Give your friends and relatives a piece of your city or town, and maybe just pick out a candle for yourself, too.

Kimi Lasser is a consumer writer and fashion consultant, and a scented candles enthusiast. She currently attends the Rochester Institute of Technology where she studies Advertising Photography.