Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie O’Hare and Laura Jahn.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The idea of South Ann Street Candle Company started as a half-joke. While we were roommates living in Fell’s Point, we fantasized about quitting our jobs and starting a candle business. Years later, in 2022 we wanted a creative outlet and decided to take the leap! We named our business South Ann Street Candle Company in honor of where this idea started. Now in our fifth year of business, we have not retired from our full-time jobs, but are loving where our small business is taking us. Connecting with other Maryland makers, local businesses, and candle-lovers is the highlight of our journey!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As first-time business owners, there was a steep learning curve! The fun part is blending fragrances and actually making candles, but with all that comes paperwork, invoicing, inventory management, figuring out where to store 250 pounds of wax – and the list goes on. It was a challenge to find our groove for the administrative side of things. We also learned while lugging candles to our first Fell’s Point Fun Fest, that we picked a very heavy and breakable product! On top of that, it’s hard to put yourself out there. It felt vulnerable at first to sell a product we spent so much time developing and making by hand, but we pushed ourselves to go for it and love seeing people enjoy our candles.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We create small-batch candles handmade in Maryland. Our 100% soy wax candles are uniquely blended with clean fragrance oils that compliment any mood or aspiration.
We’re best known for our Baltimore themed candle collection. We’ve created one-of-a-kind blends to capture the vibe of several Baltimore neighborhoods and iconic things we love about the city. Scents like Fell’s Point Farmers Market, Fort McHenry Fireworks, and Baltimore Lemon Stick, to name a few. It’s been an honor to make candles for legends we’ve grown up with like the Baltimore Orioles, as well as small business champions like Sideshow at AVAM and Su Casa. It’s incredible to know through our Etsy shop and conversations with shoppers that our candles have made their way to dozens of states and even Germany!
That’s what sets us apart. From customized wedding favors and corporate gifts to in-home candle parties, we’re genuinely excited to connect over our craft. Our favorite thing is hearing the stories people associate with our fragrances. How Tea Rose & Lilac smells like the vintage perfume their grandmother wore, or Birch & Smoke reminds them of summer camping with family (true stories by the way). It’s a beautiful reminder that we make the candle, but you bring the spark!
What were you like growing up?
We met in high school when we were 14-years-old. So, in a way, we grew up together. Jackie was a classic introvert, who never imagined she’d betalking to hundreds of people in a day at a maker’s market. She liked things to be organized and predictable, while Laura was a high-energy kid and social butterfly who didn’t mind a little chaos. Laura has since mellowed out and now uses that energy to dead-lift literal tons of candle supplies from shipping pallets to her in-home candle factory. We both loved making crafts and beautiful things as kids, a passion we’ve carried into adulthood. When we started South Ann Street Candle Company, we discovered the differences in personalities that made us great friends, also made us great business partners!
Pricing:
- $24 per 8.5 oz candle
Contact Info:
- Website: https://southanncandles.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southanncandles
