“From Hobby to Hustle: How a Fromberg Woman is Lighting Up the Candle Business”

FROMBERG — A woman from Fromberg is endeavoring to transform her passion for candle making into a small venture this festive season.

Karen Witt has crafted all-natural candles from her home for family and friends for several years and mentioned it has always been a source of enjoyment for her.

This year, she made the choice to broaden her outreach after accumulating some surplus beeswax, the primary component of her candles.

“I began making candles probably 10-15 years ago and really enjoyed that artisanal aspect,” Witt expressed. “I decided that this year, since I had an abundance of extra beeswax, it might be delightful to share that with others, especially prior to the holiday and Christmas seasons.”

Thus, Witt is “mass producing” them, although in reality, she aims to create about 200 candles for sale this winter season. Their pricing ranges from five to $25.

“This is something that I believed would be pleasant to share,” Witt mentioned. “It’s an enjoyable activity for me and I assumed others might appreciate them.”

The candles feature distinctive designs and are made of beeswax. Witt emphasized that steering clear of harmful toxins is significant to her.

“I consistently acquire the beeswax from the same source,” Witt said. “I appreciate knowing what I’m burning, right? If there’s metal or any other chemicals within it, you’re releasing those into the air while burning the wick.”

The purity is not the sole aspect that distinguishes Witt’s candles. She utilizes unique molds to form the candles into a diverse array of designs.

“These are quality candles, so I’m making excellent candles and it’s enjoyable,” Witt stated. “It’s a fun activity.”

The procedure itself is time-consuming. Witt employs a small heater to melt the wax before pouring it into the molds and allowing it to set. After several hours, Witt removes the candles from the molds and begins the subsequent batch.

“It’s soothing for me,” Witt stated. “And genuinely, it’s a pastime I can engage in while handling other tasks, which is nice.”

While it brings her joy, she aspires for her candles to bring happiness to her customers. Simultaneously, she hopes her journey can motivate individuals to explore new pursuits.

“Well I might be able to encourage some youngsters who say ‘I’ve never attempted that, maybe I want to go give it a try,’” Witt mentioned. “It does not matter what age you are, you can always foster new interests.”