Meet Joseph Wilder and Erin Page, the co-owners of Elm Candle Bar in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, WA. If you’ve ever wanted to craft your own custom candle, fulfill your creative dreams at Elm Candle Bar. The unique store is the brainchild of cousins who each share a sincere passion for the thing they call a “coziness curator.” These DIY candles give enthusiasts the ability to pick their own scents (90 available!) and pour their own wax into a beautiful candle holder. Make a reservation and leave 45 minutes to an hour later with your new favorite candle!
Bonus: You can also formulate your own room spray or diffuser!
Get to know more about Joseph, Erin, and Elm Candle Bar in this week’s Business Spotlight Q&A.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s your favorite part about the community your business is in & why?
We are in the heart of Capitol Hill (Seattle). The community is one that represents and embraces diversity. We are proud that our team is a reflection of that.
Why is it important to you and your business that people #SpendLikeItMatters?
Owning your own business is part of the American dream and that dream is why a lot of minorities have come to America. Once here though, that dream can face a lot of challenges whether it’s prejudices or lack of capital. Once those businesses are established they provide so much to their communities. Local minority-owned businesses provide jobs, resources, and support, and boost the economy through purchasing from other local businesses. Our story is just one example of all of the diverse small businesses that are thriving because of the love and support they are getting from their community.
As a business owner, what’s the strangest or craziest idea you’ve ever tried?
Becoming a new business owner just 4 months before COVID shut the world down has challenged me to think on my feet. We had to pivot and think of how to keep our business alive while no one could come to our store. In 2020, we became a hand sanitizer production company and created DIY candle home kits in collaboration with a mystery date night company.
What’s something your customers may not know about you or your business?
1) We are an AAPI and women-owned small business founded by 3 cousins.
2) We were the first custom candle bar in Washington.
3) Quality is one of our priorities, and we think you’ll notice the difference when you use one of our candles.
What are some of your favorite local businesses and why?
So many to name! We are big fans of Molly Moons – a great local ice cream shop that happens to be our neighbor, Rachel’s Ginger Beer – a local staple that we carry in our store, Bakery Nouveau (we actually named one of our signature scents “Nouveau mornings”), Toulouse Petit – must try Creole restaurant, and Paseo’s – iconic Cuban sandwiches that will blow your mind.
Anything else you’d like us to know about you and your business?
While our main business is a custom experience in our store, we love being able to create custom creations for other businesses. We’re all about collaboration and would love to partner with any local business on a creative offering.