from hobby to hustle: mad candle co.

Maddie has always had an entrepreneurial spirit—earning the nickname "Money Bags Maddie" as a kid for her creative ways to make money. Her passion for creating led her to candle making in 2018, where she set out to craft the cleanest, high-quality soy candles. What started as a creative escape soon became a thriving business, and in May 2024, she officially launched her website, turning her hobby into a full-fledged brand! Enter: Mad Candle Co (been crushing it ever since).

"When I launched my business, I didn’t expect to see such quick success. In the first six months of my business, I sold over 4,500 candles."

how it all began:

"From a young age, I was always drawn to the idea of entrepreneurship. My family actually had a nickname for me when I was younger—Money Bags Maddie—because I was always coming up with little ways to make money. Whether it was selling bookmarks to friends or giving out four-leaf clovers with my lemonade stands, I always had that entrepreneurial spark. As I grew older, that love for creating continued to evolve, but it wasn’t until I began making candles in 2018 that I truly found my passion. I couldn’t find a clean, 100% soy candle that met my standards, so I decided to make them myself. Candle-making became my creative outlet, and over time, it became my calling.

While working in a high-stress job at a restaurant during college, I found myself burnt out and exhausted. I longed for a way to channel my creativity while doing something more fulfilling. Candle-making was that perfect escape, and it quickly turned into something much bigger. In May 2024, I finally launched my website, taking my hobby to the next level."

the why:

"The core of why I do this is simple: I want to create something people can feel good about using. From the very beginning, my goal has been to offer the cleanest, safest candles made from high-quality ingredients. I want my customers to know that the candles they burn are not only beautiful but also safe for them, their families, and their pets."

the journey to success:

"The road to getting where I am today has been anything but smooth. I’m not afraid to admit that I failed a couple of business classes in college. At the time, it felt like a setback, but I pushed through, graduated, and now I'm seeing success in my business. That experience taught me resilience—sometimes, the road to success is filled with bumps, but that doesn’t mean you give up. You keep going.

I was nervous to put myself and my candles out there. I’m naturally introverted, and the thought of failing or what others might think held me back for months. But with the support of my husband, I decided to take the leap. When I showed him one of my first videos for social media, he said, “You’re going to be famous.” His encouragement gave me the confidence to go for it. I created a website, posted on social media, and reached out to retailers. And to my surprise, things started falling into place.

One of my proudest moments came when I received my first wholesale order ever from Pistils Nursery in Portland, Oregon—a dream retailer of mine. I’m a huge plant lover, and it felt like the universe was aligning. It gave me the boost I needed to keep pushing forward."

support from family:

"I could never have gotten this far without the support of my family. My mom, in particular, has played a huge role in my journey. She asked me to quit my corporate job to help her with her booming floral business. Working for her gave me more free time and energy to dedicate to my candle-making hobby. Seeing her success with her business inspired me and gave me the courage to pursue my own dreams.

Then there’s my husband. His belief in me has been unwavering. He was the one who pushed me to share my journey online, even when I was terrified of what people might think. He constantly reassures me that I’m on the right path. I can’t express how much his encouragement has meant to me.

And of course, my grandma has played a big part in my success, too. She’s the one who has always encouraged me to follow my passions. Not only does she love hearing about my progress, but she also plays an active role in getting my candles out there. She keeps a basket of travel tins in her car and hands them out to people she meets. She’s also an incredible marketer—cold-calling shops to get my candles into more locations. Her support has been invaluable."

a defining moment:

"There’s a moment that stands out to me when I was doing my first-ever photo shoot of my candles outdoors. A dragonfly landed on my shoulder, something I’d never experienced before. I looked it up and found that it symbolizes transformation, new beginnings, and personal growth. At that moment, it felt like the universe was giving me a sign that I was on the right path. It was a small moment, but it meant so much to me."

what’s been the most surprising?

"When I launched my business, I didn’t expect to see such quick success. In the first six months of my business, I sold over 4,500 candles. Out of that total, more than 2,200 were the Oregon Forest scent, which became a customer favorite. One of the best parts of my day is reading reactions from customers who love the candles. I had one customer say, “My heart melted when I smelled this candle. It’s the exact scent I’ve been trying to find. It’s so wonderful!” Moments like that are the reason I keep going."

advice for makers:

"Starting a business is tough, and it’s full of trial and error. I made my own concrete jars at one point, but they didn’t work out. Then I switched to glass, but I wasn’t happy with the labels. I spent hours designing new ones until I was proud of them. If something’s not working, pivot and make improvements until it does.

One of the best pieces of advice I can give is to just go for it. Yes, it’s scary, and yes, you might fail, but you’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t take the leap. For me, once I stopped worrying about what people would think and started focusing on doing what I love, things really began to take off."

gratitude and moving forward:

"I’m incredibly grateful for everything that’s happened so far, from the support of my family to the amazing customers who’ve helped me get here. I never thought I’d be in this position, but here I am, and I’m excited for what the future holds. Every day I get to do what I love, and that’s the most fulfilling part of this journey. Thank you to everyone who’s believed in me and my candles. I’m just getting started, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me."