September 24, 2024
Client Spotlight: Cork and Candles
Cork & Candles is a unique BYOB retail, experiential candle bar where guests craft personalized candles by choosing from 45 different scents. Known for its fun and interactive atmosphere, it also offers novelty candle-making classes, making it a popular destination for friends to gather and create lasting memories. With three successful locations, Dave and Kenny Straub partnered with SMB Franchise Advisors to expand the retail, experiential candle concept nationwide, aiming for 250 locations. Cork and Candles blend creativity, experience, and personalization, setting itself apart in the growing market.
Cork and Candles founders, Kenny and Dave Straub, create a welcoming space for guests to enjoy a personalized candle-making experience.
SMB Franchise Advisors: In a few sentences, describe what your brand does and what your company is all about.
Dave Straub, Cork & Candles: Cork and Candles is a BYOB experiential candle bar. We are a fun place to gather with friends. We guide each guest through a process to make wonderfully smelling candles. In addition to our signature experience, we offer candle making classes where we teach guests to make fun novelty candles.
SMB: What makes your service/product unique?
Dave: Each guest will choose between 45 different scents to make their candles. Guests can combine scents, and by doing so, they will make unique and personalized candles that will not be found anywhere else. We are the only candle bar offering novelty candle making classes.
SMB: What inspired you to franchise your business?
Dave: I started seven different companies before we formed Cork and Candles. Three of these were franchises. As an experienced business owner and with my knowledge in franchising, we felt this experience would allow us to mentor others to start and operate successful businesses. The concept is fun, and after our first store opened, then a second and now a third, we knew we had a repeatable concept.
Cork and Candles provides the perfect environment for guests to socialize and create custom candles.
SMB: Why did you partner with SMB Franchise Advisors?
Dave: Every successful team leans on professional coaches. Tiger Woods still sees his coach on a regular basis. We wanted to align our growth path with the right team of professionals. SMB has proven to be a trusted advisor that has allowed us to be in a strong position to grow.
SMB: How many units did you have before SMB? How many units have you grown to since partnering with SMB?
Dave: We met SMB Franchise Advisors when we had one company store. We now have two company stores and one franchisee.
SMB: What are your long-term goals for your franchise? How big do you want to grow your brand?
Dave: Our initial target is 250 locations nationwide.
SMB: What advice do you have for people looking to franchise?
Dave: Regardless of when the idea is born that you want to franchise, you must first solidify the proof of concept and the systems that will be in place to support others. Achieving this can be accelerated and enhanced by hiring professionals in the franchisor space to support you. Do NOT go it alone.
SMB: Is there anything else you would like for us to share about you and/or your brand?
Dave: When I was 12 years old, I made candles with my father. My father died when I was 23. I have such fond memories of making candles with my father. Cork and Candles is a space where groups can meet to create memories. Our tagline is Where Friends Gather. For me, candle making is simply a metaphor for having fun with friends. Today, people are looking for experiences to do with others. Cork and Candles is a place where this happens.
Custom-made candles, crafted with personalized scents and designs for a unique experience.
