Business Profile: Jar Worthy, Carmel
NEAL RENTZ PHOTO
Carmel residents and longtime friends Dana Hanrahan and Danielle Raguzin in 2014 were trying to come up with some Christmas gift ideas for family and friends.
The duo recalled last week they decided to make candles and that idea has turned into their business.
Hanrahan and Raguzin are the owners and operators of Jar Worthy, which is located in their hometown. The candle factory and store had its grand opening on Aug. 28.
Hanrahan said it was scary for her and her partner to open their first business. “It’s a good kind of scary because it’s our own business,” she said. “We’re raising our own ‘child’ and approaching the unknown.”
The business actually began two years ago. “We started small,” Raguzin said, noting that she and her partner sold their candles at such events like craft fairs, wine festivals and local events.
“We started as a homegrown business,” she said. Hanrahan said the initial candles were made on her friend’s kitchen stove.
Hanrahan said she is a jar collector who wanted to do “something crafty out of them” and Raguzin wanted to make candles. Out of that came the idea to make candles in Mason jars.
The candles are presented in Mason jars in a variety of styles and sizes, but Hanrahan said she and her partner would be willing to make candles out of various containers customers want to bring to their store.
In the fall the new business will offer classes in which customers will be able to pour their own candles.
The store sells candles accessories such as light holders, and wax melts, which melt without a flame.
All of the candles sold at Jar Worthy are 100 percent natural soy with cotton wicks. “Which means that they’re clean burning,” Raguzin said, explaining there are no carcinogens in her store’s candles.
The duo makes their candles in their new store with the help of a 70 pound wax melter, which came make 100 large candles.
Customers can ask for candles made with colors and scents of their choice, Hanrahan said.
“We want to customize. We want to work with you,” Hanrahan said. “We love to hear feedback.”
The duo has scents they have purchased elsewhere and also make their own, she said. Hanrahan said her personal favorite scent is cilantro lime and her partner particularly likes the olive tree and seaside mist.
The duo has donated candles they have created.
Hanrahan said she would like to open another location and eventually franchise the business.
Hanrahan said he and Raguzin enjoy coming up with the soy-based dyes and scents for their candles. “It is like a huge science project,” Hanrahan said.
Jar Worthy is located at 14 Fair St. in Carmel. For more information call 845-.225.-1693. visit JarWorthy.com or send an e-mail to tojarworthy@gmail.com. Jar Worthy also has a Facebook page.
