Hello everyone! As you are aware, Wilks Candle Creations has consistently operated as an online store, with occasional appearances at markets during the year.
However, things are different now as we have a real brick-and-mortar store!
Customers always wanted to smell our candles before buying, and it's understandable - I do the same. After all, how can you know the scent just by looking at it on a screen?
First and foremost, we disclose all our reviews, without exception, to help you make a well-informed decision on the candle or wax melt you are considering purchasing from us. But we needed to do something more....
Our customers' requirement, which we were unable to fulfill except at a market, prompted us to explore the possibility of opening a physical store. Everything unfolded rapidly: we found the ideal location within our budget, and then we partnered with the perfect business partner to embark on this venture together!
Meet Kay from the amazing K Keep on Gifting: Gifts for all Occasions. We crossed paths at Makers Markets in the North East, particularly those organised by the fantastic Paula at LOVEvents, and we made firm friends.
Our values, work ethic, and determination to establish thriving small businesses are identical. Like me, she also had a strong desire to create a brick-and-mortar store.
So Wilks & K Creations: Gifts for all Occasions was born!
Although both of us were very excited, we encountered some challenges in the period between receiving the keys and getting the shop ready for opening. We both had family vacations scheduled, and we had to balance our roles as mothers, wives, and in Kay's case, working full-time! To add to the mix, the school holidays began right in the middle of it all. While the timing for finding the shop was perfect, the timing for the school holidays was less than ideal.
However, we focused on our strengths, stayed focused, and took action.
The shop itself is in a gorgeous victorian building, however inside had seen better days, it had been empty for a while and needed lots of TLC.
Fortunately, it wasn't only us; our husbands also pitched in and were a massive help to us in transforming it. We did a lot of cleaning, sanding, more cleaning, and used copious amounts of white paint with a hint of pink until we achieved the desired result.
Getting to this point felt like a massive achievement in itself, blood, sweat and tears had been poured into it and we hadn't even started stocking the shelves yet!
Both Kay and I personally craft our products, so we don't just order from suppliers and stock our shelves - we are the ones creating the products! With our schedule being very busy due to renovating the shop and managing our home life, we also had to handcraft all the items we offer for sale.
If you are anything like us, anything that is not perfect is simply not acceptable because we are our harshest critics.
In one way or another, we managed to achieve it! We have effectively transformed the store area, kept the children safe, avoided locking the husbands in a cupboard, and created items for our shelves!
W proudly opened our first store on the 31st July 2024, and it has blown us away how much support we have had from not only our family and friends but from the local community too.
Here it is, our very own store!
We are extremely grateful to everyone and look forward to expanding, learning, and continuing to offer you handmade Gifts for every Occasion!
Every day, we discuss new products that we plan to create and add to our store. We are fond of the changing seasons, so be on the lookout for unique items that we will introduce!
Autumn is approaching, which means one thing is coming soon... Halloween!!!!
We have lots coming so watch this space for a fantastic Spooky Season in Store!
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