Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike & Karen Bagan.
Hi Mike & Karen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We are Mike & Karen Bagan, and we are the owners and crafters of Bearded Candle Co. We are a family-owned Candle Company located in West Saint Paul Minnesota. We started this adventure in the winter of 2020 and released our first line of products in 2021.
We started with a few pop-up markets around the metro. Then found a fantastic crafters/farmers market in New Richmond Wisconsin.
After 3 years, we have grown our online presence and are now in a few different retailers and salons. We have also partnered with 45th Parallel Distillery where we host candle-making parties followed by a distillery tour.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We have had our ups and downs. Not every idea is a good one. But we have learned from them and grown within the pain. All in all, it has been a very fulfilling adventure, and would not change a thing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We take pride in the quality of our products. We craft each product by hand, without the use of any big machinery. When it comes to the materials we use, our priority is to source top-quality materials from small family businesses just like ours.
If we want people to support our small business, why can it not have a trickle effect on others? Our success can be shared with the positive movement for everyone. So we reach out to do the same. From our fragrance down to our custom-wicking tools. All are provided by small businesses just like ours.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Dream big but take smaller steps to get there. Make a few friends with fellow crafters, they can be your rock during tough times. Only do what you love. If you don’t love it then it is just work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beardedcandleco.com
- Facebook: Facebook.com/Beardedcandleco
