Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Magee.
Hi Heather, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a retired Hairstylist of 30 years. When Covid hit in 2020, I was looking for an exit plan. Although I stepped out of the salon life completely, I still maintained some of my favorite clients until we decided it was time to sell our house and start a new adventure in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. When we moved to Ely in April of 2021, I was fortunate to not have to work right away. I was able to take my time and “look around”.
Early June, my husband, Joe and I, walked down to see what was at the Ely Farmers market. Joe bee-lined towards a candle lady at Cozy Nest Candle Co. (with an eye roll, wasn’t going to smell any of them!)
I had not owned a candle in over a decade. Thought they were all toxic and uninteresting. Much to my surprise, I picked up a candle to sniff and it smelled exactly like a campfire. One of my most favorite smells in the world. Doreen was the owner and we became instant friends. 45 minutes into our visit, she mentioned she was selling her business and asked if we might mention it to others. My husband perked up and said ” well, we are.”
Shock and awe streaked across my face along with a head whip in disbelief! As he took over the conversation, he told Doreen that I would be in touch. When we walked away, I asked what possessed him, I knew nothing about candles. He thought it would be a great fit.
Shaking my head and knowing…. welp, I’ll never contact her.
A couple of weeks later, she called to let me know that the Campfire candle was ready for pick up. When I went in to get it she asked if I wanted to see her set up. Ugh… I guess. An hour later I was asked how much she wanted to sell the company for.
There was something that hooked me. I couldn’t tell you what that was at that time.
I knew my very frugal husband would say no to the price. After a 5-minute conversation and we were getting a small loan to pay her.
It was the undiscovered passion for fragrance and the process of how candles were made that drew me in.
I’d say for the first 4 months I was completely overwhelmed. I took her instruction and formulas to heart, yet started researching every outlet I could to learn candle-making. She was a wonderful point of reference and became such a great friend.
The candle industry is wide and complex. There are so many similar and so many unique candles out there.
I knew at some point we would change the name of the company. I also knew that what she started, I was going to take to a different level. I didn’t know how, it was a gut feeling.
That name came alive on a road trip in December of 2021 to see my daughter graduate grad school at Colorado State. When throwing names out into the air, once again, it was my husband who helped give life to the name of the company.
This journey is still unfolding, however, we have found our voice and are showing that Five Pines Candle Co is a true Wilderness Inspired Candle Co, in the heart of the Boundary Waters. We are in the process of making our “new” brand come alive with fragrances and our chosen vessels.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, no! It’s been a very intriguing and complex road of learning about candle wax, wicks, fragrances, and vessels. No two are alike, you have to TEST everything. Everything is very time-consuming. From pouring the candles, measuring, mixing, the right temperature, the right ambiance for room temp, and humidity levels. Then you wait. Candles have to cure. Then you have to burn test, alllllll the way down to the bottom. This is for every single fragrance.
Luckily, having 30 years behind the chair, I can say hair is much the same. One color didn’t suit or look the same on every set of heads.
This is really a natural fit for me. Every single part of the candle business! Every day is something new and something challenging.
The obstacle I have is not having enough time in a day to learn and create. Along with that, creating an e-commerce business when you have a product that actually needs to be touched and smelled in person, is another challenge. We are not in a brick and mortar store at this time. I would love to be, and have a vision for how I’d like to see that unfold.
Everything is in small batches. What I mean is space does not. allow me to work on more than a couple of fragrance batches at a time. We are a cash-only business. We aren’t at a place to buy in huge bulk, YET!
Working out of the basement that is not heated nor waterproofed is a seasonal challenge. Lots of electrical balancing has to happen. It’s been a learning adjustment, but I’ve made it work. No matter what, it’s my happy place!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As I mentioned before, I was a hairstylist for 30 years. That is how I identified who I was. I ended my 26-year career in Kansas City, Missouri as I moved to St Paul, MN… on a high. I had never been more satisfied professionally. When I chose to continue at a new salon from scratch, not knowing a soul, I had to reach deep into my soul to reinvent my career. I was so fortunate to have been at one of the best salons in the Cities, one could ask for. I had so much support at every level and was afforded the opportunity to work with some of the best hairstylists in the industry.
This was a stepping stone to candle-making.
As we have found our voice these past few months, I’d say the true specialty is creating Wilderness inspired fragrances.
Those are the smells that people seek out when they come all the way up north, or when they go to their cabins for the weekend. Pines, lakes, campfires, Birch, flowers, honey, etc…. things that blend to the background when you are in a bustling city, but come alive and are robust when you get into nature.
What we are offering are safe candles as well. Free from toxins that can irritate or cause allergies ( which I have suffered from) We are choosing a high-end wax and fragrance selection that has people’s best interests at heart.
I am proud that we are defining ourselves. I am proud that what we are beginning to offer, is just slightly different, it grabs people’s attention. Yet, we offer some familiarity with fragrances that are common in the candle world.
I am really excited about how we are evolving and that we haven’t scared too many people away from Doreen’s original work.
Our packaging and labeling are starting to come alive as well. They all play a part: packaging, labels, name of candles, wax, wicks, fragrances. You need it all to work together.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I am still trying to find a mentor. That, I wish was easy to do. I have been very lucky, as one of my fragrance suppliers has been generous with answering my questions, but, I know she has her own business to run as well. Stay tuned! I hope to get more mentorship down the line!
Networking. I believe joining Facebook groups has been wonderful networking. I truly believe that the 2 social media platforms I work from are working for me. I still have so much to learn and look forward to learning. It’s an ongoing and fluid process that keeps my brain churning, which is where I operate at my best!
Pricing:
- Our 9 oz candles are $30
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fivepinescandleco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fivepinescandleco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fivepinescandleco‘
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