Help Emerald Open
Donation protected
I'm Emerald Hill and I'm the proud creator and owner of Gourmet Candle!
Gourmet Candle is my online (soy) candle store based in Philadelphia, PA. It was created in November 2013 for the purpose of creating non-traditional candle scents with fun whimsical appearances! Since then, Gourmet Candle has been featured on ABC, Fox and sold in 10 different retail stores within the US as well as on Etsy , the Gourmet Candle site and at local events!

Humble Beginnings...
In college I studied Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship. My initial goal was to see if I could take what I was learning in school and apply it in "real life". I came up with an idea for bakery candles, created a business plan and used a portion of my weekly pay checks from my day job to buy my supplies until I had enough supplies to make and test my candle ideas. I spent months designing my website, designing candle labels, taking photos for my website, making candles to build my inventory and attending every entrepreneur webinar that I could find online before officially launching. In 2015, 6ABC contacted me to be in their small business segment "FYI Philly ". After the episode aired, it bought in a ton of new customers as well as my first wholesale offer. This meant that my candles would be on store shelves! I was absolutely thrilled! From there customers began to request unique scents (pizza, bacon, gun powder, etc.) which allowed me to expand my scent variety and my business began to REALLY grow.

Today...
Now, with over 5 years of building my business, I've come to the point where in order to continue to grow Gourmet Candle and take it to the next level, I'm in dire need an actual retail location and hired help (aside from my 12 year old daughter and 8 year old son lol).

This is where I NEED you to help bring my dream to life!
After being ecstatic about moving forward, my next step was to attain funds. After completing many bank loan applications and speaking with bankers, I’ve learned that banks VERY rarely loan to small “start-up” businesses, subsequently putting a huge PAUSE on my store goal.
I have most of my licenses, my business plan is complete as well as my budget. I have been consistently working with my business mentor to check everything off of my "to-do" list. In the meantime, I need assistance in covering my start-up cost and supplies for a 3-month pop-up shop. I've been completing small business grant applications and tapping into my savings to assist in my monthly cost. The funds raised here, on GoFundMe, will help go towards my start-up cost and supplies for inventory.
I have set the goal for $8,500 and will use the funds as follows:
1. Supplies for inventory (wax, wicks, fragrance and essential oils, candle tin and jar containers, pie boxes, candle molds, candle dye, etc.).
2. Product display stands (candle pies, tins, jars, gift sets, lip balm, etc.).
3. Purchasing equipment to accomodate larger scale production (larger wax melters, candle pouring pots, stainles steel candle making tables, etc.).
4. Payment processing software (computer, printer, cash drawer, barcode scanner, etc.).
5. Warehouse storage shelves (to hold shipping boxes, subscription boxes, fragrances and other supplies).
6. Down payment to secure the lease (first, last and security deposit).
7. Grand opening promotion/advertisements.
8. Shipping supplies for online orders.
9. Office supplies (desk, chairs, office computer, office printer, file cabinets etc.).
10. Fixtures (for decorating my store to look nice and feel like home).
I'm asking you, my supportive family, friends, customers and philanthropist to help me make Gourmet Candle's retail store a reality. With your support, we can put Gourmet Candle on the Philadelphia map!
Emerald, Platinum and Gold Level donor names will be proudly displayed on the Donor Recognition Wall in the Gourmet Candle retail store (that you helped to fund) as well as the website! Silver Level donors will be proudly adknowledged on the Gourmet Candle website.
Silver Level - $5 donation
Gold Level - $250 donation
Platinum Level - $500 donation
Emerald Level - $1,000 donation
Please know that any amount you give will get me closer to my fundraising goal.
Even if you're not in the position to donate, please share this campaign on social media and with your friends and family. If you know of any credible grant programs available for start-ups, small business, women in business, minorities, entrepreneurs, etc., please be sure to leave a comment with the information.
*** Anything left over will go in the bank and help Gourmet Candle stay afloat to buy wax, wicks, fragrances, payroll, utilities etc, until I am up and running full speed.
Don't foget to hashtag #GourmetCandleStartUp to help raise awareness.
Thank you all so much for your support!
Emerald Hill,
Gourmet Candle
Gourmet Candle is my online (soy) candle store based in Philadelphia, PA. It was created in November 2013 for the purpose of creating non-traditional candle scents with fun whimsical appearances! Since then, Gourmet Candle has been featured on ABC, Fox and sold in 10 different retail stores within the US as well as on Etsy , the Gourmet Candle site and at local events!
Humble Beginnings...
In college I studied Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship. My initial goal was to see if I could take what I was learning in school and apply it in "real life". I came up with an idea for bakery candles, created a business plan and used a portion of my weekly pay checks from my day job to buy my supplies until I had enough supplies to make and test my candle ideas. I spent months designing my website, designing candle labels, taking photos for my website, making candles to build my inventory and attending every entrepreneur webinar that I could find online before officially launching. In 2015, 6ABC contacted me to be in their small business segment "FYI Philly ". After the episode aired, it bought in a ton of new customers as well as my first wholesale offer. This meant that my candles would be on store shelves! I was absolutely thrilled! From there customers began to request unique scents (pizza, bacon, gun powder, etc.) which allowed me to expand my scent variety and my business began to REALLY grow.
Today...
Now, with over 5 years of building my business, I've come to the point where in order to continue to grow Gourmet Candle and take it to the next level, I'm in dire need an actual retail location and hired help (aside from my 12 year old daughter and 8 year old son lol).
This is where I NEED you to help bring my dream to life!
After being ecstatic about moving forward, my next step was to attain funds. After completing many bank loan applications and speaking with bankers, I’ve learned that banks VERY rarely loan to small “start-up” businesses, subsequently putting a huge PAUSE on my store goal.
I have most of my licenses, my business plan is complete as well as my budget. I have been consistently working with my business mentor to check everything off of my "to-do" list. In the meantime, I need assistance in covering my start-up cost and supplies for a 3-month pop-up shop. I've been completing small business grant applications and tapping into my savings to assist in my monthly cost. The funds raised here, on GoFundMe, will help go towards my start-up cost and supplies for inventory.
I have set the goal for $8,500 and will use the funds as follows:
1. Supplies for inventory (wax, wicks, fragrance and essential oils, candle tin and jar containers, pie boxes, candle molds, candle dye, etc.).
2. Product display stands (candle pies, tins, jars, gift sets, lip balm, etc.).
3. Purchasing equipment to accomodate larger scale production (larger wax melters, candle pouring pots, stainles steel candle making tables, etc.).
4. Payment processing software (computer, printer, cash drawer, barcode scanner, etc.).
5. Warehouse storage shelves (to hold shipping boxes, subscription boxes, fragrances and other supplies).
6. Down payment to secure the lease (first, last and security deposit).
7. Grand opening promotion/advertisements.
8. Shipping supplies for online orders.
9. Office supplies (desk, chairs, office computer, office printer, file cabinets etc.).
10. Fixtures (for decorating my store to look nice and feel like home).
I'm asking you, my supportive family, friends, customers and philanthropist to help me make Gourmet Candle's retail store a reality. With your support, we can put Gourmet Candle on the Philadelphia map!
Emerald, Platinum and Gold Level donor names will be proudly displayed on the Donor Recognition Wall in the Gourmet Candle retail store (that you helped to fund) as well as the website! Silver Level donors will be proudly adknowledged on the Gourmet Candle website.
Silver Level - $5 donation
Gold Level - $250 donation
Platinum Level - $500 donation
Emerald Level - $1,000 donation
Please know that any amount you give will get me closer to my fundraising goal.
Even if you're not in the position to donate, please share this campaign on social media and with your friends and family. If you know of any credible grant programs available for start-ups, small business, women in business, minorities, entrepreneurs, etc., please be sure to leave a comment with the information.
*** Anything left over will go in the bank and help Gourmet Candle stay afloat to buy wax, wicks, fragrances, payroll, utilities etc, until I am up and running full speed.
Don't foget to hashtag #GourmetCandleStartUp to help raise awareness.
Thank you all so much for your support!
Emerald Hill,
Gourmet Candle
Organizer
Emerald Sea
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA