By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
From a spare farm bedroom to a storefront business in downtown Ellinwood, Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Co. has grown into one of the leading home fragrance candle companies in the Midwest. The company's products have now been nominated for the Kansas Manufacturing Council's Coolest Things Made in Kansas contest. Scott and Jennie Andersen created the company in 2016.
"I saw a very expensive candle in a magazine, and I had asked my husband if I could buy it," Jennie said. "He said, 'No, I'll make you a candle.' Three hundred dollars later he made me a candle."
The Andersens made candles for family and friends that year, then sold their products for the first time at a Christkindlmarket in Ellinwood. Then Kansas Wetlands Education Center approached them about selling the candles out of their gift shop. Now, the company's candles, scents, and lip balms are sold in museums around Kansas, including at the state capitol building in Topeka. Scott also owns Forcefield Design, a creative graphic design firm, and Jennie credits that with helping the business grow.
"This started as a side project, kind of a whim, but because he has a background in branding, art, and e-commerce, he was able to quickly throw together the candle website," she said.
Kansas Earth and Sky's soy candles are among the 30 Coolest Innovation nominees in the Coolest Thing Made in Kansas contest. Vote on your favorite products by 11:55 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9. The 16 products with the most votes will advance to a head-to-head, bracket-style competition. Other local companies featured are T&C Manufacturing and Primus Sterilizer, both of Great Bend. CLICK HERE to vote.
Kansas Earth and Sky, located at 23 N. Main Street in Ellinwood, is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Visit them online by CLICKING HERE.