The Candle Lady - After The Dip

 With renewed energy, Pat Hess set out to take Colonial Candlecrafters to a new level. Listed below are several steps she took which have led to ongoing customer satisfaction and expanded business development.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Pat looked at her beginnings and brought to life “old favorites” – candle designs that had not been seen for some time - and featured them anew in her shop.

• She conferred with her staff to create a unique design for candles previously purchased from vendors.

• The coup-de-tat: Pat longed to feature The Critters, but with the vendor no longer willing to make them for her, she had to find another source. With the assistance of her staff, Pat was able to locate molds from a different company which had recently gone out of business. Once she did that, she made a critical decision: she decided to purchase them and make her own line of Critter candles. Today Colonial Candlecrafters’ Critters are proudly displayed in her shop.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

• Pat discovered that, although a large percentage of her customer base consists of travelers/tourists, there was an opportunity to work with local businesses as well. Colonial CandleCrafters expanded its market by creating personalized candles for special occasions, such as wedding ceremonies, baptisms, and memorial candles for funeral homes, creating a stronger local presence.

• Pat’s affiliations with local professional organizations has eliminated the feeling of “being in this alone” which she experienced while in The Dip. In keeping with her belief that brick walls are put up to see how badly we want what is on the other side and realizing that she is the one who had to make things happen, she formed a Women’s Business Group to provide support and resources. Their name? POW WOW Professional Opportunities Working with Other Women

And then there’s Pat…
Does it take unique characteristics to survive a Dip? I don’t know the answer to that, but I can tell you what I learned about Pat.

She likes people and believes they are inherently good. She enjoys making a sale a memorable customer experience. She regards her staff with affection, respect and gratitude. She considers her work a craft – her business expertise is candle-making.

…And she thinks a good time is sitting in her shop on a Sunday morning, painting chickens.

A personal note: I met Pat Hess in July (08) while traveling from MD to NY. I was so impressed with her love of life and work, that I had to know more. As she told me her story, I thought visitors to my site might like to hear it as well. Thank you for sharing, Pat.

If you know someone with an interesting Career Biography, please ask them to share it with me so that I might add it to the blog. They can contact me through the contact form on my website. www.rcmassociates.com

Comments

[Sharon L Scibek]

Rita, I took your recommendation and stopped by Colonial CandleCrafters on my way up to the Finger Lakes. It was a wonderful experience.

Pat Hess was so welcoming. I felt like I had known her for years. My first thought was, "this is a woman who is so proud and passionate about her work." As we continued to engage in conversation she told me about how the business first got started. She painted a vivid picture of her mother making candles in her kitchen.

I browsed through the store and was intrigued with the beauty and personal touches that she adds to candles.

Pat took me for a tour of the room where the candles are made. the staff was gone for the day and the candle molds were hardening. This is truly no assembly line. Each candle is individually dipped and the process is timed. Any candle purchased from Pat's store is crafted with care and is given individual attention. No flaw (even that unnoticed by the the buyer) is not acceptable to the professionals that take pride in their hard work.

Pat creates a working environment that is open to suggestions and recommendations. If I lived closer, I would love to work there.