Get to know Heather, proud mother, and owner of Boston Wick Company. A female-owned small business located and operated locally in Franklin, MA. Learn the story behind the match that struck this business to life.
Q: When was Boston Wick Co. founded?
A: The first flame was lit in 2019 and has been kept alive by a connection between a mother and daughter. Nine-year-old Ava, Heather’s daughter, was spending time at home recovering from a sports injury and craving new hobbies. That was when she asked her mother for a candle-making kit. This hobby would wane as Ava returned to school, but as soon as another recovery period was needed, the candle-making kit would be dusted off again. Everything transformed when the mother-and-daughter duo attended their first fair, selling only three scents as “Ava Jeane’s Candles”… and completely sold out.
The next day, Heather came to Briggs, a forever favorite destination, to inquire about selling a candle line, which was happily accepted. From then on, her hobby had transformed into her full-time business. With success growing, she made the transition from personal to professional and changed the business name to the company we know today. Another boost came during the pandemic when people were eager for ways to soothe and practice self-care. The little requests for candles left in neighbors’ mailboxes to gifts for nurses started to add up.
Q: What was the idea behind Boston Wick Co.?
A : “When life doesn’t make sense, make your own”.
Q: What is the mission of the company?
A: The answer is easy. And happens to be the message of her best-selling candle. Thankful. A value that Heather strives to instill in her children lives as well as her own. A value that should never go unappreciated. She believes everyone could benefit from being a little more thankful every day.
As a company, Boston Wick’s goal is to create a clean burning candle to scent your space. She uses soy wax for a natural burn that will not make your candles turn black. The scent throw can be less, but like Heather says, it’s like buying store bought vegetables versus farm fresh vegetables, they may be imperfect, but the taste is so much better.
Q: What does a typical day at Boston Wick Co. look like?
A: While the mission of the company is grand, its physical space is on a smaller scale. Heather runs the entire business out of her family home with help from her husband, graphic and label designer, and three children. Each candle is poured by hand in the garage-turned workshop. It starts with prepping the container, gluing the wick and attaching the wick bar, pouring, and curing. The process end with trimming the wick, screwing on the lid, and applying the label. When she is not in candle production, she is busy emailing clients, fulfilling orders, and prepping stock for her busy seasons. The process consumes Heather’s life 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But, it is all a true labor of love.
Q: Which scent is your best seller?
A: Heather’s mission must be working because her best-selling scent is “Thankful”. A blend of cranberry and apple marmalade.
Q: Which scent is your favorite that doesn’t get enough attention?
A: Her preferred scent profiles change with the seasons, but she does have two staples. For a pine, ginger, and cranberry mood she reaches for “Cozy Nights” and when she needs help to unwind and relax it’s “Sea Salt Orchid”.
Q: What would surprise someone to learn about Boston Wick Co.?
A: Her candles are gifts that make a big impact. While every individual customer is valued, Heather does have quite notable clientele. Her local community has spread to New England’s own Boston Red Sox and Patriots. The scent of freshly mowed grass is custom made for those lucky Red Sox tickets holders while “Crucial Catch” is crafted for those special Patriot events dedicated to helping cancer patients.
Q: What does the future look like for Boston Wick Co.?
A: The vision, as Heather imagines, is a “candle bar”. A space to be creative and mix your own scents and craft your own candles. Think of it like a tap for beer, but instead it’s for fragrance. A place of zen. Furnished with wood tones, black and whites. Not exactly a retail space, but a place to gather while still producing for her clients.
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