Mount Airy Candle Co. defies pandemic

by Len Lear
Posted 11/11/20

When I first contacted Marques Davis, owner of Mount Airy Candle Company, on Oct. 4 about doing an article on his two-year-old business, the 36-year-old entrepreneur politely said he was so busy …

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Mount Airy Candle Co. defies pandemic

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When I first contacted Marques Davis, owner of Mount Airy Candle Company, on Oct. 4 about doing an article on his two-year-old business, the 36-year-old entrepreneur politely said he was so busy filling orders for his handmade soy wax candles, despite the pandemic, that he asked, “Would it be possible to schedule something later this month?”

I honestly thought that might be a euphemistic brush-off because even though you might think (as would I) that any local business would be delighted to get free publicity in their local newspaper, I have actually had local businesses agree to interviews and then not return any phone calls or emails after that. This is as mysterious to me as to why spiders keep showing up in our kitchen sink, so I figured Marques might fall into that category.

However, when I got back to him two weeks later, he could not have been more cooperative and enthusiastic. What is remarkable to me is that in addition to running Mount Airy Candle Company, Davis has a full-time marketing job as the “commercial activity leader” for a global home furnishing brand, to which he was promoted in July.

“Having a full-time job that I love, as well as a small business that is my passion, requires a lot of dedication to both,” said Davis. “I like to say that I have a traditional full-time 9-to-5 job as well as a full-time passion project that has less traditional hours, which includes weekends. I’ve been fortunate to have family and friends who support the dreams I have for Mount Airy Candle Company. It takes a village to raise a child, and Mount Airy Candle Company is definitely my baby.”

Davis gave birth to the candle company idea three years ago when he wanted to give gifts he had made to friends and family for Christmas because they mean so much more than store-bought gifts. So he bought the necessary materials from a local candle supplier, watched some YouTube videos and began making the candles in the Mt. Airy home where he has lived for the past seven years. (Davis has always lived in or near Mt. Airy except for 2009 and 2010 when he lived in Atlanta.)

The recipients were so delighted with their gifts that they began asking Davis to make more candles for them for which they would be glad to pay. So Davis figured that if these folks were willing to pay for his handmade candles, other people would, too. And he was obviously right. On average his company produces upwards of 200-300 candles per month, but “as we move into the fall and holiday season, we’re on pace to make more than 500 candles this month … that’s a lot of wax!”

In recent months, Davis' company has partnered with Robertson’s Flowers and seen great success in the scents they carry from season to season. “I’m grateful for Robertson’s, especially Sarah and Sandy,” he said, “because we needed to postpone their first order due to the Covid shut down in March. As soon as they were able to reopen, they reached out to place an order, and their customers have been very receptive!”

The candles are also carried at Rothe Florists in Mt. Airy, farmers markets in Elkins Park and Marsh & Mane, a natural hair and lifestyle boutique located near South Street. “They invited us to attend a Black History Month event in February, and we’re happy that they loved our products enough to begin carrying them this month.

“And I would be remiss if I did not mention the first retailer that gave us shelf space in 2019, which was Weaver’s Way Mercantile located in Mt. Airy. We continue to maintain shelf space at The Mercantile and stock our shelf with new creations on a regular basis.”

You might say that Davis has not-so-common scents, such as White Tea & Ginger, Grapefruit Mimosa, Golden Teakwood, Cranberry Woods, Pumpkin & Chai Spice, Tobacco Noire and Spiced Poached Pear, i.e., aromas you are not likely to find in candles anywhere else.

Davis has degrees from Montgomery County Community College and the University of Phoenix and a certification in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University. He produces the candles mostly by himself, although he gets some assistance from friends and family. When asked if he would like to mention any family members, he said, “My partner, Marcus, has been a rock. My mother and father for pushing me to achieve my wildest dreams. My niece, Atiya, an apprentice for Mount Airy Candle Company and

all of our candle clients.”

For more information, visit mountairycandle.com. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com