Meet Kim Braud of Fleurty Wick Candle Co in Avondale Estates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Braud.

Kim, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Well, how I started is actually a little funny. I have an online dog boutique called The Bougie Pooch. In my effort to create a pet aromatherapy candle, Fleurty Wick evolved. It was never supposed to be this, I only wanted the pet candle, but the business took off.

The summer of 2016, my girlfriend, who had a candle company decided to stop manufacturing. I had been waiting for her to get to my product for about a year, so when she told me this, I immediately set out to learn how to make candles. I spent a weekend online, and within a week, had taught myself how to do it. I gave candles to my friends to test for me, and that was the beginning. That Christmas I got slammed with so many orders, I didn’t know what to do. I decided in January of 2017 to incorporate the business and the rest is history.

In October of that year, I was laid off from my job of 15 years. Knowing that the company was only a few months old, I decided that I would take the entrepreneurial leap. I sold my Range Rover, my BMW 650i and anything else I could liquidate and secured a warehouse. I then began prospecting and by the end of December, had over 150 wholesale accounts, including Zulily. I also finally launched the pet aromatherapy candle at an expo in Las Vegas called Superzoo.

I branded the company as a luxury lifestyle essential with a focus on customer service. Our website speaks to who we are and what we are about: Fleurty Wick Candle is a boutique candle manufacturing company offering private label and branded candles, home fragrances, pet aromatherapy and bath, and body products. Our specialty is custom fragrances and luxury containers. Whether it is a personalized corporate gift, wedding favor or a private candle line, Fleurty Wick Candle will design and develop your products to meet your needs and exceed your expectations. We are committed to providing stellar customer service as we develop products that will enhance the atmosphere of the home or office.

I am also the founder of Fabulous Friends in Philanthropy, so I created a strategy for Fleurty Wick that incorporated my desire to help the homeless girls that I provide scholarships to for college. Our vision is simple: We are a socially conscience company that believes in leaving the world a better place than we found it. We provide internships and employment for homeless girls between the ages 16-21, and we donate 5% of our revenues to nonprofits working to end global poverty. We actively seek diverse suppliers when sourcing high-quality goods and we leverage those networks to build relationships. We use recycled products as much as possible. We operate with a focus on community, social and economic impact.

After five moves, we have finally settled into our studio in Avondale Estates. Because of my marketing background, it has been easy for me to sell the product. I am also offering candle classes and 1:1 classes for anyone wishing to start a candle company. I have had great success in a very short period of time, but I have worked really hard and have been very selective with whom I do business. I am very conscious of my brand and what/who I align with. By doing this, I am known as a premier label in the market. I am in the process of licensing the brand to expand my footprint and have added notable businesses such as Ritz Carlon, Marriott Marquis, and Loews Hotel.

Has it been a smooth road?
My only struggle has been growing too fast. I have been very hesitant to lease a large space and because of this, I have moved several times. I just believe in being fiscally responsible, but this has been a barrier for me because I’ve outgrown my spaces so fast.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Fleurty Wick Candle Co is a full-service boutique candle manufacturing company. We offer over 200 scents and over 30 container choices for private labeling. Our range of soy candles are made with Eco-friendly products of soy wax, 100% cotton wicks and fragrances infused with essential oils. Soy candles are natural and not made from petroleum, like paraffin, which bring all sorts of toxins into the air you breathe at home. They are safe to burn around pets and small children. They have a low melting point, which means they burn longer and will fill your room with a luxurious scent. Soy wax is water soluble, so any spills clean up easily with hot soapy water. Each Fleurty Wick Candle is individually wicked and hand poured.

I am most proud of the fact that I source all products and services from other small businesses first – AA women-owned, woman-owned, disabled owned, veteran owned, etc. I firmly believe that if we don’t help each other grow, we never will. I am also very proud of the philanthropic arm of the company. We are in the process of obtaining our B-corp certification, which further shows our commitment to the communities in which we do business.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I love being in Atlanta, I always have. I think the environment here, and the available resources make it easy for anyone to start a business. I have had exposure to so many great people and businesses since moving here. I would not move my company out of the city for any reason.

Pricing:

• Standard Candles from $8-$20
• Luxury Candles from $45

Contact Info:

• Address: 2846 Franklin Street
  Suite A Avondale Estates, GA 30002
• Website: www.fleurtywick.com
• Phone: 770.652.7103
• Email: info@fleurtywick.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/fleurtywick
• Facebook: facebook.com/fleurtywick
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/fleurtywick
• Yelp: yelp.com/fleurtywick

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.