Meet Barbara Bowers | CEO & Chandler

We had the good fortune of connecting with Barbara Bowers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Barbara, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
When I say I own my own business, the typical response is “Must be nice”. It seems that the common perception of a small business owner that works from home – is that I sit around, taking naps, being lazy and just living a carefree life. In reality, the work never stops. The hustle never stops. I’ve bootstrapped everything about this business since its inception. Many days are 10+ hours – product production, social media, responding to emails/texts/messages, research for new products or methods, responsible sourcing, so on and so on.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Thank you for having me. After a seventeen-year career in EMS, it was time for a change. My department was outsourced, and I was looking for something new. My husband suggested that I needed a hobby – so after a candle making class with my aunt, our business was born. I’ve been making candles now for four years.

We offer small-batch hand poured Soy Wax Candles with cotton wicks and fragrances that are vegan and phthalate free. We pride ourselves in sourcing the majority of our products from our state of Pennsylvania.

When Covid shut the world down and we were all placed on lockdown, my husband came to me with an idea for a specific line to be part of Lancaster Wax Co. He wanted to create candles that were a customization for the RPG niche. He is a huge tabletop role-player. Essentially, his idea is that they are candles that have a surprise set of gaming dice inside. He also wanted to make wax melts with vintage pewter figurines hidden inside. While I did not see the value in this type of product, he challenged me to trust him. So, I indulged him and together we created our “Dice Goblin” line. In the end, these products have been a huge hit for us – all because I took a chance and listened to someone who had a different perspective on our core products than I.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We live in the heart of Central Pennsylvania. It would be easy to take a jaunt to Baltimore, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, or even Washington DC. I am a big foodie – most of our favorite spots revolve around food.

We would start the day at the Wild Batch Bistro in Wrightsville for Cinnamon Rolls and Coffee. Then off to Fox Meadows Creamery in Ephrata for a Baked Fox. Dinner would be a tough decision – Eastern Palace in Lancaster is always our go-to but if we are in the mood for something fancier – Josephine’s in downtown Lancaster is the spot to be.

The Fulton Theatre or Prima Theatre- both in Lancaster – are perfect places for a musical or play. Many of the local communities offer First or Fourth Friday events, where art walks and small business are on display. Of course, there are antique shops and farmers markets to be found on nearly every corner.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Keith. Many of you know him has the Chief Labeler here at Lancaster Wax Co, but in reality, he is so much more. My encouragement, therapist, and biggest cheerleader. He handles my crazy with a roll of his eyes and reels me in when I’m swimming in circles. He schleps all my crap and never complains. He takes care of the bookkeeping and even dabbles in product development.

Website: www.lancasterwaxco.com

Instagram: @lancasterwaxco

Linkedin: Lancaster Wax Co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lancasterwaxco

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