Meet Michelle Bendetti | business owner and candle maker

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

Hi michelle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was never planning to start my own business-I was in the corporate world-newspaper and media advertising for 25 years-I decided I needed a change so I became a certified fitness and spin instructor. One day I walked to a nearby candle shop to ask about having some containers that I had filled-I had them fill up my containers a few times-then I started looking into videos on how to fill a container with wax, watched videos, joined groups and pages on facebook and started doing my own container filling. Friends and family started asking me to fill their containers-and that really was the start of my official candle business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My candle business is part art and part chemistry-I pride myself on finding unique vessels, fragrances and creating experiences that no one else is. I have created a business that is all about great customer service and incredible products.I love hosting candle making workshops in my studio-we all have a little trivia as part of the class-its amazing how much I have learned over the years of candle making-and nothing makes me happier than someone walking away from a class not only with a beautiful hand made candle or two-but with a tip or trick that they didn’t know before they attended the workshop

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.
If we are talking about Los Angeles-I definitely have my favorite things to do and see in the city-for example-every Christmas-a girlfriend and myself head up for an incredible day-lunch at Wally’s or the Ivy, then onto matinee at the Wallis or the Pantages, drinks at the Peninsula Hotel and ending the day with a little shopping on Rodeo. That is the “bougie” day. On other trips-I always try to include something cultural-a concert at the Forum or the Troubadour , dinner at Dan Tana’s or Russo and Frank’s-live theatre, live music and a great meal!
However-since I live in Newport Beach-I tend to spend much more time in Orange County-if I could be a tourist in and around my city-I would start on Balboa Island where I live-a walk around the boardwalk which surrounds the island, a stop at one of the two famous frozen banana stands, or the iconic candy store for a little salt water taffy. Then I would head over to the peninsula for some beach time-and to enjoy some of the best restaurants in Newport Beach-and perhaps a movie at the newly renovated Lido Theatre-a bike ride on the beach boardwalk is always enjoyable. I am happy to elaborate on either geographic area and activities

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My friends and family were very supportive-my husband reformatted our garage so that half of our garage was a candle workshop with shelving, wax melter and all the supplies that I would need. I worked out of my garage workshop for a few years. I had become involved with a retail collective of woman called Seaside Gallery and Goods also in Newport Beach-I started selling my candles at their shop and doing candle making classes in the adjacent Pelican Courtyard-when a studio in the courtyard became available, I jumped at the chance to move my candle workshop to such a beautiful and convenient space-I have been blessed to be surrounded by so many supportive woman who are all part of the collective.

Website: https://seasidegalleryandgoods.myshopify.com

Instagram: @bramblecandles

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