When I got the call confirming the purchase order for 35,000 candles, I was thrilled — and completely terrified.
At the time, I had ten crockpots, 600 square feet of garage space, no employees, and just a month and a half to fill the order.
I had no idea how I was going to pull it off. But there wasn’t time to think — only time to move.
Calling in Reinforcements
The first thing I did was call my mom.
She was living in a 55+ community at the time, and I told her to call her friends — the ones I always called “the Bitties.”
It was time to go to work.
Mom and the Bitties showed up, ready to pour candles. While they got started, I was trying to figure out how to manage everything — the supplies, the packaging, the storage. The order was massive, and every inch of the garage was packed with wax, wicks, and jars.
The Tequila-Smelling Cabinet Maker
Right around that time, a happy-go-lucky guy who smelled strongly of tequila walked by the shop.
He mentioned he was a laid-off cabinet maker, and I asked him if he wanted to learn how to make candles.
He said yes.
Before I knew it, I had a team: my mom, the Bitties, a few kids from the neighborhood, and a cabinet maker learning as he went. Together, we got to work — around the clock — pouring and packing candles as fast as we could.
The Sign Factory Space
Next door to my small shop was an older man who owned a 10,000-square-foot sign factory. He had been retired for years but liked to go there every day.
When he found out about my situation, he offered me the space to use. It was exactly what I needed — a place to store the thousands of candles we were making.
It was the break that made everything possible.
Making the Deadline
We worked non-stop. There wasn’t a moment to waste — pouring, labeling, boxing, and organizing thousands of candles.
It wasn’t easy, but we made it happen. The order was filled, the candles were shipped, and the deadline was met.
My mom had worked harder than anyone, and when the last batch was sent out, she officially became Employee of the Month.
We printed her photo and taped it to the door with balloons that read: Employee of the Month – Janet.
Dedicated to My Mom
This story — and this blog — is dedicated to my mom, Janet.
Rest in peace, Mom. Thank you for always helping, working, and showing up when I needed you most.
