Loyal to Local: Simply Scented Candles
The Riverside Arts Market (RAM), now in its 13th year, is a weekly makers and farmers market hosted by Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., rain or shine. Each week more than 100 small business owners gather under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge to sell their products to the local community. Keep reading to learn more about some of the incredible vendors that make RAM a must-visit part of each Saturday.
For some people, the term mom-and-pop shop may conjure up a specific image: the neighborhood couple who has been in one tiny storefront for decades, maybe even generations. As retail chains become increasingly more accessible in most neighborhoods, it may feel like mom-and-pop shops are part of a bygone era. But what if they never actually went away? What if they just look a little different?
Despite not having a physical storefront, Simply Scented Candles owners and Amy and Fabrice couldn’t embody mom-and-pop more if they tried. What started as a passion project is now a full-blown family business – and the sole source of income for their family of five.
For Amy, candle making was a hobby she took up in her spare time. Although she’d been buying candles from big-box stores for years, she found herself wanting a better, natural product that also smelled great. This took her on over a yearlong journey filled with trials and errors. The result: a candle that’s made with 100 percent soy wax, a blend of pure essential and phthalate (chemical)-free oils, and metal-free, natural cotton wicks. They’re also vegan and safe to use as a massage oil or skin moisturizer.
It was Amy’s husband, Fabrice, who had the vision of taking Simply Scented from a hobby to a business. In fact, he knew it pretty early on – she gifted him one of her candles on their first date and he saw the potential. Simply Scented officially became a business in 2016. With his background in business and her dedication to the product, the two decided to travel cross-country to more than 50 Veg Fest’s throughout the U.S. selling their candles and building up their clientele.
In the six years since launching their business, Amy and Fabrice are now full-time candle pourers with more than 30 candles available on their website. They personally custom blend the oils to create each scent and place the wicks in every candle. From creation to packaging they are entirely hands-on. And while Amy and Fabrice might be the owners, Simply Scented is truly a family affair. Their three children help with packaging orders to be shipped and placing labels on the candles.
Most Saturdays you can find Simply Scented at the Riverside Arts Market, but if you look closely, you might notice them in different Jacksonville locations. They have created custom candles to be sold in local restaurants, yoga studios, and more.
If you’d like to learn more, check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram. If you have a candle lover in your life, this true mom-and-pop is sure to have a product they’ll love and can feel good about burning.
Are you interested in becoming a RAM maker in 2023? Please visit riversideartsmarket.org and review the Applications tab for access to our 2023 Vendor Interest Form and additional information. Applications will be open to the public in December.
By Elena Curtis
Outreach Manager, Riverside Avondale Preservation
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