By Gauri Daniels
The Candle Pour St. Petersburg offers more than just a finished product to its customers. Inside the shop, guests can select fragrance oils, blend custom scents and pour candles or other items while spending time with friends, family, or coworkers.
According to owner Misty Akers, this interactive model integrates the business into birthdays, date nights and other shared moments within the community.
“We want people to come in and feel like they are a part of something, not just buying something,” Akers said. “The experience is supposed to be personal, creative and inviting.”
The Candle Pour was first launched in Tampa in 2019 by Misty and Dennis Akers before expanding to St. Petersburg. According to Akers, the concept fits perfectly within a city that appreciates local businesses and social experiences. Instead of only selling pre-made candles, this store allows customers to create custom blends with the staff’s assistance.
Customers select from more than 100 fragrances and create a scent with the staff that represents them best. This has been designed for individuals and groups, as the store often celebrates birthdays, date nights, girls’ nights and team-building events. According to Akers, this model distinguishes this business from the standard retail outlet because customers participate in the final product’s making.
“A candle can be a product, but what people will remember is how they feel making it,” Akers said. “That is why the team is essential; they help make this visit a memory.”
This hands-on process also makes the employees a vital part of the business. Employees help customers choose their fragrance by asking questions about their likes and helping them narrow down the combinations. Since scent often connects with memory and emotion, employees are more than just completing a sale.
Employee Brit Lopez said many customers arrive unsure of what they want, and staff members help make the process feel less overwhelming.
“A lot of people come in unsure of what they want. We help them talk through it,” Lopez said. “Once they start smelling different options and describing what they like, it becomes more fun and more personal.”
Lopez says those interactions often change the atmosphere in the store and make the visit feel more social than a typical shopping trip.
“It never feels like we are just ringing someone up,” Lopez said. “We are part of the process with them, and that usually makes people relax and enjoy being here.”
The shop also serves as a gathering place for groups celebrating occasions together. Customers often compare scents, share opinions and laugh with one another while making decisions.
Employee Kevin Sawyer said those interactions help shape the store’s energy.
“People come in for birthdays, date nights and girls’ nights, but even casual walk-ins turn into an experience,” Sawyer said. “They start comparing scents, laughing and helping each other decide, and that changes the whole mood of the room.”
Sawyer says employees try to keep the process simple so customers can focus on enjoying the experience instead of worrying about getting it right.
“Our role is to guide people without making it feel complicated,” Sawyer said. “If the environment feels easy and welcoming, customers are more likely to enjoy themselves and want to come back.”
Akers said the response from customers shows that the business has become more meaningful than she expected. While the company sells candles and fragrance products, she says many customers connect their visits to important moments in their lives.
“We hope people enjoy the product, but what stays with us is seeing how often they connect it to important moments in their lives,” Akers said. “That is what makes the business feel bigger than retail.”
