Interview with the Maker: Craft CANdles

Artisan:  Lydia Pinto, Craft CANdles

1. What is your name and how did you decide on your business name?

  My name is Lydia Pinto. I am the owner of Craft CANdles and I make 100% soy wax candles in recycled beer cans and pint glasses. We came up with the name because the candles are made in craft beer cans and it was important to keep the beer aspect in the name. It also has a nice ring to it!

2. What inspired you to create your product?

  I had so many empty cans with great artwork and thought it was such a waste to toss them into a recycling bin. I've always loved candles and have one burning at all times when I'm home so I thought, “Why not try to combine the two?” I always wanted to work in the craft beer industry but with all of my other jobs it was never feasible. The craft beer community is creative, supportive, and tight-knit. The best part about my craft is making connections with people who share the same passion. 

3. Which of your products most inspires other people?

  People really seem to love the candles that look like beer in a pint glass. You have to get close enough to realize it is not actually beer! My use of top ranked craft beer, and sometimes rare, cans is eye-catching and gets people talking. I have cans labeled from Other Half, Tree House, Trillium, Kane, Czig Meister, Troon, LIC Beer Co., Hill Farmstead, Alchemist, Foam, Fiddlehead, Cape May, Brix City, Backward Flag, Hudson Valley, Departed Soles and many others.

4. How do you find time to balance your craft with other areas of your life?

  I've always hustled working two to three jobs at a time. Life is all about balance and I'm pretty good with time management. I find the most time to make my craft beer candles when I get home for the evening and occasionally on weekends. I just crack a beer open and get to work!

5. Name one tool or product that is most helpful to you as a small business owner.

Instagram has been really helpful in getting the word out about my candles, especially when I can target fans with a candle from their favorite brewery. The possibilities are endless with social media including tags and reposts.

6. Where do you see your business going in 2020?

We hope to have our craft beer candles sold in more breweries and to attend more beer festivals. As of now, we have been sold in seven brewery locations and we're looking to see that number grow. One of our goals for 2020 is to sell Craft CANdles in a brewery out of state.

7. What is something you hope to get out of the Marketspace platform this year? 

We're hoping to add more Marketspace markets to our calendar this year, especially those with a beer-focus.

8. Anything new we can do for or offer you?

Nope, you guys are great!

You’re the best, Lydia! So excited to see you selling your merch at our (mutual) favorites.