After Laura Lemus of Scotts Valley was laid off from her job in real estate in September, she knew she wanted to open her own business. She just wasn’t sure what kind.
The proverbial light bulb went on while she was making crafts with her children.
“I was doing soap and candle kits with my kids as a hobby and thought it would be a really fun business to start,” Lemus said, the mother of three school-aged boys, Andrew, Nick and Ben.
And so Wix Candle and Soap Creations By You was born. The shop had its grand opening June 5.
At Wix, customers can make candles and soap from scratch.
“There’s nothing like this around here,” Lemus said. “I had always wanted to open my own business. Getting laid off gave me the freedom and the push I needed to do it.”
Creating a candle or a bar of soap costs anywhere from $7 to $18, depending on the size, Lemus said.
To make a candle, customers pick a mold and a base wax color and choose from 15 scents. The shop also provides a number of colored wax shapes, including hearts, stars or letters, that can be suspended in the wax.
“You can spell out your name in the candle,” Lemus said. “The process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.”
Among the 15 candle scents are favorites mango-papaya, strawberry, coconut, rain, cinnamon and, a favorite among youngsters, cookie dough.
To make a bar of soap, patrons choose a mold and then pick a soap base, a color and a scent. Pre-made shapes can also be embedded in the soap.
“It’s really great for date night or ladies’ night out,” Lemus said. “You can bring your own snacks and beverages.”
Lemus said children like to join in, too, and she has booked a handful of birthday parties at the shop.
“My kids have made all the soap and candle samples,” Lemus said. “I have to stop them from making more candles. My house is loaded with them.”
At a glance
• WHAT: Wix Candle and Soap Creations By You
• WHERE: 218-E Mount Hermon Road, in Scotts Valley
• INFO: 454-8296 or www.wixinc.com
