The next time you blow out your birthday candles, you might say a little thank you to a Manatee County couple.
A Lakewood Ranch family is behind a birthday candle that is growing in popularity. It’s called the Amazing Candle and it’s now popping up everywhere.
“It so unique,” said Ruth Brown, who came up with the idea. “It’s not where you light it and blow it out and everybody sings happy birthday.”
Instead, when lit, the flaming flower looking candle spins, sparkles and plays birthday music.
“It went from a few candles every month to now we ship cases out every morning,” said Brown. “Our wholesale has gotten bigger and now we have 100 stores carrying them all over the country."
Brown said a few years ago, she and her husband, started selling the candles on the internet and at some local stores in Manatee County. Since then, the candles have gotten very popular.
“They’re going quickly,” said Brittany Lush, a manager at Crowders Gifts & Gadgets in Lakewood Ranch. “We are always doing re-orders and we always have people coming in and looking for them when they hear about them.”
Now that business is heating up even more, the candles just got a big contract. The Amazing Candle was recently placed at several area Walmart stores for purchase.
Despite their major growth, the Browns do everything from their home. It’s a family candle business they say they enjoy and hope will light up the lives of others.
The Amazing Candle has been featured on CNN and The Food Network. In addition to being sold on the internet, the following local stores also carry the candle: The LTM Party store in Sarasota, Crowders Gifts & Gadgets in Manatee County, The Learning Express in Manatee County, Lakewood Ranch Florist, Main Street Bazaar on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, Cakes & Cups on State Road 70 in Manatee County, and The Mail Station Pack n’ Ship in Lakewood Ranch.
The following Walmart stores are now carrying it: State Road 70 in Lakewood Ranch, University Parkway and Lockwood Ridge, State Road 70 and US 301, and State Road 64 west of I-75.
The candles sell from around $7 to $12.