When the most important feature of your product line is the scent, how do you convince prospective customers to buy online? Wife, mother, and maker Tessie Rankin was determined to find out for herself when the pandemic turned the world upside down in 2020. Tinkering in the kitchen with her toddler at her feet while her newborn slept in the other room, Tessie transformed a candle-making hobby into a growing business despite obvious challenges. “Selling candles online can be difficult when customers typically like to test fragrances before purchase,” explains Rankin. “I knew I had to work hard to create a complete experience for my customers.”
Her mood-boosting candles, room sprays, and body care products are crafted in small batches in her home studio in the historic Gold Rush town of Jackson, CA. “I believe every body and every nose deserve the highest quality ingredients,” she laughs. The candles are handmade with a blend of virgin coconut, soy, and a small amount of food-grade paraffin waxes, using nontoxic, phthalate-free fragrances and essential oils. New scents are released seasonally, and wooden wicks produce a crackling sound that is hard to resist.
In addition to a high-quality product, beautiful packaging with great attention to detail was the perfect way to present the final product and display Tessie’s hard work. “The Paper Tube Co. was just what I was looking for,” says Rankin. “Their expertise gave me the freedom to create packaging that lines up just right with my minimalist brand with a surprising dash of uniqueness.” Details such as a hidden floral design and a cut top that showcases the wooden candle lids engraved by Tessie’s husband made the tubes especially compelling. “I wanted a custom design to complement the simplicity of the candle vessels and really complete the customer experience,” she remarks.
Clearly, Tessie’s customers are thrilled. Her Etsy site, The Rankin Home, is filled with glowing 5-star reviews, and although the company is still young, her Instagram following @therankinhome is proof that her products are wowing new customers regularly. “I am so very grateful to have found the Paper Tube Co.,” says Rankin. “These tubes have set my business apart and have made me so excited for the future.”
“Peggy and Ricardo were an absolute joy to work with. I’m not sure how they did it, but they got inside my head and created exactly what I was wishing for! I was always kept in the loop. I honestly miss our video chats!”
–Tessie Rankin, founder The Rankin Home
