Meet Robyn Wilkinson | Owner of MNC Candle Co.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robyn Wilkinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robyn, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to start my own business so I could have more control over my schedule. I wanted the flexibility to be available for my kids. I found that I really enjoyed the creative side but not so much of the business side. I also don’t have a background in business so I was, and still am learning many new things.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have always enjoyed decorating my spaces, whether it was a work cubicle, vintage trailer, or an entire home. I want it to feel cozy, smell amazing, and make me feel good. When I started making candles in 2016, I was also working as a registered nurse. With my background in healthcare, I knew I had to make my candles with safe ingredients. I quickly learned that not all candles are created equal. That’s why I only use phthalate-free fragrance oils and all-natural soy wax in all of my candles and wax melts.

I’m also mission-minded and passionate about giving back! A percentage of sales goes to different charities that support women getting out of poverty. When we help women, we help children and families. When I was working as a school nurse, I saw the poverty of divorce that affected mostly women no matter the socioeconomic status. I saw the poverty of women fleeing domestic abuse with their children. When considering what charities to support, these issues were at the core of my decisions. This year I chose Heifer International as the global charity and Diapers 4 Change as the local charity. I recommend checking both of them out and donating if you are able.

Our candles and containers are also earth friendly by offering refill kits for our reusable dough bowl and cheese mold candles, recycling shipping materials and using biodegradable refill kit containers instead of plastic.

There are definitely challenges in owning a small business. I think one of the best lessons I’ve learned along the way is to not give up on your purpose. When you have a purpose or a mission statement, you can use that to strengthen your resolve when things get tough. Be authentic with your brand story and the right customers will find you. Yes, it’s hard work but it’s the most enjoyable, exciting, and fulfilling work I’ve done.

It truly is my privilege to make high-quality, beautifully scented candles that are safe for you and your family, support others in need and protect our earth.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
How fun! I would definitely start out with spending a day in downtown McKinney shopping at all of the adorable boutiques and eating at some of my favorite restaurants. For lunch, I love Patina Green! They have the best gourmet sandwiches, plus they have a unique gift shop. Depending on the weather, for dinner I would choose Harvest because number one the food is locally sourced, the decor is fabulous and did I mention they have a very creative drink menu? In fact, one of my candles was inspired by my husband’s favorite drink there, “The Smoked Old Fashioned.” If we wanted something more casual, with outdoor dining options, Cadillac Pizza and The Yard are two of my other favorites. The next day I would take them on a nature walk at The Connemara Conservancy in Allen, a 72- acre nature preserve open to the public. Then catch a yoga class with The Yogi Treehouse. The classes are held outdoors at the conservancy and they even offer aerial yoga. After that, we’d probably be pretty hungry so grabbing a bite at Watter’s Creek would be convenient, plus, more stores to shop! Maybe we would finish the day at the Millhouse McKinney, a creative workspace for women artists. They have fun workshops open to the public, you can meet the local artists, and even shop some of their work. On Tuesdays they host “Lunch Bunch” which is a free event where local female business owners, artists, photographers and more speak on various topics. Every time I go I learn something new. Legacy West is another area I would take them to. I feel like I’m on vacation when I go there. The people-watching, fancy cars, higher-end shops and overall trendy vibe make for a fun outing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to give a shoutout to the creators of The Product Boss, Jacqueline Snyder, and Minna Khounlo-Sithep. I started listening to their free Podcast in December 2019, right before the pandemic while I was on a long road trip. In one of their podcasts, they offered a free boot camp called, “The Best Sellers Secrets Challenge.” I signed up and my new journey of fulfilling my dream of owning my own successful business became a reality.

Website: https://www.mnccandleco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mnccandleco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MNCCandleCo

Image Credits
Jamie House