Lush & Luxe Candle Co.

First stop on our virtual road trip is the very first producer I contacted when Wattle I Gift was just an idea (DRUM ROLL PLEASE) Lush and Luxe Candle Co. Not only is Hilary a friend but Lush and Luxe Candle Co holds something incredibly special in my heart, North West QLD. The idea for Wattle I Gift came when I was living in the North West. I started this business to showcase some of the incredible producers and products from the bush. I wanted there to be a place to source and enjoy not only one, but many products from the outback. Hilary jumped on board right away and she has been a real support to me throughout this whole starting a new business gig! So let me introduce you to Hilary Keyes, the founder and maker of Lush and Luxe Candle co…

Please tell us a little about yourself?

I've lived in rural Queensland for most of my life! I was born and grew up in Theodore in Central Queensland where my parents owned cattle properties. They expanded their business by purchasing properties near Normanton and Julia Creek, which is how I ended up in Cloncurry! I moved here in 2013 after I finished Uni in Brisbane and couldn't wait to get back to the country (there's nothing quite like a Bundy Rum and a Rodeo!). It was at Cloncurry where I met my now husband, and together we welcomed our beautiful little boy, Henry, into the world in April this year. Outside of work and parenting, we love to attend the many social events on in our awesome little part of the world, and go fishing in the Gulf! If you haven't checked out the rugged North-West of Queensland, I suggest popping it on the bucket list stat!

Where did the idea for Lush and Luxe Candle Co come from and how has it evolved? 

The idea was one I had when I found myself a bit bored on weekends (mind you there aren't many weekends without some sort of social event on up here!) and looking for something productive to do. I had considered candle making a few years prior but wasn't up to the challenge of learning how to do it. But in 2018, I took the plunge and purchased a heap of equipment, printed off some simple instructions from Google, and here we are today! It took a few trial batches to figure out the knack to making the candles (and don't worry, I'm still learning new tricks all the time!), but I'm now very happy with the end product, and my customers seem to be too! Since this time, the candle making has expanded considerably and I've had to enlist the help of a voluntary permanent part-time employee - my husband! He is a fantastic help when it comes to candle making, and together we make a great team. I'm sure Henry will love to help out once he's old enough too :-)

Can you tell us about the challenges you have faced within your business and what has helped you to overcome them? 

Probably the biggest challenge for my business is our location. Being so far from where I source my candle making equipment from means high costs associated with shipping, and this includes shipping my finished candles to other parts of Australia too. I'm frequently asking friends and family with empty cars to pick up equipment for me from Brisbane when they're travelling this way, but when this doesn't work out, I'm resorted to paying high prices in shipping. It's given me a greater appreciation for people who run small businesses in rural and remote parts of Australia - we love living 'in the sticks', but it's something I think people take for granted for when they live so close to the shops - I know I certainly did!

Where do you see your business going in the future? 

Well, I certainly hope Lush + Luxe is around for quite a few years yet! In fact, I really do hope my kids will one day be able to make candles with me, if that's what they're interested in. I certainly see the potential for a business like mine to continue to thrive as 'bush' businesses have a light shone on them, and I'm so grateful to Wattle I Gift for shining a light on ours! While my candles won't ever be produced in the masses simply because of the resources I have available, I think the new appreciation consumers have for handmade items will ensure our little business will be just fine in the future.

Any advice for small business owners in the outback?

Embrace your uniqueness and use it to stand out from the crowd. My candles aren't flawless - sometimes the wax sets a little uneven or the label might lean a little to the left. But that can happen when you make things with your hands and not use a machine! Some people might see these little flaws as a detriment to your finished product, but I see them as an enhancement - someone has put so much time and effort into making this product themselves! So embrace the negatives and use them to your advantage. And little things like including a personalised note with your product go a long way.

Shop Lush & Luxe Candle Co via https://www.facebook.com/lushluxecandleco/ or at www.wattleigift.com.au to see the stunning candles within our Wattle I Gift hampers.