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I can’t tell what made me love Motor City Candleworks more: its wonderful array of quality candles or the lovely person who makes those candles.

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In our first challenge project aimed towards supporting local small businesses, we were commissioned to create a narrative that highlights some of those businesses. One such company was Motor City Candleworks, whose owner, Carl Allison, resides in the Pangborn Studio in Rivertown.

 

Allison exuded a passion for candles I had never experienced before. I thought I was a candle lover, but I couldn’t hold a candle to Carl (pun intended). It all started with a late-night of fundraising a few years ago, when his cheap candle liquefied in minutes. Being the “cheap guy [he] is,” he decided he could do better. Only after he exhausted all of his energy and life savings did Motor City Candleworks make its awaited appearance.

 

He equated the process of candle-making to that of another one of his passions: cooking. The similar, routinized skills of cooking translated to his expertise in making candles, body fragrances, incense, etc.

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I am happy to say that I was able to meet Carl Allison and to see the face behind the well crafted candles that are accessible in over 200 locations in Michigan. He is the quintessential Detroit entrepreneur: one that finds a problem and designs a product to resolve said problem.
I encourage everyone to support your local businesses because they are oftentimes reflections of the hard work, determination, and passion of someone like Carl.