It’s been a busy year for me, David, the founder of DZ-Candles. Unfortunately, that meant candle-making had to take a back seat for a while. Production came to a halt in April 2024, and finding a safe space to keep and run a candle-making workshop was tough. On top of that, I had other priorities and was facing financial struggles, forcing me to question whether I should keep running an unprofitable business in hopes of breaking through one day or step away to regroup.
It’s been a busy year for me, David, the founder of DZ-Candles. Unfortunately, that meant candle-making had to take a back seat for a while. Production came to a halt in April 2024, and finding a safe space to keep and run a candle-making workshop was tough. On top of that, I had other priorities and was facing financial struggles, forcing me to question whether I should keep running an unprofitable business in hopes of breaking through one day or step away to regroup.
Feeling burnt out, I decided to take a break from everything and jumped on a yacht delivery from Panama to New Zealand. I spent almost two months at sea—one month non-stop from Panama to Tahiti and another 19 days from Tahiti back home to Aotearoa. The solitude, the rhythm of the waves, and the raw challenges of ocean sailing gave me the time and space to think and reflect. The problems at sea are very different from those on land, and I returned feeling stronger, more confident in my abilities, and closer to myself than ever before.
After rekindling my relationship with my partner, I also traveled to Germany to visit my family. I got to celebrate my cousin’s wedding and my younger sister’s 30th birthday. Being surrounded by friends and family brought a sense of renewal. But there was one question I kept hearing over and over again: “Got any candles?”
My usual response was, “Yes, I do, but I’m not selling them at the moment—you can have a pair if you want to.” My candles had become a rare artifact in my community, something people cherished and missed.
To give myself some space to breathe and think, I took a job at a boatyard in Warkworth, maintaining and fixing ferries, pleasure crafts, and commercial fishing boats. I loved the work—it felt like an apprenticeship that also paid well enough for me to rent a nice place with a friend. It gave me the financial stability to relax and allow my creative energy to flow again. But candle-making was never far from my mind.
Then, I met Eli.
Eli reached out to me online, asking if she could join the team. A fellow candle enthusiast, she shared my passion for creating high-quality beeswax candles. With her joining DZ-Candles, we are back on track! The business now has two dedicated artisans, and we are excited to start producing beautiful, handcrafted beeswax candles for you once again.
Recently, Eli and I spent a weekend together setting up a new workshop in Ohakune, inside a beautiful barn that will serve as the new DZ-Candles HQ. This space gives us the perfect environment to reignite our passion for candle-making. With this setup, I can now focus on the business’s administration, finances, and new ideas, while Eli immerses herself in the craft of making our signature beeswax candles. This new chapter marks a fresh and exciting start for DZ-Candles, and we can't wait to share it with you all.
So, to everyone who has been asking—yes, the candles are coming back! Eli and I are looking forward to delivering again soon, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on. Thank you for your patience and support. The flame is burning brighter than ever.
In the meantime, you can support us by purchasing our early supporter vouchers. These vouchers come with some fantastic gifts as a token of appreciation for your trust. Your support will help us generate cash flow as we prepare to resume shipping at the end of April. We are also applying for business grants and seeking letters of recommendation. If you have ever enjoyed burning our beeswax candles, we would love to hear from you! Please reach out via email and share why you love DZ-Candles and your favorite way of using them.
So, to everyone who has been asking—yes, the candles are coming back! Eli and I are looking forward to delivering again soon, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on. Thank you for your patience and support. The flame is burning brighter than ever.