About Kay Candleworks
Kay Candleworks is a handcrafted, hand-poured candle company that appeared on Season 5 of The Profit. The company specializes in artisan candles made with premium waxes, fine fragrance oils, and unique vessel designs. Marcus Lemonis saw strong potential in the home fragrance market and invested in Kay Candleworks to help the business scale its production and expand distribution.
The premium candle market has been booming, with consumers increasingly seeking out artisan alternatives to mass-produced candles. Kay Candleworks had the product quality to compete at the high end of the market, but needed help building the business infrastructure to capitalize on the opportunity.
What Marcus Worked On
Marcus identified several areas for improvement at Kay Candleworks:
- Production scaling — hand-pouring was too slow to meet growing demand
- Scent library expansion — needed more signature scents to attract broader customer base
- Retail placement — getting into specialty boutiques, gift shops, and hotel chains
- Packaging upgrade — needed packaging that communicated the premium positioning
- E-commerce development — building a direct-to-consumer online presence
- Gift set creation — corporate and holiday gifting as a major revenue channel
Business Update: Scents, Stores & New Deals
Following the episode, Kay Candleworks experienced a significant surge in consumer interest. Fans of The Profit who love candles immediately sought out the brand online, providing an important boost to the company's direct-to-consumer sales.
The team worked to expand their scent collection and create premium gift sets targeted at the holiday season and corporate gifting market. Boutique retail placements grew as the brand's visibility increased post-show. We will continue to update this article as new developments emerge from Kay Candleworks.
The Candle Market Opportunity
The US scented candle market is a multi-billion dollar industry. Premium artisan candles command significantly higher margins than mass-market products, making them an attractive small business opportunity — if the business can scale while maintaining quality. Marcus recognized that Kay Candleworks had the quality, and his investment was aimed at helping them build the infrastructure to grow into a recognized premium candle brand.