Hobby turns into business for Newville’s Tracy Dunlap

At the bottom of her business card is this biblical message: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” which is found in Matthew 5:16.

It’s a message Tracy Dunlap, owner of This Little Light of Mine Country Candle Company in Newville, takes to heart.

“I really hope to glorify God through my candle company,” said Mrs. Dunlap, who was participating for the second year as a street vendor in Saturday’s Downtown Christmas Festival. “The Lord has al-ready blessed it.”

Mrs. Dunlap, a stay-at-home mother of four who is home-schooling her two younger children - Mickenzie, 13, and Carson, 6 - started her candle-making business shortly after her son Carson was born.

“I felt I needed a hobby,” Mrs. Dunlap said as she explained her reason for starting the home-based company. “I prayed about it. I’ve always loved candles. The Lord laid it on my heart to do it.

“It’s really grown to where it keeps me busy.”

She attributes most of that growth to simple word of mouth. She also believes her participation in events like Saturday’s Downtown Christmas Festival helps to spread the word about her line of candle products.

“Word of mouth produces most of my sales,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “Friends who buy from me tell others about my candles, or they give them as gifts and attach my business card to them. Festivals and craft shows also help.”

Tracy Dunlap’s interest in candle-making was sparked by a friend who teaches at G.W. Long High School in Skipperville.

“When I first started, a friend of mine was making candles on the side,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “I asked her a lot of questions about it. She gave me a lot of advice, some Web sites to visit and some supply sites to check out. She was really helpful. Because of our friendship and her willingness to help me get started, I’ve tried not to be in competition with her. Our products are not that similar, but I don’t want to take away from her business. She has been such an encouragement to me.”

As the name of her business implies, Mrs. Dunlap focuses on a “country” look to her candles.

“I had a look in mind that I wanted to create,” she explained. “I wanted to develop my own style. I like the old country look, which is why I use Mason jars and vintage jars with lids.”

There are occasions, especially when she has a lot of orders to fill, that Mrs. Dunlap’s day runs into the wee hours of the morning. But, she sees that as another way of fulfilling the scripture verse on her business card. She gives her very best on each order.

Every step of the process is done by hand.

“Everything (for the candles) is ordered individually,” Mrs. Dunlap noted, “and I mix my own fragrances.”
The process begins with the melting of the wax in wax pots.

“I add the fragrance once the wax is melted,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “I give it the color that I want. Then, my husband sets the wicks in the candles for me.

“If I have everything on hand, I can usually fill an order overnight.”

Her candles range in price from $4.50 up to $25. She accepts phone orders at 334-585-4855 or 334-441-7998.

Intertwined with her hobby turned business is a full family schedule. Her two sons, Logan, 19, who attends Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City on a baseball scholarship, and Graham, 17, a junior at G.W. Long High School, are heavily involved with baseball. In addition to high school and now college baseball, Logan has also participated with Dothan Post 12 for the past three summers. The team has made trips all across the United States. Graham plays high school baseball for the Rebels.

“During the late spring and summer, I really don’t do a lot, as far as craft shows and other events are concerned,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “We’re pretty busy, as a family, with baseball. And my daughter is involved with dance and piano lessons.”

Not to be overlooked, young Carson has also taken up the game of baseball.

Her husband, Mickey, a freight transportation manager for Averitt Express, also owns a poultry farm. With the help of his family, he tends to six chicken houses.

The Dunlaps are also actively involved in their church.

“We have a lot on our plates,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “But we don’t mind.”

Tracy Dunlap didn’t mind the time she spent in downtown Dothan Saturday. Her second visit to the Downtown Christmas Festival was a huge success. She sold out of every fragrance she brought to the festival.
(Elaine Brackin is managing editor of The Dothan Progress.)