Two Portsmouth schoolgirl entrepreneurs, 11, start their own Waxy Wonders candle business
A SPARK of inspiration during lockdown encouraged two schoolgirls to start Portsmouth’s newest handcrafted candle business.
Not wanting to waste their time at home, friends Savannah Paterson and Anastazia Odor - known as Stazi - got stuck in to setting up their first business Waxy Wonders.
Both aged 11, the girls have loved spending time creating scent combinations and coming up with unique names for their scented soy candles.
Stazi, from Southsea, said: ‘With lockdown, we couldn’t really do anything and we had all this time and we were just on social media when we could have been doing something productive.’
Drayton resident Savannah added: ‘We wanted to spend more time with each other and not just look at TikTok and Instagram. We wanted to make something homemade.
‘We have found it so much fun coming round to each other’s houses 24/7 and we have really enjoyed packaging each order, we don’t get bored of it.’
With support from Stazi’s mum Pascale Dewane, the Portsmouth Grammar School pupils learned how to heat the wax, combine scents and pour candles.
They have thrown themselves into creating and marketing their products, which are vegan, eco friendly and free from animal cruelty.
Pascale, who owns her own cleaning business, said: ‘I think it’s been brilliant for them really because they have been quite focused. It’ll give them a good business sense - they have worked really hard.’
Savannah’s mum Ruth, owner of a recruitment business, added: ‘I’m so proud of them both, they’re two bright girls who are driven and motivated.’
The creative duo were inspired to start their own business after seeing both of their mums being successful entrepreneurs.
Stazi, who used to watch Pascale doing spreadsheets, said: ‘I was so interested and wished one day I would have a business.’
Savannah added: ‘I have always been into business, now I’m serious about it and I want to start another business in the future.’
The pair have created more than a dozen scents so far which come in two sizes, and are soon set to release a Christmas range including Gingerbread and Christmas Spice scents.
For more information, visit waxy-wonders.com or find them on Facebook and @waxywonderscandles on Instagram.