Suffield Couple Creates Locally Poured Scented Candles

Jerry and Janeene Crane didn't have plans of starting their own business.  They did, however, buy a business, and then they learned a trade.

Freedom Candle in North Granby was an established business that the Cranes wound up purchasing once they retired from their corporate careers.  

"I never in my life dreamed that I would be a candlestick maker," Jerry said.

The Suffield couple quickly learned the business and began making candles.  Jerry makes each of the varieties in small, hand-crafted batches, to ensure each batch is exactly the same.  

The store generally keeps 70-80 different scents of candles on their shelves at any given time, with other seasonal scents added throughout the year.

In addition to candles, the Cranes make sure to offer plenty of locally made crafts, jewelry, and signs.

"We try to find as many local artisans as we can," Janeene said.  The store offers wood carvings made in East Granby, jewelry from Simsbury and Farmington, and soaps made by Mountain Spring Farm in North Granby.

"People have to support their locally owned businesses," Jerry said.  The Cranes are doing their part by offering a venue for local artisans.

Freedom Candle may be a small operation, but its reach is wide.  Jerry said about 90 percent of their business comes from Simsbury, Granby, and Southwick, and the rest come from across the state and even across the globe.

Although we usually try to feature other local businesses that provide the same product, the candles at Freedom Candle are one of a kind as far as we know.  If you know of any other candle makers that we've left out, email jeff.brush@patch.com.