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In the frustrating days small businesses go through, “getting up for something” is what gets Holly Singer, 33, owner of Milk Jar Candle Co. out of bed every morning.
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The six-year-old company represents not only beautiful, clean-burning, locally-made candles (50,000 last year), but also a business employing 22 people, a third of whom are mentally or physically disabled. I have. last year donated nearly $90,000 (over five years he’s over $200,000) to charities that help people with disabilities.
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“I am very proud of our team. We hired people who cared.”
Singer’s first involvement with disability came when she earned a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary and spent seven years in swimming therapy with a young man with cerebral palsy.
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“I’ve seen his anxiety about work and college and how hard it is for his mother. I want everyone to feel like they can feed themselves.”
Originally set to become an occupational therapist, Singer attended nursing school instead.
A month later, she has sold all 260 natural kitchen candles on the market.
“I created a website for milk jars in history class and then started responding to business inquiries about wholesale purchases.”
Singer, who postponed nursing school, built her milk jar on employee inclusion. Despite adjustments such as flexible start times (for accessible transport) and shorter shifts to keep her focused, she finds employees of all abilities embrace the policy. Did.
Importantly, Singer said, it is backed by a buddy system that communicates directly with each employee on how to succeed and provides direct assistance to employees with disabilities when needed.
This year, Milk Jar will be undergoing a major rebrand, offering more candle-making workshops, launching US sales, and significantly increasing both production and charitable donations.
Then there’s the “best of” folder that the singer keeps on his computer.
“We have a message of thanks, saying that they will remain eternal customers, not just for the candles, but because they give hope to families with disabilities.”
