This Sunday we are sharing Julie Palmer. A native Arizonan herself, Julie is married to a fourth-generation native and they have two sons. Julie’s a retired Silicon Valley professional and holds an engineering degree from Stanford University. When her last son left for college, Julie began looking for new opportunities as an empty nester. Inspired by a gift she received a few years before, she began repurposing empty wine and spirits bottles and filling them with handmade fragrant candles. AZ Fresh Candle Company started as a delightful way to design and create unique gifts and soon blossomed into a thriving business.
These days you will find Julie many mornings on the tennis court and now in the afternoons operating a tile saw or pouring hot candle wax. Her candles have taken off and have been selling like hot cakes. Locally they are available at Cornelia Park and Shop Gorgeous Things. She also sells at artist shows and her own website azfreshcandle.com. Her enthusiasm for experimenting with new methods and creating innovative designs is evident in each handcrafted candle. Not only does Julie have her signature candles, but she has recently expanded to offering custom candles.
A significant aspect of her business revolves around creating custom candles from special bottles, preserving the memories of clients' cherished events and occasions. The joy and satisfaction she feels from a customer's delight in the final result is always rewarding. In her journey as an entrepreneur, Julie continues to find fulfillment in the artistry of candle-making and the unique stories each repurposed bottle tells.
Passionate about empowering women in local businesses, Julie values mutual support and expresses gratitude for the love she’s received from friends and family as she continues to grow AZ Fresh Candle Company. She finds joy in the chaotic and unclean process of cutting glass and transforming a bottle into a renewed thing of beauty. For her, it's the epitome of recycling. Julie still loves the excitement she gets with every text or message from friends, informing her about a potential candle in an empty bottle they've saved for her.
Julie, it’s been great to watch you come up with such a creative approach to candle making and turn your art into a sustainable business opportunity. Your use of wine & spirit bottles has made your candles a fun go-to male gift too. I am a huge fan of you, your creativity and AZ Fresh Candle Co!
