Customer Spotlight: Sky Candle Co.

[Abigail_S]

How long they’ve been a customer:  2 years

Fun fact: Sky Candle Co. offers the ability to create your own signature candle scent for large events.

Where you can find them: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Owners of Sky Candle Co.

Sky Candle Co., founded by Albert Feldman and Greg Dekermenjian, is a shining example of how a small business can  illuminate its path to success even during challenging times. The company, which specializes in clean, vegan, non-toxic candles, diffusers, and room sprays, began as a side hustle. Named after the owners' beloved dog, Sky, the business took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the world seemed to pause, and many small businesses faced uncertainty.

Albert and Greg's journey wasn't just about selling candles; it was about creating an experience and a community around their products. When the pandemic hit shortly after their launch, they quickly pivoted from their original plan of opening a retail space to focusing on online sales and pop-up markets. This shift was crucial, but it presented a new challenge: how to maintain and grow customer relationships without the benefit of face-to-face interactions. 

This is where Constant Contact came into play. Albert and Greg turned to this powerful tool to build and nurture their email list, which became a lifeline for their business. Through carefully crafted emails, they kept their customers informed about new scents, exclusive promotions, and important announcements. Albert emphasized the importance of this tool, saying, “Without Constant Contact, we really wouldn’t have a means for reaching out to people. We could leverage Instagram, but in my opinion, it is really great for only conveying visuals. Without Constant Contact, I don’t think we’d be able to get our verbal message out there.” 

Inside at Sky Candle Co.

The effectiveness of their strategy became even more apparent when they opened their first brick-and-mortar store on Labor Day in 2023. Their robust email list allowed them to drive foot traffic from day one. In-store, they continued to encourage customers to sign up for emails, effectively bridging their online presence with their new physical location.

Sky Candle Co. also leverages AI tools within Constant Contact to streamline their content creation. This technology helps them craft concise, engaging content that resonates with their audience, saving them precious time. Albert shared a specific instance, saying, “The last time we were doing a big sale on puzzles, I just logged on, used the AI feature, said ‘write email sale puzzle’ and generated something. Then I changed a few images and a few lines and sent it out to our customer base.”

In addition to their marketing efforts, community engagement remains at the heart of Sky Candle Co. As a proud LGBTQIA+ run business, they actively support local animal rescues and LGBTQIA+ causes. Their commitment to these values is woven into every aspect of their business, from the products they create to the events they host. Each year during Pride month, they launch a special Pride candle line and transform their store into a celebration of Pride with vibrant decorations.

The story of Sky Candle Co. is a testament to the power of resilience, community, and strategic use of digital tools. With Constant Contact at their side, Albert and Greg have not only navigated the challenges of a global pandemic but have also laid a strong foundation for continued growth and success.

Looking to light a fire under your own digital marketing efforts? Here’s how Sky Candle Co. does it:

• Email marketing and list growth tools: Building and maintaining an engaged email list  saves Sky Candle Co. time and keeps their marketing going.
• AI Content Generator: The business stays creative by using Constant Contact’s AI tools to create succinct, impactful email content quickly.
• Shopify integration: Creating a shoppable experience with integrated customer data is critical for ecommerce success.
• Canva integration: Using Canva and Constant Contact together allows Sky Candle Co to harness the power of imagery to build their brand.