Meet Amanda McClure

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda McClure.

Hi Amanda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Amanda McClure. I was born and raised in Durham aka Bull City, NC. My Manda Panda story began five years ago when I decided to make a special, handmade gift for Mother’s Day. My mother burned candles incessantly, so I decided to purchase an at-home soy wax candle-making kit. I fell in love with the process; it became a perfect hobby to help me unwind from a long day at work.

Soon after, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. We became cautious of the type of candles we burned at their house. Of course, it was a no-brainer to make all-natural, non-toxic soy wax candles that wouldn’t pose any threat to our environment. Making candles together became integral to his journey and healing process. It has been an amazing adventure and a therapeutic outlet for our lives. What began as a novel gift turned into a full-blown passion.

I am proud to be a local, female-owned small business that gives back to the community with every purchase. With each candle sold, Manda Panda’s gives $1 to Duke Cancer Institute or a similar Non-Profit. Manda Panda’s offers unique soy wax candles with an artisanal touch on top of each one to distinguish the scent. We offer other products such as coconut oil bath bombs and sugar scrubs to help you decompress from the stressors of daily life. Each item is infused with my own special touch and made with SOY much love!

I am beyond thankful to my parents, brother, and a husband who have been the most supportive. My parents let me take over a couple of rooms in their home to pour, package and ship our products. Everyone in my family plays an important part, be it gluing wicks, placing stickers, organizing supplies, taking packages to the post office, or selling the products. It truly is a family business.

Manda Panda’s took off with a leap of faith from our friend Cecelia, another female, local business owner. Her space, Cecy’s Art Gallery, is located next to the Farmer’s Market in the heart of downtown Durham. Cecy has the biggest heart and is living out her dream by supporting other local artists throughout the area. It means the world to us that she has shared her space with us for almost three years.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
When I purchased my first kit, it felt like a smooth and easy hobby. As my interest expanded and I began pouring in bulk, I realized that pouring candles is a complex science! Sure, there are simple parts of the process, but it’s an intricate process from beginning to end. There have been SOY many trials and errors along the way.

Luckily, through a friend, I found CandleScience, a local, family-owned candle-making distributor in Durham. They have been an excellent guide to learning more about the candle-making process. We are also happy to present that by the end of 2021, they have committed to an entire line of “Clean Scents.” I have trialed many different types of wicks, containers, temperatures, scents, and color dye. I have so many families, friends, and co-workers to thank as they have helped me test burn and give me feedback.

Wick testing has been one of the most difficult challenges. We went in a different direction a couple of years ago with wooden wicks, as they were coming around as a new fad. We have not looked back since and love the aesthetic look and feel. Wooden Wick Co. is our distributor and is also a woman-owned business. We are thankful they make our custom cuts, which has literally cut down on the time frame to make our process more efficient.

Of course, COVID has been challenging for us, as it has for everyone, including shipping products, time frames, and selling products.

Navigating the “business” side of things is another world for me. I love being creative, making artwork and my products. Keeping up with inventory, local businesses we sell through, and taxes have all had their challenges along the way. I am still learning every day and grateful for all the help I receive from family and friends to make it smoother.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an RN full-time at UNC on the ISCU, Intermediate Surgical Care Unit. I have been a nurse since 2009 and have worked at UNC for over 6 years now. My work family has been with me from the beginning and can’t thank them enough for their support.

We make such a great team and have become even closer throughout these difficult times. I am most proud to be a part of this amazing group of people. I try to bring positivity and be the best team player I can be to help our patients through their most difficult times of life.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson this business has taught me is to be patient. All of the research, testing, tinkering, and trial and error has taken a significant amount of time and energy, but it has shown me the value of living in the moment and enjoying every step of the journey.

Contact Info:

• Email: mandapandasswc@gmail.com
• Website: mandapandas.com
• Instagram: @manda_pandas_swc
• Facebook: Manda Panda’s

Image Credits
Cary Quilting Pop-Up and Cecy’s Art Gallery set-up