Community Highlights: Meet Xavier Peoples of Top Shelf Candle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Xavier Peoples.

Hi Xavier, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
I started Top Shelf Candle Co during the pandemic. I had been recently furloughed from my career as a flight attendant and needed a hobby to make more income. With so much happening in the world at the time, I wanted to help and do something positive. I had the idea of turning liquor bottles into candles for a while but never could find the time to practice and learn how to cut glass. With the world at a standstill, I used the time to perfect my craft. In November 2022, I decided to host classes & teach others the art of candle making all while enjoying themselves. From November 2022 to March 2023, I hosted weekly candle-making classes at several venues across the Queen City that eventually turned into the Charlotte candle-making experience offering a 2-hour candle-making class with drinks, hookah, music, and games! Every week I would hand cut and hand sand hundreds of recycled bottles in my brother’s garage, pack up my truck and head out to a venue to host and give an awesome experience. Recently in March, I found a home for Top Shelf Candle Co, a 2,500 sq warehouse that I’ve reconstructed to offer the Queen City a venue for my small business to grow and to also spotlight and collaborate with other local small businesses! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Managing and growing a small business definitely hasn’t been a smooth road but very rewarding! Struggles along the journey were a part of the process. Time management was a constant struggle in the beginning; packing a candle class & entertainment into a 2-hour class had to become almost 2nd hand most days; I would have back-to-back classes, sometimes at two different locations! But I’m thankful for friends stepping in to give a helping hand; without them, the process wouldn’t have been so easy to navigate. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Top Shelf Candle Co?
Top Shelf Candle Co doesn’t just specialize in Top Shelf Candles; we like to show that everything we do is top shelf! From our weekly candle classes, our signature drinks, custom hookahs, private events, etc. We are also passionate about supporting local businesses and artists. Through our collaborations, we have the opportunity to combine candle making with other special activities fully utilizing our 2,500 sq ft warehouse! Some examples of previous collaborations include yoga classes, photography, food tasting, fashion show, and more. 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is providing an experience like nowhere else! The hard work put in to hand make our candle vessels and to host 2-hour candle classes weekly is so rewarding and brings me joy when I see customers come to support us on special occasions like first dates, girl’s nights, date nights, birthday parties, and more. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://topshelfcandlesco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topshelfcandlesco/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TopShelfCandlesCo/
• Other: https://g.page/r/CUf3nBK65YM6EB0/review