David Straub, Co-Founder, was featured in the Pursuit of Profit Podcast. Episode 74 is LIVE!
In this episode of Pursuit of Profit, hosts Cliff and Justin sit down with David Straub, the co-founder of Cork & Candles, to explore how he turned a family candle-making tradition into a fast-growing franchise business. David’s entrepreneurial journey spans seven different companies (three of them franchises), setting the stage for Cork & Candles’ unique blend of creativity and commerce. He shares how a passion project rooted in family history evolved into an experiential retail venture that’s delighting customers and attracting franchise investors alike.
A Family Tradition Turned Thriving Business
Cork & Candles began as a family-owned candle-making experience born from three generations of craft. David and his son Kenny opened their first location in 2021 with a simple mission: create an inviting space “where friends gather.” What started as a tribute to David’s late father’s candle-making hobby quickly proved to be a hit. Guests weren’t just buying candles; they were making memories. The warm, social atmosphere – complete with BYOB wine and a hands-on craft – struck a chord with the community. After the success of their first store, the Straubs opened a second, then a third location in short succession. With each new opening, David confirmed the concept was repeatable and in demand, reinforcing that this family tradition had real franchise potential.
Experiential Retail: More Than Just Candles
Walking into a Cork & Candles “scent bar” feels more like entering a cozy DIY workshop than a typical retail shop. Customers become creators, guided step-by-step by trained staff (appropriately called Chandlers) to blend fragrances and pour their own custom candles. The experience is immersive and social – friends, couples, and coworkers bond over selecting scents and perfecting their candles while sipping their beverage of choice. “We are in the hospitality business, not just the candle business,” David emphasizes, underscoring that delivering a great customer experience is the top priority. This experiential model gives Cork & Candles a competitive edge in the retail space: you can buy a candle anywhere, but making one yourself in a fun group setting is a rare treat. The result? Rave reviews, repeat visits, and customers who share their experiences on social media, driving organic growth. In an era where consumers seek out activities and memories, Cork & Candles is tapping directly into that experience economy.
Franchising as a Growth Strategy
With multiple successful locations thriving in the Philadelphia area, David saw franchising as the key to scaling Cork & Candles nationally. Drawing on his prior franchise experience, he knew that a strong playbook and support system could empower others to replicate this concept in new markets. “The concept is fun, and after our first store opened, then a second and now a third, we knew we had a repeatable model,” David explains. By franchising, Cork & Candles can grow faster without sacrificing its high standards for guest experience. New franchise owners receive training in everything from candle-making chemistry and inventory management to creating that signature welcoming atmosphere. Franchisees don’t need to be chandling experts – they just need a passion for people and a love for community gatherings. Cork & Candles’ team provides the rest, from a proven operations process to marketing playbooks. This approach lowers the barrier to entry for franchisees and ensures that each new location can deliver the same memorable experience as the originals. It’s a win-win: entrepreneurs get a turnkey business model in a fun industry, and the brand expands its footprint far beyond what the Straubs could do alone.
Diverse Revenue Streams & Scalable Economics
One of the most exciting insights from the episode is how Cork & Candles makes money by blending retail with recreation. Each studio offers multiple revenue streams that make the business model both profitable and scalable:
- Interactive Workshops: The core 90-minute candle-making experiences (often $50+ per guest) generate significant revenue for each location. With groups of friends filling seats, a single session can yield impressive sales, and many locations run several sessions a day.
- Retail Product Sales: In addition to workshops, each Cork & Candles studio has a retail component. Guests often purchase additional pre-made candles, fragrance oils, DIY kits, or gift items on their way out, adding to the ticket total and boosting profit margins.
- Private Events & Partnerships: The brand capitalizes on special occasions and corporate partnerships. Birthday parties, date nights, bachelorette outings, and team-building events are frequently hosted in-store. These group events not only bring in larger up-front fees, but also introduce new customers who often return with others. Corporate gifting programs (custom candle orders with company branding, for example) create another lucrative avenue, especially during holiday seasons.
By diversifying income sources, Cork & Candles locations aren’t reliant on a single product line or season. This diversity improves financial stability and scalability. For instance, when workshop bookings are lighter on weekdays, retail sales or corporate orders can pick up the slack. And because the cost of materials (wax, wicks, fragrance) is relatively low, the profit margins on each candle experience are healthy. David notes that focusing on experience and quality allows them to charge a premium price, which customers are happy to pay for the unique outing. All these factors combined make Cork & Candles an attractive franchise opportunity with strong unit economics in the emerging experiential retail niche.
Looking Ahead: Expansion & Key Takeaways
Cork & Candles is just getting started. With three company-owned studios and their first franchised location already operating, David Straub has his sights set on nationwide expansion – an initial target of 250 locations in the coming years. The excitement from both customers and franchise investors indicates that this goal isn’t far-fetched. The company is building a community of franchisees who share a passion for creativity and hospitality, ensuring the brand’s core values carry through every new venue.
✅ Key Takeaway: In today’s market, experience is a currency. Cork & Candles shows that by creating a memorable, hands-on customer experience, a small family business can scale into a national franchise brand. Whether you’re an aspiring franchise owner or just love innovative business models, this episode is packed with insights on marrying passion with profit.
📌 Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to hear David’s story and learn more about Cork & Candles’ franchise journey!