Meet Gabriella Sullivan of Manitou Candle Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriella Sullivan.

Hi Gabriella, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Manitou Candle Co. is entering its 10th year and we’re so excited to celebrate this milestone later this year.

We began pouring candles for a wedding as a creative hobby. Friends loved them and asked for more, so we started inviting people over to help us pour. We quickly realized candle making was a meaningful way to bring people together.

Today, Manitou is a women-owned candle studio and retail shop offering hand-poured candles, candle-making classes, custom projects, and thoughtfully curated goods from other creators.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like any small business, the road hasn’t always been smooth. Running a retail shop, shipping online orders, creating custom candles for businesses, and offering a space where people can gather means balancing many moving parts, each with its own unique challenges. But each is woven into the fabric of Manitou: a place rooted in candle making, thoughtful goods, creative collaboration, and bringing people together. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Manitou Candle Co. ?
Manitou Candle Co. is a women-owned candle studio and retail shop inspired by the quiet beauty of Northern Michigan. We hand pour our candles in small batches using thoughtfully selected, premium materials, including American-grown soy wax and phthalate-free fragrances.

We’re known for our extensive library of nearly 100 scents, candle making classes, and custom candles created for businesses, events, and collaborations throughout Cincinnati and beyond. Our shop also features a thoughtfully curated selection of goods made by small businesses and independent makers.

What we’re most proud of is that Manitou has grown into more than a candle company. It is a place where people can discover something meaningful, gather around a table, and create memories together. Whether someone lights one of our candles at home, joins us for a class, or works with us to develop a custom scent, we want every experience with Manitou to feel thoughtful, personal, and lasting.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was also quiet, observant, and curious about the world. I loved traveling from a young age, which has influenced so many aspects of Manitou, especially the goods we curate from around the world.

Every item in our shop is made by another small business or independent maker, and we believe the things we purchase can carry meaning far beyond their function. You can buy a wooden cooking ladle almost anywhere, but the ones we carry are Fair Trade Certified and help women in Bangladesh support themselves and their families. That sense of connection and purpose has always been important to me and is woven throughout Manitou.

Pricing:

• $32 – glass, 11 oz Manitou Candle Co. candles
• $12 – tin, 3 oz Manitou Candle Co. candles
• $65 – one seat in any of our candle making classes

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.manitoucandleco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manitoucandleco/
• LinkedIn: Manitou Candle Co.
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/manitou-candle-co-cincinnati