Life & Work with Melissa Smith of East Palestine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Smith.

Hi Melissa , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Inspired in 2004 by wanting to create a product that supported agriculture, sustainability and community the first candles were conceived, melted and poured in the kitchen of our c.1820 farmstead home that has been in our family since 1919. We are also 4th generation farmers and stewards of the land. Many of our fragrances and collections are inspired to this day by historic elements of the house, the natural landscape and the music that fills the home and production studio where we craft our candles.

We sold antiques and candles from our home and at artisan shows until 2009 when we moved into a brick + mortar storefront where we started to build our brand identity. We utilized talents of local design professionals and created our unique letterpress signature packaging style we are known for today. Cranky Pressman of Salem, Ohio utilizes historic methods of letterpress to help us with our cap design, bags and custom die cut boxes that give our candles the extra unique touch. Our candle lines received their first national exposure with being in West Elm Markets and Anthropologie around 10 years ago. After that we launched into building our wholesale stockist presence that we have in states all across the US. Instagram played a large role in assisting us to share our story, our candles and we post daily even including some of our “celebrity” cows that have become part of our candles + cows tagline. We have also launched in partnering with Lib’s Market, artisan coffee roasters from Salem, Ohio to roast a specialty line of coffee we carry in our shop called Farmer’s Daughter.

My daughter Sidney Smith Diaz has worked along side me from the very beginning. She is now a co- owner of the business. My husband Michael Smith has helped with his lifelong carpentry skills to develop a production studio where we pour candles daily and a cozy retail space in our historic building that was built in East Palestine around the mid 1800’s. Our company is celebrating 22 years of business this year. We have 3 o us working full time and 2 part time employees one of which is my mother!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road. We encountered the recession of 2008 to which we discontinued our antiques and went strictly with the candles, focusing on good brand design, affordable candles and beautiful website design where candles could be purchased online by Sourballpython of Salem, Ohio and Instacopy printing affordable label elements.
Things then took a turn again with the Covid-19 pandemic. We turned to focusing on incresing our online presence and found in fact a lot of people were burning candles while cooped up and working from home.. We received a grant from Fedex at this time which assisted in creating professional shipping boxes to elevate that part of our business.
Lastly in 2023 we had the massive train derailment that impacted our community for several years after. We were determined not to let that bring us down and pushed forward with good communication, taking advantage of State Economic Loans / Grants and honestly had an outpouring of support by our existing customers, clients and people all across the country that just wanted to help. We are grateful for that. Our business was one of the stops that President Biden came to when he visited our town in 2024. I believe that is the first time a sitting president had visited our village in it’s history.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have always been a creative, music oriented person. The fact that I have been able to tie that into my business with the packaging design elements, the shop and studio design has really allowed me to satisfy the never ending ideas that I have. The latest thing that has become a large part of my life is helping my father with the farming operations. With my husband, we are restoring not only the historic home but the outbuildings and keeping the agricultural end going. We have a little over 30 head of cattle and it makes me feel accomplished to be able to do both that plus run a full time retail / wholesale business.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
We recently had our products inluded in a Paramount Plus promotional box that was sent to influencers all over the country.

In addition to having my business I’m also involved with the East Palestine Community Foundation and the Community Improvement Corporation working towards beautification and economic development projects for our Village.

We receive numerous visitors from the Postcard Cabins Getaway by Marriott Bonvoy in Beaver Creek that are a short drive from us. https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/pitbc-postcard-cabins-beaver-creek-outdoor-collection-bonvoy/overview/

Lastly we are proud to donate to many Charitable causes so each purchase in some way helps others. I believe deeply in giving back.

Pricing:

• Our candles range between 12.00 and 36.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.1820co.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1820house/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1820co