The Shane and Pepper Candle Company is committed to bringing light

Lansdale – Behind the brick wall and windows that will soon open, on one of Lancedale’s busiest streets, the city’s newest business is taking shape.

On the ground floor of 307 Derstine Avenue since early May, a sign on the outside window was the first hint of who is in the process of settling in: the Shane and Pepper Soy Candle Company.

“These are the best candles in town as well as in America,” said founder Shane Papini, stroking his dog for mobility Pepper.

Shane and Pepper Soy Candle Company originated in 2016 as a fundraiser for Shane and his family to raise funds to purchase Pepper through the nonprofit organization 4 Paws for Ability. Currently a seventh-grader at Penndale High School, Shane suffered a stroke in newborns, was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and the idea of ​​making candles was natural.

“The idea of ​​a candle came about because he loved to light candles when he was a kid. It just brought him peace of mind, ”Shane Marie’s mother said, and Shane added,“ I just love candles. It’s amazing, it’s really beautiful. “

“Last year, Shane said, ‘Let’s make candles.’ And he wanted to bring … ‘said Marie, and Shane finished,’ light into the darkness of men. ‘

After adding Pepper to the family in 2019, fundraising became an official online business in 2020, and the family opened a showcase on Broad Street in 2021 before the young CEO and his family learned about the spot at first floor Reporter building, owned since 2019 Brian Derbyshire and now his home Derbyshire Marine Products. Reporter offices are now on the second floor.

A hint from Victor Ikoruk, a distributor for the neighbors Pinnacle Ridge Distillerymade Papini’s family think about expanding the space, and what was once a conference room and circulation offices Reporter are now being converted into a production facility, floor of the showroom, as well as office and warehouse space for Shane and Pepper.

“The shopping district will be here and the cashier up here. The offices will be there, and then my office, and then my mother’s office, ‘said Shane, pointing to the front, then to the east wall, then to the back of the first floor.

“Actually, it’s going to be a shelter – Mom doesn’t have an office, we need more storage than Mom needs an office,” Marie said as they joked about whether the floor plans had been finalized.

Shane and Pepper are currently working from a former conference room that has been converted into a production room, with an eye-level window, perfect for visitors to peek in and see the candle-making process at work. All candles are made using 100 percent natural soy wax without additives, which is vegetarian-safe, biodegradable, sustainable and burns clean: “instead of black smoke, there is white smoke,” Shane said.

Next to the workshop will be an expanded production area, where Shane plans to hire other employees of different abilities, and the key attractions will be available ground floor with plenty of parking. Once they are fully occupied, he plans to guarantee coverage (50 cents) of the cost of on-farm parking across the road for customers picking up orders, and is already thinking of new signs on the front wall and flowers to plant near the main entrance.

“I guess you could say I’m a prodigy in business,” he said.

Inside this workshop are still shelves and pallets full of ready-made candles and the various ingredients needed to make them. Online orders can be made now, and Shane and Pepper offer dozens of flavorsmostly based on pet names.

“We have the Royal Fluff, we have the Bark Matthews Band, Pup of Joe, we have Tail-or Swift – she came up with it,” Shane said, rolling his eyes at his mom, who listed more names, including number I have 99 problems, and the dog is not one and big paws.

Part of the proceeds from each sale is donated to a local nonprofit, and its newest partner is Philadelphia Eagles Autism Foundationthat Shane said it’s special because he has a brother with high-performance Asperger syndrome, and for whom he will bring a few boxes of candles to Lincoln Financial Field this weekend to sell in person as a fundraiser. As soon as the order arrives, Shane or his parents check the shelves for stocks, if necessary do more, pack in a box and pack and then ship and they received orders from Alaska during a visit on Tuesday they fulfilled an order for Philadelphia and one pickup order .

“We’ve been asked to ship to Canada and India, but we just need to find out how,” Shane said.

Each order is issued with a business card, a copy of their history, and tied with a bow stamped with Pepper’s paw print. At the moment, most of the site is still under construction, but Shane is looking forward to the official opening by the end of June, with the hours likely to be after school Tuesday through Saturday and his four-legged friend always be around.

“He also goes to school, so where Shane goes, so does Pepper,” Marie said.

Updates about their renovations are posted almost daily on the company’s Facebook and Instagram pages, as are episodes of Shane’s weekly podcast. Last year, the company raised and donated more than $ 10,000 to local charities and fundraisers, and this year it is aiming for even more.

“I hope we reach $ 15,000 this year,” he said.

Shane and Pepper Soy Candle Company is located at 307 Derstine Avenue, Suite 102; for more information or to order visit the Internet www.shaneandpeppercandleco.comto look for Shane and Pepper Soy Candle Company on Facebook or follow “ShanePepperCandleCo” on Instagram.