PF Candle Co. and SNUG.STUDIO

Some time ago we started to exchange ideas with other small and medium-sized companies all over the world. We believe it is the best way to learn from each other and to support each other. Actually no pioneer work in the age of Instagram, Facebook and Blogs, etc. It is great to bring our products together and see how well theyfit together! It's fun to make new photos of each other’s products and to interview the other creatives and business owners.

Today we are pleased to introduce you P.F. Candle Co. P.F. Candle Co. is a small candle company based in Los Angeles, founded by Kristen Pumphrey in 2008. From 2 people, P.F. Candle Co. has grown to a big family with 11 people and a dog! All the work is done manually in the Los Angeles Arts District, where the studio is located. At SNUG.STUDIO, we have been following P.F. Candle Co. for a couple of years. We actually have a lot in common. Even if our products are different, they are really complementary. We both focus on quality products by creating clear, minimalist and classic items. The materials are simple and pure: paper and wood for SNUG.STUDIO, domestically grown soy wax, cotton core wicks and fine fragrance oils for P.F. Candle Co. By the way - our favorite scents are hill country and sweet grapefruit – it feels like summer and we are waiting for it! At the moment it smells so good in our studio – and we love that natural scent!


1. Kristen, how do you feel when you are looking at your success so far?
I feel very lucky and also excited for what the future may hold. We're excited to not only create a great product for our customers, but to create a good place for our crew (and ourselves) to work.
2. We have something in common: Your husband joined your company in 2013, five years after you founded it. SNUG.STUDIO was founded in 2010 by Berit and Kerstin – this year Berit’s husband came aboard. What is it like for you to share both private and business life?
At times it can be challenging - we don't spend a lot of time apart! But ultimately, it has strengthened our personal relationship. There’s no time for game playing - clear and honest communication must be had in both business and personal. It’s been really rewarding - as somebody who has made their job their passion, it often doesn’t feel like work, and even more so when I get to spend my time with my best friend.
3. What are the major obstacles you have overcome as a company?
We had a very rapid growth over the past year, and continue to grow. It was hard to get distributors and manufacturers to take us seriously. Often, our distributors would be sold out of our jars, lids, fragrance - and we had nothing to do but wait or scrap something together. What we’ve really learned is to never settle for too long - you have to always be on your toes and ready for possibilities. We never assume that someone will be watching out for us and have exactly what we need - we work for it and ensure there are backups each step along the way.
4. What is your daily office routine? Which tasks consume most of your time?
Every morning when I come in, I burn incense or sage and light some candles. I check on my plants and then prep for the day. A lot of my day is comprised of emails and boring office tasks: accounting, doing our books, checking our social media, and running payroll. But I do get to do fun stuff every day: shooting photos for our social media, working on creative projects like new scent or product development. The tasks that consume our time the most are larger projects that can’t get completeled quickly. Larger projects, like collaborations or large orders from our national retailers, often involve several different companies and it will take a while to get everybody on the same page. It’s the time when it would be easier to have everybody in the same room.
5. How do you get inspiration and ideas for new scents?
We like scents that are inspired by places and memories - or sometimes both. Scent is such a powerful trigger, it can transport you, not just make it smell good! Our most recent release, Hill Country, was inspired by the area surrounding Austin, TX - cedar, sage, and a hint of yellow rose. Our business was founded in this area, and Tom and I met there, so we wanted to pay homage to that special place for us.
6. What are your wishes for 2015?
We are excited about releasing a few new scents and products, but we are very excited about moving in to a new studio facility. We are hoping that this will allow us to release new items and collaborations much more easily because of the larger space. We will finally have room to store product, raw materials, and have a workspace.
7. What is your favorite item by SNUG.STUDIO?
I love the beachwood candle holder, of course! The design is so sleek. The Chevron cutting board is also a favorite.
8. Have you ever been in Germany?
I visited once when I was 17, but just passing through, so I would love to visit again for a longer time (please give me your tips!)
Thank you very much for this very nice collaboration!