Our Story

My name is Sarah and I own Peace & Quiet Candle Co.

I always say in a joking-not-joking kind of way that I started this business backwards. Most folks that get into a hand-made business start it as a hobby, making gifts for friends, and then slowly selling their wares to more people outside of that circle. Thanks to my retail background, I knew for a long time that I wanted to have a business, I just needed to figure out what it was going to be. When I started seeing cute candle brands from all over North America in my Instagram feed back in 2018, I became interested immediately. And after ordering my first sample kit and making candles on my kitchen island, it was clear that this was my path forward. 

I had my first shot at selling candles in July of that year at our annual, local Busker’s Festival. I started out with just 5 fragrances, including Milk & Honey, Black Raspberry Vanilla and Persian, all of which we still have on our shelf today. I was nervous and excited and would have been happy to just sell a few candles to friends and family. I was surprised and overjoyed when I had sold out of basically everything I had made by the end of the second day. The local support for my new journey was inspiring and motivated me to sign up for just about every local craft market I could find. 

In April of 2019 I joined the Thunder Bay Country Market with a spot upstairs every Wednesday and Saturday. It was so fulfilling to have a consistent space for displaying and selling our candles, to be surrounded by other artisans, and to have conversations and form friendships with familiar faces from our community. By this time, I was also pregnant with my son. I truly grew my baby simultaneously with the business.

We all know what happened come March of 2020 and it truly forced me to look at things with fresh eyes. The focus shifted to online sales and we attended the market when we were able to, depending on the latest COVID rules around retail items. Again, the local support was immense. We had people picking up orders from the house, spent many Saturdays driving around town delivering products that people had ordered, and also started shipping candles across Canada.

In late 2020, it was announced that a new urban market was being developed downtown in the old Eaton’s building. It was set to be a 5 days a week operation, a big jump from what I was used to at the time. After a lot of thought, I jumped in and signed the contract for a permanent spot in Goods & Co. Market in my hometown of Thunder Bay, ON. It was an opportunity I did not want to miss out on, and one I knew I would regret not taking a chance on.

In November of 2021, Goods & Co. opened its doors. Being surrounded by other local small businesses gave me such an incredible sense of community – one I didn’t have making products at home by myself. Having a small team for the first time was a dream come true and was imperative in getting our footing as a full-time retail shop. And of course, getting to connect with our customers on a regular basis quickly became the best part of our day. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I can tell you that it also takes one to grow a business. I am incredibly grateful for all the help I’ve had along the way. From friends who’ve given me feedback on my scents and burned my candles in their homes, to family who have packed orders, stickered wicks, and built shelves with me, to the staff who’ve worked alongside me in my dream shop over the last several years, Peace & Quiet wouldn’t be where it is today without all the hands who’ve helped make it. 

Whether you’ve supported us from the very beginning, or you’re just discovering us for the first time, thank you. Thank you so much for being here and for being part of something we’ve poured so much heart into through every scent, every detail, and every moment.