IKE LOA CANDLE CO.

Another NEW VENDOR ALERT, and we are on a roll with another young male entrepreneur!

Please help us welcome Levi to the ‘Ike Loa Ohana!

Although “welcome” is kind of funny because we’ve known Levi for years. Levi was actually one of Connor’s very first friends, so we’ve had the privilege of watching him grow up, which makes this one extra special.

And I know it probably seems like we know all of our vendors personally…and that’s because we literally do! That’s kind of the point!

Whether they’re right here in Oakdale, across the ocean in Hawai‘i, or somewhere in between, there’s a connection and a story behind the people and businesses we choose to bring into ‘Ike Loa. We like it that way. It makes everything on our shelves feel a little more meaningful.

And there is nothing more inspiring than watching young entrepreneurs take something they’re interested in and turn it into something of their own.

So when I saw Levi had started his own business making magnets, I immediately knew I wanted him to make some for us! Thankfully, he was gracious enough to say yes.

Now you can find Levi’s magnets right here at ‘Ike Loa!

So while you’re browsing candles, self care, jewelry, gifts, and all the other good stuff, take a peek at his magnets too. Supporting a young entrepreneur’s first chapter is a pretty cool thing to be part of.

And for us, there’s something especially full-circle about watching one of Connor’s first friends grow up and now getting to put something he created on our shelves.

Welcome to the vendor side of the ‘Ike Loa Ohana, Levi! 🌺🌺🌺

IMPORTANT UPDATE!

I’m so sorry, but I completely forgot about a prior engagement we already had on October 11th, so we are moving our One & Only LIVE Sale to Sunday, October 18th at 5 PM!

Now…how does this work?!

This is a ONE TIME, LIVE, One & Only Event.

What does “One & Only” mean?

Every single item we show is ONE OF ONE. There is only one available, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Each piece is as unique as the person who gets it!

And yes…Tito and I will be LIVE.

Which is already terrifying because going Live feels a lot like joining a Teams meeting and realizing you’re the only person with your camera on. So honestly, that alone may be worth tuning in for.

We apologize in advance for any awkward pauses, talking over each other, Tito wandering off, me forgetting what I was saying, or any other weird moments that occur. 😂

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

Tito and I will go through each One & Only item individually. Every item will have its own number, and we’ll show it, tell you about it and give you the price.

When we say GO, the FIRST PERSON to comment “IT’S MINE!” gets first claim to that item!

Once we confirm your claim, send us a DM with the item number and Tito will send you an invoice.

Your “IT’S MINE!” holds your spot, and the item officially becomes yours once your invoice is paid. This just keeps everything fair and keeps the Live moving smoothly!

If payment isn’t completed, we’ll simply move to the next person who claimed it.

Local? Pick it up at the store.

Not local? Easy! Shipping is just $4.95.

And if we show something and absolutely nobody says “IT’S MINE!”?

We will simply cry and move on through the tears. 😂

There are no duplicates and no restocks of these pieces. When one is gone, we move right along to the next One & Only!

It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s completely unpredictable, and considering Tito and I are doing this LIVE, there is a very good chance it will also be mildly chaotic.

Grab a drink, get comfortable, get those commenting fingers ready and JOIN US!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18TH • 5 PM

One night. One Live. One of each.

See you there…assuming we figure out how to actually go Live. 😂

(Yes, it’s the Golden Girls theme song!)

What an amazing season! 🥹
Mahalo to Oakdale Morning Market for another incredible year!
We were fortunate enough to be part of 12 markets this season, and what a season it was!
12 markets meant…
⏰36 Market hours
🍓 17 pounds of fresh fruit
🥐 An uncountable number of pastries, although whatever that number was, there definitely wasn’t enough guava involved. 😉
☕ 12 coffees
🥂 3 mimosas
🎶 12 singers serenading the crowds
💍 4 new jewelry pieces (because obviously)
🔔 24 rings of the bell
🚗 42 trips back and forth to the car
🤗 1,000 hugs (I made that number up, but it seems legit!)
🐶 27 dog-petting sessions
🎄 1 Christmas yard sign
🕯️ 556 candles sold
✨ 372 body oils sold
🚙 201 car diffusers sold
🤍 92 brand new members of our Candle Ohana!
And the one thing we could never quantify? The incredible community that shows up week after week, making every single market worth it.
Behind every one of those numbers is someone who stopped by our booth, shared a conversation, supported our business, or brought a friend to meet us.
To the organizers, fellow vendors, musicians, and every single person who came out to support the market, mahalo for another beautiful season.
We are so grateful to be part of a community that continues to show up for small businesses, local makers, and one another.
13 markets. Countless memories. One very full heart.
Market season may be over, but you know where to find us! We’ll see you at the store, market goers! 🌺

Last Monday, I was supposed to speak to our youth entrepreneurs about wholesale, but unfortunately, I was sick!
While this conversation was intended for our young makers, I believe every maker and small business owner can benefit from it.

Now that market season is ending, how do we continue selling and growing beyond weekend markets?

That’s where wholesale comes in!
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned over the years is this:

Wholesale = they invest in your product.
Consignment = you invest in their ability to sell it.

With consignment, you’ve paid for the materials, labor, packaging, and finished product. The retailer hasn’t purchased anything, yet you’re carrying the financial risk. They are essentially asking you to finance their inventory.

With wholesale, a retailer invests in your products because they believe in what you’ve created. They have skin in the game! They’re motivated to merchandise, promote, and sell that investment.

Wholesale isn’t a retailer doing you a favor by carrying your product. It’s a business transaction between two businesses.

Consignment can work for some (especially when you sell any item you don’t physically make), but we’ve chosen not to accept it. We believe in partnerships where both sides have something invested.

The right wholesale relationships can open incredible doors! You don’t have to open 10 storefronts to have your products in 10 stores.
But we’ve also learned that being busy and being profitable are two very different things. Knowing your numbers and choosing the right partners matters.

These are simply lessons we’ve learned along the way. Every business is different, and what works for us may not work for someone else.

The goal isn’t just to get your products onto more shelves. It’s to build a sustainable business that can continue growing.

The unfortunate truth is sometimes the biggest value is in saying no!

Back in Stock!! Monoi Oil + Macadamia Oil is BACK! Tito will have it at the last Morning Market and we will have it back at the store and online!

One of the most meaningful gifts we’ve ever received was our very own Girl Scout Patch for candle making! 🤍
I came across this little treasure today, and it instantly made me smile.
Yes, we keep all the things. The notes, the cards, the handmade gifts. Because they truly do matter to us.
We never take for granted the time someone takes to make something for us or simply share a few kind words.
These little treasures remind us that our little shop is about so much more than candles. It’s about the people, the connections, and the memories we make along the way.
Mahalo for giving us so many reasons to smile. ❤

Happy Aloha Friday!
I’ve been moving a little slower this week thanks to being under the weather, but we’re still making our way through all those refills!

Our diffuser oils are officially RESTOCKED! This will be the last refill, so if you have a favorite, now is the time to stock up!

Tito will be at the LAST Morning Market this weekend, so make sure to stop by, say aloha, and show some love to our local vendors!

And can we talk about this weather? The temperatures are finally starting to drop, and it’s almost feeling like fall around here! Just in time to fill your home with all those cozy fall scents.
Mahalo for keeping us busy, for your patience this week, and for continuing to show ‘Ike Loa so much love. We appreciate every single one of you!
Have a beautiful Aloha Friday!

THE ADVENT CALENDARS ARE BACK… AND THIS YEAR, WE WENT ALL OUT.

If you know, you know.

Our Advent Calendars sell out every single year, and this year we created three completely different ways to count down to the holidays. Three boxes. Three very different surprises. And every single one is packed with over $400 in value for $150.

This is the kind of holiday shopping we like.

BOX ONE | HOUSE OF ALOHA 12 DAY ADVENT

Twelve days. Twelve surprises. And a beautiful collection of curated jewelry from House of Aloha.

Every box is different, which means even we don’t know exactly what everyone will open. What we do know? Each calendar is valued at over $400.

BOX TWO | ‘IKE LOA 12 DAY ADVENT

Twelve days of self care, little luxuries, and ‘Ike Loa favorites.

The kind of calendar that makes you actually look forward to opening the next day. A little something for your body, a little something for your soul, and a very good excuse to take some time for yourself.

Over $400 in value.

BOX THREE | ‘IKE LOA 24 DAY ADVENT

For the person who wants a little something every single day.

Twenty-four days of ‘Ike Loa self care and surprises to carry you through the holiday season. Because December is busy enough. You deserve something that is just for you.

Over $400 in value.

$150 EACH. $400+ VALUE.

And here is the important part:

PRE-SALE OPENS OCTOBER 1 AT 10:00 AM.

These are PRE-ORDER ONLY and will be available for pickup Saturday, November 28, just in time for the holidays.

No discounts. No points. No exceptions.

And once they’re gone, they’re gone.

We say this every year, and every year we mean it: don’t wait until you see them in the shop. Get on the list.

Set the alarm. October 1. 10:00 AM.

Because “I was going to order one” is not going to feel very good when they’re sold out.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered our giveaway! We loved seeing all the entries and cannot wait to do more of these!

, CONGRATULATIONS! You and your friends have won a FREE Fall Workshop at the shop!

Get ready for candles, fall scents, good friends, and a whole lot of fun. We’ll see you at the shop!

Thank you for being part of our ‘Ike Loa Candle Co. Ohana! Please message us for details.