MacGREGOR, Man. – Bill McCaskell likely never imagined 10 years ago that he would be where he is today.
Raised on a dairy farm near Redvers, Sask., he trained to become a minister and youth worker after finishing high school. He then took on a position as counsellor at a school in MacGregor, about 20 kilometres west of Portage la Prairie, Man.
But part of him felt compelled to enter the business world, where he could test his natural talent for promoting products and ideas.
His first business endeavor was an electronics store at his hometown of Redvers. He later sold that business to buy the community’s weekly newspaper.
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As it rolled off the presses each week, the paper offered something tangible to share with the community. The newspaper also offered McCaskell a way to convey ideas and information to the public.
His partner in the venture was his brother, Don. After a couple of years, Don bought out Bill’s share of the business.
Bill worked for several months at the Redvers co-op, but a chance encounter with a worker from a candle supply company in Manitoba triggered the events that placed him where he is today.
After speaking with the worker, McCaskell became intrigued with the idea of owning the candle supply company, located at MacGregor. He soon learned that the owners of the business were willing to sell.
An added perk was the rural location of the venture near MacGregor, a community that he saw as an ideal place to raise a family. Included in the purchase was a two-storey house, situated a short walk from the warehouse where beeswax gets transformed into candles and candle-making supplies.
Provides employment
McCaskell and his wife, Bev, became the owners of Country Lane Candle Supplies two years ago. It remains a flourishing enterprise that employs 25 full-time staff and 20 seasonal workers.
While he misses the excitement and challenge of producing a weekly newspaper, McCaskell said he harbors no regrets about the shift in his career.
“I really liked the newspaper, but I know for a fact that I’m a lot more challenged in the work I have now.”
Part of that challenge is managing a company that sometimes employs as many as 51 workers. Another challenge is finding new ideas to maintain and enhance the appeal of beeswax candles and supplies.
The McCaskells are developing a strategy to get more of their product sold into the United States while striving to introduce new products and ideas each year. One of their latest products is a citronella candle sheet. Once it is rolled into a candle, the product is said to ward off mosquitos as it burns.
Much of the beeswax used at Country Lane Candle Supplies comes from the Prairies. The company uses about 340,000 kilograms of wax each year, making it one of the largest beeswax candle supply company in North America.
About 70 percent of its business comes from catering to the craft industry. After being melted in large vats and fed through filters, the beeswax is dyed and transformed into sheets slightly larger than legal-sized paper. The sheets come in textures that are either smooth, honeycomb or corrugated.
Packaged by hand, the sheets of beeswax are shipped to craft supply stores across Canada and the U.S. That’s no small feat for a company that produces about five million craft sheets each year.
Country Lane Candle Supplies also buys bulk supplies of other products used by crafters to create candles. The company repackages those supplies – such as glitters, scents and moulds – and distributes them into the retail market.
While much of its effort caters to the craft industry, the MacGregor company also makes about 250,000 candles a year. The candles are hand-crafted, resulting in a variety of styles that burn slowly while releasing the sweet scent of honey.
At 31 years of age, McCaskell seems content with his newest enterprise.
“It’s amazing how the pieces fall into place,” he said, reflecting on the events that led him to MacGregor. “When I graduated from high school, I didn’t plan to own a candle company in 10 years.”
Country Lane Candle Supplies website is www.clcs.com/.
