Owners Karima Bassalé and Rand Roedell were inspired to open Relume, an artisan candle-making company specifically focused on providing work for refugees, from their time volunteering with the World Relief Refugee Resettlement Agency. Karima and Rand decided to get involved when they heard the initiative making its way to Thurston County, and have since then developed long-lasting relationships with the people they assisted.
A significant issue they found is that many refugees have trouble entering the workforce. Karima describes watching her friends trying to find work: every attempt led to a dead-end. This first-hand exposure to the difficulty many refugees face in securing a job has contributed to her passion for alleviating the situation.
A joint effort, Rand describes how the idea for Relume was ignited when he was brainstorming Christmas gifts for his daughter. “I did a Google search for candles, and came across this company out of Tennessee that’s been around for 20 years, and they hire women who’ve been victims of domestic violence and trafficked to make candles,” shares Rand. “I was moved by their story and thought my refugee friends could make candles even if they can’t speak English.” Together, Karima and Rand have been steadily gaining structure and business as they approach their work with the simple intention of helping others.
Community Support Behind an Olympia Small Business
Despite only having begun production in October, Relume has made quick progress in spreading their mission. “It was July when we officially incorporated with the state as a business, and it was October 6th that we actually started production,” Rand explains. “Before we started, we set a goal that by the end of the year, we wanted to ship 840 candles, and we hit just over 1600 by December 31st.”
Rand emphasizes how grateful they are for the support they’ve received from friends and other businesses in the area. Relume’s candles are featured in a variety of spots around town, from The Ally Hair Bar in Lewis County to Mi Luna Cuban Cafe in downtown Olympia, reflecting how much local brands have rallied around Relume to increase their visibility and production.
Another unique aspect about the company is their emphasis on ethically-sourced ingredients and materials. “The glass is recycled from Spain, the wicks are made from cotton, so lead-free and zinc-free, and we use natural soy wax from US-grown soybeans,” Karima shares. “The jars are reusable, so after you burn your candle, you can reuse it for anything. This is fun to put like pens and toothpicks in.”
One of their key values is sustainability, pertaining not just to the candle-making process, but also their work culture. Since Rand and Karima both have day jobs, ensuring they work from a point of rest is incredibly important to them. “Rather than quitting our day jobs, blowing a bunch of money, and hiring a bunch of people and doing something that might not be sustainable, we’ve instead made this commitment to start small and grow as the business grows.”
Thinking Beyond Candles to Increase Refugee Employment in Olympia
Relume has received great feedback on their candles, though they wish to expand their products to increase the number of available work opportunities. “Our passion isn’t candles,” says Rand. “Our passion is providing meaningful work and employment for our friends, so we’re wondering about the different products and maybe even different businesses outside of candle-making altogether.” They are working to increase candle sales so their current workers, Eiman and Maguno, can have more hours.
The business aims to open up their team soon, numerous friends and community members already having donated their time and effort to move operations forward. For example, when deciding on candle scents, Karima highlights the range of people involved in this integral period of the project. “Rand and I made a bunch of candles in the summer, and we had about 40 or 50 people, whoever was coming into my house, I would get their vote on the top three scents. So it really has been a community-driven thing since the beginning,” shares Karima.
Inspiring Olympia Residents to Reignite Hope in the Community
Relume means to “reignite” or “relight,” which aligns with their central desire to enrich the lives of friends and family through shared support and community building. “We were convinced that we could do something and therefore we should,” shares Rand. “Part of what we want to do is inspire other people to reignite hope as well. Everybody can do something.”
Entering the candle shop everyday relights hope for themselves as well, besides the refugees they have offered positions to. “I see them take ownership over their work and develop some of those soft skills that they wouldn’t while being at home,” shares Karima. “So seeing them gain confidence in the workforce is a huge gift for me.” She’s seen Eiman and Maguno’s position in the workforce grow. Even if it isn’t on a large scale, with each candle they make, the company strives to show people they have the ability to create change.
For more information or to order candles, visit the Relume website.
