Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Mitis & Dia Jones.
Hi Jill and Dia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Ryan House Candles was founded in 2021 in the Heart of Fort Worth, by Jill Mitis and Dia Jones. Looking for a creative outlet during the COVID-19 shutdown, they had plenty of time to test, test again, and create. Jill had prior candle-making experience and has been perfecting the craft over the last five years, a passion she has passed on to Dia. They started out slowly, testing the market with hard launch in October 2021 at Christmas in Cowtown in Fort Worth. Since then, they have been attending many local events including The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Artisans Holiday Market in Sundance Square, Chi Omega, and Arts Goggle to name a few. Leaning into their Fort Worth roots, we are growing in our wonderful DFW community, and continue to expand. Currently, outside of the festivals, we are available at Ida Mae Homes in Aledo, The Market at Roanoke, The Market at Ridglea, Lawrence’s, The National Cowgirl Museum, and Bass Performance Hall. We are very excited to soon move into a new collective space on Race Street in Fort Worth called Bevy 8.
We enjoy all of our local DFW pop-ups and are so grateful for the support our community has shown our small, local business. We look forward to increasing our presence in the DFW area and finding new ways to make a positive impact in our community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like so many other makers, we experienced the impacts of supply chain slowdowns, and product shortages. We have had to pivot more than once to look for alternative ways to continue forward and still stay true to the integrity and quality of our product. Always looking for a positive, our silver lining is utilizing small businesses’ services our community, helping to support local economic growth.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ryan House Candles is a small, women-owned, Fort Worth local candle company. We are a natural soy candle, with fragrances derived from essential oils, and are carcinogen and phthalate-free, making them safer for you and your family. We are looking for more ways to be more sustainable, and have recently begun testing planters to pour candles into, in the hopes our customers are able to find new ways to enjoy their favorite fragrance AND vessel. In addition, we are always seeking for ways to support local charity organizations, most recently donating a portion of our proceeds to Saving Hope Pet Rescue, in honor of our own rescue family fur members.
We are incredibly proud of the support our community has shown, and so very excited to be a part of the National Cowgirl Museum, and Bass Performance Hall gift shop. Now, visitors can take a little piece of us home to enjoy, wherever they are from.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Jill comes from risk-taking stock, as her Grandmother Liz opened her own home interiors business at age 50! Jill grew up playing hide and seek in their Odessa, Texas store, and watched her grandmother build a life for her family in that space. It’s that rich history of entrepreneurial spirit that makes the risk-taking feel a little less scary. Jill’s grandfather was also a hero to many in Poland, helping to smuggle Polish and Jewish war refugees to safety in World War 2, it’s safe to say, taking risks is in her blood. Dia also has a history of hard-working family members, her dad was a teacher for 35 years, then opened a driving school after retirement. Other family members were accomplished artists and successful business owners to their own rights.
Watching others work hard and find success certainly does not guarantee our success, but it creates a foundation to let us know that it can be done. While any business is a huge risk, venturing out on your own has its own rewards and challenges. The time we had to reflect during the pandemic helped us get in touch with what our goals were, having a small business, growing in our community, and finding a way to use whatever success we achieve to make our community better is what makes taking these risks worthwhile for us.
Pricing:
- $36 dollar candle
- $0 shipping
Contact Info:
- Email: ryanhousecandles@gmail.com
- Website: www.ryanhousecandles.com
- Instagram: @ryanhousecandles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanHouseCandles/
