Patrick and Joe: As featured in the Fort Myers News-Press.

Mini entrepreneurs sell wares at area retail shops
Made in Southwest Florida: Candles
By Laura Ruane
Originally posted on November 04, 2007

It's a stretch to call Patrick and Joe Williams manufacturers,
although they make a product for retail sale.
Since both are under the age of 9, however, they must
rank among Lee County's youngest entrepreneurs.
Their hand-crafted candles are sold in several Lee
County locations, including Calusa Nature Center, TNT
Espresso & Coffee and The Dog Resort.

The Dog
Resort?
No kidding.
Besides dining
tapers and pillars,
the boys'
product line
includes small
candles the
shape and size
of doggie treats
— and wee pillars
with paw prints stamped on a decorative band.
The latter are sold at the doggie daycare and retail
shop on Metro Parkway — and are strictly for human
use.

Prices vary by candle and by location, but appear to
range from less than $1 for the doggie treat-shaped
candle to almost $10 for a 6-inch pillar at the espresso
shop.

The boys, both students at Edison Park Elementary in
Fort Myers, launched their business during summer
break. Since then, Patrick estimated they've made at
least "a couple of hundred" beeswax candles.
"Dad told me how he used to make candles," said 8-
year-old Patrick. "I asked him if I could make candles,
too." Before long, he and 6-year-old brother Joe had set up
shop in the family dining room.

No risky melting is involved. They hand-roll flat panels
of beeswax to create such fanciful shapes as butterflies and dog bones.
"It's kind of easy. You've got to roll them straight, and
make sure you put the wick at the top of the candle,"
Patrick said.

That kind of enterprise so young is "just awesome,"
said Deanna Burgess.
She's a co-director of The Money Game summer business
day camp at Florida Gulf Coast University, and
an associate professor in FGCU's College of Business.
"I think children
can have an
entrepreneurial
spirit early on,"
Burgess said,
mentioning
youngsters who
make necklaces
to sell to their
friends. "But it's a
little stronger
when they've got
product in stores.
"Obviously, they have a lot of support from home,"
Burgess said, adding: "They can't drive."

Proud dad Ralph Williams said it was his sons' idea to
turn their candle-making into an ongoing business. He
acknowledged doing something similar as a youth, but
said it was on a much-smaller scale.
"My parents had a restaurant in Horseshoe Bend, Ark.
When I got bored, I'd go to the Hallmark (store), buy a
sheet or two of beeswax, make a candle — and sell it
at the restaurant."

Beeswax candles have been used for centuries. They
are still preferred by many people because of their
slightly sweet, natural aroma and clean burning.
Properly made, they last a long time, according to the
Williams brothers.

The first part of the business name, Franchild Candle
Co., suggests the brothers won't be content for long to
just make and sell candles. Indeed, dad Ralph Williams said the family is using the
candle company as a springboard to launch a "franchise-
like business," in which other children can get
involved.

Starting with the beeswax candles, the new, beethemed
offerings include Franchild Jewelry (Royal Jelli
Jewels) Franchild Soap Co. (Honey Soap) and more.
For details about Patrick and Joe Williams' enterprises,
email Ralph Williams at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it