During the summer of 2014, Dillon Adams felt the way many 12-year-olds feel as the days of
summer vacation stretch on: bored.
There are plenty of ways to beat that boredom, but Adams had something more entrepreneurial in mind.
In his spare time, he began thinking of business ideas, and eventually settled on one in particular. D’s Creation’s, known for manly scented, environmentally friendly candles, went from a hypothetical to a reality.
“I wanted to do something unique and different from other candle companies,” says Adams, now 13. “If I want to make money, I should give back to the environment.”
His candles are made with all natural soy wax and have renewable, wood crackling wicks. Nothing goes to waste when it comes to packaging, either. Since his father often drank out of soda cans, Adams decided to use empty cans to hold the candles. He recycles the lids and donates the tabs to charity.
But that’s not the only quality that sets apart D’s Creation’s from other candle companies. Deciding to defy the stereotype of candles that smell like flowers or fruit, Adams came up with more “manly” scents such as leather and imitation cologne.
He has nine scents to choose from. Surf’s Up, which reminds Dillon of Florida and the ocean, is a current customer favorite.
Though Adam’s scents are targeted toward men, they aren’t the only ones buying the candles.
“Believe it or not, it’s mostly women buying them for their husbands,” he says.
Children also get excited about the unique scents.
Each candle costs $16.13 and can be ordered online at www.4dscreations.com or at markets such as the New Albany Farmers’ Market, where Adams will have a booth set up on July 9 and July 25. He has also had success selling them at school.
Adams balances his passion for business with other hobbies such as camping, biking and playing basketball for the Wellington School. Even during the school year, he finds time to work on candles in his downstairs workshop.
“I try to get most of my homework done on the bus,” he says.
Adams usually dedicates Fridays and Saturdays to making candles.
A set of four can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, but luckily, he has some help from his mother, Ann, who assists with accounting, and his 8-year-old brother, Lewis, who loves math and likes to do inventory.
Adams hopes to continue expanding his business. His goals for the future include being part of the Home and Garden Show, selling his products in stores and eventually franchising out to different states. He plans to earn a business degree in college.
So far, D’s Creation’s has proven popular with customers, who appreciate the distinctive qualities of the candles. Dillon recalls one of his favorite moments from selling them.
“I was at the New Albany Farmers’ Market, and this kid ran up and said, ‘Oh my God, Mom, I need one for my room!’ The mom joked, ‘You really need one…your room stinks!’”
