State

Candle Capital Moore County now has three thriv¬ ing* producers of caudles; latest is Everglades. By MARY EVELYN DE NISSOFF Recently, while America was caught up in the successful moon landing of Apollo 1 1. the Everglades Candle Cor¬ poration. of Pinehurst. was engaged in a race of its own to develop a new "lunar light" candle which would simu¬ late moonglow. At last report the process was still in the developmental stage. The "lunar light*' project, nevertheless, is typical of the brand of imagination and energy which have propelled the Pinehurst firm's products to quick nationwide acceptance. In its second year of operation, this infant industry is experiencing a growth that is truly phenomenal. This was the word used by the corporation's president. Joseph E. Kureth, who then modestly retreated into the qualifica¬ tion — "in a period between the first six months of 1967 as compared to 1969. the increase in volume (of sales) has been a real surge.'* OPERATING liln packogmg machine ot E»cr- glodci Condlc Corporation, Pinehurst (in let» foreground1 it Brenda Kureth. Kate Martin holds one of the finished candles. Film packaging is о process where the candles arc wrapped in о light, transparent substonce. The machine heat- shrinks this wropping onto the condlc. — (Photos by 8. Oonold McKenzie, Pinehurst, N. C.) Everglades Candle Corporation is one of three candle manufacturers in the Sandhills area. The other well- established businesses are Carolina Soap & Candle Makers and Pinehurst Handmade Soap & Candle. Inc., both located six miles away, in Southern Pines. Gift Candles But the making of gift candles — colored, scented and packaged in novel and attractive ways — is now quite standardized, as Mr. Kureth pointed out. and the marketing outlets arc con¬ stantly increasing. The main market for Everglades products, he said, are the florists. So many florist shops, formerly specializing only in the sale of flowers and planus, are now adding gift lines to their floral businesses. Everglades supplies retail and wholesale florist ac¬ counts. Selling is done through contract agents, in much the same way authors market their works to publishing houses. Representatives in the trade visit the various candle manufacturers to sec what's going on and to service their accounts. Started in Kitchen Like many novelties which start small, catch the public interest and expand into larger businesses, the Everglades Candle Corporation had its beginnings in Mrs. Kureth's kitchen. Brenda Kureth. who was then Mrs. Brenda Vigil, started one Christmas making candles in her kitchen and shaping them attractively to give as presents to friends. Joe Kureth. who was at that time Purchasing Agent for Proctor-Silex Corporation in Southern Pines, became interested in this gift idea and after their marriage, the two started the Mini-skirted Dcboroh Boggcll • l«f* > ond Fronces Stewort rcmo»c condles from mold. actual business in a one-room shack near Vass. Kureth is a native of Balti¬ more. The Everglade Candle business was incorporated in the State of North Carolina in September. 1966 and Bren¬ da and Joe arc still active in the making of the candles they sell. Joe is president of the corporation, Туе C. Drinkart is vice president and Mary Z. Grover is secretary. All the officers arc Southern Pines residents. Old Poultry Plant Headquarters where the candles arc made is far from glamorous, especially Dye-miiing is done by Ed Goins, foremen, of E«crglodcs Condlc Corporation. I 2 THE STATE. OCTOBER 15, 1969