Kalamazoo Candle Company next up in entrepreneurship speaker series

Contact: Alyssa Benson
Photo of Adam McFarlin, the owner of Kalamazoo Candle Company.

McFarlin

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The owner of Kalamazoo Candle Company will be the next speaker in the Entrepreneurship Forum speaker series at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business.

Adam McFarlin will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, in 2150 Schneider Hall. The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059 or at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. Free parking is available in Fetzer Center Lot 72F.

Kalamazoo Candle Company and Adam McFarlin

Kalamazoo Candle Company began in October 2013. Founder Adam McFarlin started making candles in his free time, was fascinated by the process and eventually decided to sell them. The company now produces a variety of different sized and scented candles and even teaches others how to make candles through their classes. Everything that goes into a candle from the brand is made in the United States, and the company prides itself on being focused on simplicity in both design and ingredients.

Kalamazoo Candle Company won the Makers' Mart competition at Catalyst University in 2017 and currently sells to more than 150 retail stores in seven states. The company also exports to Coupang.com, a South Korean company.

McFarlin has a master’s degree in music performance from WMU, as well as a bachelor’s degree in music education. Prior to starting Kalamazoo Candle Company, he worked for a variety of nonprofits primarily in the fundraising area.

Entrepreneurship Forum

Entrepreneurship Forum is a monthly series sponsored by BlueOx Credit Union and hosted by WMU's Haworth College of Business. The forum brings stories of entrepreneurs and startup success to the greater Kalamazoo community. To learn more about the series, visit wmich.edu/business/entrepreneurship-forum.

Future Entrepreneurship Forum Speakers

  • Feb. 9, Kevin Romeo, founder, Rhino Media
  • March 16, Roxanne Leder, owner, Decadent Dogs

For more information or to RSVP, call (269) 387-6059 or register at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. To suggest an entrepreneur who should be considered for the series, contact Alyssa Benson at alyssa.benson@wmich.edu.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.