How large is the U.S. market for candles?
It’s huge! In the U.S., consumer retail sales are currently approaching two billion dollars annually, not including candle accessories. Since the early 1990’s, the industry has been growing at a rate of ten to fifteen percent annually, with even greater growth in the past two to three years. Candles are sold principally in three types of retail outlets: department stores, specialty (gift) shops, and mass merchandisers, including pharmacy chains, supermarkets and discount stores. The U.S. market is typically separated into seasonal (Christmas holiday) business at roughly 35%, and non-seasonal business at about 65%.
