Nic Bianchi, Bianchi Candle Company, with a few of his products.
When most fourth graders were mastering multiplication and division problems, Nic Bianchi was busy designing a logo for his future business. After creating leather and wood products in an effort to satisfy his hunger for all things entrepreneurial, Nic moved into fifth grade where he developed a catalog, hired two sales reps, and began selling used Oriental Trading toys at recess. “I knew I wanted to do something big,” Nic says. But everything changed in 2014 when he received a candle making kit for his twelfth birthday. Nic, who was now a sixth grader, began making candles with his father that night. A self-professed lover of science and math, Nic was immediately hooked on the process of creating the best, all natural soy candle in the industry. A short time later, Bianchi Candle Company was officially in business.
Boosted by advice from his sixth-grade teacher who told him that no matter how bad things might become in life to always hold his head high, Nic sold his first candles in a local boutique in 2014 and created an LLC. By 2017, he had increased his presence in the marketplace and launched a fundraising division. In 2019, Nic auditioned for the popular television show, Shark Tank, launched his products in Hy-Vee, and went live on Amazon.
Today, Nic has a commercial space and team of four who help him create a line of products that include the Wild Worksmen, the first candle he developed at age twelve, the Yes You Can candle designed to inspire others to have a “yes you can” mindset, and the Original Bianchi Candle (Bianchi means white in Italian) that is focused on home décor. Candles are poured in batches of six or seven and take typically 24 hours to cool and set. His wide array of scents include chai tea, lavender lime, sandalwood, sweet orange chile pepper, fresh brewed coffee, spring rain, and a variety of emotions such as joy, hope, and kindness that gently remind us that life is a gift not to be taken for granted.
Nic with his products.
Nic, who is a typical high school junior who loves hanging with his friends at the lake, attends class until 12:30 every weekday and then heads to either his commercial space to develop new ideas and make candles or to meetings where it doesn’t take him long to convince vendors that a seventeen-year-old has what it takes to run a successful business. Along the way, Nic says the biggest lesson he’s learned is that no matter what is thrown his way, he can always persevere. His future plans include majoring in some form of business in college, perhaps in San Diego.
As every business owner knows, learning is part of daily life. A year ago, Nic didn’t know how to manage a landlord relationship that includes rent, utilities, and a host of other unknown challenges. “I’ve discovered running a business takes a lot of hard work, but I love it when big things happen because of our hard work and focus,” he adds. When asked what one word best describes his life today, Nic answered, “Fulfilled.
Bianchi Candle Company
Nic advises anyone who wants to pursue their passion in life to “go for it, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Surrounded by an incredible support group that includes his parents, friends, and other entrepreneurs who mentor him, Nic has already discovered that owning a business offers wonderful rewards that include valuable life lessons that he can carry forward into the bright future that awaits him.
Jeff Bezos, Chairman and CEO of Amazon, once said, “You don’t choose your passions; your passions choose you.” Nic is an example of what one young man can do when he embraces his passion, walks through his fears, and creates a company that, in its own way, makes the world a better place.
For more about Bianchi Candle Company or to order products, click here: https://bianchicandleco.com.
Vicky DeCoster is a Certified Life Coach based in Omaha, Nebraska, who specializes in helping her clients both locally and nationwide to move past obstacles, create a plan for happiness, and cross the bridge of transition to find a new and fulfilling direction in life. To read more about her and her practice, visit her at crossthebridgecoaching.com.
