For the past several months, a frequent question from customers at the Zippo/Case Museum Store has been when the Northern Lights candle products would make their debut in the unique facility at 1932 Zippo Drive in Bradford.
Staff and visitors had that question answered Thursday with the opening of the Northern Lights candle display near the front entrance of the Zippo/Case Museum. The community is invited to a public premiere of the display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. A number of specials will be available to the public with their purchases during the two-day event.
The inclusion of the Northern Lights Enterprises products at the museum is the result of Zippo’s acquisition of the Wellsville, N.Y., company in January, said Kathy Jones, Zippo retail marketing manager. In addition to Northern Lights, the Zippo portfolio includes W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., manufacturer of handcrafted knives since 1889, and the Ronson family of products for the United States.
Northern Lights, founded in Wellsville in 1978 by company COO Andy Glanzman, has grown to become a leading designer of luxury candles and artisan-made accessories across the United States. The company ranks as a leading candle company in the country.
Glanzman, who attended the employee premiere of the Northern Lights display at the store, said he had designed the area which contains the company’s products. Candles with unique designs, fragrances and names such as “Whiskey and Tobacco,” “Windward” and “Esque” can be found on a large, layered wooden table and white shelves with a Scandinavian flair accented by brick walls. The company’s logo can be seen on the wall and shelves, as well.
“I’m super thrilled that Zippo is the new owner” of Northern Lights, Glanzman said. “We had six companies that were very aggressive in trying to buy us … but this was the only local one, which was a deciding factor for me.”
Glanzman said he is also happy that his company continues to operate, thrive and grow in Wellsville.
Bruce Gallagher, Zippo’s senior vice president of human resources, said the company is excited that Glanzman is “carrying on the tradition” of the Northern Lights company in the area. He said Don Hall, CFO of Zippo, was instrumental in the acquisition of the company.
Glanzman, who began making candles in a garage in the 1970s and gradually created the business over the years, said his company strives to make the least amount of impact on the environment with its products.
“Most of our vessels have a repurposing attribute,” Glanzman remarked. “We try to source from responsible places to make sure our wax is coming from the right place, our wicks are all cotton and our fragrances are done with as much natural ingredients as we can find.”
For example, the “Flower Garden” candle, after melted, has a seed pod at the bottom.
“After you burn the candle down, you put soil (in the pot), add the seed disc and you can grow an herb garden and a flower garden right in your kitchen,” Glanzman explained. “That’s part of the repurposing.”
Jones said the combined products of businesses within the Zippo family “all complement each other” at the store.
“Of course there are are Zippo candle lighters which they need to light the (Northern Lights) candles,” she said in providing an example of the complementary products.
Kyle Kleiderlein, store manager, said the business has received steady inquiries about Northern Lights in past months.
“Ever since Zippo announced earlier this year that they acquired Northern Lights, we’ve had visitors pop in almost daily looking for the products,” Kleiderlein commented. “And then as soon as we began renovating the space we’ve had tourists coming in from out of town and from all over the country asking about Northern Lights.”
