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Nested in Roswell, Georgia is the classy and unique experience of WEST + PEAK. A creative and innovative take on DIY candle-making workshops.
This week Jones & Swanson was able to talk with Nicole Dorazil, owner, and founder of WEST + PEAK. Nicole’s talents and creative mindset truly show through her wonderful business, and we’re glad to share a piece of that with you today.
Q1: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
Living on the edge of Roswell in Cobb County, Nicole describes herself as the maker, runner, and social media coordinator; she does it all! She has her husband, Mike, who assists her in many areas at the shop, as well as her two kids and two Maine Coon cats. One of which will soon be a future shop cat at the physical WEST + PEAK location.
In her free time, she loves traveling, boating, hiking, and doing all sorts of outdoor trips. During her time in school, she majored in Biology and later received a master’s in Fine Art.
Q2: HOW DID WEST + PEAK ORIGINATE?
Starting in 2018, WEST + PEAK began as a side hustle as she worked her corporate job for Carter’s in the design department, an industry she had been a part of for 17 years.
Nicole found making candles and body scrubs as a side hobby, but the love from her friends and family for the craftmanship of her candles grew. This in turn caused her to start selling her products online. And after hosting her business online for 5 years, she and her husband Mike decided to open the doors to the physical location just a year ago.
When it came to candle making, Nicole found joy in selecting packaging, scents, and overseeing the production of the product itself. She describes it as a combination of her past in Biology and Fine Art. The mix of chemistry and artistic appeal worked in her favor for making candles and soaps.
Her experience working as Vice President of Design at Carter’s also helped her learn her love for teaching and leading people. Something she incorporates heavily into her guided candle-making class.
The overall feel and aesthetic of the shop is a product of her travels. She wanted a store that felt like the ones she found throughout Europe and in cities like Tokyo. She wanted to bring the aesthetic and quality that you just couldn’t find here, as well as a creative environment. It was a mix of everything.
Q3: HOW HAVE YOU ENJOYED BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY?
Nicole moved here from North Carolina, and she describes the community as outright amazing people.
“… People reach out, I have gotten to meet other small business owners, and I’m meeting people like you! Doing something as a small business owner is so different for the community. Everyone is great at pitching in and helping out! “
Q4: WHAT ARE PLANS FOR THE BUSINESS?
The business itself as Nicole describes it is still multiprong. She has the workshop, her retail front, and she wants to grow her wholesale platform. The next six months are dedicated to growing a wider reach through that wholesale market.
Q5: ANY EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP?
WEST + PEAK is a part of Alive in Roswell, every third Thursday from April through October you’ll find their booth there! As well, they are going to host an Oak St. pop-up market right outside their storefront on June 5th! The purpose of this market is to host similar food and products related to their store theme.
Jones & Swanson is thankful for Nicole’s time during our interview, and as well we all had our very own experience with a WEST + PEAK workshop right at our firm!
