Justin Burkhardt: The Luminary Glow of Community and Commerce with Warm Glow Candle Co.

When Justin Burkhardt of Warm Glow Candle Co. discusses Richmond's unity and resilience, it's hard not to feel the warmth of his words. Our latest episode is a journey into the heart of a community strengthened by the glow of philanthropy, where candles aren't just a source of light but a beacon of support for local heroes like Officer Seara Burton. Join us as we unfold the fragrant tale of candles that carry the spirit of charity, making a real financial difference to those who keep us safe, and explore how Warm Glow's dedication to giving back is a shining example of businesses igniting positive change.

Navigating the tightrope between entrepreneurship and public service, Justin offers an illuminating look at how a global crisis can reignite passion and purpose. Get a whiff of customer-first philosophy that Justin champions at Warm Glow Candle Store, where every interaction leaves a lasting impression. Hear how his double duty as a city councilman and business owner fuels his drive for tackling social issues and shaping a thriving future for Richmond. This episode is a testament to the power of community-conscious business practices and the art of creating experiences that stick with you long after the candle's flame has flickered out.

Wrapping up with a heartfelt embrace of Wayne County's community spirit, we share stories from the quaint local parks to the Retro Rush Arcade, all serving as the backdrop for life's memorable moments. Justin's personal pastimes and the company's community initiatives remind us that at the heart of any thriving town are the local businesses and the people behind them. From enhancing fragrance lines to enriching event experiences, Warm Glow Candle Company's future plans are steeped in a commitment to community prosperity. Tune in for an episode that celebrates the collective spark that fuels the fire of hometown pride.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:06

And welcome back to our podcast, Our Community. I'm your host, local real estate agent entrepreneur, Alfredo Diamond. I'm sitting here on this rainy day it has been raining the entire day and just hoping to shed some light. Hint hope. Today's guest, Justin Burkhart, Warm Glow Candle Co.

Speaker 2: 0:28

Welcome Justin thanks for having me this diamond class care here hey, I love it.

Speaker 1: 0:34

Hey, thanks for being here, man, I really appreciate being so flexible. Yeah, so I'm, I'm excited about this, and you brought a couple different things today and we'll talk about one here, but this one here, can you, what have you brought here for Kevin today?

Speaker 2: 0:46

Yeah. So as a as a gift, I brought a thin red line candle and it it's got a great fragrance to it. But it's got an even bigger mission, and we do charitable candles all the time. This one, specifically, is a thin red line or kind of recognizing the work of our men and women in firefighting, and it's important for us to realize that we make everything smell good, but at the same time, we got to give back to our community too, and that's what we brought here today. We also have some thin blue line candles that we did not bring here. But you know, it's important that we do good work behind our work as well.

Speaker 1: 1:38

Can you real quick share the story behind the thin blue? Candle and what happened there.

Speaker 2: 1:44

The story behind the thin blue candle and what happened there.

Speaker 2: 1:46

So back a few years ago we tragically lost Officer Sierra Burton and so, like everybody in the community, a lot of people in the community wanted to do something, wanted to give back, wanted to be there in support of her and her family and her law enforcement officer family as well.

Speaker 2: 2:08

And so we did what we knew that we could do, which was make candles, and so some of our team members came together and put together a thin blue line which looks very similar to this one, with exception of the blue color, and we put her badge on some of them, we put her picture on some of them and we sold them to the local community and beyond, with donating a portion of the proceeds to the Richmond Police Department's canine unit, to the Richmond Police Department's K-9 unit, and that totaled $25,000 just in a few weeks. Wow, we were very humbled by that and even just so grateful to be able to participate alongside the community in that, and you know, tragically we lost her, but it did feel like we were contributing and being a part of that journey of grief.

Speaker 1: 3:18

Wow, that's amazing. That's just a great idea for a great cause. And so today you're 25,000, plus that the candles are raised. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:29

So we did that, we gave the police chief the check back then and were able to hopefully stimulate that unit in her memory, that unit in her memory, and so, moving forward, we have created this thin red line, thin blue line and again we'll donate a portion of those proceeds to our local departments to hopefully help them along their budgeting processes and such as our way of giving back.

Speaker 1: 4:09

Wow, that's a great example and great work you're doing within our community and you know great to have you in your business here. So let's get to know you a little bit. So tell me where you're from and where you went to school.

Speaker 2: 4:21

Yeah, so I was born and raised here in Richmond and Baxter School, dennis Middle School, richmond High School and then went to graduated from Miami University and my wife, girlfriend at the time, now wife also from Richmond as well, miami University as well. And you know we lived in Cincinnati for a few years after we graduated college and always had this calling of wanting to come back and to be a part of the community. That helped raise us and you know I've had stops at Warnley, at Boys and Girls Club, at Boys and Girls Club, reed, health and Primax and really a lot of that time has been spent in fundraising.

Speaker 2: 5:14

I really felt called to be a part of that and then wanted to see what manufacturing was like and the good group of people there at Primax. And you know I had a long standing relationship with Jackie Carberry, the founder of warm glow, and she reached out to me and and um wanted to gauge my interest in being a part of the company and and maybe a transition opportunity. And so, um, you know my wife and I are so grateful to to to have that opportunity and um you know my wife and I are so grateful to to to have that opportunity. And you know, do not take that lightly and and we'll continue the good works of of warm glow and hopefully be able to expand and make it even bigger than what it is today.

Speaker 1: 6:03

You just don't get those kind of calls every day. I mean, you've inspired someone or left a lasting impression on someone to get a call like that.

Speaker 2: 6:10

That was pretty cool and she's an interesting and a very good person and it really was very meaningful for me and I hope that someday, just like she empowered me, that I can do that with someone else, um, and and also be able to use this opportunity to mentor others as well.

Speaker 1: 6:37

Wow, wow. Justin, can you share what initially inspired you I know you got the call, but what inspired you to take that leap to enter the candle making business and what are some of your biggest challenges you faced early on, yeah.

Speaker 2: 6:49

I think COVID was a game changer for a lot of us and I think that it was very top of mind at that time. And then after that, life can be really short and we're on borrowed time here, and so it's important to do the things that you wanted to do to be where you want to be, to take that vacation, to buy that you know what's it. And, um, that really dawned on me at the time that, um, maybe this is where I'm supposed to be and maybe this is an opportunity where I can change lives. And I looked at it that way and you know, I had made candles before when I worked at the hospital and Jackie was on the board there and beeswax candles at the time and she talked me through some of that candle making and so I had interest in it. But just really, to me, it's all about the people.

Speaker 1: 7:56

Yeah, yeah. You know, as the owner of the Warm Glow Candle Store, what is your philosophy in creating memorable customer experience and how do you think that has contributed to your business's success well, I think.

Speaker 2: 8:08

I think that, um, you know it's, it's pretty simple.

Speaker 2: 8:12

I mean, we're in business for our customers and for that experience and I love um a good leadership book, just like anybody else else, and, um, you know a lot have a lot of books have inspired me over time.

Speaker 2: 8:28

Um, I really enjoy reading about the Savannah bananas baseball team and how they've taken an old sport and a town that baseball never survived and they made it fun and so it's an event while a baseball game is being played. And you know, I think that you can have that mentality of like in your case, you just sell this house or you can have the mentality of I'm making this family's dreams come true. You know whether it's someone's downsizing, someone's having getting another addition to their family, but you are the gatekeeper to that experience and I feel like we have an opportunity every day to change lives of people that come into our store that maybe are looking for a remembrance gift, and we can share that experience with them and be able to send them on their way better than when they came in the door. You know, that's really what it's about. It's about people and about relationships and you know we can take care of the manufacturing and the product, but we have to make sure that we put our customers, our people, first. Is there?

Speaker 1: 9:52

any example or story that you can share briefly that illustrates that that comes to mind.

Speaker 2: 9:59

Yeah, I think we have seen many, many travelers coming off the interstate, being there right off of exit 145. And, and, and they're traveling for different reasons, whether they're it's work, whether it's, you know, they're coming back for a funeral. You know, I, I think that we that almost plays out daily for us, that we can be that pick me up or we can be that that really neat stop along the way. You know, I think it also plays out to you. Know, we all, we all have our cross to bear. We all travel this thing together, have our cross to bear. We all travel this thing together. And and I think that, um, just because of a position we're in or a different profession that we're in, um doesn't mean that we all don't have sorrow. And I think, um, you know, just any time spent picking someone up and helping someone along their journey is important for me and me, and something that we talk about as a staff every day too.

Speaker 1: 11:10

You know you're also a city councilman. What district are you with city council?

Speaker 2: 11:14

I'm actually in the large seat, okay, okay.

Speaker 1: 11:18

So you know, given your role as a, your dual role as a business owner and city councilman, how do you balance the responsibilities and ensure that both roles benefit the richmond community?

Speaker 2: 11:29

yeah, balance is key and, uh, and I don't think you ever really get it down perfectly, um, but when, when bob beaver here in richmond approached me about being a part of city council, I couldn't even fathom the idea, um to be in politics.

Speaker 2: 11:50

Um, but then it really dawned on me, too that it's not really about politics as much as it is about Richmond and um, I can't tell you how many times I told people that there's an R behind my name that stands for Richmond, and because you know, you've got to, you've got to strip the parties aside and you have to make decisions for, in my case, the community that helped raise me, and so, um, it's a balancing act and both are equally important. I'm forever grateful that the citizens of Richmond elected me, and I take it personally to make sure that we're making the very best decisions we can for the next generation and the generation after that. Richmond's such an important place and we have so many great resources here and even more great people, and I feel like every decision is an important decision and, you know, city council is just another opportunity to help change lives.

Speaker 1: 13:09

What do you see as the biggest issue? That that that you see now that you would like to change or or make an impact on evolving that situation.

Speaker 2: 13:19

Well, I think you know it all starts with people, and whether that's finding good work for people, finding food for people, being able to find housing for people, you know, homelessness, it doesn't matter how someone got in that position, it's how we can lift them up, or how someone got in that position, it's how we can lift them up. You know, I think the downtown district here is top of mind for me too, because, you know, there's so much beautiful architecture here. There's so many entrepreneurs here that have a dream, and I feel it's important that we can preserve the architecture and lift up the dreams of the entrepreneurs as well. You know, I think there's a lot of things that are pressing, and I invite you in the community to be a part of it too, because every opinion matters and we are trying to take those opinions and you know, it's not about voting yes or no, it's about finding a compromise to where it can work for everybody.

Speaker 2: 14:35

And, um, you know, and, and that's that's hard, and, and when you have a lot of characters and you have a lot of personalities, that's hard. But that's why communication is so important, and I think it's important for the constituents to realize that, that we got to communicate because, as someone reminded me today, you know, we don't disagree as people. It's about the ideas that we're really agreeing or disagreeing with, and so to be able to maintain that respect, and the human aspect of that, is incredibly important.

Speaker 1: 15:16

Yeah, yeah. One more question then we'll kind of take a small little break, but what are the most valuable leadership lessons you've learned from managing a successful business and serving in public office, and how do they complement each other?

Speaker 2: 15:32

Well, I think, first and foremost, a leader has to not only say but do, and I think that a leader acts more than they speak. God gave us two ears and one mouth. Yeah, um, you know I lead. I try to lead by example. Um, I tried to lead with integrity first. Um, you know, I I feel like just trying to do the next right thing is important. Um, and, and really those decisions don't differ a whole lot from business and from politics, because it's just the content is different, and so we try to be responsible with the business and try to provide an incredibly unique experience for the customer, provide an incredibly unique experience for the customer, all the while we try to make decisions politically with high integrity and transparency as well. You know, people view politics differently and sometimes we have this Washington perspective, but we're Richmond and we have an opportunity to invite the community in and we need to do that.

Speaker 2: 16:51

So I think leadership's important, and leadership can make or break an organization or a council, and some of the greatest things that I have picked up on or learned is you lead by example, and you lead with your heart and integrity and with faith, and things usually work themselves out how it's supposed to be. Yeah, wow, man, you're an interesting dude. I'm so glad that we's supposed to be.

Speaker 1: 17:26

Yeah, yeah, wow. Now you're an interesting dude. I'm so glad that we uh we ever cross paths and uh connect. Today you brought another uh uh token from your from your uh business Wonderful basket here. I just want to put it on display. Hey, thank you for bringing that today. That's an amazing basket. We are actually going to raffle this off later. We'll tell you a little bit more about that towards the end of the show, but I just want to thank you for donating that and we'll do a little giveaway for that later, all right.

Speaker 1: 17:56

So let's talk about community. So imagine that. Or to that person out there that may be looking to move to Wayne County or Richmond specifically you talk about fun places to go, some of your favorite things. I mean, if you had to make a recommendation for you know, a first first date, someone moving here, they've got a date, what would you recommend they do that first, that first, that first date.

Speaker 2: 18:22

Well, that's tough, um, you know I, because we've got we have a lot of great things. I I'd first start with who's. Your hospitality is real and I'd recommend you come here because of the people and um, when you fall down, the people here pick you up. Um, speaking personally, I actually one of um one of our many first dates me and my wife was actually, I think, subway taken to Glenmiller Park. Okay, we have a lot of great restaurants, um gallows is is very much top of mind. Um, but we also have suzy's pizza um shout out suzy's.

Speaker 2: 19:11

For a little bit um. More informal, I guess um. We have three kids, so retro rush arcade um is also a fan favorite Shout out to those guys yeah, they've been on.

Speaker 1: 19:26

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 19:28

But our park system is a great place that you can go and lay a blanket down and eat your food. We have a lot of great restaurants, eateries, bars and not a negative connotation, but legends Southside, great atmosphere to be a part of Shout out legends.

Speaker 1: 19:57

Yeah, I heard we have a great candle place to shop at.

Speaker 2: 20:00

Well, we do it would be a nice tour on a Thursday yeah, we do and where everything smells good and and is inexpensive um, not always, but but um, you know, great country club, um, we multiple country clubs, um, but we've got this is a great place. Um, and again, it all starts with the people and and the heart of the city and and um, you know it's hard when you live here. You kind of can see things differently. But from an outsider's perspective, I got to believe that they can see the genuine people here.

Speaker 1: 20:39

You know, when you're outside of business, what are some things that you personally like to do that you're into. You golf, you bowl, yeah, what do you enjoy?

Speaker 2: 20:47

Yeah, I really like to golf when time allows. I'm terrible at golf yeah, me too. We'll have to go sometime, yeah, but you know, it's really about the people you go with and about you know the fare that you eat and drink while you're in the cart. No, you know the, the fare that you eat and drink while you're in the cart. Um, no, I really enjoy that. I really, I really like um. We live in Reefston neighborhood, so really like walking the dog around Reefston, um, but vast majority of our time is spent running around to different practices and such with our kids, so, yeah, and looking at your, your Warm Glow out there.

Speaker 1: 21:26

You've got some collaborations. There's some. I haven't been out there recently, but I understand just through conversations there's a couple of different businesses out there that possibly talk about your collaborations.

Speaker 2: 21:37

Sure. So we have Warm Glow. We also have Home Decor and More, which is a group of vendors that curate really nice home decor items. We also have a great selection of Indiana wines and beers. Warm Glow is actually on the cusp of releasing our own label beer. Wow, that's cool. So we'll have.

Speaker 1: 22:03

Warm Glow beer. Make sure I get a sample of that, our own label beer.

Speaker 2: 22:05

Wow, that's cool, so we'll have one. Yeah, so, uh, brewlink um out of Indianapolis is um, is beginning to to work on that for us. Um, we have great Indiana wines easily, um, you know some of the reggae wine and such Um. And then we have a great vendor who sells the metal yard art, the Sasquatches that you see in the yards and things like that. And then over to the very West, we have our artisans in Java, which is local artisans that hand make products Elm tree pottery is one that comes top of mind and then we serve Boston Stoker coffee, which is a family owned coffee company from Dayton, ohio. So there's a lot of moving pieces and parts out there, but you know I.

Speaker 2: 22:57

I think the fact that it's family owned is important, and we bring our kids out there and are beginning to teach our kids what it means to work and roll up your sleeves yeah, everybody involved.

Speaker 1: 23:14

Yeah, yeah, so you heard it right there one glow candle company. If you haven't had a chance to make it out to their facility, go check it out. There's a lot to offer. There's some exciting stuff.

Speaker 2: 23:31

So, looking ahead, what are your future plans for Warm Glow Candle Company? Well, we want to continue building on the brand. We want to continue offering the current offerings and even expanding into some of our fragrance lines offerings and even expanding into some of our fragrance lines you know we have the standalone candle, as you see here. But also understanding that you know, maybe you're not a candle person, so you might be a warmer person, you might be an oils person. So to continue on our great fragrances offering and then, just again, curating the most unique items for our customers and then also building off of event experience as well. So we have a wonderful floral person there that we want to get classes up and running on how to make a wreath at Christmas time, okay, how to make a centerpiece for the events that you'll be hosting at your house.

Speaker 1: 24:30

So you know again, it's people first.

Speaker 2: 24:35

We want to have the most unique experience for the customer and we stand behind our product 100%.

Speaker 1: 24:41

Well, I tell you, it's just so cool. And me personally, they all smell good, to me. I never hear anyone complain about your candles. It's just a quality product and it smells man. The smell is just wonderful yeah.

Speaker 2: 25:00

Well, thank you.

Speaker 1: 25:01

Love it, love it. So, thinking about you know I'm sure there's someone out there that that that looks up to you or maybe thinking about man, how can I get into business? Or you know, what advice would you give someone who wants to follow a similar path that you that you've taken? You know, balancing entrepreneurship and also providing public service.

Speaker 2: 25:20

Yeah, I think again, I think you, you know you have to surround yourself with really good people, people that have your interest at heart, people that it's important that you surround yourself with knowledge, experts, and people that, um, are just good people, Um, you know that that's really important. And the other thing is, um, just having the confidence to do it. And so, um, you know, I'm sure, getting into real estate, you know how can I do this. You know, and, and um, why would anybody buy a house from me? And um, but they got to buy a house from somebody, right, and you know. So, I think that, having the confidence, doing your research, you, you have to be very knowledgeable at what it is that you're tackling, and um, and then just doing right by your fellow person, you know, um, but my advice is, if this is something that you want to do, do it because, um, it's so rewarding, um, it'll keep you up at night, yeah, um, maybe a little bit of chest pain, but, um, but it's so rewarding.

Speaker 1: 26:44

Yeah, and we talked about community involvement and loving Richmond, your passion for Richmond, but I want to know what's your why? What gets you up to do what you do day in and day out, juggling dual roles in the community? What's your?

Speaker 2: 27:03

why, justin? I think it's, uh, personally, I think it's it's the people, um, it's the people that depend on me, it's the people that, um entrust their livelihood in me, um, because I feel like this is bigger than me, um, whether it's the business or politics, politics. You know, I don't you got to do this for everybody, and so my why is is that I want to leave this place a better place than when I got it. I want to try to get rid of barriers that I had for other people. You know, maybe there's other people that want to do something like this, that just don't know how, and so maybe I can be that cog to help others. But I feel like, you know, it's a, it's a higher calling that you know, you just got to take care of one another, and I think that's a good life.

Speaker 1: 28:11

Yeah, man, you're a real one, justin, you're a real one.

Speaker 2: 28:15

A real something yeah real something, baby.

Speaker 1: 28:17

Yeah, is there anybody out there you'd like to give a shout out to? Today that helped that, you know, know, they gave you a booster.

Speaker 2: 28:24

they were there to walk with you on your path to get to where you are today yeah, um, uh, the list is long, um, but you know, your, your family, um often is, is that that solid ground? And and that's my family, um, you know, I I told you a story before we went on here and local president of First Bank Richmond, gary Clear. I asked him if he would mind being a mentor for me way back, probably 2012. Agreed and and has helped guide me, um through leadership in Richmond.

Speaker 2: 29:11

Um, I've had a great friend and Bob Beaver, who ultimately got me in politics, um, and and a great friend and Bob Ramsey, who, um has helped me with um the accounting work on a lot of things. Um, you know, um the accounting work on a lot of things. Um, you know, there's so many people, um, so many people that help help you along the way, um, and I think it's important that you try to acknowledge those people too. Um a simple text message, um a simple phone call that says hey, thank, you, you lifted, lifted me up, there's somebody that ultimately got you in real estate.

Speaker 2: 29:46

I'm sure, and man and I and I feel like, um, you need to give them a call, oh yeah, and just say, hey, thanks I'm that guy man, I don't take anything for granted.

Speaker 1: 29:56

Yeah, and I appreciate the relationship I had. I did that. I mean there's a influential guy that got me. He really changed and I talked and I sent him a text and shared it with him that you ultimately changed the path. I did that. I mean there's an influential guy that got me, he really changed and I sent him a text and shared it with him that you ultimately changed the path of my family for generations, like what you taught me and shared with me. It's impacted my life and my family's livelihood forever. Yeah, Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 30:21

Then the important thing is, you make yourself available to do that with someone else, right, and then then it just keeps going and I feel like that's um, that's the secret sauce right there. And so, yeah, the list is long of of the people that have ultimately got me to where I am today. That the truth of the matter is is that this doesn't happen by just Justin, you know the politics thing. It's, um, people that say I got you, you know, and, um, and that's how you know all of us, um, that's how all of us get to the top, and, and we need to make sure we acknowledge and and seek gratitude for that. So, justin, it's been great having you here today, it's been a pleasure. I'm glad we to make sure we acknowledge and seek gratitude for that, Justin.

Speaker 1: 31:05

it's been great having you here today, yeah.

Speaker 2: 31:07

I appreciate it. It's been a pleasure.

Speaker 1: 31:08

I'm glad we got a chance to connect. Just great words of wisdom, great to hear about your involvement in the community and what your wonderful business is doing, successful business is doing. And man, just keep doing what you're doing and we're going to make this place better for sure that's right. What's the address out there?

Speaker 2: 31:22

2131 North Centerville Road, and so that's exit 145 on Interstate 70.

Speaker 1: 31:30

Check out Warm Glow Candle Company. Thank you for watching another and listening to another show of our community. Thank you.