Displays2go Customer Spotlight| NaturalAnnie Essentials Latest

A Candle Bar in Bridgeport

NaturalAnnie Essentials began as a bath and body skincare brand. Today, it's a full candle company with a home base in Bridgeport, Connecticut: Connecticut's first Candle Bar, which opened in January 2022.

The idea came from listening. Annie noticed that her customers wanted something more than a product on a shelf.

After COVID we realized that people didn't just want to buy beautiful candles. They wanted experiences, connection, and something fun to do.

So she built a space for exactly that. Guests can shop her handmade soy candles or pull up a seat and make their own. The Candle Bar hosts public candle-making experiences, birthday celebrations, date nights, private parties, corporate team-building events, and community workshops.

"It's been an exciting shift from simply selling a product to inviting customers to become part of the creative process," Annie says.

Opening that first Candle Bar is the milestone she's proudest of. "I did not see this coming when we first started," she says.

Reinventing Yourself, Again and Again

Annie is the first to say that a story like this isn't a straight line.

Imagine making no money one week and still having to plan for the next event that's still not even guaranteed…WILD!

She's navigated changing customer habits, rising business expenses, and the pandemic. Some things didn't go as planned, and some decisions were tough. What got her through? "What keeps me going is believing in what we've built, listening to our customers, and being willing to adapt."

Back on the Pop-Up Circuit

Annie stepped away from pop-up events around 2019. When she decided to return in 2026, she knew she wanted to show up differently.

"Instead of simply setting up a table to sell our candles, we wanted to bring the candle making experience directly to people!" she says.

She shared her vision with our team, and we helped her find the right display solutions to make it work, including a portable counter with a custom wrap graphic, a retractable banner stand, and a Dandelion Series pegboard display stand with shelves.

The new pop-up experience launched in late summer 2026, and the response has been amazing. Guests love stopping by, getting creative, and making their own candles on the spot. Event organizers love it too. They get an activity that gives attendees a reason to stay longer and enjoy the event.

"It's been exciting to see how something as simple as rethinking our setup has opened the door to new opportunities for our business," Annie says.

As a small business, you don't always have the luxury of a beautiful storefront or a marketing budget, so sometimes your display is your storefront.

What Annie Would Tell Other Small Business Owners

We asked Annie what she'd say to someone choosing a partner to grow with. Her answer starts with vision.

"It's important to partner with someone who sees your vision, not just your current size," she says. "When we started working with Displays2go we were operating out of my garage!"

She also believes the relationship has to work both ways. "I also believe in building genuine relationships, support should go both ways and never feel like a burden." Her advice is to find companies that value your business, offer solutions that can evolve with your needs, and are genuinely excited to see you succeed.

Where to Find Annie

Visit their website at naturalannieessentials.com or follow on Instagram @naturalannieessentials

What's Next

Annie doesn't pretend the next chapter is easy. "Our next chapter is SCARY, and thinking about it makes me so uneasy, but we're dreaming big."

Her focus is on growing the brand, expanding its reach, and creating more opportunities for people to connect, get creative, and make lasting memories. "We've come a long way, but we still have a lot more to do."

We're cheering her on, as we have for eight years. Thank you, Annie, for letting us be part of it.