spotlights
Dee Milton
FROM A CANDLE-MAKING KIT TO A GROWING KANSAS CITY BUSINESS
For Dee Milton, owner of The Kansas City Candle Company, a lifelong love of candles turned into much more than a hobby. It became a passion, a source of income during an uncertain time and, ultimately, a growing Kansas City business.
Milton has loved candles for as long as she can remember. Growing up, decorative candles were always part of her room, and when she got her own place, candles naturally became part of her home and décor.
But it wasn’t until 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that she decided to try making them herself.
After a child at her twins’ daycare tested positive for COVID, Milton and her family were tested. She and her twins were positive, which meant spending 14 days at home. With time on her hands, she finally ordered a candle-making kit she’d had her eye on for months.
“And it was a wrap,” Milton said. “I absolutely fell in love with it. I actually became obsessed with it.”
She started making candles for friends, family and coworkers. Before long, people weren’t just complimenting her creations — they were offering to buy them.
Milton realized she might have the beginnings of a business.
She launched Creative Expressions by Dee, began participating in vendor events and started selling her products through Etsy. Business was going well, but it wasn’t until an unexpected career setback that Milton saw just how important her candle-making venture could become.
In 2022, after 15 years with her employer, Milton left to pursue a new career opportunity. Just three months later, she lost the new job — a week before Thanksgiving.
With three children and bills to pay, she had to figure out what came next.
“Then I’m like, duh, you have this candle stuff, so just do that,” she recalled.
And that’s exactly what she did.
From November through February, Milton participated in more events than she ever had before. Her candle business helped carry her financially until she returned to work. The experience also convinced her it was time to take the business to the next level.
In March 2023, she officially rebranded as The Kansas City Candle Company.
Learning, Growing and Getting Better
Milton is quick to acknowledge that building the company has been a learning process.
She has spent countless hours researching, testing and refining her products to create candles that smell good, perform well and look great.
She can even laugh about some of those early attempts.
“I personally probably would not have bought the first few candles I sold,” she joked.
But those early products also show just how far she’s come. Milton learned that candle making involves much more science than she initially realized, and she’s committed herself to understanding that science and producing quality products.
That commitment to improvement is part of what makes The Kansas City Candle Company special to her.
Finding Support in Unexpected Places
One of Milton’s biggest lessons as an entrepreneur had little to do with making candles.
She had to learn that the people closest to you aren’t always the people who will support your business the most.
“I think one of the hardest challenges I overcame as a business owner is accepting that your biggest supporters will be strangers,” she said.
Initially, it was difficult seeing people she knew support major candle retailers while seemingly overlooking her small business. Eventually, Milton learned not to take it personally and instead focus on building her company and appreciating the customers and supporters who believed in what she was creating.
Her children have also become an important source of motivation. They’re often curious about what she’s making, eager to smell new fragrance oils and proud of what their mom has built.
“I put so much love and care into everything I do, and when it’s noticed, it makes me want to keep going,” Milton said.
Finding a Partner in PBA
As Milton continued building The Kansas City Candle Company, Prospect Business Association became an important part of her journey, providing resources and opportunities she says would have been difficult to access on her own.
PBA has helped Milton develop a clearer vision for the company’s operations, explore new marketing ideas and gain access to financial planning resources. The organization has also helped give The Kansas City Candle Company citywide exposure and connected Milton with people who could become valuable resources as the business continues to grow.
But for Milton, PBA’s impact goes beyond business resources.
“PBA has been moral support as well,” she said. “I appreciate everything Simone (Curls) and Chris (Kelly) have poured into me and overall how much they believe in me and are rooting for my continued success.”
That combination of practical resources, connections and encouragement has given Milton another source of support as she looks toward the next stage of her business.
Advice for Other Entrepreneurs
Milton encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas — but to do their homework first.
“Go for it, but be smart about it,” she said.
That means researching the industry, creating a realistic plan and finding a mentor who will offer both encouragement and constructive criticism. She also cautions entrepreneurs against becoming too focused on what competitors are doing.
Most importantly, Milton says business owners need to protect themselves and what they’re building by making sure their businesses are properly established and have the appropriate legal protections in place.
She also wants new entrepreneurs to understand that the journey can sometimes feel lonely.
“Be prepared to possibly go on this journey alone,” she said. “Being a business owner will open your eyes to things you were previously blind to.”
What’s Next for The Kansas City Candle Company?
Milton isn’t slowing down.
The Kansas City Candle Company is preparing to have its candles sold at four Made in KC locations, expanding the brand’s reach to even more customers across the metro.
The company is also booking private, small-business and corporate candle-crafting experiences. Beginning in January, Milton plans to offer one-on-one candle-making coaching for people interested in starting candle businesses of their own.
It’s a fitting next chapter for an entrepreneur whose journey began with a candle-making kit during quarantine.
What started as curiosity became a passion. That passion became an unexpected financial lifeline. And today, it’s a business Milton continues to build — one candle at a time.
Visit their website and follow on Facebook at The Kansas City Candle Company and Instagram at @KC_Candle_Company for upcoming markets, events and company updates.
Goldie Benz
EVERY STITCH IS ABOUT MORE THAN A GREAT-LOOKING PRODUCT—IT'S ABOUT EARNING A CLIENT'S TRUST
Founded by Goldie Benz, GoldenWorks is a newly launched B2B embroidery company serving businesses across the Kansas City metro. The company specializes in bringing corporate brands to life through embroidered logos on apparel and accessories, caps, patches, appliqué, multi-location designs and specialty techniques including 3D puff, metallic and variegated thread.
While GoldenWorks may be a new business, Benz’s connection to the craft goes back much further.
She learned sewing, quilting and embroidery at an early age from her mother, whom Benz describes as a wonderfully creative teacher. Her work began with heirloom designs and one-of-a-kind embroidered keepsakes before eventually evolving into something bigger — an opportunity to use those same skills to help businesses showcase their brands.
“I feel compelled to treat every order as I would want it for myself,” Benz said.
That philosophy is reflected in the GoldenWorks tagline: “Your Brand. Beautifully Executed.”
Turning a lifelong creative passion into a growing business, however, has required Benz to learn much more than embroidery.
One of her biggest challenges has been making the transition from individual projects to larger corporate orders. With that growth comes tighter production timelines, greater expectations around turnaround and a need to deliver consistent quality across every piece.
“The stakes rise quickly,” Benz said. “Production timelines tighten, consistency becomes non-negotiable, and the expectations around quality and turnaround shift to a business-level standard.”
It is a transition she says has stretched her in the best ways — and one she has not had to navigate alone. Benz credits Prospect Business Association (PBA) with helping her bridge the gap between being a personal creator and becoming a business operator.
“PBA has been instrumental in bridging it,” Benz said. “Their mentorship, resources and hands-on guidance have helped me strengthen my operations and grow with confidence.”
That experience has also shaped the advice Benz offers others considering entrepreneurship: understand that loving the work is only the beginning.
“Do your research,” she said. “Understand the real capabilities, costs and demands behind the work you love. Passion is essential, but entrepreneurship requires wearing every hat — from operations to finance to marketing — and that isn’t always glamorous.”
She also encourages entrepreneurs to seek out organizations and resources designed to help them grow. “Know the resources available to you and use them boldly,” Benz said. “They exist to help you succeed, and you don’t have to build your business alone.”
As GoldenWorks continues to grow, Benz wants the company to distinguish itself through the level of care it brings to every client and every project.
GoldenWorks doesn’t view itself as simply another vendor producing branded merchandise. Benz describes the company as a “steward” of its clients’ brands — protecting how those brands are represented whether the job involves one polo or an entire corporate rollout.
Through consistency, partnership and attention to detail, the goal is to allow clients to focus on what they do best while GoldenWorks makes sure their brand is carried forward beautifully and faithfully.
For Benz, that brings the GoldenWorks story back to where it started: craftsmanship, trust and taking pride in every detail.
Because whether it’s one piece or hundreds, every stitch counts.
Visit their website and follow on Facebook at