Exclusive: We chat with Shining Sol about a new deal for candles in Bed Bath & Beyond, expansion

MANASSAS -- The Shining Sol Candle Company announced plans to put candles in a major retailer and expand its candle-making operation in Manassas. The company struck a new deal with a home décor store Bed Bath & Beyond where customers will find Shining Sol candles at the company's Pentagon City and Fair Lakes stores. Shining Sol also announced plans to work with a yet-to-be-named “legendary and iconic” musician’s charitable foundation. The move would follow company collaborations with rock bands Def Leppard, KISS, and others. The candle company was founded by Bret Michaels Band guitarist Pete Evick. Co-owner Deron Blevins said that working with Bed Bath & Beyond was “one of the toughest things we’ve done, probably the toughest process we’ve been through since being in business.” The candle firm needed specialized software to deal with the big box store in order to implement a process known as EDI -- electronic data interchange -- and needed to use barcodes. Shining Sol's success means the company needs more space. The firm is now renting space in a warehouse in Manassas owned by Buchanan Partners to accommodate increased production – a total of 3,100 square feet. The warehouse is located on Kao Circle in Manassas near Tucked Away Brewing and Osbourn Park High School. Expanding into the bigger space “Jumps them into the realm of not just four pallets, but 22 pallets of materials,” Blevins said, a major increase from their old manufacturing hub in the back room of the company's small downtown shop at 9109 Center Street. The company prides itself on selling soy wax candles with wooden wicks. Since the company's downtown storefront opened in 2016, “business has been very good,” added Blevins. Shining Sol's retail business picked up, and the company began selling wholesale to other stores across the country. The company will also be hiring, with Blevins calling the expansion a “leap of faith, but we have a good team of people.” The expansion will also mean the company will no longer make candles the back room of its downtown shop.  When not on tour with his band, customers can find Evick, a Manassas native in his downtown shop. “It has been so amazing, I couldn’t be more grateful for the time and the acceptance – it’s been an incredibly unique experience. I’ve been all over the world, but there is truly nothing like Manassas. It makes me proud to be from Manassas,” he said.