A
fter 20 years
as a narcotics
detective, Anthony
Barravecchio’s
career lit a new
flame—he became a
candle maker!
Barravecchio’s Sugar Creek
Candle Company began in late
2011. For the first few years,
business operations were handled
in the founder’s basement. In
late 2013, Barravecchio moved the business to a small
storefront and manufacturing location across from
Stewartsville Elementary in North Huntingdon.
Barravecchio and his wife, Caryn, have lived in North
Huntingdon for 12 years.
“I decided to open the business because my wife was
laid off from her teaching job,” he says. “Luckily she was
brought back to her job just six months later, but by this
time I already had things rolling—so I had two full-time
jobs, and things stayed that way for almost six years.”
At one point, Sugar Creek was in more than 120 retail
shops. Today, the product is available in over 30 stores,
and the company focuses on retail through its website
and Amazon sales. Barravecchio also attends and sells at
numerous vendor shows throughout the tri-state area to
build his brand.
Sugar Creek Candle Company offers multiple sizes of
jarred candles in a variety of scents, in addition to wax
melts. “We sell a high-quality 100-percent soy candle
product that is far superior to the name-brand products
on the market for half the cost,” says Barravecchio.
Sue Cable assists Barravecchio as store manager. “We
wouldn’t be where we are today without Sue,” he notes.
“She has been instrumental to the business.”
Since the very beginning of his business, Barravecchio
has continuously given back to the community. “I’m a
very BIG proponent against the drug problem we have
in this country, and I feel the best thing I can do both
personally and as a business owner is offer my time as
a youth football coach and a board member in youth
wrestling,” he explains. “In addition to supporting my
own children, I try to take every kid under my wing and
try to help them become good sportsmen—but more so,
a better person both on and off the fields of play.”
Sugar Creek has raised
money to purchase body
armor for the new K-9 officer
Zargo with handler Sgt.
Kari Bauer. The company
did an annual sales promo
last October called “Save a
Pear,” which culminated in
Bed Bath & Beyond purchasing
5,000 candles from Sugar Creek
to be sold in 41 of its stores.
Because of the success of those
candle sales, Sugar Creek sent a donation to Little Pink
Houses for breast cancer patients.
“We donate toys to all the local schools for the needy
and have a fundraising program to help organizations
and schools raise money to aid any financial
shortcomings within the schools,” says Barravecchio.
“It’s important I do what I can to give back to my
community, and I’m glad my company has these kinds
of opportunities to do so.”
His future plans include continued growth through
social media marketing, SEOs and vendor shows. He
also hopes to add small gift type shops to the company.
Sugar Creek Candle Company is located at 40
Carpenter Lane in North Huntingdon. The store is
open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit sugarcreekcandlecompany.com or search the
company on Amazon to view available items. n
NORWIN ❘ WINTER 2019
9