Some businesses choose a location because it is practical. Others become inseparable from the place that inspired them.
For Catskills Candle Studio, Greene County is not simply where the candles are made. The Catskills are reflected in the company’s nature-inspired scents, design, product stories, and brand identity. As demand has grown, founder Nicole Andrick has remained committed to expanding the business where it began—hand-pouring every candle in Tannersville while building a nationally recognized brand.
That connection to place developed naturally. Andrick and her husband and COO of the business, Jason Pontillo, had been living in New York City before purchasing a home near Tannersville. During the pandemic, candle-making began as a creative outlet at their dining room table rather than as a planned business venture.
Andrick brought years of fashion and design experience to the work, a career she continues to maintain.
“I wanted to marry my city design background with nature-inspired mountain smells,” she said.
She envisioned a premium, design-forward candle at an attainable price point, made with high-quality essential oils and botanical scents that felt clean and authentic.
Campfire + Fir, now the studio’s bestselling scent, combines Fraser fir with a subtle note of smoke. Andrick describes it as “the scent of the Catskills.” A limited-edition Kaaterskill Falls candle pairs its scent with a historic image of the landmark, connecting the product directly to the place that inspired it.
As interest in the candles grew, the business quickly outgrew its cottage-industry roots. When the couple was offered commercial space on Main Street in Tannersville, they initially planned to use it primarily for production and order fulfillment. Customer interest soon led them to add retail hours, turning the studio into both a manufacturing space and a downtown storefront.
While their business has benefited from Tannersville’s year-round tourism activity, the Catskills Candle Studio is proving to be a destination in itself. A 2025 Elle Decor article, “9 Candle Shops Worth a Plane Ride,” describes the studio as creating “candles that capture the essence of upstate New York—earthy, clean, and comforting” and the candle makers as rivaling the “world’s best noses.”
“We love that some find us on their travels here and that others visit Tannersville because of us,” Andrick said.
MarthaStewart.com editors selected its Blue Spruce + Snow candle as a holiday favorite in 2025, while numerous regional publications have also featured the company’s products and growth.
Behind the storefront, the company has become a growing small-scale manufacturer. Catskills Candle Studio produced more than 14,000 candles last year and is on pace to produce more than 23,000 this year. Every candle continues to be hand-poured.
Wholesale is now the company’s largest source of revenue, with more than 80 retail accounts. Its candles are sold close to home and in markets including New York City, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest. Wholesale represents approximately 60 percent of total sales, with online and in-studio purchases accounting for about 20 percent each.
The pace of that growth has been deliberate. Andrick was cautious about taking on more business before the company had the staff, processes, and production capacity to meet demand without compromising quality.
“We had not wanted to grow until we were ready,” she said. “We were afraid that the quality of our candles could suffer while we tried to meet the demand. We feel like we’re now ready.”
The company now employs a full-time Production and Studio Manager, helping Catskills Candle Studio increase output while preserving the hands-on production process that built its reputation. The studio also plans to round out our staff with a Candle Production Assistant and a Retail Associate.
The studio’s candle-making workshops have created an additional source of business. Approximately 600 people participated last year through sessions held at the Tannersville studio and off-site events for corporate groups, hotel guests, private parties, and other organizations.
As production and wholesale demand continue to rise, additional space remains one of the company’s most pressing needs. But Andrick is clear that expansion does not mean leaving the mountaintop.
“Staying in Tannersville is important for us,” she said. “It is our home. We love it, and we believe in it.”
If you want to learn more about how to Make It In Greene, check out our free helpful business guides and contact the Invest In Greene team by email or phone at 518-719-3290.
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Topics: Success Stories
