• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Presidential!We Are Generous!We Are Having Fun!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Entrepreneur Sparks New Business

By Wendy Weichenthal on February 10, 2023

Kimberly Bryant opened her candle business in 2022.

Photo of two candles with two small kitties with white and spotted fur.
Kaia and Rory, two of the cats who inspired this new company, pose with the products.

“I’ve always loved candles and all things that smell great. I did my research on candle-making and ran with it,” Kimberly said. “Essentially, what sets my business apart is a personal customer service experience. Plus, I use all-natural ingredients to make my candles and blend my scents.”

Since opening, Kimberly has branched out to include wax melts along with her candles. Customers can order these products from her website, kittykatcandlesco.com, and pick it up locally or have the items shipped. The re-MARCA-ble store in downtown Marion just started featuring Kitty Kat Candles as well.

A row of candles in Mason Jars with lids in different colors stand next to a basket with small bags of wax melts shaped like cat paws. “My products are made-to-order, so I try my best to have a quick turnaround time,” said Kimberly, “I take pride in the creativity I put into my product, the labeling, the website, and everything else in between. I have always been a very creative person, and being able to have a place to put that creativity to work in a tangible way has been a great experience.”

Making Kitty Kat Candles come to life has been a dream come true for Kimberly.

Kimberly is a fair-skinned woman with long, auburn, wavy hair, brown eyes and a slight smile.
Kimberly Bryant, founder of Kitty Kat Candles.

“I think the moment I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment was when I saw my very first batch of candles, packaged and labeled and sitting in a box… To be honest, I cried a little. It was amazing to see all that hard work and planning sitting there in front of me,” Kimberly said.

Cozy Comfort candles and Warm Apple Pie wax melts are her most popular items. She just started a Valentine’s Day sale on a sale on rose, lavender, and several new floral-scented products for customers looking for a unique, handmade gift for their sweethearts.

Her customers love these products as much as Kimberly loves to make them.

“I ordered a candle first… it smelled great even before it was lit! Then I ordered wax melts. The paw shape is so cute! I recommend these products,” said Sherry Bryant.

“Kitty Kat Candles has some amazing scents. Their customer service is some of the best I’ve ever experienced! I ordered candles and wax melts for Christmas gifts. I will definitely be ordering from them again!” said Sarah Gonzalez.

This 28-year-old has overcome many challenges in her life, including being adopted at 12, being homeless off and on in her adult life, and coping with lupus and Meniere’s Disease. Even with the challenges along the way, Kimberly has pushed through to stabilize her life and become a proud business owner. Kimberly also is taking classes at Marion Technical College. She is working towards an Associate’s in Business Management specializing in Media Marketing. She plans to use what she learns to grow her business.

When moving to Marion, Kimberly experienced a culture shock.

Pink wax molds in the shape of a paw. “Compared to growing up in Collinsville, TX, Marion is huge! My high school was 200 students and two hallways; one for junior high and one for high school. That’s it – that was the entire school,” Kimberly recalled. “Then I moved to Marion and the school is two stories!”

While Marion has felt big after growing up in her small Texas town, she still finds a strong sense of community here as she did back home.

“Marion has that small-town charm. Everyone seems to know everyone, either directly or indirectly, and the community tries to be kind to one another.”

Kimberly is excited about her future as part of Marion’s growing small business community.

“The local business climate has been welcoming,” Kimberly said. “There are a lot of great things happening right now, too. Downtown is picking up, the mall is starting to come back together, and so much more. I hope my business can be a part of these positive changes that Marion has been seeing.”

This young woman is working hard to be a part of the growing Marion business community. Kitty Kat Candles are MarionMade!

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Buckeye Chuck

    2019: NO SHADOW! EARLY SPRING! If it is February 2, it is Groundhog Day and that has special meaning in Marion, Ohio. Since 1979 and for 40 years, by proclamation of the State of Ohio, Buckeye Chuck has been Ohio’s official weather prognosticating groundhog. Buckeye Chuck studies weather patterns, jet stream anomalies, ocean currents…and naps […]Read More »
  • Entrepreneur Returns Home to Be a Part of Marion’s Future

    Katie Grimes’ family has been in Marion for generations. She was born here to Michael and Mary Anne (Frericks) Grimes. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School before graduating from Harding High School in 2001. “I’ve always had extreme love for Marion,” Grimes said. Grimes went to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. She taught […]Read More »
  • Crusin’ for Dialysis

    CRUISIN FOR DIALYSIS.  . Can anything be more enjoyable on a summer day than strolling down the middle of a downtown street taking in dozens of classic cars on a sunny day? Knowing you are helping to support people and families coping with the everyday struggles that result from an illness that requires kidney dialysis […]Read More »
  • Probation Programs Improve Lives

    Some innovative new programs at the Marion Municipal Court Probation Department are working to help their clients and the community. One program is paying dividends for downtown Marion. Those on probation can earn $10 an hour towards their fines through community service.  Community service is also used as a probation sanction for negative behaviors and […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image