Musician/Author-Owned Candle Shop Named Top Gift Shop in Northern Virginia

MANASSAS, Va., Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A Manassas candle store owned by award-winning musician / author, Pete Evick, has been named top gift shop in Northern Virginia by Virginia Living Magazine just 10 months after They took their formerly online only candle company – Shining Sol Candle – to the streets with their first brick and mortar store.

"Everyone at Shining Sol is thrilled to get this kind of recognition so quickly after opening our first store. I started this out of my house in 2012 and since, have added staff and partners who have all been key to our success. Our  team's hard work and creative energy has really paid off," Evick said.

The idea to expand from online to brick and mortar was the brainchild of Deron Blevins who seized the opportunity when a building in the popular tourist spot of "Old Town Manassas" became available.

"It certainly has paid off as our revenue has jumped almost 70% since that change," Blevins said.

Evick, a Manassas native, has spent the last 13 years touring the world as the guitarist for music icon reality star Bret Michaels. Evick has also performed with such legends as Sammy Hagar, and Mark McGrath. He has also appeared in two number one videos on Vh1, produced three top 40 records and received an ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) composer's award for his contribution to the show Rock Of Love.

Evick says that one key to Shining Sol's success is the fact that, "Our candles are eco-friendly. Our candles are made from soy wax, not paraffin which has been the subject of studies over health concerns. We also encourage our patrons to re-purpose the jars from used candles," Evick said. People use our jars for such things as pencil holders, plant pots and piggy banks.

Shining Sol prides itself on putting fun twists on the ancient art of candle making. Keeping a finger on the pulse of pop culture, they have products that have been in such high demand that they are hard to produce in quantities to meet such demand. For example, partner Sara Rodrigues recently created a candle called "Mermaid Cove" which has become a sensation amongst candle fans across the country. This one candle has caused us to increase staff and work hours.

"It boasts an oceanic scent of sea salt and orchid with multi colored wax and sea shells on top, it even has glitter in it."

Evick says his pride and joy is his "coastal collection" consisting of scents inspired by his favorite beaches. That line contains the wildly popular "Biloxi Rain" which features a clean white tea scent that is reminiscent of a Gulf of Mexico rainstorm.

Evick used his ties to the entertainment business to carve out a unique niche by offering officially licensed candles for entertainment icons such as Kiss, Debbie Gibson, and Aerosmith  as well as MLB legends like Tommy John and Roger Clemens. He also expanded into the soap scene with candles designed by and featuring images of  members of the day time TV drama "Days of Our Lives."

Shining Sol Candle Company is located in the heart of historic Old Town Manassas at 9109 Center Street.

SOURCE Shining Sol Candle Company