Dude Candle Relocating to South Carolina
UPDATE: WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3rd, 2025 10:44am EST
I'm happy to report that back orders are finally shipping!
Yes, there will be a few days of delays here with over 200+ back orders, but inventory is stocked and my shipping system is up and running! I'm so excited. Packages are going out the door as I write this! :-) Thank you for your patience during the monumental task of moving cross country!
As stated below, For any "newbies" or curious existing customers with orders - YES - you will absolutely have your order in time for Christmas. But it will definitely take a few days to get caught up on all existing orders.
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UPDATE: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30th, 2025, 2:50PM EST
I have been working 18 hours a day over the holiday weekend to get back up and running. Orders will start being processed tonight. Please keep in mind, I have over 240 orders as of right now, so they will start trickling out this week.
I am certain I will have to get back into production for some products.
For any "newbies" or curious existing customers with orders - YES - you will absolutely have your order in time for Christmas. But it will definitely take a few days to get caught up on all existing orders.
I'm working as aggressively as I can. You cannot imagine what those words really mean. I'm focused and working long days. And again - I continue to thank you for your orders and understanding! I'm so close to being back on normal operations!
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UPDATE: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26th, 2025, 1:O4 PM EST
I am happy to report the truck is offloaded.
I am sorting through boxes and back orders will start being released over the holiday weekend. Thank you everyone for your orders and patience during the move! There are over 200 orders to process, so please bear with me as these start moving out the door!
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UPDATE: MONDAY NOVEMBER 24th, 2025, 10:07AM EST
Delivery truck arrives tomorrow, Tuesday the 25th.
I expect a full day of offloading and then begin processing orders and making product to immediately follow. The Thanksgiving holiday will be solely devoted to getting Dude Candle fully operational and back orders released in the order they came in.
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UPDATE: THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20th, 2025, 2:00PM EST
I have arrived in South Carolina.
Empty home. Still waiting on the moving truck with an expected arrival next Tuesday. I can assure you, Dude Candle comes first and will be top priority as soon as the truck arrives. All personal matters are secondary to getting Dude Candle back on track. I am as anxious as you to get your orders out and get operations up and running for Thanksgiving.
For those who placed orders during this move with the willing patience to wait for your order until I completed my move, I can't thank you enough. I am so grateful for your trust and support during the most challenging and stressful experience in my life.
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ORIGINAL POST:
Dude Candle will pause shipping operations November 8th through November 20th as I relocate from California to South Carolina.
Shipping will likely resume sooner, but I want to express caution in case of trucking delays.
During that time, the website will continue to remain live and accepting orders...and please order...but all orders will ship after everything arrives in South Carolina. I know you're anxious for the holidays. I'm working to be as quick and efficient on this move as possible.
Your continued support in the fall of 2025 will mean more than you can ever possibly imagine as I face this life changing challenge, experience, and expense.
This move comes unplanned and in the peak season for Dude Candle.
Why is it happening?
Well, this is where I get a little uncomfortable sharing personal information, but many of you are true supporters, customers, and fellow candlemakers who follow my business and my journey here and on other platforms and I'd rather clarify it now for all.
1) I lost my mother unexpectedly here in California after a sudden downward spiral and home hospice. With her passing, there's no immediate family close by to justify staying.
2) The residence I rent is being sold.
3) The cost of living in this dumpster fire state is insane. It's literally not affordable or sustainable.
4) The move puts me closer to another family member.
5) The move will dramatically improve shipping costs for the bulk of Dude Candle customers which is roughly from the midwest to the east coast.
A little more unnecessary details...
Ultimately, I need to think about my personal and financial future and making a logistics move that benefits Dude Candle.
I hate to repeat myself, but for those who don't know, Dude Candle is solely owned and operated. There is no "team" here and nothing about the business is outsourced. Every aspect from web design to product development to shipping (to name a few of the many duties) is performed by myself. And it's all done after working a full-time day job. I take Dude Candle very seriously. It's my passion.
I will continue to work remotely for my "day job" after the move and I am so grateful to my employer for their incredible support and urging me to grow Dude Candle to a point where I can "step off" and make it full time.
Unfortunately, the last 18 months along with what's now in front of me have really upended everything. I feel a little behind on my business goals at the time of this posting, but I'm hopeful I will be putting these stressors to an end shortly.
Am I excited? Nope. Should I be? Yes. Will I be? Probably. When? After it's all behind me the first of the year. I feel like I haven't been able to come up for air in over a year. Again, it's all happening quickly and I wasn't prepared for the death and aftermath of losing my mother and then immediately being thrown into the fire for a cross-country move on short notice.
I anticipate this blog post being more of a "temporary" source for information and will likely be removed after getting through the first part of 2026.
As I said above, your continued support for this hard working dude this holiday season is so appreciated and has never been needed at a more critical time in my life and business.
Thank you.