Our Story…
Family Heritage
Passion for our business
Large stock holding
Dedicated staff
Exclusive range of quality products
Our Story
The Early Days
The story of The Candle Merchant starts in 1965 when Mr Martins Snr purchases a candle factory (located on the site that is now Cavendish Square) from a German couple who are retiring. In 1969, Mr Martins Snr’s son, Tony, and his daughter-in-law, Moira, join the family business. In 1971 the factory moves to Woodstock, but was burned to the ground by a devastating fire in 1983. Instead of giving up, the Martins family uses this major setback as the springboard to its success.
A Growing
Family Business
Getting back to work after the fire yielded great results for the family business as they grew to become the market leader in South Africa. This time also saw Tony and Moira Martins travel to Europe to build strong business relationships with suppliers and to attend international trade fairs. In 1995, the factory moves to bigger premises in Maitland, which in 2001, becomes the site of the very first store under the name The Candle Factory Shop. In 2003, the Martins family decide to depart from manufacturing candles and choose to focus their expertise on building a retail outlet offering readily available candles and candle holders sourced from their extensive network of contacts, both locally and internationally.
1965
Mr Martins Snr purchases a candle factory
1971
The factory moves to Woodstock
1983
The devastating Fire
1995
the factory moves to bigger premises
2003 - Today
The Martins family decide to focus their expertise on building a retail outlet. Making our products available to you!
1965
1971
1983
1995
Today
5 Decades, 4 Stores and Online Shopping
As a result of the success of the Maitland store, the Retreat/Tokai store opens in 2008, followed by the Brackenfell store in 2011. Tony and Moira’s youngest daughter, Ann-Marie, returns from overseas and joins the family business. 2015 sees the first store in Johannesburg (Meadowdale) open and …and in 2020, we branded to The Candle Merchant and launched our online store! Our name reflects our strong family heritage and expertise of being in the candle industry since 1965. Our customers have the choice of shopping online or visiting either of our 4 retail stores
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Brackenfell | CPT
Brackenfell
Tel: 021 981 0528
Kenwil Drive, Brackenfell, Cape Town ,
Mon to Fri 08:30 - 17:00
Saturday 08:30 - 14:00
Maitland | CPT
Maitland
Tel: 021 593 6307
8th Ave, Kensington,
Maitland, Cape Town
Mon to Fri 08:30 - 17:00
Saturday 08:30 - 14:00
Retreat/Tokai | CPT
Retreat/Tokai
Tel: 021 701 2101
Mon to Fri 08:30 - 17:00
Saturday 08:30 - 14:00
Meadowdale | JHB
Meadowdale
Tel: 011 453 0130
Mon to Fri 08:30 - 17:00
Saturday 08:30 - 14:00
Sunday/Public Holidays 09:00 - 13:00