Exploring a production line from disparate components to finished product: thanks to a partnership between the Daniels School of Business and Antique Candle Co., a $10 million business, undergraduates had an opportunity to see what they’d learned in the classroom play out in the real world.
Simone Chakravarty, a Daniels School double major in finance and marketing, found great value in seeing the candle-making process firsthand. “I’ve always pictured manufacturing sites to be fully automated and mostly computer-calculated,” she said. “However, the tour highlighted the attention to detail and craftsmanship required to produce high-quality goods. It made me consider how companies balance efficiency with authenticity.”
As they explored different areas of the production floor, students in MGMT 332: Problem Solving in the Business World considered concepts that ranged from branding and marketing to sales forecasting, quality assurance and more.
“Every pallet of candles, raw material order, and production decision is carefully calculated to achieve financial optimization,” Chakravarty said. “Unlike large-scale automated production, this company relies on strategic planning and precise forecasting to balance inventory, maintain quality, and meet customer demand without excessive overproduction or shortages.”
By combining conceptual learning with real-world scenarios powered by partnerships at the Daniels School, students leave with not only the tools they need to understand concepts but also the flexibility and ingenuity to adapt and solve problems outside the classroom.
Measuring both scent desirability and burn time, the testing process that students explored during their tour revealed how Antique Candle Co. ensures both quality and alignment with market demand.
Megan Thompson, chief people officer at Antique Candle Co. and a Daniels School of Business alum, led students through the production floor, identifying key elements of the process and team roles.
Thompson explained the importance of testing, how the company involves its audience and employees in the process, and how quality connects to the brand.
Students saw a wide variety of finished products and learned about the seasonality of Antique Candle Co.’s offerings.
The company produces different sizes, scents and candle products. All keep specific use cases and audiences in mind, but they are developed under the same standards.
Students saw the production process from beginning to end, from the moment the wick is attached to the jar to when boxes are taped and ready to be shipped.
Thompson described how the entire company unites under the same goals, exploring the connections among roles and how each team member contributes.
Learn more about the inner workings of the Antique Candle Co., founded in 2014 by Purdue business school alumna Brittany Whitenack.
