Maddie James
Ana Candles, the original striped candle company founded by Frank Weeden, has not gone out of business. However, the company did undergo a transition after the death of its founder in 2013. Weeden's longtime friend, Lauren Polito, took over as president and head of sales, and the company's website changed to Fivestripes, reflecting the candles' distinctive feature. Fivestripes continues to sell Ana Candles, which are known for their unique designs and colours, as well as expanding into other home decor and accessory products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Ana Candles |
| Company Type | Private |
| Company Status | Active |
| Location | Trenton, US |
| Year Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Frank Weeden |
| Current President and Head of Sales | Lauren Polito |
| Products | Striped candles, home decor and accessories, laptop cases, rugs, ceramics, totes, pillows, throws |
| Product Features | Smokeless, drip-free, long burn time, made with paraffin wax and cotton wicks |
| Website | anadesigncorp.com |
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What You'll Learn
- Ana Candles is not out of business, it rebranded as Fivestripes
- The name Ana was inspired by the founder Frank Weeden's aunt from Paris
- The company was founded after the idea of embedding patterns into candles came to Weeden while driving
- The company now sells items from more than 10 categories, including home decor and accessories
- The Trenton-made candles are smokeless, drip-free, and have long burn times
Ana Candles is not out of business, it rebranded as Fivestripes
Ana Candles, the company known for its distinctive striped candles, is not out of business. In fact, it is very much alive and burning bright, having rebranded as Fivestripes. The company was founded by Frank Weeden, who created the original inlaid striped candle and turned it into a thriving business. Sadly, Weeden passed away in 2013, but his legacy lives on through Fivestripes.
The name "Ana" initially stood for "All New American," but Weeden later changed the branding to represent a woman's name, inspired by one of his aunts from Paris, who shared the company's appreciation for good taste. The company's signature product is the striped taper candle, which comes in a variety of colours and patterns and is known for its superior quality.
Under the new brand name, Fivestripes, the company has expanded its product offerings beyond just candles. It now sells items across more than 10 categories, including home decor, accessories, laptop cases, rugs, ceramics, totes, pillows, and throws. The company has also expanded its sales channels, with products available through selected retail outlets, gift fairs, and online at fivestripes.com or anadesigncorp.com.
The Fivestripes team is dedicated to continuing Weeden's mission of providing a venue for lovers of striped candles to find well-designed products. The company's candles are still made with the same attention to quality and detail, using paraffin wax and cotton wicks to create a smokeless, drip-free, and long-burning experience.
So, while the name may have evolved, the spirit of Ana Candles continues to shine through, bringing warmth and beauty to homes around the world through Fivestripes' unique and distinctive products.
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The name Ana was inspired by the founder Frank Weeden's aunt from Paris
The Ana Candles company was founded by Frank Weeden, a Trenton-based artist who created the original inlaid striped candle. The name "Ana" initially stood for "All New American". However, Weeden later rebranded the company to represent a woman's name, "Ana", inspired by his aunt from Paris, who, like the company, appreciated good taste.
Weeden had previously experimented with two other businesses before finding success with Ana Candles: a building restoration service and a bronze casting foundry that included well-known New York-based artist Julian Schnabel as a client. He also ran unsuccessfully for mayor twice, in 2007 and 2011. The idea for embedding patterns into candles came to Weeden while driving on the New Jersey Turnpike, as he shared in a 2011 interview.
The candles were initially crafted by hand for the first five years. Weeden then collaborated with machinist Ron Lessard to design machinery to make the candle-making process more economical and affordable. The company's offerings expanded over time to include home decor and accessories, with items in more than 10 categories, including laptop cases, rugs, ceramics, totes, pillows, and throws. The Ana Candles website was changed to Fivestripes in 2012 to reflect the expansion of their product line and the candles' distinctive feature.
The company's striped candles are made with premium-quality paraffin wax and lead-free cotton wicks, ensuring they are smokeless, drip-free, and have long burn times of up to 14 hours. They are known for their captivating colour combinations and distinctive patterns, always staying up to date with the latest trends. The candles are crafted in Trenton and sold through seasonal factory sales, selected retail outlets, gift fairs, and online platforms.
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The company was founded after the idea of embedding patterns into candles came to Weeden while driving
The idea for Ana Candles, the company known for its distinctive striped candles, was born when Frank Weeden had a eureka moment while driving on the New Jersey Turnpike. The artist and entrepreneur had the idea to embed patterns into candles, and so, Ana Candles was born. Initially, the name "Ana" stood for "All New American". However, Weeden later changed the branding to represent a woman's name, inspired by one of his aunts from Paris, who shared the company's appreciation for good taste.
Weeden had previously dabbled in other ventures, including a building restoration service and a bronze casting foundry, which counted the famous New York artist Julian Schnabel among its clients. He also ran for mayor twice, in 2007 and 2011, but was unsuccessful. It was in 2011 that Weeden shared the origin story of his candle company in an interview, revealing that the idea for patterned candles had come to him while driving.
The company, based in Trenton, soon became known for its unique product—the original striped candle. Handcrafted for the first five years, the candles were made with premium-quality paraffin wax and lead-free cotton wicks, resulting in a smokeless, drip-free, and long-burning product. The Ana Candles collection featured captivating colour combinations, with pairs of striped taper candles always up to date with the latest trends.
As the business grew, Weeden collaborated with machinist Ron Lessard to design machinery to streamline production and make the candles more affordable without compromising on quality. The company expanded its offerings to include home decor, accessories, and other well-designed products from around the world. The website, anacandles.com, transitioned to fivestripes.com to reflect the expansion of the product line, which now included items such as laptop cases, rugs, ceramics, totes, pillows, and throws.
Sadly, Weeden passed away at the age of 53 due to pancreatic cancer. However, his legacy lives on through the continued success of the company he founded. Under the leadership of longtime friend and financial analyst Lauren Polito, Ana Candles continues to thrive, with its products available through selected retail outlets and gift fairs across North America and the U.K., as well as online.
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The company now sells items from more than 10 categories, including home decor and accessories
It doesn't look like Ana Candles went out of business. However, the company website changed to Fivestripes in 2012, perhaps indicating a rebranding. This new name is connected to the candles' distinctive stripes, which were inspired by a drive on the New Jersey Turnpike. The name "Ana" originally stood for "All New American" but was later changed to represent a woman's name, inspired by one of the founder's aunts from Paris.
The company's offerings have expanded to include home decor and accessories, as well as laptop cases, rugs, ceramics, totes, pillows, and throws. The Trenton-made candles are made with paraffin wax and cotton wicks, ensuring they are smokeless, drip-free, and have long burn times of up to 14 hours.
The Fivestripes website offers a range of striped candles and home accents, including products from brands like Baggu and DwellStudio. The company's goals include increasing its pool of distributors and potentially opening its own store. Fivestripes products are available from selected retail outlets and gift fairs across the US, Canada, and the UK, as well as online.
The original striped candle design from Ana Candles has been a favourite among customers, with some requesting specific colour combinations like pink and flamingo stripes, and tangerine and cream stripes. The company continues to produce superior and distinctive products for its discerning customers, with a focus on both aesthetics and functionality.
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$19.28 $24.99
The Trenton-made candles are smokeless, drip-free, and have long burn times
The Ana Candles company, founded by Frank Weeden, has not gone out of business. However, it did undergo a rebrand, changing its name to Fivestripes, reflecting the candles' distinctive stripes. The company is based in Trenton, and its signature product is still very much available. The Ana Candles, or Fivestripes, factory is located in a modern industrial building on Ott Street in Trenton. The company's annual factory-direct candle sales are held in December, and the dates are advertised in advance.
The Trenton-made candles are indeed smokeless, drip-free, and have long burn times. The secret to their success lies in the materials used and the manufacturing process. The candles are made with paraffin wax and cotton wicks, ensuring a clean and smoke-free burn. The wicks are lead-free, an important safety feature. The burn time of these candles is impressive, lasting up to 14 hours, as stated in some product descriptions.
The unique striped design of Ana Candles was inspired by a drive on the New Jersey Turnpike, as Weeden shared in a 2011 interview. Initially, the name "Ana" stood for "All New American", but Weeden later changed it to represent a woman's name, inspired by one of his aunts from Paris who shared the company's appreciation for good taste. The stripes on the candles come in captivating colour combinations, adding a stylish touch to any setting.
Over the years, the company has expanded its product line beyond candles. It now offers home decor, accessories, and other well-designed products from around the world. You can find laptop cases, rugs, ceramics, totes, pillows, and throws bearing the distinctive Fivestripes branding. The company has wholesale customers, including notable brands such as Dash and Albert, Dwell Studio, and Baggu.
The original striped candle by Ana Candles has left an impression on its customers, with some expressing their fondness for the unique and high-quality product. The company's dedication to producing superior and distinctive products has clearly paid off, as evidenced by the expansion of their product line and their presence in multiple markets, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Ana Candles did not go out of business. The company, founded by Frank Weeden, is now led by Lauren Polito, who is embracing Weeden's mission to provide a venue for lovers of striped candles.
Frank Weeden passed away in early October 2013 at the age of 53 due to pancreatic cancer.
Ana Candles are striped taper candles that come in captivating colour combinations. They are made of premium-quality paraffin wax with lead-free cotton wicks, are unscented, smokeless, and drip-free, and have a burn time of up to 14 hours.
