Press Release: Release Date February 23, 2013 8:00 am. For Additional Information, Contact Heidi York, Person County Manager. 336-597-1720 (Monday Fridays 8:30 am 5:00 pm) Diamond Candles Announces a New Manufacturing Location and Plans to Grow in Person County and the City of Roxboro in the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina. Mr. Randy Reynolds, Chairman of Person County Economic Development Commission and Mrs. Brenda Cayton as the founder of Diamond Candles jointly announced in a press release dated February 23 rd, 2013 that Diamond Candles has decided to locate their new manufacturing facility in Person County in the former Crown (58,000 square feet) Building located at 1458 Old Durham Road in Roxboro. Mr. Jimmy B. Clayton, Chairman of the Person County Board of Commissioners announced that Diamond Candles has been provided a financial incentive package through the Person County Business and Industrial Center, Inc. to bring up to $5 million of new economic investment and up to 80 new jobs in the next five years to Person County. Person County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jimmy B. Clayton continued, We are glad to have Diamond Candles locate in Person County and Roxboro. We hope they are very successful and we look forward to working with them in the future. Mrs. Cayton went on to explain the need to occupy 20,000 square feet of space in Person County with much more available future space less than two years from when they started their business in the lower level of a 1,000 sq. ft. facility in Durham. 1
After only 18 months in business we were running two shifts in a small facility in Durham and running out of room very quickly. We decided it would be in our best interest to find a larger and more suitable facility. After weeks of searching in Durham we were unable to find the perfect location and decided it might be best to stay in our existing location for a short time longer. That was until we were introduced to Stuart Gilbert, Director of Economic Development for Person County. Stuart assured us if we relocated to Person County, they would help us make the transition as smooth as possible. After finding the perfect location located at 1458 Old Durham Rd in Roxboro, Stuart personally walked us through the planning, permitting and licensing departments. He also gave us a tour of the city and introduced us to city and county officials. Currently we have hired 15 full-time employees in manufacturing and five office personnel. With big plans in the future, we look forward to growing our business in Person County. We would like to say thank you to all the city and county officials that have made us feel at home and made our transition smooth. Thanks again to Stuart Gilbert for helping make this move possible. Local and State officials were all extremely positive of Diamond Candles decision to locate in Person County. Mayor Newell has personally had the fun experience of Diamond Candles products and she shared her support of this manufacturing addition to Roxboro, The City of Roxboro is delighted to welcome Diamond Candles and the Cayton family to our community. Having them choose Roxboro and Person County for their rapidly growing candle manufacturing company is a further testimony to our willingness and ability to attract quality companies and jobs to our area. Diamond Candles makes a quality product and we are proud to have them call Roxboro their home base for their business, continued Mayor Newell. North Carolina State Representative W. A. Winkie Wilkins (District # 2), enthusiastically chimed in and said, It is with pleasure that Person County welcomes Diamond Candles to its 2
industrial mix. Right now, this is a small company, but one with ambitious plans for the future. Diamond Candles also has a unique business plan. I wish the company all success in Person County. Charles Hayes, President & CEO of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership said We are pleased to hear that Diamond Candles has chosen to remain in the Region with their new manufacturing facility. Person County is a wonderful location for the company and the potential 80 new jobs. Newly elected North Carolina State Senator Mike Woodard (District # 22) was present last year at the joint economic development meeting of the City of Roxboro City Council, Person County Economic Development Commission, and Person County Board of Commissioners when this project was discussed in closed session and was excited that Diamond Candles selected their new manufacturing facility in Person County. I am pleased that Diamond Candles has chosen their new home in Person County with their unique products. Their entrepreneurial spirit is a great fit for our community. The Diamond Candles Story The Diamond Candle Story is a very personal and romantic story. Let's start at the beginning of this love story that turned into a business. David met Brenda for the first time in November of 1978 when they were both still in high school. He knew the first time that he laid eyes on her that she was going to be his wife one day. They both realized that they were destined to be together. Several years later at a picnic in his parents' back yard, David got down on one knee and proposed to Brenda just two years after their first date. She said YES! Young, broke, and in love, there was nothing wrong with the world as long as they were together. 3
Throughout the next year, David worked long hours in construction and had been saving up every penny to be able to buy something nice for his wife for their anniversary. With their anniversary approaching, he went to the local jewelry store to see what type of gift he could afford with his hard earned savings. He soon discovered a diamond ring that he knew Brenda would absolutely love. With the ring purchased, David rushed to the grocery store to buy a gift bag to put the ring in. He couldn't find any gift bags, but just before leaving he saw some candles. David knew that Brenda loved candles, and he decided to pick one up to go along with the anniversary ring. On his way out of the store, he looked down at the ring in one hand and the candle in the other, and the idea of Diamond Candles was born. Now fast forward to 2011 David and Brenda Cayton hired Justin Winter as a project manager for their construction company, New Carolina Concrete Constructors, Inc. and further explained how Diamond Candles has grown in the last 2 years, After getting acquainted with Justin and realizing he was a good addition to our team we brought him on as a partner in our candle company. They continued, After a few months of long days, nights planning, designing and scheduling we decided to launch our website diamondcandles.com on Valentine s Day February the 14th 2011. This seemed to be the perfect day to launch this new business because when you buy a candle from Diamond Candles not only do you get a high quality 100% soy candle but you also get a surprise in every candle you buy. It is like Cracker Jacks for grow ups. In every candle there is a ring hidden inside. The rings can range from fashion rings to real diamond rings. 4
The question that buzzes through everyone's mind when they find out about Diamond Candles is, "why rings?" What makes rings so special that we decided to put them inside a candle of all things? Brenda Cayton & Justin Winter Share their Entrepreneurial Secret to Success. We strive to provide a product that cannot be found anywhere else. By adding a ring into the candles, we make them different, and we make each candle burning experience a surprise full of excitement and a pure thrill! By adding a woman's best friend to candles they become great gifts. After the candle burns out the dazzling ring inside will last forever. The anticipation of each candle also makes every Diamond Candle fun as you eagerly wait to find out what ring you receive in each product. Simply put: We wished to take something ordinary and make it extraordinary! Additional information on Diamond Candles can be found on their website located at http://www.diamondcandles.com/. As of the writing of this press release, Diamond Candles is located in second place in the Shorty Award for Best Social Media in Small Business Contest. The Person County Business and Industrial Center, Inc. were assisted with the recruitment of Diamond Candles by: Person County Economic Development Commission, Person County, City of Roxboro, Piedmont Community College, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Duke Power, PSNC, State of North Carolina Department of Commerce and Mr. Howard Whitfield. ########## 5