MADISON – A small fundraiser for a candle maker in Door County that went viral around the world could be the “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin” in 2024. The people now have to decide.
Thirty things are up for the ninth annual “Coolest Thing” contest, which is put on by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and Johnson Financial Group. The Ukraine Candle from Door County Candle Co. in Sturgeon Bay is one of them. The public can vote online for their choices, and the first round of voting starts on Monday, September 16.
The contest’s goal is to show off the state’s wide range of manufacturing businesses. Items like candy, cheese products, snacks, foods, and sodas are likely to be nominated this year. So are power and manufacturing equipment, such as a robotic mower; military equipment, such as U.S. Navy frigates; and fun items, such as fishing rod holders and a board game table.
There are also nominees for more unusual things, such as diabetic braces, a bicycle ice cream cart, a pain relief stick, soaps made by women who have been abused or trafficked, and a person who makes Bucky Badger costumes.
A Harley-Davidson motorbike engine, an Oshkosh Corp. light tactical vehicle, an electric fire engine from Pierce Manufacturing, and Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe’s sea salt caramel pecan kringle have all won the “Coolest Thing” award in the past. A smart water fountain made by Plexus Corp. in Appleton was named last year’s Coolest Thing. It didn’t use bottles.
According to Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, owner of Door County Candle, the blue-and-yellow, vanilla-scented Ukraine Candle fundraiser began on February 26, 2022, two days after Russia invaded Ukraine. The goal was to raise money for humanitarian aid for the people there.
Trapani said she thought she would sell around 50 Ukraine Candles at first. On the other hand, Door County Candle sold over 20,000 in the first three weeks, thanks in part to stories in local and regional media as well as national news stories on ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” and “PBS NewsHour” as well as TV stations from Milwaukee and Chicago.
By the end of the first year, sales of Ukraine Candles had made more than $700,000 for Razom for Ukraine, a charity that helps people in need. Over the last two and a half years, the fundraiser has raised more than $1 million, with online orders going to all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
After the Ukraine Candle benefit was a huge success, the company started a campaign called Tin Candles for Ukraine in November 2022. People could buy a tin candle to send to Ukraine to be used as heat and light in areas without power.
In 2022, Hurricane Ian hit Florida, and in 2023, an earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. In 2023, wildfires destroyed the Hawaiian island of Maui. The company also added special candles to its charitable projects to raise money for rescue efforts. The company also started a program called Candles Creating Change to help local nonprofits raise money.
After the nominees were announced, Trapani talked to the Advocate and said that being honored was an honor. He also stressed that Door County Candle makes the candles it sells. She also hopes that it will bring attention back to the war in Ukraine and to their Ukraine fundraiser, which she said has been moving very slowly for a few months.
“It means a lot to me to be nominated for this award,” said Trapani. “I think many people don’t know that we make all of our candles here in our own factory.” Another reason is that it helps spread the word about the war in Ukraine and the fundraiser.
The first round of votes for “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin” ends on Tuesday, September 24. Every day, anyone can vote on any device.
The top 16 voters will be named on September 25 and put into brackets so they can play each other in a tournament-style battle. There will be online voting from September 26 to October 1 to choose the top 8. From October 3 to 8, the vote will be held to choose the top 4.
Finally, from October 10 to 16, the “Coolest Thing” will be chosen. In Madison on October 17, WMC will hold its annual Business Day event, where the winner will be revealed.