WHO WE ARE:
B' Ambiance Candles & Gifts is a unique Christian business based in Monroeville, PA, proudly owned and operated by Waynette E. Thomas and her husband, Retired First Sergeant James E. Thomas, who served 27 years in the US Army. As a black, retired Army veteran spouse, Waynette infuses her passion for handmade craftsmanship into every product, creating beautiful candles and body care items that enhance the home experience. Their dedication to quality and community shines through in their offerings, making each purchase not just a transaction, but a contribution to a veteran-owned small business. B' Ambiance Candles & Gifts is more than just a shop; it's a testament to resilience, creativity, and the spirit of service, inviting customers to enjoy products that are crafted with care and purpose.
INGREDIENTS:
Our candles are hand poured in small batches using a creamy Soy custom wax blend (is biodegradable & natural. Contains no herbicides, pesticides or genetically modified materials), 100% cotton wicks, essential oils and non-toxic, skin-safe fragrance oil blends. Our products are free of phthalates, dyes, lead, parabens, carcinogens, toxins and provide a long, clean, eco-friendly burn. All materials are produced and grown in the U.S.A.
WHAT MAKES B'AMBIANCE UNIQUE?
Each beautiful hand-crafted product has a "purpose" and a meaning, letting you know that "All things are possible, if you just believe & exhale".
OUR STORY:
Along Waynette's journey as a Real Estate & Supplemental Insurance Agent, God had other plans for her. In 2017, she and her husband James was blessed to received Legal Custody of Waynette's one year old niece. Waynette was then balancing what she thought she loved to do (selling Real Estate & Insurance) while being both a mother figure & aunt to her niece. The load was just over-bearing. At that time, James agreed for Waynette to put her positions on hold to be a stay at home mom to focus on what really mattered, the well-being & care for their niece.
Waynette thought being a stay at home mom would be an easy task. Prior to her Real Estate business, she was in Banking for 28 years. Accomplished several degrees, ending in 2010 with a Masters of Business Administration & a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management. Waynette has always been an independent successful business woman. While being a Real Estate Agent for 6 years all she knew was in person networking, business suits, sales contracts & closings. She did not know how to be a stay at home mom, but was seeking Godly advice from her family & Pastor.
THE INSPIRATION:
One day, Waynette's step-dad Deacon Mike Jones, mentioned to her, in order to find an alternative home-based job, is to "think outside the box". Waynette did not want to hear about "thinking outside the box". She wanted to take care of her niece and work outside the home. But still remembering, her niece needed her more than anything. A week later, Waynette sought guidance from her Pastor Vincent L. Winfrey Sr. Keep in mind, Waynette did not inform her Pastor about the conversation she had with her step-dad. Can you believe her Pastor said the same exact thing as her step-dad? Well, believe it! "THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX"! She was so confused & frustrated that evening. As she was talking to her husband and holding her niece, she blurted out, "Lord Jesus, I have no idea what BOX my step-dad & Pastor is talking about! I know I can not & will not push my niece off to a baby sitter or nanny, because she needs love & attention from her family! So Lord Jesus, please guide me and give me a sign on what to do"!
That same night, Waynette had a dream that she owned her own candle store. As she woke up that next morning, she called her husband laughing hysterically telling him of the dream she had. Saying, "that is just ridiculous, I do not have a desire to make candles, I love working with numbers(sales) going to business meetings & closings. Being a candle maker is nothing but Science. I am not and will not be a candle maker". A week later, Waynette had the same dream of owning her own candle store. This time her reaction was peaceful, excited and eager to learn how to make the best natural candles & products that she could possibly make. Her husband & family, gifted her candle kits, jars, etc. Waynette self-studied candle-making for 6 months. Waynette & her niece made their first 3 candles in their kitchen December 2018. Her Aunt Dr. Viola Martin, DNP, RN, MSN, CMSRN was her first order of 30 candles for the Dr.s & Nurses at the hospital she was working at. Waynette studied beside her mother Emma Martin Jones on how she became a successful minority black business woman by owning her Christian Dance Studio for 30+ years. Emma, is a huge inspiration to her daughter.
In 2018, B'Ambiance Candles & Gifts (THE BOX) was born! “B'Ambiance", meaning "BE the Light" Matthew 5:14-16. It means that if you are a good example, if you “let your light shine,” then when other people see your good example, they will know that you love the Heavenly Father & his son Jesus and they, too, will want to honor Him. In the Bible, light has always been a symbol of holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope, and God's revelation.
We know Our Story is lengthy, but we wanted to tell most of the story to encourage someone! Through Waynette's step-dad & Pastor, God instilled in her a prophetic word with the final confirmation in two of her dreams! God has brought it to pass! If God did it for her & her family, God will do it for you! JUST HAVE FAITH & BELIEVE! Remember: Situations happen FOR you...not to you! To God be the Glory!
Her sweet niece is so grateful that her auntie stays home to be a mother figure for her and also do what she now admires; being a candle manufacturer. Waynette's candle studio is her "happy", "relaxation" place of "peace" where she creates custom fragrance scents and wax blends to share with all of her customers.
Waynette E. Thomas, MBA
