When Margot Janks began painting candles as a hobby in college, she never imagined she had a real business on her hands. Now, she is the founder and director of MJ Tablescapes, a candle company that sells intricate, hand-painted candles all made by Margot herself.
After graduating from the University of Southern California, Margot began working with luxury brands such as L’Occitane en Provence, Elizabeth Arden, and Tiffany & Co. For over 15 years she helped brands relaunch homeware and developed a keen eye for what products evoked the sense of comfort and community that make meals so special. She developed a particular affinity for layered textures, florals, and of course, candles.
To de-stress from work, she took up painting once again. One day, she came across a class specifically teaching how to paint candles. “When friends started asking if they could buy them, I was shocked,” Margot says. “But I figured why not, let’s see where this goes - it was one of the best decisions I made.”