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Our story
Two founders, one storefront, and twelve years of Tuesdays.
Hale & Wick began in 2014 as a single pour room behind a linen curtain on Russian Hill. It is still that, plus a second pour room, five more people, and a dog.
Mission statement
Hale & Wick exists to make rooms smell like somebody cares about them. We pursue this one glass at a time, with ingredients we can trace, wages we would accept, and a wick we have personally centered.
The founders
June Hale & Martin Wick
June trained as a ceramicist at the California College of the Arts and spent most of her twenties making cups for restaurants. She started scenting them with wax at a customer’s request in 2012, and by 2014 the candles had overtaken the cups, so she rented the ground floor at 628 Vallejo and put the pour where people could watch.
Martin spent nineteen years as an actuary in the Financial District, which he describes as “calculating the odds of things, professionally.” He came into the shop in 2015 for a candle, was asked by June to look at her books, and has been looking at them since.
People assume the company is named after a pun. It is named after the two of them. The pun was a coincidence, and both founders have made their peace with it to different degrees.
“A candle is the only thing in a house that gets better by being used up.”
June Hale
“People assume I went into candles because of my last name. I went into candles because June’s margins were a disaster. The name was a coincidence I have learned to live with.”
Martin Wick
“I’ve never trusted a scent that has to explain itself.”
June Hale
“We’ve been offered investment four times. Each time I ask what they’d like us to do differently, and each time the answer is ‘more.’ We already do forty.”
Martin Wick
What we value
Six values, applied literally.
In 2022 a consultant suggested we write down our company values. We did, and then, because we could not think of another way to do it, we followed them exactly.
Transparency
Our glass comes in clear, smoked, and amber. In all three cases, you can see the candle.
Sustainable growth
We grow at the rate wax cools, which is about two hours a batch. We have no plans to accelerate this and, to be fair, no way to.
Accountability
Every glass is signed on the bottom by whoever poured it. If it tunnels, you will know exactly who to talk to.
Work–life balance
The shop is closed Sunday and Monday. The candles were not consulted on this, and have not raised it.
Customer focus
We answer every letter, by hand, usually within the week. We have a fountain pen set aside for complaints so they get the good ink.
Long-term thinking
Our five-year plan is to pour forty candles on Tuesday. So is our one-year plan. So, for that matter, is Tuesday’s.
By the numbers
- 12 years on Vallejo Street
- 40 glasses in every batch
- 11,204 empty glasses returned for refill
- 1 fish bowl, also returned, retained
Milestones
Twelve years, briefly.
- 2014
June Hale signs the lease at 628 Vallejo Street and pours the first batch of Russian Hill.
- 2015
Martin Wick is asked to look at the books. He stays. Our first commission, Inbound, 8:40, sells out twice.
- 2016
We introduce an unscented candle, in response to customer requests.
- 2017
We retire the unscented candle, in response to customer requests.
- 2018
Second pour room opens behind the linen curtain. Vallejo Fog joins the house collection.
- 2019
Mission Fig. Separately, Martin confirms, again, that Wick is his legal surname.
- 2021
We hire our first employee who is not related to either founder. Teodora has been at the counter ever since.
- 2023
Mission Fig is named Best Candle at the Northern California Makers Fair. We have hung the certificate in the bathroom, where guests will see it.
- 2025
We light a 212-foot table at the Sonoma Harvest Supper. Martin logs the walk as mileage.
- 2026
Brownies & Ice Cream, our first new house scent in seven years.
The workshop
Who you’ll meet at the counter.
June Hale
Co-founder, Head of Pour
Has poured every house scent since 2014. Can tell a batch is ready by the sound it makes.
Martin Wick
Co-founder, Operations
Nineteen years as an actuary before candles. Still keeps a spreadsheet of every wick we’ve ever trimmed.
Teodora Vance
Counter Lead
Has answered “What’s that smell?” an estimated 41,000 times. The answer has always been candles.
Ruben Okafor
Pour Room
Centers a wick by eye to within a millimeter. We measured to confirm, and it took us longer.
Lise Marchetti
Shipping & Packing
Our shredded-paper specialist. Has never broken a glass in transit and does not wish to discuss the one in 2022.
Pepper
Shop dog
Not formally involved in operations. Present for all of them.