Our Story

Founded in 1999 by a 14-year-old entrepreneur. Re-launched in 2020.

Let's catch you up to speed.

Our History

Glorious Glow was created by Kate Awtrey-King in 1999. Kate put in tons of research using the newly invented internet, and lots of practice in her mom's kitchen to craft her quality candles.

One of her favorite elements to the business was designing the fragrance tags. She used the family computer and Microsoft Publisher to create tags using "the best font" and clipart to illustrate her candle scents.

She and her family worked tons of craft shows to deliver her product to the public.

Continued...

While the business was quite successful there were a few mishaps throughout the years that put a damper on the fun, including her placing a $6,000 charge to her dad's credit card (he had approved a small order, not THAT much). Later down the road she burned a hole in the kitchen floor while making a batch of inventory. Not her finest candle making moment.

She closed up shop before graduating high school, but her love of creating as well as graphic design grew as she was in school at Savannah College of Art and Design earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts.

About Kate

Upon graduating from SCAD, Kate started her own event photography businesses, Atlanta Convention Photography and Gwinnett Event Photography.

Kate Awtrey-King is an award winning photographer and author, and has had the honor of photographing the President of the United States, Vice President, Attorney General and Surgeon General throughout the years. Though all high accolades, one of her proudest moments was photographing the Braves in the World Series in 2021.

Before the pandemic, Kate traveled domestically and internationally with clients for their events, and has photographed thousands of events within Georgia.

Kate is the house photographer for the Gas South District Arena and has photographed the likes of Cher, Dolly Parton, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Reba, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justin Timberlake, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, and Carrie Underwood.

Kate and her husband David live in Loganville, Georgia with their two cockapoos, Lucy and Doug.

Fast Forward...

But after 20 years had passed, how did she go from a photography business back to a candle business you may ask?

When the pandemic hit in March 2020 Kate lost a year of photography contracts in a matter of four hours.

After a few weeks of living on savings and prayers, Kate's Dad checked his Post Office box and found a letter addressed to Glorious Glow. The letter was from a lady who had cleaned her cupboard and found one of the candles from 20 years ago. She was hoping she could order more.

That one letter sparked the interest in getting back in to candle making.

After months of researching the newest trends of the business, Kate finally ordered some supplies to experiment with in August for her birthday. It was like riding a bike. Finally all of the stress from the pandemic was gone as she poured candles in her kitchen. It was something familiar, relaxing and fun.

A month later she launched her fall collection and the rest is history.

The Future

What's next for Glorious Glow?

After spending almost four years at weekly festivals and pop up markets, we decided it was time to pursue the next goal: more wholesale and custom orders.

Currently we're accepting new wholesale accounts directly (Email us HERE for more info) and through Faire. We are also available for custom labels using your branding, or providing a white label service.

Who knows what the future holds? Maybe one day we will have our own store front.

But one thing we've all learned post pandemic is, in life you have to be flexible, work hard and just trust God.

"God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all."

1 John 1:5