Franchise Deep Dive: Sea Love Costs, Profit and More

Sea Love combines experiential retail with a boutique shopping experience, aiming to build customer loyalty through unique, repeatable and high-quality candle-making experiences.

REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $108,850 – $281,350

REPORTED ROI (ITEM 19): See below

Sea Love is a franchise that allows entrepreneurs to own a candle bar and boutique, where guests experience hands-on scent-blending and candle-making. Each guest chooses a unique combination of fragrances with guidance from “Scent Stylists,” who lead them through the candle-making process step-by-step.

There are currently 11 open Sea Love locations with more coming soon.

The business model for Sea Love centers around an experiential retail approach, combining a candle bar with a boutique shopping experience. Here’s how it works:

• Hands-On Candle-Making Experiences: Sea Love offers interactive scent-blending candle-making sessions, where guests create custom candles by choosing from over 100 fragrances and a variety of candle vessels. These experiences are led by trained “Scent Stylists” who guide guests through each step, creating a memorable and shareable event.

• Repeatable, Immersive Experiences: The sensory nature of the candle-making process encourages guests to return, while the customizable options for scent and vessel choice offer unique experiences with every visit. The brand also leverages in-store events and collaborations to increase engagement and foot traffic.

• Retail Boutique: In addition to the candle bar, each Sea Love location includes a curated boutique. The boutique offers home decor, fragrances and personal items that complement the brand’s coastal and calming aesthetic. This dual approach enhances the retail experience, as guests can shop while they wait for their candles to be ready.

• Focus on Sustainability and Quality: Sea Love candles are made with high-quality, clean and sustainable ingredients, appealing to conscious consumers. This focus on product quality reinforces Sea Love’s brand image as a caring, premium experience provider.

In its 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Sea Love lists the 2023 gross sales for the company-owned outlet in Kennebunkport, Maine. They were as follows:

• Retail In-Store Sales: $428,790

• Web & E-commerce In-Territory Wholesale Sales: $87,408

• Total Gross Sales: $516,198

According to the 2024 FDD, the estimated initial investment to open a Sea Love franchise ranges from $108,850 to $281,350. Here’s a breakdown of the associated costs:

The franchise fee is $49,500.

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