Middle Davids Candles

Specialties

Middle Davids is Franklin’s premier gift shop featuring our own line of premium soy candles and hand crafted gifts from more than thirty artists.

* Jewelry

* Woven Scarves

* Pottery

* Journals

* Greeting Cards

* Stained Glass

* Baskets

* And many more!

Our retail showroom features candles in over forty fragrances in elegant glass jars and votives that can be returned for a store credit and reused, as well as tea-​lights and wax melts. We’ve also collected the works of more than thirty artists, most from nearby, including several designated Indiana Artisans.

Middle Davids also specializes in non-​profit fundraisers, having helped more than 100 different organizations earn more than a half million dollars over the past five years. We also host hundreds of school children each year in hands on educational tours where they learn about sustainable manufacturing and pour their own candles.

History

Established in 2002.

David (first name Arthur) Catlin started making candles in the late 1960’s while in seminary and looking for great gifts for his mom and sisters. His son Dan (middle name David) joined him in the hobby in the 1970’s, breaking up paraffin wax slabs with a ball peen hammer and stirring, stirring, and stirring!

In late 2002, Dan suggested that they take David’s recipes and techniques and make a business. The goals were to «make great things» and «service great people.» No compromises on quality, and helping non-​profits delivery people great products at a fair price and strong profit. In 2009, we opened a retail store and workshop in downtown Franklin, and we’ve grown a little bit each year.

The name is simple: Dan wanted to name the company after his Dad, David. His mom suggested that since both of their middle names are David, they could just use «Middle Davids» and so it is.

Meet the Business Owner

Tauria C.

Business Owner

Tauria manages the retail store and is the most common «face» people will see when visiting our shop. Although David and Dan started the business from a candle making perspective, when we opened our retail shop in 2009, Tauria (Dan’s wife and David’s daughter-​in-​law) became employee #1. It was her vision to support other artists and she has cultivated relationships with dozens of artists to bring a truly unique collection of gifts to our customers.

Tauria is also an accomplished fiber artist herself, and her hand woven bamboo scarves are one of our most popular gifts.

Tauria is soft spoken and friendly, and probably wouldn’t tell you, but not only is she an artist, entrepreneur and mother of three wonderful daughters, but she is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (the 9^th class that included women) and an accomplished former Navy Officer. She’s also a graduate of Leadership Johnson County and is active on the Membership Committee of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce.