Automotive-themed accessories and trinkets come in all forms and sizes. From Miata slippers to Honda tachometer watches to Corvette beds, we’ve seen it all— that is, except for car-shaped candles. That was until Pandu Rahadya from Parking Lot Hunter enlightened us through an email.
Pandu runs an automotive-focused graphic design studio in Indonesia and recently decided to branch out into creating 911 Turbo-shaped candles. Priced at 475,000 Indonesian Rupiah, or US$45, these lightly-scented candles are damn near intact wax replicas of the classic 911 Turbo we all know and love. Pandu also has an interesting take on the short-lived life of candles. Depending on when you extinguish this one, you’re left with a unique “wax sculpture that you can display.” We had to learn more about the uncommon transition from design studio to candlemaker, so we reached out to Pandu to learn his story.
Q: What is your automotive story? When did you start loving cars?
A: Broadly speaking, my journey in the automotive world began when I was a child. I grew up in an environment closely connected to the automotive scene. Later, I pursued studies in fine art and graphic design. After completing my education, I had a dream of combining the world of design with the automotive world. That’s where the initial idea for Parking Lot Hunter was born; a graphic design studio focused on the automotive industry.
Q: What gave you the idea to make automotive candles?
A: This idea emerged from our hobby at Parking Lot Hunter for collecting model kits and diecast cars. We realized that what we offer is a service and a non-tangible product. With that in mind, we wanted to create something tangible that our customers could purchase beyond our service offerings. That’s how the idea of making car-shaped candles was born.
Q: What have your challenges been?
A: The challenge was figuring out how to combine different materials to create these candles, as well as the process of molding the master design for the product. We conducted extensive exploration, from selecting natural wax materials to choosing the perfect scent for the candles.
We understand that this is an ongoing journey, and we’re committed to continuously exploring ways to make the product even better.
Q: And how’s business?
A: Currently, this product is actually gaining more interest from markets outside of Indonesia.
For the Indonesian market, products like this are relatively unfamiliar. It’s safe to say that this is something new, so it will take time for the market to accept it. Indonesian consumers tend to observe what’s being highlighted by Western automotive media and then adopt it. Therefore, a good strategy would be to introduce this product through prominent media outlets, hoping that it catches the attention of the Indonesian market and piques their interest in the product.
Q: Will you make candles of other makes/models?
A: We plan to create several other car models and in this exploration of sculptures, we are also experimenting with materials beyond wax. In the future, there may be other car-shaped products that don’t use wax as their primary material.
Q: Is there anything you want people to know about your or your business that I haven’t asked about?
A: This product is something we developed purely for fun and as an exploration beyond our work at the design studio.
We hope that the spirit of our passion for cars resonates with others who share a love for cars and have an interest in the world of fine art and design.
