BEGINNINGS
Founders
The founder of the candlemaker workshop, Nikola Salopek, was born on May 1st 1939 in Ogulin. His father sent him to Križevci to a candlemaker’s workshop to serve as an apprentice and learn the trade of candlemaker and gingerbread maker.
Beginnings
After finishing his education Nikola Salopek moved to Karlovac, and started his trade of independent candlemaking and selling candles in his own store, on February 2nd in the year 1966 of Our Lord. At the time only straight and simple candles of various dimensions were manufactured. The trade was simple and everything was done by hand, with the tools my father made himself, following the technology and advices he learned in Križevci, during his apprenticeship. The products were sold at country fairs, in churches and in my father's own shop.
Adapting to the market demands
From the beginning my father was helped by his wife Ljubica and his father. The need for new types of candles arose in time. My father exhibited all his virtues and started manufacturing, as the first craftsmen here, coloured candles, candles with pictures, candles wrapped in cellophane (forerunners of contemporary lanterns), candles cast in plaster moulds, composite candles etc. The workshop and the store were situated in our home, and I, Zoran Salopek, Nikola's son spent my childhood, my education and youth there, growing to learn and love the job.
I finished my education as a chemistry technician, which was the closest I could find to my future trade. When I returned from the army in 1984, my father asked me whether I would like to continue my education or work with him in the candlemaker's shop. My choice was simple – the shop and my father replied that from that day on he was my employee! I did not understand what he meant at the moment, but I do now. We employed more workers and started the wholesale business, as a new branch. The craft got the name RIPS (manufacture and sales of candles). As the demand grew, we were obliged to shift to machine production, although we did not abolish hand manufacture at once. We were quite aware that hand work yields quality and machine work quantity. For quite some time I had to return machine-manufactured candles back into production as my father was not satisfied with their quality. Only when the candles were of the same quality, they could be offered o our customers. The Croatian War of independence stopped temporarily our development; we had to defend what was ours. After the war, we continued following out formula – quality above all – adapting all the time to the new environment of market economy. I am sure that insisting on quality and fast adaptation guarantees survival and success in the market. Unfortunately, my father and teacher died and I had to continue with our trade with the help of my family and employees, but without him. I am proud to say we have overcome all the difficulties that faced us. I remember what my father said to me when I decided to work with him, and I understand him completely. I have a son of my own now, my Karl, and I would be delighted if he chooses to follow my steps, but the decision is his and his only. Anyhow, modernisation of our firm and increased volume of products made it impossible for us to continue working in our family house. We had to move.
Job enlargement and expansion
We bought new business premises at two locations, of 2000 m2 overall. We have our retail business at one location and headquarters, manufacture and wholesale with delivery at the other. There are 17 people employed full-time at the moment. We use some 40 different machines in our manufacture (presses, extruders, candle casting machines, moulds, pasterising machines, cooking kettles and other machines are tools). Our wholesale warehouse has 1000 pallete boxes, and we have three truck to be used in delivery. Our products can be purchased all over Croatia, thanks to our cooperation with chainstores, markets, small shop owners, florists etc.
Quality and reognitions
Wishing to confirm all the other business parameters we introduced the system of quality management ISO-9001-2008 in 2008. Managing out business has since then become more orderly and we are completely certain of every delivery, following your needs to the letter.
We earned the status of CRAFT WITH TRADITION, awarded by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in 2010, for our long years of quality work and knowledge in candle manufacture in the original manner, as well as for the level of knowledge and education we have shared.
Fire
Unfortunately, we experienced a catastrophic fire on July 12th 2012, and the whole of our factory was consumed by fire, together with all the machines, tools, finished products and raw materials.
New plant
Employing all our remaining resources and a great deal of will we started production again in a temporary „balloon“, working by hand, with funnels and auxiliary tools. We enjoyed a great deal of undertandin and help from our long-time buyers and suppliers, out employees, family and numerous people of good will, we built a new plant and equipped it with completely new and technologically more advanced machines, which ensure the manufacture of all types of candles and in satisfying quantities. All the workers who wre employed before the fire work again today in oput plant.
We have succeeded to maintain high quality as our main moto, thanks to using well proved raw matrials, continuous investments into new methods of production, long-time experience and familiarity with the market. We are sure of our quality and proud of the fact that you, our customers recognise it today, as you reognised it in 1966, when we started our business.
We are happy to be at your service now and in the future.
You can be sure you are buying the best product, when you buy a RIPS product!
Zoran Salopek
THE HISTORY OF CANDLES
Tallow candle
First candles were mentioned in history many hundreds of years ago. The first candles were made o animal fats – tallow candles. They had a strong odour and produced a lot of smoke, all of which led to the usage of beewax as a material for candles.
Wax candle
This candle offered much more luminous flame and an odour on beewax. However, wax was expensive and scarce, and the developments in chemistry resulted in paraffine candles.
Paraffin candle
Paraffin is a product of crude oil fracturing. Apart from paraffins, various stearins, palm wax and soya wax have also been used for canles.
Quality
Modern methods of candle manufacture involve using only various types of paraffin, as it is the most economical raw material for the purpose. Apart from conventional methods of producing high-quality candles and lanterns by casting liquid paraffin, extrding and moulding it, paraffin is also processed into paraffin foam. Products filled with such a foam are considerably lighter than those rom liquid paraffin and burns quicker because of it. Our products are properly labelled (composition, weight and time of burining) and sorted into lantern groups according to the colour of the cover (golden cover means the lanterns are filled with lqiuid paraffin and silver cover is used for those filled with paraffin foam.
Apart from machine-made candles, we also manufacture candle in the old way – by hand. This type of manufacture asks for much effort and love, as well as the education and knowledge of the trade and apprenticeship with a master of the trade as my father was, together with the familiarity with various materials and extensive practial work. The result is that candles burn long and steady.
People have been trying to replace candles with some other sources of light (batter lamps et.). Howevere, there is nothing like a candle, which burns, gives light and burns out as a symbol of life spent for the others and giving light to the others.