HOLLAND, Mich. — After an unexpected job loss, one Holland couple has created something extraordinary from the ordinary.
Danny and Maria Larsen started Afterglohe last November, creating custom candle ensembles that tell stories using customers' precious memories. The unique candles aren't typical, when you dim the lights, they illuminate personal photos that hold deep meaning.
"It's really become a conversation piece," Maria said. "The customer sends pictures in that are really close to their heart. A lot of times, they have a lot of meaning."
The idea formed after Danny, a former show car designer, was let go from General Motors in 2024.
"We took the opportunity with that pause and really wanted to do something meaningful," Danny said.
The business name is spelled uniquely for good reason. Not only does it highlight the Larsens' ties to Holland's lakeshore and their experiences watching the sunset, but it also represents a place where the couple spent many years.
"Since we lived in Germany, the word for glow in German ends with 'he', and that's why we decided to kind of bring back a little bit of that little European side, German side, to the company name," Maria said.
Afterglohe's website makes the process simple. Customers upload their photos, choose their base – whether it's wood or cast concrete – pick their glow from scented candles, sand wax, or LED lights, and review their design with the 3D preview tool. The Larsens also source their materials from local suppliers.
"Normally, it's a one to two day process to get those orders together and get them in the mail and on their way to our customers," Danny said.
For the Larsens, it's all about the stories that come from these curated memories.
"A picture tells 1000 words, but the story behind them is really the impact, and what's so meaningful to us, we're humbled that we're able to play a part of that in their lives and in their memories," Danny said.
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