CANASTOTA -- Bee Man Candle Company, a Canastota beeswax candle company, won Martha Stewart's American Made small business awards.

The Bee Man was named the Audience Choice Award Winner out of the 11 finalists. Owner Brian Howell will be honored at the American Made event in New York City,  receive $10,000 to further his business, and will appear in Martha Stewart Living magazine.

The Bee Man will be opening a retail store in Canastota this month and owner Howell says he's grateful for every vote that has come in to the contest.

When Howell was 12, he told his mother he wanted to use the oven to make beeswax candles, now, at age 34, his "Bee Man Candle Company" supplies handmade artisan candles to companies around the U.S.