Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tarence Allison, CEO of Âme Scents, located in Dallas, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Âme Scents is your new and upcoming online candle brand that focuses on scents all year round. So if you are looking for fall scents in the summer, we have that. Spring in the winter, we have that as well. Âme Scents is not just another regular candle brand. We pride ourselves on everything being handmade, the majority of our inventory is locally sourced, and OUR CANDLES WILL BLAST YOUR HOME WITH SCENTS. The road to Âme Scents was not easy at all. Many obstacles clouded my head with doubt, but I overcame and will prevail.

Tell us about yourself

My journey begins in Clarksdale, MS, where I have always been fascinated with candles since high school. While constantly watching YouTube videos on how to make them but I never took the initiative. My focus was mainly on going to college and securing a good-paying job. I was so passionate about owning an online that I created my own Dropshipping E-Commerce Store in 2016 that I eventually had to shut down due to the pandemic in 2020. I was devastated and felt like a failure. I quickly gathered myself with the fear of failing again while my head was filled with doubt. Eventually, that candle passion I was so consumed with started to reappear.

After visiting Dallas on vacation, I put in my two weeks at my job in Mississippi, packed up my car, and left. I relocated to Dallas, TX, from Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 2019, where I landed a job just to get my foot in the door. Little did I know the world would spiral into a pandemic in 2020, which caused me to get furloughed. This pushed me to think and try to find another source of income. So, with some of the money I saved to get through the pandemic, I created a plan to start a candle business with only $300. With the little knowledge I got from researching and YouTube, I created five essential oil scents that came in the form of candles and wax melts. Within that year, with the little time I had and no marketing, our net sales for 2020 ended in the thousands. Yes, the pandemic was horrible, but to me, it was a blessing in disguise because, without it, Âme Scents would still be a thought in my head.

When the pandemic hit, my mindset automatically switched. I was staring face to face at how much our employers consumed our lives, time, minds, and even our creativity. Well, not no more! Now I am putting Âme Scents first. When starting, I was so proud of the fact that I have a physical product with my name on it. So, I hurried to get my product in the eyes of the world. Little did I know candle making is so much more than just buying a vessel and mixing scents. You have to sit and create a formula for your candles. You have to pick what type of wax you want to use, the fragrance load of that wax, and the type of wicks that works best for both your wax and fragrances. Over time Âme Scents evolved and became better.

This journey has taught me not to wear my emotions on my sleeves, to stay focused on my path, and stop comparing myself to others’ success. Eventually, everything will come together. Right now, Âme Scents is not what it was in 2020. Now it’s a THRIVING business with scents that blast your home!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is seeing Âme Scents thrive and slowly turn into something major. A business is your baby so imagine seeing your child grow up before your eyes, knowing that they are a part of you and thrive.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The main obstacle for me was the business operational aspect and asking for help. I can say I had to get creative when it came to learning marketing and other business operations. Dropshipping is completely different as I did not touch anything compared to Âme Scents, where I had to wear many hats. I reached out to plenty of people to try and see if they could teach me the basic operations of a business, but I was all shot down. So, I created a plan. I followed mostly entrepreneurs on social media and watched what they did. They also post teaching snippets all the time, and basically, they were mentoring me without knowing they were. I stayed persistent and eventually learned more as time progressed.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Do not wear your emotions on your sleeve.
  2. Evolve as you progress. Everything does not have to be perfect.
  3. Do not be afraid to fail. Failures are business lessons.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.amescents.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopamescents
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amescents/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amescents
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amescents/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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