Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jasmine Parks, Co-Founder of AURA Candles, located in Carlsbad, CA, USA.

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

Hey there! We create luxury home fragrances at approachable prices. Our candles, reed diffusers, and wax melts are made with premium ingredients: natural wax and phthalate-free custom scents created for us by some of the finest fragrance houses in the country. Our customers are people like us who appreciate quality items that aren't mass-produced overseas.

Tell us about yourself

When we met in 2008, we both had just stepped away from our corporate lives to raise our young children. Chelsea was in finance, and I was in wholesale distribution. We started making candles together, and by 2009 we launched AURA. Creating a cozy, amazing-smelling home was and still is our main motivation! The feedback we receive from our customers is also the fuel we need to keep pushing to be better. Our customers are some of the most supportive humans!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We would say our greatest accomplishment as business owners is employing hardworking mothers who need flexible hours. There is no greater feeling than knowing we've created a work environment that is fun, productive, and family-centered.

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

The hardest thing is not freaking out when sales slow down! We've been doing this for a very long time, and every year it's the same seasonal sales cycle...yet every year, we still freak out!

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

We could give you the business-y answer, but we're going to shoot straight...find your passion or niche, study and learn all that you can, and be prepared to put yourself out there. Look, business plans and strategies are important, too, but you will need to hustle like you never have before to lift a business off the ground. Oh, and find a mentor or two. Nothing is more valuable than gleaning wisdom from someone who's an expert in their field.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Thanks for the opportunity to share a little about us. We love hearing from people, so if anyone reading this wants to get in touch to learn more about us OR chat candle biz, please email us!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.shopauracandles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auracandles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auracandles/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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