Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cameron Cage, Founder of The Flame Candle, located in Fort Wayne, IN, USA.

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

The Flame Candle offers fully customizable scented candles to those who love to be unique. We allow personalization so that the customer can truly make THEIR candles THEIR own. The majority of orders come from those who are hosting events such as baby showers, birthday parties, and weddings and want to treat their guests with something sweet! Every candle is handmade in the U.S.A. and uses environmentally friendly and clean-burning soy wax.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Cameron Cage, and I started The Flame Candle when I was twelve. Ever since I was very young, I had planned to start my own business when I got older. When the clock struck twelve, I realized enough was enough, and I decided it was time for me to grow up. Actually, that's not really what happened. I still can't exactly pinpoint what lit a fire under me (pun intended), but I remember being told by someone that I should make candles and that I thought it would be simple. It didn't take long for me to realize that it isn't easy to make quality candles. Since I started, I have not stopped. Outside of my candle life, I have many hobbies. Unfortunately, I have an affinity for expensive hobbies, one of which includes restoring old cars. I currently own a 1964 Chevrolet Impala that I am in the process of restoring. I can honestly say that my motivation for making candles is knowing that I am able to fund my many projects and interests.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

One might say that your "biggest accomplishment" is the thing that you are most proud of. As a business owner, I am most proud of the fact that I started this business with $50. I spent $50 on candle supplies to make my first candles. After I sold those candles, I used the profit to buy more materials. Today, I have done over $250,000 in sales, with $100,000 of that being for the 2021 calendar year. In short, my biggest accomplishment is that I was only ever $50 "in the hole."

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

It can be hard to know when to stop. I often find myself overworking and forgetting to take time to relax. Quality thinking cannot come from inadequate rest. In the short term, it can seem beneficial to work long hours---the mentality being "work now, rest later." However, once you are in the "work now" phase, I personally find it hard to get out. It is difficult to take a step back and realize that you cannot always be going at 100 mph it's ideal yet unattainable.

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

  1. Start a business in a field that you are passionate about. Think about something that you would pay money to do, and start a business there. Start a business where you're excited to go to work the next day. If you are not doing work you love, it makes time drag out, and you lack the motivation to grow. If you are genuinely enthusiastic about your craft, it'll show. Enthusiasm is contagious.
  2. Don't quit. I was seriously considering ending my business after the first two years. I was barely selling any candles, and it seemed like it would stay that way forever. Just as I was about to stop everything and call it quits, my sales jumped. I went from $400 in sales for the entirety of 2018 to $800 in just January of 2019. By the end of 2019, I had done over $35,000 in sales. Had I quit at the end of 2018, I would have missed out on my potential.
  3. Your best research and development department is your customer base. Part of the reason that The Flame Candle grew so much in 2019 was that a customer asked if we could start selling a new candle. Previously, we only sold 8-ounce and 16-ounce candles, but this customer requested that we make 4-ounce candles. These smaller and more affordable candles paved the way for opportunities to sell candles in bulk. People began ordering our candles for events such as baby showers and weddings. This explosion in growth came all because a customer requested something new. Listen to your customers
    You can't sell something if no one wants it.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

First impressions are very important. Be genuine, and have a couple of jokes ready.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheFlameCandle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFlameCandle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theflamecandle/

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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