Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Johnny Merrifield, Founder of Candyl, LLC., located in Denver, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Candyl - pronounced like a candle - is an essential oil diffuser that looks and acts like a real wax candle. The unique design is popular with crucial oil users and candle lovers, offering an environmentally-conscious and fire-safe alternative to single-use candles while still providing the charm of a flickering lit candle flame.
Tell us about yourself
There are few better places to get a start than where I did, as an MBA student at USC's Marshall School of Business.
I had the idea for Candyl in January 2020 while practicing yoga in Santa Monica. My instructor used a standard essential oil diffuser and some flameless LED candles. In a moment of clarity, I envisioned them as one device and got to work prototyping them the following day. My prototypes gained immediate traction, and I was encouraged to proceed with development.
As the pandemic unfolded over the coming months, I resolved to put that extra time at home to good use. I spent nearly every day in my garage working on the product and laying the groundwork for launching a business. It gave me a mission to focus on during the pandemic and an outlet for creativity I never had in my previous work in the corporate financial sector.
While I'm thankful for my education and would recommend Marshall to anyone considering MBA programs, you don't need an MBA to be successful- the real work is done in the garage. You can learn anything you need on the job if you are committed to it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Of all the titles I could claim- entrepreneur, founder, CEO, etc., my favorite is "inventor." Therefore, I'm most proud of bringing a product from concept into existence. In doing so, creating something new and novel that people genuinely love and that nobody who came before me had done.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
This list could be a mile long. Many will tell you that it's an endeavor not for the faint of heart.
The hardest thing as a solopreneur is not having anyone else in your corner, no one to rely on when you need help. Nothing gets done unless you do it. That will mean you'll need to dig deeper and work harder. Going solo was the right thing for me, for my skills and circumstances, but if you have the right people to partner or work with, I'd encourage that.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
You have to start somewhere, so get the ball rolling in whatever way you can, and figure it out as you go. Maybe you make a prototype by hand or set up a stall at a farmer's market. Start small and lean into your strengths. Continue because people want to buy what you are selling, not because you fantasize about being an entrepreneur or being your boss.
Product first. Always. That's the beating heart of your business. Focus on making your product so good that people will seek it out and want to buy it. You'll eventually figure out how to sell it effectively if you can sell it.
If you are going solo, be prepared to make your business the top priority in your life to the extent you can. You're signing up to commit thousands of hours yearly, and finding your formula for success will require your sustained effort. It's going to be complicated. But you will make progress, things will get more manageable, and you will grow from it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://candyl.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CANDYLDiffusers/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candyl.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnforhire/
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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