Crafty Candles - Donna Steinhoff
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Donna Steinhoff, owner of Crafty Candles, located in Essex, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Crafty Candles, all of our candles are made by hand. From our standard 14oz flared square glass, 14oz classic jar, 7oz classic jar, jumbo and small tea lights, wax melts, and a votive to our specialty line of unique life-size candles that look realistic like pies, birthday cakes, bundt cakes, butter tarts, pancakes, etc. Our customers usually range from early 20 who want their place to smell awesome to the older set who want to give a baked good as a gift but don't want the hassle of cooking it themselves.
Tell us about yourself
The first candle store I went to was in Columbus, Ohio, in the 1990s. I was so captivated by the smells and designs of the candles that I thought it would be awesome to make them myself. I purchased Crafty Candles in 2013. Each and every day, we look at bake good pictures on the internet and see if we can reproduce them as a candle. My creative side now has an outlet.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our biggest accomplishment was in 2017 a film company contacted us, and we made candles for the big season finally of Mary Kills People. Also, in 2021 we made a stack of pancakes candle for Hungry Jack restaurant.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is the roller coaster, feast, or famine cycle. It's hard to stay balanced when at times, you have so many orders you are swamped and then crash, nothing for a while.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Keep evolving your product. Our customers often come in and say, "What do you have that's new?"
- You can't do it all, so surround yourself with people that have strong qualities where you know you lack.
- Make sure you take time each day to relax so that you can go back to work refreshed and less stressed.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Running a company is not for the faint of heart. It is a lot of work and sometimes for very little pay. But the rewards come when you get a customer to come in and tell you that your product is the best, and they tell all their friends to shop here. So you tell them to thank you, you just made my day.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.craftycandles.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftycandlescanada
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftycandlescanada/
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.