Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tammy Obrien, owner of Eternal Flame, located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Self-taught candle maker of the Eternal Flame in Edmonton. My customers are and gender, a wide variety of ages, whether they are looking for the ambiance, or to make their home smell beautiful, maybe a gift, maybe to relax, a candle is great and so many reasons to use them.
Tell us about yourself
I started as a craft for valentines day with my kids. They were 7 & 8.
So we were at Micheals, and I saw candle making kits; I said hey guys want to make some candles, kids were excited, so I told them to pick out jars while I sorted through the wax, wicks, scents) at that moment, I didn't know anything about soy or paraffin wax; When we got home, I was excited to get into the kitchen and start cooking up some candles. The kids weren't into making them anymore, so I enjoyed melting the wax, music bearing, and bopping around.
I posted my terrible-looking candles on Facebook, and friends were asking me to make their candles. (to me, they didn't look terrible, and I was proud, now, looking back, I say I have great friends. I was so happy, and it's like a light bulb that appeared, and I'm like, OMG. This is what I'm meant to do. I was a waitress, so I saved every penny, did my research, and made my 1st big purchase of everything I would need to start up my business.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Sad but making it through the COVID. It was a tough two years. I needed to work with customers to make them feel safe while opening my home for the curbside, adding a website for shipping, and maintaining my business in markets.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Getting into markets. At the very beginning, it was fighting tooth and nail to get into a little community market and maybe walking away with a few hundred. It was stressful always packing up and setting up at markets weekly. But after your name gets out there, bigger markets will contact you, and it makes you feel great.
Accepting that you're not perfect and that mistakes happen.
Things are always changing whether it be a name, shop, products, keeping in stock (during COVID) Money, that was a big one for me, I always made I get paid but also making sure most of my money goes back into my products, Also keeping up to date on products, Being the boss, the employee, website designer, label maker and so much more time is of huge importance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Test, test, test, test burn every batch you make. Remember that the companies you order from can have the wrong wicks; a scent might smell not how it should until you put it in the wax. Test how long it burns how long for a complete melt pool (edge to edge.)
- Know your products. This is a big one for me. So many people just want to make a quick buck, so they will post, "Hey, I have to say 464 wax, and a 4 oz jar with a 4" diameter, what will would I use?" That is not knowing your product. Buy/test know what works best for your candle.
- Do not bash your competitors. If you are confident in your product, you will support them.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Make sure to do what you love, have a passion, and keep smiling.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/EternalFlameEdmonton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eternalflameedmonton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eternal_flame_edmonton/
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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