Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle shops and candle making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tina Richardson, Founder of Hometown Candle Co, located in Arlington, WA, USA.

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

We hand pour soy candles that are customized with "hometown" names. I started in my kitchen, and now we have a 2200 square foot warehouse. After closing brick and mortar to focus on wholesale, we have grown sales to retail shops, hotels, spas, etc., across the US, Canada, and Europe. I am in recovery from alcohol and have contributed regularly to some amazing recovery service programs. We are about to launch our line of recovery candles and will donate a portion of our sales.

Tell us about yourself

My mom died suddenly, and I began to look for ways to stay busy; creating became my therapy. I eventually was able to leave a job in Healthcare to focus on it full time.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being able to hire staff, including my husband, who was able to leave a 14-year career with an aerospace company.

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

With multiple hats in the business, some areas are not my strength, but I have to push myself to learn them.

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

Find a business mentor, make sure you have the capital and business insurance, and make sure you carve out non-work time for self-care to avoid burnout.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Running a small business is not easy, but when you become active in your community and use it as a way of connection, you gain a loyal following. We have a lot of Hometown Pride and love that the retail shops across the world that we ship to also have Hometown pride for their communities.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://hometowncandleco.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3x2ZtmF
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hometown_candle_company
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-richardson-00a687203/

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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