Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katherine Bupp, Owner of Lady Luck Candle Co, located in Statesboro, GA, USA.

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

My business is custom blended home fragrance. Each of my scent formulas is developed and blended by me. I then use those scents for candles, wax melts, room sprays, diffuser oils, and incense. I am also looking to get into cold-process goat milk soap in 2023. My customers are people who enjoy hand-crafted products made from natural ingredients.

Tell us about yourself

The idea for my business came from making candles as a hobby, then as gifts for friends and family. It’s something I genuinely enjoy spending my time doing. I have a double MBA and realized that office life just wasn’t fulfilling to me. I am motivated to keep going because I enjoy the flexibility of working for myself and being more available to my kids than I was when I worked full-time (and then some) in an office.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think my biggest accomplishment as a business is having a personal connection with my customers. I take every order personally, whether it’s from a stranger or a friend. It’s always my goal to deliver something I know my customers will absolutely love and want to purchase again and again.

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

Personal responsibility and time management. I have to keep things on track, or it can get very hectic and stressful. I have to manage my business time and personal time to make sure I’m not letting anything fall through the cracks. This is even more important now that I’m taking large “project” type orders (wedding favors, baby shower favors, etc.) in addition to running my site and having stock on hand for tent shows.

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

  1. Buy a notebook. Start listing your ideas for your business in it. List them in the form of an outline so, under each topic, you can list related subtopics or questions you must answer about that topic to move forward.
  2. Research. Research until you think you know everything there is to know about the kind of business you want to start, then research your research. Exhaust every avenue, then be prepared to still find out there was more to learn anyway. You’ll be better prepared for the surprises!
  3. Be consistent. Throughout the first year of having my business, I was very inconsistent with the amount of time and effort I put in, and I noticed that my sales reflected that. Any time I was consistent with posting to social media or getting involved in community events, the more sales I would have. If I slacked off, sales dropped. Keep yourself fresh in people’s minds by simply being consistent.

Where can people find you and your business?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladyluckcandleco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyluckcandleco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-bupp-mba-a0b67058/

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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