Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea McGrath, Founder of Out of Darkness Candle Co., located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.

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

My business is Out of Darkness Candle Co. A Brooklyn-based candle company that believes in the power of a beautifully scented candle. By using only, the cleanest and most sustainable ingredients, Out of Darkness Candle Co. makes luxury minimalist candles. Each one has been mindfully curated to promote positive mental well-being and self-care. We believe that the simple act of lighting a candle can make a world of difference in your mental health. Our candles are created to bring peace, hope, happiness, and self-love into your home. Mental Health Awareness is the driving force behind my brand, and 5% of proceeds are donated to The Youth Mental Health Project. Our customers are candle lovers that prefer one-of-a-kind scented, clean-burning candles to that of big box stores filled with chemicals. They are often people that practice self-care and love to give back. Our candles have a minimalist design, so they go with every home decor and let the unique fragrances take center stage.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Andrea McGrath. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where I still reside today with my husband, two children, two dogs, and a cat. I have my BA in psychology, and as an empath have always been drawn to advocating and caring for others. I am the parent of a child that suffers from mental illness. My daughter has been struggling for as long as I can remember.

She has been diagnosed with anxiety/panic disorder, depression, and bipolar 2. We encountered so many obstacles while trying to get her treatment and the proper care. It was an extremely long and frustrating road. My daughter had hit a really rough patch a couple of years ago, which led to my own dark days. It is the hardest and most painful thing to watch your child suffer and not be able to heal them or make them feel better. It may sound silly, but we both found so much comfort in the simple act of lighting a beautifully scented candle. Personally, I would gaze at the flame and breathe in the fragrance, and I would feel better.

I would feel my body instantly start to relax. It is something I would start to refer to as "candle therapy" I had been making candles as a hobby for a couple of years before this -- I wanted a cleaner option than the big store candles that load them with chemicals-- so I took it up as a hobby- When I realized the therapeutic power they had for me and my daughter I thought we need to share this with the world! We decided to curate soy candles with inspiring, thoughtful, encouraging messages and call the company Out of Darkness -- a double meaning as candles literally bring you out of darkness and our wish that lighting these candles will help you escape whatever darkness you may be experiencing on a personal level.

We wanted to bring comfort, hope, and love into the lives of others and wanted to remind anyone going through a difficult time that --this too shall pass, and out of darkness comes light! We also wanted to shine a light on mental health awareness bc there is so much work that still needs to be done. Mental health is physical health, and the more we discuss it; hopefully, the less stigmatized it will be.

My ultimate motivation is always my children-- they are the main reason I keep pushing ahead-- to show them that when you truly believe in something and want to make a difference, you keep going no matter how hard it may be or how far out of your comfort zone it takes you. My motivation also comes from raising mental health awareness and getting feedback regarding my candles on how they helped someone come out of a dark place-- Getting those reviews and messages that my candles were a comfort means the world to me.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

This is a difficult question. I always find it difficult to speak about my accomplishments, but I think the biggest accomplishment I have had so far as a business owner would be the amazing and overwhelming response to my candles and also to my mission. I have had so many people share with me about their own struggles with mental health or family members that they care for that struggle and express how much the candles have helped and how much they appreciate this business raising awareness. So the biggest accomplishment I would have to say is that we are building a business and a supportive community at the same time.

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

I think the hardest thing about being a business owner is wearing so many different hats. You need to know a little of everything in order to have a successful business, from accounting to web design to marketing. I am a maker and absolutely love creating new scents, names, and designs for my candles but having to learn all the other things were really hard for me. I still struggle with keeping up with everything, and I would be very happy if I could just make candles! I would suggest even if you hire someone to do some of the things for you to educate yourself, so you know exactly what's happening. It is your business, so you need to be aware of the ins and outs.

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

  1. The first tip - do something that you truly love. If this is going to be your business, make sure you are happy and love what you are doing- I think that comes across to customers, and if you love the product and are excited about it, then your customers will be as well.
  2. Put blinders on! I am a big culprit of this, especially on social media. I see what other people are doing, and I get sidetracked from my vision and my goal. There is a lot of noise out in the world, and it's really easy to get caught up in "I should be doing this bc all these other people are" or "They are so much further ahead than me" It's very difficult, but you need to remind yourself that you have a vision and you have something special to offer, and everyone has their own timeline.
  3. Don't sell yourself short!! When I first started, I priced my candles so low bc I was worried no one would buy them, and I felt bad charging a high price-- well, people did buy my candles, but because of my super low price point, I didn't make any money, and in the very beginning I even lost money. Price your products accordingly so you can make money.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I would like to share that my candles are eco-friendly, 100% soy wax, cotton wicks, and clean, non-toxic fragrances--All materials come from suppliers in the USA. The scents are all curated by my family and me and hand-poured by me. The vessel is a rock glass that can be cleaned out after use and used as a drinking glass. Being that mental health is the driving force behind my brand, I work closely and have partnered with The Youth Mental Health Project and donated 5% of sales to them.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://outofdarknesscandle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outofdarknesscandle/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outofdarknesscandle_co/

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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