Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shannon Fisher, Co-Founder of Pillars of Light, located in Barrie, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We believe in bringing more love and light to the world, one candle at a time. A conscious luxury candle company that provides five years of access to clean drinking water to people in need through our social impact business model and partnership with the GivePower Foundation.
Our customers are those who value timeless luxury and social impact
and who wants to give a gift of meaning and something that will last long after the candle is done burning. Our candles are hand-poured with luxurious 100% eco-friendly soy wax and scented with a complex blend of essential oils and natural aromas. Just like us, each of our ceramic vessels is one of a kind marble design.
Tell us about yourself
Janey Snelgrove and Shannon Fisher, Co-Founders of Pillars of Light. We are mothers, dreamers, doer's and givers. We started this company to bring more love and light to the world, one candle at a time. To create a company that was rooted in people and purpose and offered life-changing hope to people in need.
In Jan of 2021, we both were feeling the impacts of the darkness of fear and the pain of isolation were having on us, our families, and people around the world. In a conversation one day, we said, my gosh, the world really needs more love and light in it. This was the beginning of our journey.
With former backgrounds in health and wellness, we knew that we could help. We talked about making candles, and it was right then and there that we realized some simple yet powerful could bring to someone's life. This is what excites us. Being able to help two people at once. To create a community of change-makers and together, we can be Pillars of Light. We have a big vision to impact over 1 million lives over the next few years, and we are just getting started.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Pillars of Light is a start-up company; our e-commerce store opened in November 2021. So the fact that we have been able to get off the ground during the pandemic and are already impacting lives in Kenya with clean drinking water has been an enormous accomplishment so far.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
You are navigating the ever-changing moments/landscape in entrepreneurship. No one is more invested in your business than you, which requires a lot of grit and responsibility but also great rewards.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be flexible. Things will change, and you will need to pivot fast.
- Hire a coach or mentor to help you navigate different parts of your business.
- Test your market before you make a significant investment. Make sure your idea is sound and you have a market of buyers who want what you have. Little wins turn into BIG wins.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you have a dream, move forward with it. Best case, it works, and you serve many people worst case, it doesn't, but at least you tried. You will learn a ton along the way, leading you to your next victory.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.pillarsoflight.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pillarsoflight.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pillars_of_light.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pillars-of-light-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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