Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tara Ortiz, owner of Stappato, located in Fort Worth, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Stappato, we believe that together, we can light the way to a better tomorrow. We are driven by a passion to give back to our shared home- this Earth. From using recycled bottles to donating to plant a tree for every product we sell, we aspire to bring luxury into your home and give back while doing it. We handcraft our soy candles with love and care every step of the way, from the moment the bottles are donated to the moment you light your crackling wooden wick.
Our lovely patrons are our driving force, those who strive to reduce waste in their homes while bringing luxury and hygge into their spaces. We are a team of Eco Warriors pushing for beautiful and sustainable home goods. Without them, we wouldn't be able to do what we do, which includes planting over 600 trees to date!
Tell us about yourself
To tell you about myself, I have first to introduce my name. I was named Tara, with two parts behind the reason why. At first, my mom wanted to gift me the name Terra, named after Earth, soil, and all the good, gritty things about where we live. After exploring further, she decided to change the spelling to Tara, after the Hindu and Buddhist deity embodying compassion and empathy. Growing up, these were legacies I carried close to my heart and constantly worked to live up to my name, honoring the Earth and embodying compassion.
I am driven to do all that I can to put more kindness into the world, and through my business have been able to honor the Earth in a way I had not been able to achieve before. Working alongside my husband, Adrian, we've brought to life a business in which we can provide safe spaces to all, a sense of home and comfort, and do so while giving back. That alone motivates us to build our small businesses and support our community in any way we can.
Stappato's origin story begins after a year of pandemic craziness, social unrest, unemployment, and, well… basically, the world burning down (hey, it was 2020). We were anxious to do something good. We and many of our friends and family had really built up our collection of wine bottles because… who hadn't?
So we put them to good use. We got crafty. Used our hands to create a beautiful candle made of the best materials to bring a little warmth into folks' homes, recycle those bottles, and plant a tree with every candle sold. And so, Stappato Candle Co. was born!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
There is no way to describe the feeling of knowing that with our business and our incredible patrons, we've been able to work with One Tree Planted to put over 600 trees into the ground all across the globe, working to reforest environmentally devastated areas. One Tree Planted is an incredible partner that works to incorporate education, transparency, and biodiversity in the work they do, which gives us the confidence to know that we and our patrons are having a real impact.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
What isn't hard about owning a business?! In reality, the hardest part is feeling like you're behind. There are so many other businesses out there, small and big, and it seems like everyone has knowledge that we don't. It can oftentimes feel overwhelming and like there's always someone a little bit further along than you. But in those moments, you can either pout (which, let's be honest, does happen sometimes!), or you can reach out and lean on those who've done it before you or better than you and seek their advice and wisdom (or learn from their mistakes).
We have met the most incredible community of small business owners, even a bunch that sell the same types of products, but when it all boils down to it... when one of us succeeds, we all do. We just can't let the comparisons get in the way of connecting and leaning on each other.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find. Your. People! Connecting with other amazing business owners, building a community around your mission, and having that wisdom and support to lean on are absolutely crucial to getting through the tough times!
- Be afraid and do it anyway. There isn't a human out in the world that isn't terrified by something. You just can't let that get in the way.
- Show up as you. It's exhausting to be anything else, and you're not doing the world any favors by pretending. You will succeed if you show up bearing all the colors you were born to wear. You bring uniqueness into every space you walk in. Own it!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you do one thing today that's different, shop at a small business. There are businesses out there that are families your kids play soccer with, that are feeding the houseless population, that are building communities, that are sending supplies across seas, and that are working to reforest this planet. Take the time to learn about where you shop. Listen to the stories. You will be better for it, and it will start a ripple effect of good. Small businesses and locally owned businesses create a foundation of good in our communities. Start there.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.stappatocandleco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StappatoCandleCo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stappatocandleco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taraortiz/
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
