Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and body care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Valerie Augustine, CEO of Lite It Up Candles, Body & Spa, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

Lite It Up Candles Body + Spa manufactures luxurious hand-crafted products made with organic, essential, and natural ingredients that nourish the skin, hair, face, body, and soul. The product line includes an array of whipped body butters, natural soaps, soothing shea & olive body oils, Men's grooming products, exfoliating body scrubs, natural deodorants, votive candles, hand-dipped incense, and more.

The great thing about our products is that it transcends age and gender. Our customers are people who care about the ingredients that they put on their skin. Many of our products include Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, natural oils and waxes, herb, and spices found in Grenada such as nutmeg oil, bay leaf, clove, ginger, turmeric, and essential oils and fragrances that are vegan, vegetable and kosher certified.

Tell us about yourself

Lite It Up Corporation is a female-led, Black-owned, Black operated business based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I am the Founder - CEO and established Lite It Up Candles, Body + Spa in 2004 after my hobby turned into a business from the demand to make candles as gifts for my family and friends on a regular basis. I quit my corporate job and took the plunge into entrepreneurship. Over the years, Lite it Up expanded its product offering to include the products they offer today. Passion and love for natural ingredients motivate me to do what I do. I especially love to hear from my customers about how they enjoy using my products, how they make them feel, and/or help correct a problem they may have had.

I have also conducted weekly D.I.Y candle making, soap making, and skincare workshops at a center for Young Women's Empowerment to girls ages 7-17 yrs old in South Etobicoke for the past seven years. I facilitated many seminars, product knowledge seminars, and demonstrations for private, corporate, and non-profit events.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In recent years, Lite It Up has achieved various notable accomplishments that include winning The People's Choice Award for Best Skincare Company in 2019 by byBlacks.com. Lite It Up also secured a vendor agreement in 2020 with TJX Canada stocking a selection of Lite It Up Men's Grooming products in-store locations across Canada.

In January 2022, it was announced that I made the Top 25 deSedulous Women iLaunchHerProducts program recipient. I was also scheduled to receive the Entrepreneurship Award in June 2022 from the International Women Achievement Awards.

Lite It Up products also secured shelf space in 5 new store locations in the past year in the Greater Toronto Area and will be opening a new studio space in May 2022.

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

In my opinion, one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is finding a suitable work/life balance. As a mother of 2 children, balancing work, family time, extra-curricular activities, and "me" time sometimes is difficult. As an entrepreneur, you tend to be thinking about work 24/7; you spend more time at your business than a typical 9a-5p job. I am learning how to "turn work off" and be present at the moment, and using my own products helps with that! #SelfCareSunday

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

TIP #1 Create Something People Want To Buy

  • Is there a market for your product/service/craft? Can you build a profitable business?
  • Who is your target market? Who will buy your product or service?
  • Are people willing to pay for your product or service?

TIP #2 Create a Business Plan

  • A business plan is your roadmap to success,
  • A good business plan will help you plan, create opportunities, anticipate problems, determine trends, and come up with solutions to do a successful business

TIP #3 Have Confidence In What You Do!

  • If you don't believe in yourself – and your product – you will never succeed.
  • Put your soul and passion into what you make - Love What You Do!!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://liteitupproducts.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3HBtgpH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liteitupbodyspa/

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.