WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED MY LUXURIOUS ECO-CONSCIOUS CANDLE BUSINESS

El Jefe made with comforting notes of citrus, saffron, palo santo and sandalwood.

If you are thinking about starting a candle business and are in the research phase, I wrote this blog for you. Below you I will be sharing FIVE things I wish I had known before starting my small business. I have included the good, the bad, and the ugly!

No. 1

I wish I would have known that starting a candle business using premium, vegan, non-toxic, and eco-conscious materials can get expensive. Testing different waxes, candle vessels, and wicks not only takes time, but it’s not cheap. Actually, candle making involves a lot of math and science. For this reason, take your time testing the product. My recommendation when you are just starting, is to not buy materials expecting to make 100s of candles per week. At this beginning stage, focus on choosing 4-6 different scents and only make 6-12 candles per scent. Rather than focusing on selling your entire inventory, it is best you focus your energy and resources on promoting your brand and networking on social media. 

No. 2

I wish I would have known that I cannot do it all! As much as I pride myself on being Wonder Woman, I can only do so much in a 24-hour day. This is something every small business owner struggles with at the beginning of their entrepreneur  journey. I wish I would have listened to other people telling me the importance of outsourcing and delegating tasks to others (e.g., website design, product photography, google SEO, marketing & advertising). By doing so, you can focus on the most important aspects of your business—building long lasting relationships.

No. 3

I wish I would have taken action sooner! You do not need to have everything figured out before launching your small business. Please do NOT get stuck inside your head thinking that you cannot launch your business until you have the perfect marketing strategy, the perfect product, the perfect set up, the perfect website, etc. I know, first hand, how scary and overwhelming it feels to start something new. Do yourself a favor and don’t listen to the negative voices inside your head. You simply have to be confident and believe in yourself.  You are capable of so much. Please have faith in yourself. You can accomplish anything once you put your mind into it. The hardest part is getting started.

No. 4

I wish I would have known that success is not linear. Success is going to consist of a lot of different things. Thus, success is going to look different to different people. My recommendation is to embrace every ‘low’ as much as the’ highs’. In other words, things are not always going to go your way. The best way to embrace a challenge is to remind yourself of your purpose (why did you start on this journey?). When you focus on your why, it helps you get through whatever challenge you are facing. Always remember that everybody’s journey is different. Keep focusing on your vision. 

No. 5

I wish I would have known that entrepreneurship is extremely overwhelming at times.  I did not know that starting a business would force me  to embark on a personal growth journey. Throughout this process you will find yourself acquiring so many new skills and knowledge. Take advantage of YouTube University and learn as much as you can for free. Also, remember to be kind to yourself during your journey. Just like Rome was not built in a day, creating a business takes time, consistency, and patience. I promise you will come out a stronger person at the end of this journey.

In closing, when you are first starting your candle business: 1) it’s going to be costly, 2) remember to outsource and delegate to avoid burning out, 3) take action and don’t be afraid to get started,  4) success is not linear,  and 5) embrace your personal growth throughout this journey. 

-NANCY DIANNE/FOUNDER

P.S We’d love to see how you style your #NANCYDIANNE. Tag us on TikTok @nancydianne_