Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jeffrey and Brandi Stover, Owners of CandleBravo, located in Charlotte, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a 100% soy, hand-poured candle company. We handcraft great smelling, phthalate-free candles. Our customers prefer quality and enjoy purchasing local, handcrafted goods.
Tell us about yourself
We have always believed in the importance of small and local businesses. We started our journey with CandleBravo because we enjoy great-smelling, simple candles that do not add unnecessary or harmful ingredients. We enjoy the opportunity to work together as a team to create high-quality candles. The opportunity to expose our children to entrepreneurship is also a bonus. Our daily motivation is our customers. They keep us encouraged when they share their stories or love for a particular scent with us. Of all the senses, the smell is the most powerful route to emotions and memories. Our scented candles are our way of helping our customers link to positive emotions through the power of scent.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our biggest accomplishment as business owners has been partnering with other small businesses to retail our candles in their stores. We are excited to be in local shops in the area. It feels good to be able to support the amazing entrepreneurs in the Charlotte community and do our part to provide our community with a quality product.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Investing the time into not only the creative aspects of the business but the operational needs of the business. In order to enjoy the creative aspects of owning a business, it’s important to grow in the knowledge of sound business practices so that the business remains strong and delivers its value promise. As with anything else, if a business is something that you really want, you will make time to learn and grow.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a plan. Do some research and make sure that you have thought about all the pros and cons of going into business for yourself. Be sure you are building a business you love and that the community needs.
- Make sure you partner with people that you can trust and that are dependable. That goes for your vendors too. Don’t be too quick to go with whatever is cheapest. You get what you pay for.
- Be willing to expand your boundaries. Sometimes when we start a business, we know exactly what we want, and we are not willing to try new things. However, consider the voice of your customers and stay curious.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you want to start a business, know that you can do it! When the work you do is something that you love, it hardly feels like work! You likely have a lot of skills that you are currently using to help other people and build other businesses. Consider pouring some of your time, energy, and effort into something with your name on it!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://candlebravo.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candlebravo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candle_bravo/
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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