Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Denise DeMoss, Owner of Celestial Scents Candles, LLC, located in Cold Spring, KY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Celestial Scents Candles was born over 17 years ago as a hobby for the love and passion of burning candles! It was truly all about the delightful warm welcome that I was able to offer to my family and friends as they visited my home!
At the beginning of this adventure, I had no idea how candles were made or even where to buy supplies to make them! After a lot of self-learning, trial and error, and an honest family, over the years, Celestial Scents Candles very much improved!
Celestial Scents Candles are all-natural soy wax candles with three cotton core wicks. Our candles are as highly scented as recommended by fragrance experts. Celestial Scents Candles hand pours each candle into a clear, heat-resistant jar and includes a bottom "warning label" and a professional front label that is a fit for any home décor.
Our offerings are over 190 amazing fragrances, all blended into the best all-natural soy wax with cotton core wicks. Celestial Scents Candles are all hand poured in small batches with no added colors and finished off with the most amazing love and passion! The quality of our products, as well as our customer service, is absolutely some of the most important parts of our everyday mission of operating Celestial Scents Candles.
In 2019 Celestial Scents Candles launched a new product line of handmade soaps and skin care products. Although we are still growing and establishing our product line for this new lineup… we still have a lot to learn! Our goal is to hand-make in small batches all-natural soaps and other personal care items that help with different skin conditions and to share our learning with others to help improve the quality of their lives.
On May 15, 2020, I applied for my WBEC (Women's Business Enterprise Certification) via the WBENC. On July 15, I was given the opportunity to share my business story with the National Council, as well as a tour of my production location, which is where all my handmade products are made. On July 20, 2020, Celestial Scents Candles was granted our National Women's Business Enterprise Certification (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. On September 16, 2020, Celestial Scents Candles was granted our Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification. These certifications have been earned yearly now for the last three consecutive years!
On April 30, 2021, I resigned from a full-time corporate career to operate my small candle business full time! With the extra time and focus on my business, I set out to grow my candle business the best I knew how! We opened a small Pop-up retail shop located in Southgate, KY, in August of 2020 (weekends only), and after nine months, we moved our candle business to Newport on The Levee full time. After seven months, we decided that it was time to look for a permanent retail home for Celestial Scents Candles! On January 21, 2022, we opened our new retail location at 305 Crossroads Blvd, Cold Spring, KY 41076. Our retail shop is open Monday - Saturday 11 am - 7 pm and again on Sunday 12 pm - 6 pm.
At our new location, we were able to offer interactive classes in Candle Making, Bath Bombs, Whipped Hand & Body Soap, and Essential Oils. These class schedules are offered on our website at www.celestialscentscandles.com under "Interactive Classes." We also offer personalized and custom gift baskets, we offer to fundraise, and wholesale/private labels to other small retail businesses.
Tell us about yourself
I am a mom of two of the best adult kids and currently have four grandkids! The family has always been at the top of my priority list. I worked in the corporate world for 34 years in the printing industry. As I became seasoned in my life, I decided that I needed to take the time to do what I passionately loved, which was operating my candle business full time. Owning a business is tough... lots of hours and worries daily! However, looking back to the beginning and seeing how far my little candle business has come is what motivates me every day. The support I receive from my family, friends, and customers make it all worth it!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Opening my permanent location and operating my full business time. Holding the professionalism to serve my customers every day!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
How to best market my business. As a small business owner, there is now a lot of extra money sitting around to invest in public marketing. Growing the business and getting new customers to support the business is super hard.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do your homework on the type of business you are looking to start/own.
- Create a business plan and review it with small business organizations such as your local bank or business investors.
- Knew going into this business that it was going to take a lot of time, effort, and money.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.celestialscentscandles.com/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/celestialscentscandles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestialscentscandles/
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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