Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Matthew Thompson, founder of Dorris Lane Candles, located in Stuart, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Dorris Lane Candles is a small business I started in my kitchen and founded in January 2022. My customers are those who appreciate the benefits of enjoying eco-friendly candles and wax melts. Part of the reason why I established this company was to create products that promote a sense of positivity and harmony when burned. I truly care about being transparent to my customers about the ingredients I use in my products, that they are high quality, clean, non-toxic, and safe to breathe in and be around. No hidden petroleum fillers, artificial dyes, or scents. I truly believe that everyone deserves to experience a candle or wax melt that is able to lift your spirit and be surrounded by a beautiful aroma without the fear of negative side effects.
Tell us about yourself
I spent most of my working life as a chef. Mixing different flavors and ingredients together on a daily basis. It was very similar to candle-making in a sense. Adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that to create something enjoyable and wholesome in the end. I had decided, though, that path was at its end. I was always raised on a strong foundation of self-sufficiency and family values. A lot of this wisdom was passed down to me from my grandparents. They taught me how to build something out of nothing and take care of it, and watch it grow. To never falter even in the face of struggle or defeat. To always push through on my path forwards. I named my company after the street that they lived on before I had been born. Hoping that my family’s legacy and lessons will be passed down through my company. I think about them every day and feel them guiding me onwards.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The biggest accomplishment so far as an owner would probably be that my candles are for sale at Riley Reese Boutique in my hometown of Portland, Tennessee. This is where my grandparents lived and where a lot of my family lived or has for a few generations. It made it all seem so much more like fate when this came to be. It almost helped solidify that I was walking the right path with my business.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the most difficult things I’ve had to personally deal with as an owner is patience. Knowing when to just organically let the business run and don’t push it. I learned my craft relatively quickly and had the idea that there could be instant results possibly. The reality was that people needed to learn about my brand first. To understand my story and my products before being willing to make a purchase. Hopefully, I’ve helped bridge this gap with anyone reading about my story.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The top 3 tips id give people looking to get into running a business are rather simple. First is organization and structure. Always have a plan that you can test and make improvements to. Record and catalog everything as you go. Keep a blueprint of your own business model in a sense.
Secondly would be understanding your product or service. Know the ins and out of what you’re trying to make or what service you’re trying to offer. Test and write everything down. Get closer and closer to perfection in your craft. Sometimes it takes failure and mistakes to learn lessons. If that happens, just get back up and keep going until you get it right.
The third piece of advice id give is understanding how to ask for help. I’ve had countless conversations with friends and family about my business and its structure. There may be certain things that you are good at and other things that make you pull your hair out in frustration. Remember that there is always someone that has been through whatever challenge that you face. Reach out and see if someone will assist you in solving whatever you’re facing.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
In closing, I hope that my story has helped people in some way. Maybe helped inspire others to take a leap toward being self-sufficient and making it on their own. There is always a way to make yourself succeed. Sometimes it may be a random suggestion from a friend that you take that changes your life, like in my situation. There will always be a level of risk in going your own way once you achieve it though there isn’t a better feeling you can have. Thank you very much for reading about me and my business!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://dorrislanecandles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dorris-Lane-Candles-107572095187578/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorrislanecandles/
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.
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