Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with RexAnne Roundtree, founder of GiGi Flame, located in Allentown, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
GiGi Flame shines light and sheds hope into your journey, making you feel alive! We've created beautiful amazing candle fragrances, oils, and mists, ultimately providing an outlet of comfort utilizing aromatherapy for all to enjoy. Our customers are all lovely walks of life who seek peace, hope, happiness, healing, comfort and believe in their own choices of spirituality without judgment.
Tell us about yourself
I was always crafty and loved candles, so I began pouring when I was in my 20s. My mom's close friend taught me one afternoon, and I loved it. I had been spending a fortune on candles and decided to save my money and pour my own. Pouring also provided me peace and solace. Since I was young and over many years, I cared for my mom after her health deteriorated from Systemic Lupus, and I lost her in late 2017. Then four months later, my furbaby daughter, whom I delivered, perished from canine cancer. After this, I hit an all-time low and was diagnosed with PTSD. I had, in a sense, given up and didn't know what to do nor where to turn.
After the advice from close friends, I entered the PA Medical Marijuana Program beginning with Keystone Canna Remedies in Bethlehem, PA, where I sought help for PTSD and began my healing journey. It wasn't until I had experienced these substantial losses, got diagnosed with PTSD, and lost my purpose taking care of everyone who had now perished to now only be left with myself to deal with, that I decided to proceed forth no holds barred to pursue a legacy which is where I finally found my passion. I further embarked on a spiritual journey with help from holistic healers and joined them. Through this healing journey, I've managed to find my purpose, which was creating a way to help many come home to homes smelling amazing and feeling captivating with alluring oils and fragrances they can burn and wear at all times of the year while also providing two separate charities to support while doing so. 7% of all proceeds are split between Lupus Foundation and National Canine Cancer, respectively.
I also began to project my spirituality and holistic healing through my products. All products are created under high vibe energy times, full moons, new moons, celestial and energy shifts. I am motivated by every customer's need for our products, the story of why they choose to burn our candles, wear our fragrances, oils, and mists, and how this helps them with self-care and beginning and ending their day happy and satisfied. I'm also motivated by experiencing a full journey of believing in what we cannot see and that we create our own magic. Despite how much pain we go through, we can make it through an outlet of our choice - It's called Faith.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Witnessing miracles! I've always said if I can help just one person get through their journey successfully somehow after being in a state of pain, experiencing tough times, and divine challenges of life, we have won. I have been able to not only heal myself through this journey but also have helped heal others through by providing them with something to believe in - themselves and better outcomes when you actually do believe in yourself to make it happen. When we believe and keep going listening to our own intuition and not doubting ourselves, we have the power to create our very own miracles.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The challenges we face when things don't go as expected. My business is my legacy; it is a part of my soul and life purpose. I face it with love and positivity with everything I've got. When you inject your entire self into it, and things go wrong, it can be very difficult to deal with it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Always believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams - manifest them into reality and walk that reality into existence.
- Don't allow anyone to talk you out of your passion for pursuing your business. No one is walking in your shoes, and no one has your drive to achieve your own excellence.
- Keep learning as you go along the way. You do not know everything, and there is always someone to collaborate with and additional things to learn. The journey to continue building your business never ends. It simply levels up in stages, getting healthier, bigger, and better with your passion for it!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Create your own magical experience! Essaying on the journey of healing and entrepreneurship is the most difficult thing you will do. However, it is indeed the most rewarding thing you will ever accomplish because you believe in yourself! Enjoy every second of living in the moment, as success is the journey itself! This way, it is no longer a job; it is a healthy living lifestyle you can enjoy every day and call your own!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://gigiflame.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gigiflamecandles/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_gigiflame_/
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.
