Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jenna and Tyler Sullivan, owners of Hometown Handmades, LLC., located in Malvern, AR, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We sell handmade products that we make ourselves, such as scented candles, wax melts, beard oil and balm, goat milk and honey lotion, whipped bath butter, and car diffusers.
Tell us about yourself
The pandemic happened, and while we were home all the time outside of our “day jobs,” I realized I really needed a hobby. I love scents, so I thought I’d learn how to make candles. It’s a much bigger process than it originally seems.
I thought, eh, it can’t be too bad. You need some wax, wicks, fragrances, and jars. How hard can that be? Little did I know there’s quite a bit of math and science involved. You’ve got to find the perfect wick to work with not only the diameter of the jar but also with the type of wax you’re using and the percentage of that wax and fragrance oils. With the wrong wick, you could have a lot of “mushrooming” and/or “tunneling,” which in turn not only will it not give off much scent after lit, but the flame will drown itself out. We wick tested for months to find the perfect one with our candle recipes.
The motivation comes from each individual scent, regardless of what product the fragrance is in. One scent can bring back so many memories throughout people's lives. We especially hear those comments in our Fall and Christmas lines.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our biggest accomplishment so far is building relationships with customers nationwide. Hearing their stories about what they think of the fragrances we use and the memories it brings back. We love that they reach out and tell us about their memories.
Soon, we’d love to be able to create a line of candles and wax melts and donate percentages of sales to non-profit organizations such as those that help support the youth in foster care.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Time. Especially with what we do and with seasons changing, we like to add a line of scents that go along with the seasons. It can prove to be difficult without great time management as we both have full-time jobs and a newly adopted daughter who we love spending time with. She also loves to help out!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Make sure you love what you’re doing and that you have a “why.” We’re still steadily growing, and small businesses grow by word of mouth, whether through social media or in conversation. So make sure you give your customers something good to talk about.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Follow us on our socials. You’ll also find lots of videos on our TikTok of us making our products.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://hometownhandmades.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hometownhandmadesAR
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hometownhandmades/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HHScentShop
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hometownhandmades
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.