Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kobi Gregory and Tasha Harris, Founder of Kobi Co., located in Brooklyn Park, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Kobi Co. is a candle company that sits at the intersection of scent, sound, and self-care, pairing hand-poured luxury candles with dope playlists to help you set your vibe. We’re a mother-daughter duo who believe self-care is non-negotiable. We want our candles and music to help you be your best self, do your best work, and be your best friend, steward, and ancestor. Our customers are people who are overworked and who can use a simple, quick, and easy relaxation break.
Tell us about yourself
Kobi Gregory
As a little kid, Kobi Gregory spent hours upon hours trailing her mother through the stacks at Electric Fetus, an iconic Minneapolis record store (and frequent Prince hang). Music is Kobi’s talisman. It helps her balance her mood, soothe her nervous system, and feel alright. So when Kobi’s anxiety and depression spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned to music to help her cope. And she got a cool new hobby… The act of pouring a candle—mixing oils to create elegant fragrance combinations, pouring the wax, and embellishing candles with crystals and charms—was so calming and therapeutic that Kobi realized her candles could help others enhance their care, too. She decided to pair each of her candles with a special, curated playlist to help set the vibe. And the rest is candle history. 🎵🕯️🎵. Kobi is a chill introvert who finds joy in her friends, city, fashion, and TikTok dance challenges. She believes self-care & mental health should be a priority for every woman, and she’s honored to (literally) share her light with the world through the products at Kobi Co.
Tasha Harris
Tasha Harris spent nearly two decades in the corporate world before “retiring” (aka quitting) in late 2019. By the time she left, she was burned out, and she never wanted to work for another person ever again. She spent months resting, healing, and re-evaluating what was truly important to her. And what she found was that self-care, family, and wellness were always at the top of the list. So when her daughter started pouring and selling candles as an escape from the pressures of teenage pandemic life, Tasha was all in. Having seen first-hand what can happen when you de-prioritize self-care and burn yourself out, she knew how important it was to support Kobi in the early phases of entrepreneurship. Tasha is adjusting to life as the mom of adult children. She’s using her extra time to travel, meditate, pine over an English bulldog, and spend time with her husband (even though he won’t let her get a dog). She is thriving in entrepreneur life—the constant learning, the amazing people she gets to work with, and the immense gratification of building a legacy that supports mental well-being and rest.
What motivates us each day to do what we do is that we love working together to create a beautiful legacy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being able to award our first scholarship to two amazing individuals this year.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Not being able to execute every idea that comes to mind. We are a small two-person team for now.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Learn your industry.
- Study your competition.
- And love what you do.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.lovekobico.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoveKobico/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovekobico/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lovekobico
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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