Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eric Kaweesi, Co-Founder of lifebloom, LLC., located in Watertown, MA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We create handmade home fragrances and goods for the conscience consumer. Our products include hand-poured, natural candles in handmade concrete vessels, incense, and wick trimmers.
Tell us about yourself
It all started when we went for a weekend getaway in Vermont to get away from the city life — we rented a cozy cabin overlooking a vast lake surrounded by whispering trees and the clean, crisp smells of the outdoors, went on an epic four-mile long kayaking trip with an intense rainstorm hitting right in the midst of our journey, went for one of the steepest and challenging hikes of our lives only to be met with the most breathtaking views, and most importantly reconnected with one another and ourselves — relaxing by the firepit, practicing yoga, making pancakes, and dancing into the wee hours of the night.
When we got back home to Boston, we immediately started missing the deep connection to nature we felt while in Vermont. A part of ourselves was missing, and we wanted to fill this void. Nature for us is a multi-sensory experience — smells of crisp air and fresh dirt, views of flowing water and expansive mountains, sounds of birds chirping and crackling fires, and the touch of smooth rocks and soft flowers. We wanted to bring our favorite aspects of nature home - and thus, lifebloom was born.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We launched our business in September of 2021. Our biggest accomplishment as business owners to date has been opening our first retail pop-up shop in Seaport, Boston. This has been a great opportunity for us to become more integrated with the Boston community.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a two-person team, one of our biggest challenges is having limited labor resources. We are not only making all of our products by hand from start to finish but are also responsible for maintaining all other aspects of our business, such as maintaining our social media, managing our online market and retail sales, and strategizing how to scale our business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Take the leap. Before starting a business, it is easy to get caught up in trying to perfect your vision. Don't let perfectionism or fear hold you back.
- Be committed and stay consistent. In order to run a successful business, it is important to have a routine that grounds your actions into results.
- Find a balance. As an entrepreneur, you will likely be working on your business every single day. It is important to allocate time for self-care in order to recharge and avoid burnout.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://lifebloomcandles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070628389426
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifebloom/
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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