Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Haeley Gjesvold, founder and owner of Nightwork Candle, located in Portland, OR, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am the founder of Nightwork Candle, an indie vegan candle brand based near PDX. Our customers are a fun mix. They are artistic and chic but also a little wild. Design-focused but also conscious of what they are consuming. They like slow fashion and art shows, but you can also find them in the local dive talking about poetry and music.
Tell us about yourself
I always knew I'd start a business and work for myself. I knew what I wanted it to feel like, but it took a while for me to put it all together. I did a short stint in art school for fashion design but thought it was too abstract and couldn't "attach" myself to it. I followed that up with three years of majoring in Biology. Quite different! I love science, but I knew the medical field would be too structured for me long term.
Candles came to me as the perfect medium for me to put my visions into and apply the structure of science. I'm motivated by creation. I love envisioning new blends and developing concepts for them. I love releasing them into the world, like little capsules of art and energy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think my biggest accomplishment is my newfound ability to roll with the punches. I no longer rigidly attach myself to certain outcomes or deadlines. Like many business owners, supply issues have been ongoing, and I'm proud of the creative solutions I've created to navigate these hurdles.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a creative person, I just want to create. New scents, new products, new packaging! I am a passionate person and maybe a touch impulsive. But, for me to grow in a sustainable way, I need to provide consistency first. I'm working on cultivating a "first things first" attitude.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just start. You will make mistakes, and it's ok. Learn as quickly as possible and move on.
- If you create something that is authentic to who you are and how you express yourself in the world, you will never have to worry about "competition."
- Don't be afraid to offer your truths and visions. Some people won't get it, and that's ok. Give out of love and give relentlessly.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://nightworkcandle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightworkcandle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightworkcandle/
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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