Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erica Rome-Washington, CEO, and co-owner of River Birch Candles, located in Richardson, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
River Birch makes hand-poured candles and color matches for customers and retailers across the globe who love clean-burning and room-filling scents.
Tell us about yourself
I was OBSESSED with candles, especially the high-end ones. Soon after I married my husband Shane, he wanted to make them at home because he found my habit was a little exorbitant. Upon researching how to make candles, Shane discovered that all of my so-called "luxury" candles were made of cheap, toxic ingredients. He was determined to make a natural candle formula that was room-filling and safe to burn around his asthmatic wife and their two small pets.
After partnering with expert perfumers and perfecting his formula for over a year, he had done it! Now, River Birch Candles can be found in over 1000 stores across the world and are beloved by thousands. So many retailers fell in love with the captivating aroma of River Birch Candles that they were flooded with requests for custom candles. Because of all of the requests for custom candles, River Birch started offering Private Label Candles & Decorative Colorful Matches to small businesses around the world. They have become the largest supplier of private label candles in the great state of Texas within a year!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Having our products in over 1000 stores worldwide.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It's the work-life balance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be careful with free advice. It can be really dangerous and costly.
- Don't focus on the people who aren't supporting you. It is a waste of your energy.
- You learn the most by doing, not by watching YouTube or reading about it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://riverbirchcandles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverbirchcandlesllc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverbirchcandles/
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.
