Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Charlie Todd, Owner of Silver Dollar Candle Co. LLC., located in Knoxville, TN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Here at Silver Dollar Candle Co, we've manufactured gorgeous scented candles since 2015. With both B2C e-commerce for our Silver Dollar Candle Brand and B2B offering wholesale, private label, and contract pour options- we service a broad range of customers from gift shops, e-commerce brands, hotels, and everything in between.
Tell us about yourself
Aside from our longtime love of candlemaking as a hobby, the business formed naturally through word of mouth and people showing a demand for our candles. A close-by material supplier gave us an early competitive edge saving on high shipping costs for heavier materials like Wax, too. I (Charlie) was born and raised in the UK - the ability to grow and build a business from scratch that supports my family is something I truly don't think I'd have been able to accomplish over there, so that perspective helps motivate me each day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
At best, we assumed we'd have a little extra cash at the end of the year that we otherwise wouldn't have. From our 2nd year, the business has been our family's sole income - that alone is our greatest accomplishment. That does, of course, create its own challenges...
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
In line with the earlier question - accepting and understanding that whichever way you look at it, "the buck stops with you." Each decision, small and large, has an impact on your livelihood and employees and their families too. It's a weight to carry that those that aren't business owners seldom understand.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be willing to adapt to whatever is thrown at you.
- Understand that you don't have to reinvent the wheel - or indeed invent anything. Look at what competitors are wrong and simply do it right.
- Build recurring revenue as quickly as possible into your plans!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://silverdollarcandle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilverDollarCandleCo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverdollarcandleco/
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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