Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Yariela Duran, Owner of Sol Home LLC, located in Windermere, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
SOL Wick & Body is a home fragrance and body care studio. Our products are for the person that wants to find joy, happiness, relaxation, and peace in a candle.
Tell us about yourself
I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I have always been inclined to make handmade items and become an entrepreneur. As a young woman, I moved to the United States more than 15 years ago and have lived in New York City and Florida. I worked in different jobs, mostly in a retail environment, in sales and/or customer service roles. These jobs helped me grow and mature as a person who strives to delight my customer with good products and services.
Being far from my home country, I was adapting to a new country and a different culture; it was very difficult at first, but I always found joy and comfort by lighting a candle that would remind me of the beautiful memories from back home, making me feel close to my love ones in a way. Then I realized that burning candles is one of my favorite things to do because it arouses memories, experiences, and environments
therefore, I knew I could offer that to others with passion.
In 2018 SOL Wick & Body was born, and I decided to put that desire/inspiration into work to delight my customers from my own business.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being able to stand out in a market with so many competitors is relatively easy to enter.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I have experienced so many challenges I doubted if I should continue with my work, especially in 2020. The current COVID-19 pandemic has made it very difficult to operate the business because most supplies and goods to manufacture my products were unavailable and still hard to find. However, I kept going because I believe that difficult times, failures, and challenges shape most successful stories. Those experiences have shaped me and my business to forge itself as a successful brand.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Knowing from the beginning that it won't be easy! If you fail, try again and again until it works, the key is hard work, consistency, and learning from mistakes, but most important is to believe in yourself.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://solwickandbody.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solwickandbody
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solwickandbody/
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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