Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Charisse Adams, founder of Concrete Garden Candles, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I make soy wax candles for busy people who can be forgetful about taking care of themselves. Currently, I offer about 18 fragrances that inspire a certain mood or habit that I believe is important to at least consider when ‘self-caring’ at home. There is also a range of sizes and types of candle decor that I hand pour these scented candles in to provide customers with different budget and aesthetic options. At the end of the day, I appreciate the crazy amount of responsibilities a lot of us have. Still, sometimes, I feel that too much emphasis on our responsibilities can lead to being in survival mode (i.e., ‘just - trying - to - make - it’ kind of mentality). Leaning on survival means we are not living to our full potential, and this hurts me so much. My hope with Concrete Garden Candles is to inspire people to invest in themselves holistically and to raise awareness of the aspects of their lives that simply need more care.

Tell us about yourself

So I have been a self-care delinquent myself. I worked in the corporate world for about seven years, and while I was doing extremely well, I burned out. I had to leave & leave quickly. That is when my journey to my self-care candle business began. At first, I tried a whole bunch of businesses, and every single one of them failed. HA! I didn't care, though. For me, having more control over my work and personal schedules was the win (I also had savings to lean on and outside contract work, to be clear!).

When I ran out of ideas, my mom, who is also a business owner, suggested that I try out candles. She taught me how to make them one Christmas for gifts, and it seemed like a natural next step since I literally had no other ideas. Really, this is the beginning and end of it all. I started the candles in small batches, and it worked. Each year, I add more goals to the business, and the customers continue to show support - it's without question that I keep going.

This business has opened up a platform for my network and me to communicate specifically about aspects of our lives that often aren't discussed but are helpful to our daily experiences. I have had many authentic and self-reflective conversations with people, and it reminds me that the struggle to balance responsibilities and self-care is not singular nor static. As a result, I've grown and am more satisfied with life. I've seen others grow with this perspective, and with great energy, I want to see more of that in my network, i.e., customers, vendors, and beyond.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Sometimes I feel the biggest accomplishment to date is just keeping these doors open! & while that's (kinda) facts, I would also add I'm really proud of the partnerships we've created through this business. For example, our relationship with markets like SipShopEat and Little Market NYC has really helped expand our products and elevate the experience we provide to our customers.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

My mom likes to say, as a small business owner, she’s the janitor, the CEO, and everybody in between. That’s real for me (and, of course, so many others). I think with this business, as with my self-care journey, it’s just an ongoing experiment. I will always look for better ways to balance my priorities and provide value that customers can appreciate. I’ve learned to accept that while people can feel you, there’s sometimes no pre-established solution to this type of balance and to just roll with it.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. You have everything you need to start right now. Take time to think that through. You probably will have to be creative and strategic, but that's cool because that'll help you find your way (i.e., find your product, market, customers, etc.).
  2. Work through fear of not being enough or not having enough - these things warp your perception of what's possible, hindering how you can prepare for and accept real opportunities.
  3. Know your details in the way that you can. The more knowledge you gain about your product, market, and customer, the more power you will have, which you can use to your advantage in the brand you build and how you connect with customers. Don't stress on knowing it at all at first but be consistent & intentional in gaining knowledge as you grow.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Overall, be you. However, it comes. It's not weak or too much.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://concretegardencandles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/concretegardencandles/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concretegardencandles/

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.