Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in candle-making but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jessica McGregor, owner of Cottage Core Candle Co. AKA The Wicked Wax Shoppe, located in Phoenix, AZ, USA.

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

Cottage Core Candle Co. (aka The Wicked Wax Shoppe) is a woman-owned business located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. I specialize in creating custom candles and other hand-crafted products that may be personalized to fit my client's needs.

Although I have an online store, most of my customers are local to my area. I participate in a lot of local market places and community events. I firmly believe that buying and selling locally provides many benefits. Not only does the sales tax go towards your own community, but it also allows other crafters to thrive within their respective communities. I am not out to take away the business of other crafters...there is room for us all to be successful.

People can go anywhere to buy a candle. I wanted to make my candles special with quality ingredients that had meaning and purpose. There is a lot of symbolism behind the products I make that are personalized to the recipient.

Beautiful packaging is also important to me. You're not just receiving a candle, you are receiving a gift. I love the idea of the excitement people have when they see presents wrapped up with their names on them. Sometimes I really don't think of myself as being in the candle business as much as being in the business of providing happiness and smiles.

My favorite quote that I use at any opportunity is from Maya Angelou. "I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Especially in today's social and economic climate, I believe it's important to make people feel good and special. We are all just doing the best that we can.

Tell us about yourself

During the height of the pandemic, I was an analytic advisor for government entities. I was helping school districts around the country navigate through a crisis in unprecedented times. I was working around the clock with clients, as well as having to supervise online schooling for my girls, who are aged 8 & 6. I was "burning the candle" at both ends, so to speak. It was a super stressful job, where my peers acted more like competitors than teammates, but I felt good about the help I was providing when it was really needed.

Then our firm was sold to investors, and it became more about money than helping the people I had built relationships with. It didn't sit well with me. I decided to put in my notice to spend time focusing on my family, with the notion that after the summer break, I would return to the corporate grind.

During this break, I did many crafts with my girls. One day, we decided to make cast iron cauldron candles for fun. We decorated them with florals and crystals and posted our progress online. They were a hit, and I started getting requests from people who wanted me to make candles for them as well. I wasn't planning to start a candle business, and I really wasn't prepared for it. It literally just took off, and I just embraced every opportunity that was given to me. I made myself ready for whatever came to be. Thankfully, I also have a background in web building, graphic design, and marketing. Being a professional "Jack of all trades" definitely helped when it came to getting my business up and running quickly.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

One of my first major challenges and accomplishments was when I was asked to be the sole vendor for Arizona Language Preparatory's 2021 School Fundraiser. Thankfully, it is a smaller charter school, so I felt confident I would be able to service all the orders within the designated time. It made me feel great to be able to use my craft to help raise funds for education.

Recently, I was a guest speaker for Madison District's STEAM Career Day. I was able to present the importance of how Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics are used in candle-making and running a business. Children are our future, so anytime I get to use my art to be a mentor, that is a pretty meaningful accomplishment for me.

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

One of the hardest things to navigate that I am sure any small business can attest to right now is logistics. With the rise in gas comes a rise in shipping costs, and once something is mailed, you have no control over what happens during the journey. That is another reason why I prefer to keep my clients local. It is better to manage quality control, and I don't want my clients to bear the increased costs.

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

If being a successful business owner was easy, everyone would do it.
It's hard work, and you have to be self-motivating and have a lot of energy. Owning a successful business will take lots of long hours, especially in the beginning.

It also takes a lot of money to get started if you are working with supplies, overhead costs, payroll, etc. It helps if you are able to do a lot of the initial setup on your own, rather than having to pay or contract others to do the work for you. In terms of technology (web and social media), branding (marketing, design, and promotions), organization skills, and accounting (Procurement, taxes, and paperwork).

Thankfully, we live in a time where information is easily accessible on researching what is needed to start a business. Use all the resources that are available to help you! Most importantly, think of Maya's wise words. Mistakes will be made but forgotten if your customers walk away feeling good at the end of your interactions.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Fun Fact. In my spare time, I am a performing artist. I have been performing on the stage since the age of 9 as an actress, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. At one time, I even sang backup for Florence Henderson and Pat Boone for their concert at Sun Dome stadium, as well as at the White House and Capitol Building in D.C. for the President and Congressmen with my tour group.

You may currently find me playing in Thee Bad Janes, The X-Offenders (Blondie Tribute), The Linoleums, and Super Swagg. My husband is also a performer and the lead singer/songwriter for The Earps. Music is a very important part of our life. That is why I have incorporated a line of candles, especially for music lovers and fellow bands.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.cottagecorecandleco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWickedWaxShoppe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewickedwaxshoppe/

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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