1. How long have you been in business?
We have been selling our candles for nearly a whole year already!
2. How did you get started in this business?
Initially, we intended for our candles to be gifts. It was our first Christmas as a married couple and after a summer wedding, we were flat broke. We opted for a handmade Christmas, and wanted something we could make together. After tons of help from a fellow Etsy friend and some digging of our own, we found the supplies that suited us best.
Before long, visitors to our home were asking what fragrance we were burning and where they could get it. When they discovered we had been making them, the texts and requests started coming in!
3. Can you provide me with a description of your business?
We are mad candle scientists disguised as husband and wife. We specialize in home fragrance as well as wedding and other special occasion favors. We love having the opportunity to work together to make other people happy and fill their homes with nostalgia via wax and wick.
4. How did you come up with the name of your business?
Ha. Well. Candles on their own are considered to be friendly fires, so our name is applicable, but there wasn’t much thought involved. Military terminology aside, I thought I’d be quite a cheeky name for a candle company. We aren’t afraid to be edgy.
5. Is this your only job?
Not at all. Adam is a musician and he spends 80+ hours a week directing choirs and musicals, arranging music, and teaching guitar and piano privately. He’s a jack of all musical trades I suppose! As for me, I’m a freelance writer, a stay at home mother, and I also have my own manuscript (or rather, a million) in the works.
6. Favorite part of owning your own business?
Being our own boss! I think everyone has a little control freak inside of them, and being able to embrace the little imp is incredibly freeing. Aside from that, having strangers gush over something you’ve worked hard to create is not only incredibly flattering, but inspiring. We are constantly inspired to be more, be better, and to keep working at the empire we intend to build.
7. Least Favorite part?
We’re responsible for our own income. We can work our tails off until 3am for six days in a row and have absolutely nothing to show for it for weeks. No one is cutting a paycheck for us, there are no benefits, and we take breaks at our own risk.
8. What has proven to be the best ways to market your business?
Word of mouth and home parties. Most of our business is done offline. Friends and family continually support us whether they are buying for themselves, for gifts, or in the case of my mother, putting together baskets for church events, our product tends to make its way into many many hands.
Home parties are great because it gives people the chance to handle the product. Fragrance is very specific to an individual and can be difficult to decipher no matter how great it is described or photographed. We are fortunate to have a product that is also a very popular item to want, so people come to our parties and seem to find tons of reasons to buy x,y and z for this, that, and the other occasion.
9. Your advice to someone just starting out?
Work hard. If you want it, make it happen.
Do things that scare you and cut down your excuses one by one.
Blaming things/platforms/people is a waste of your time. Detect the problem and discover the solution. Blame creates negativity, which only breeds more negativity. Who ever became successful because they felt that they “can’t”?
Be kind to everyone, even if you aren’t in business mode. You never know when an unexpected client will pop up or want to pass on your name.
And my personal favorite:
A single raindrop raises the sea: Every new item for sale is something someone can buy. Every penny earned is more than you had. Each sale made is one more of your product going into the hands of someone else. Baby steps are still steps. :)
10. Anything else you'd like to share about yourself or your business?
We hope you’ve enjoyed a little peek into the world of Friendly Fire Candles! Feel free to visit our facebook page
facebook.com/friendlyfirecandles
as well as my own blog where I showcase my personal Etsy finds!
frenchiefinds.wordpress.com
Thank you and stay inspired!
Frenchie & Adam
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