Today we’d like to introduce you to Joycelynn Douglas.
Hi Joycelynn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a wife and a working mother of 3 children (a teenager and twin preschoolers), I needed a mental getaway to relieve stress. Since I’ve always been creative, making crafts easily became a calming hobby. In 2019, I started to make decorative cocktail candles using gel wax. In 2020, I ventured into making dessert candles using paraffin wax.
I really enjoyed making dessert candles, but they were too time-consuming to make. In 2021, my hobby officially became a business and I switched my candle design to a simple, straight-pour candle design using custom coconut wax and double cotton wicks. My fragrances are either a custom blend or are very, very unique to the everyday customer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t been smooth at all, the main challenge is maintaining a balance between work, family, and my business. Another challenge is learning the dynamics of the candle business.
For example, I just learned that candle season is fall/winter and that it’s best to offer alternative products during the warm months. Online marketing is a major challenge because this is a sensory-based business. The majority of my sales come from vendor events because customers are able to smell my products.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Aromatic Joy Candle Company?
Aromatic Joy Candle Co. is a home-based candle business that specializes in creating long-lasting scented candles using a custom coconut wax blend. With over a year’s worth of extensive research and testing, I formulated a coconut wax blend that burns clean with a strong scent throw. What sets me apart from others is that most of my fragrances are either custom blends or are very unique to the common customer.
My most popular scent is Grey Sweatpants. It’s a custom masculine, woodsy scent that was created for men but has been surprisingly more appealing to women. It has been my best seller since it was launched in Fall 2021.
I recently rebranded and I am very proud of the outcome. The brand’s new look is sleek, elegant, and simple. It fits my new goal… to be on the shelves of a boutique or a parlor.
I make more than just candles. I also make wax melts, massage candles, body sprays, perfumes/colognes, and room/linen sprays. I am also working on adding lotions and shower gels in the near future.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I consider myself a conservative risk taker because I’m bootstrapping my business. I carefully count every dollar but will take a financial risk if I have a good feeling that the business will greatly benefit from it.
A major risk that I have taken was spending lots of money on finding a suitable online marketing agency. I still haven’t found one and decided to use my marketing budget to educate myself in online marketing and apply the knowledge to my business.
I wholeheartedly believe that risk-taking is necessary for a business to grow. But, you must research to see if the risk is beneficial. As a small business owner, I count every dollar and I make sure that each dollar spent brings back at least $3. The ROI doesn’t have to be completely monetary. It can be in business connection, a great friendship that leads to us both supporting each other, a future opportunity, etc.
Pricing:
- Hand-poured Coconut Wax Candles: 10oz $25
- Hand-poured Coconut Wax Melts: 3oz $7
- Hand-poured massage candles: 3oz $15
- Hand-poured Body Mist: 4oz $10
- Hand-poured perfume/cologne: 1oz $20
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aromaticjoycandles.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/aromaticjoycandles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aromaticjoycandles
