We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tonia Taylor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tonia below.
Hi Tonia, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?
Unfortunately dealing with naysayers and haters is just something we all must navigate in today’s society. You cannot let other people’s opinions and their own personal issues interfere with the art you are creating and the business you are building. In the world of retail, you must constantly change, improvise, and reimagine your business to stay relevant. My focus will always be to keep pushing and striving to provide the highest quality products for my customers.
Overall, I am a happy, positive person with a very blessed life, and have little interest or time for petty negativity. My wish is for everyone to be able to set any differences aside and put our efforts into cheering one another on.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a candle maker who specializes in making 100% soy candles and crystal candles. The most exciting part of candle making has to be watching customers smell my candles and recall a memory. It’s nice to talk with them and listen to their stories. I love knowing that from the most important occasion to everyday life my customers are proud to have a 1706 candle burning. I have formed bonds with my customers who I now call friends. It’s exciting to hear what their favorite scents are and be able to provide that. The most special part of what I do is providing the customers with a candle that takes them back to their childhood. Or a scent that sparks a memory of a loved one place, or time in their lives. It is important to me to have customers involved in the candle-making process. I listen to them and pour the scents I know they love.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
To me, patience is key when it comes to making candles. This is an extremely slow process. It involves planning everything from wax temperature, scent, vessel, and wicks. Testing your candles is also part of the process. Although testing isn’t the most fun it is a necessity. Listening is an important skill I rely on. You have to listen to your customers. If you are always listening you’re always learning.
Time management is the most important skill set I use. When making candles you have to juggle several different things. You focus on what you’re working on. Yet you’re two weeks ahead of yourself planning. My advice to anyone wanting to chase the dream of owning a small candle business. Do not get frustrated it is a slow process but the end result is worth it.
Stay in the moments of what makes you excited to do this. Don’t let the jealousy of others hold you back. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Prove them wrong.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Most people don’t know that I’m extremely shy. I have spent the last 9 months investing more of myself into my relationships with customers. My favorite part of the day isn’t a candle sale. It’s calling a customer by their first name when they walk in and sharing a hug. Laughing and talking with them while they shop. They come into the store for 20 minutes to escape the chaos of the world. Being a part of that is more important the them walking out with candles. That’s just a bonus!
Contact Info:
- Facebook: 1706 Candle Company
Image Credits
Tonia L. Taylor
