Meet Jess Kennedy

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jess Kennedy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jess, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I’ve developed both my confidence and self-esteem over time by just consistently showing up for myself—on the good days, the hard ones, and everything in between. Each challenge has taught me something and reminded me that I’m stronger than I think. For me, confidence isn’t about never feeling nervous, and self-esteem isn’t about always feeling perfect—it’s about learning to trust myself, giving myself grace, and knowing I’m worthy no matter what.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the creator behind Kindle & Bloom Candle Studio, where I handcraft soy candles and home fragrance products designed to accentuate your home with a high-end feel. What excites me the most is the continuous feedback we receive about how much people enjoy these products. Something that once only lived in my heart and daydreams has become a tangible reality, and that still amazes me every single day.

Kindle & Bloom is very personal to me—every candle is inspired by memories, moments, or cozy feelings I want to share with others. At its heart, my brand is about creating experiences that make people feel nurtured and at home. When customers tell me that lighting one of my candles has become part of their daily rituals, that’s what fuels me and reminds me why I started this journey.

Right now, we’re in an exciting season of growth. We’re in the process of expanding with new offerings like subscriptions, seasonal launches, and more pop-up events. I want people to know that Kindle & Bloom is just getting started—there’s so much more I can’t wait to share, and I’m thrilled to keep building a brand that brings joy, comfort, and beauty into people’s lives.

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?

Looking back, I think the three most impactful qualities for me have been perseverance, authenticity, and connection.

Perseverance has carried me through the hard days, the doubts, and the learning curves. My advice for anyone starting out is to just keep showing up for yourself and your vision—even when it feels slow, every step forward matters.

Authenticity has been at the heart of Kindle & Bloom. I’ve learned that people connect most with your genuine story and passion. For anyone early in their journey, I’d say: don’t try to be what you think you ‘should’ be—lean into who you really are and let that shine through your work.

And lastly, connection has been so powerful. From the customers I meet at markets to the community I’ve built online, those relationships remind me why I do this. My advice is to put yourself out there, even in small ways—introduce yourself, share your story, and let people in. Those connections can fuel both your confidence and your growth.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes! We love a good collaboration and are open to lots of opportunities. Some of the people and organizations we’d love to partner with include local boutiques and home décor shops who share our love for creating warm, beautiful spaces, as well as hotels, Airbnb hosts, and businesses looking for thoughtful corporate gifting options. We also enjoy collaborating with other makers and artists—it’s always inspiring to combine creative energy and bring something unique to our communities.

If you’re reading this and would love to collaborate, we’d be thrilled to connect. You can reach us through our website at www.kindleandbloomcandles.com
or on Instagram @kindleandbloomcandlestudio. We believe collaboration not only grows our brand but also strengthens the community around us, and we’re always excited to explore new ideas together.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than