Exploring Life & Business with Katherine McArdle of Rose West Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine McArdle.

Hi Katherine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m the type of person that does something once and falls in love with it, which makes finding a long-term career really tough cause I end up wanting to do everything.

Before starting Rose West Studio, I worked in different photo and event production positions in both Los Angeles and New York.

I’ve always loved scent and fragrance and felt like it was such a beautiful way to tell a story. I took up candle making before Covid hit as a way to stay creative, quickly fell in love with it, and decided to go all in. I immediately started blending fragrances, working on my first collection of candles, and testing solidified branding. A few months later, my then fiancé and I decided to leave our jobs, move back to Los Angeles from New York, and officially launch Rose West.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being an entrepreneur is a constant learning experience; I’ve definitely had my fair share of challenges but have also had an incredible amount of wins!

I think I’m really finding my footing as a business owner and only see things going up from here.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Rose West Studio is an earth-conscious lifestyle brand specializing in clean burning candles and curated gift boxes.

Rose West Studio launched in an effort to provide consumers with handcrafted, earth-conscious products. Inspired by curiosity and driven by our community, this is a place where scent is transformative, and your experience is immersive.

Each item we produce is thoughtfully and carefully handcrafted in small batches to ensure the highest quality possible across all products. We source for our marketplace with the intention of supporting like-minded brands that share our brand mission, supporting the AAPI and BIPOC communities wherever possible.

We believe in the power of diversity, education, and community. As our company evolves, we hope to curate an enjoyable and educational shopping experience for our customers.

Aside from our direct-to-consumer sales, another huge (and very special) part of our business is our customizable candle offerings for weddings and special events. A beautiful way to keep the magic of your special day living for not only you but all of your guests!

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in a small town with a very close-knit community, which is why that’s so important to me now. I was definitely rebellious; I pushed the boundaries, which is still true to this day. I loved nature, I loved creating things, I loved gardening, I loved exploring.

I was and still am very curious.

Pricing:

• Candles – $30 – $50
• Gift Boxes – $150 – 250

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rosewest.studio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseweststudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roseweststudio

Image Credits
All Product Photos: Alexandra Gibbs