Meet Isabel Manimbo, Ivy Chu, and Alyssa Diaz of Kannai

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Manimbo, Ivy Chu, and Alyssa Diaz.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Isabel, Ivy, and Alyssa. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
My partner Isabel and I have been in the cannabis & beauty industry for four years and talked about developing a product within the industry that is unique and could be multi-use. We partnered with our friend, Ivy, and began brainstorming. We came up with the idea of our massage candle, and paired it with our playfully cheeky name, Kannai (pronounced like “Can I”).

We wanted to create an atmosphere for our candles, where the user can benefit for whatever type of mood they were going for. Our three scents hit the most basic “feelings” – Relax. Live, & Chill. When paired with Kannai – it sets the tone – Kannai Live, Kannai Chill, or Kannai Relax.

We got to where we are today mainly by building relationships with other women-based brands, interacting with our followers, and overall just being our genuine selves. We have begun doing events where we can meet our followers & other brands face to face, and that experience has been amazing.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We went into this business with the mindset that the first year is always the hardest, and we will always face challenges. While it has been a learning experience, with its ups and downs, luckily we have a strong team who are willing to work through anything difficult that we face.

Please tell us about Kannai.
Our business is a massage oil candle – with the option of it being CBD or Hemp infused. The candle is made from cosmetic grade ingredients & infused with shea butter, so it completely absorbs into the skin without leaving a residue or “wax” feeling to the skin.

We also infused with essential oils, so it has the aromatherapy benefit while it is burning or applied. It has a low melting temperature, so it does not get too hot after burning. The difference between the CBD or Hemp option- the Hemp is best for the consumer who wants to try the candle but not interested in using CBD – it is our more moisture focused option.

The CBD candle is for the consumer who wants pain relieving benefits. Paired with the warm massage oil, you will experience a nice oil that absorbs completely into the skin as it is massaged in.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
As with all startups – there are always unforeseen challenges you look back on and wish you could’ve avoided. We had issues with our first round of labels and was not aware until after the product had shipped. Little things like that were the biggest lesson.

Also, be sure you partner with people with the same business goals as you. We have been fortunate that we have been on the same page, but have seen other businesses struggle with this.

Pricing:

• CBD 2oz Candles : $23.50
• CBD 4oz Candles: $43.50
• Hemp 4oz Candles: $18.50

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kannai.store
• Phone: 6197348766
• Email: hello@kannai.store
• Instagram: Kannai.Co
• Facebook: Kannai.Co
• Twitter: Kannai.Co
• Yelp: Kannai.Co
• Other: Kannai.Co

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