Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Siegel.
Olivia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was an art major in college, so I’m always looking for new crafts or creative outlets. On a whim, I bought a candle making kit on amazon just for fun and something to do. Once I began to really learn the art of candle-making and the complexity of the craft, I became obsessed. Soon my kitchen was fully taken over – wax, bottles, jars, and boxes everywhere. I’ve always loved candles and was constantly buying and burning them and I loved that I was able to make them myself, with scents I knew I loved.
After a few months of practicing, experimenting, and perfecting my candles, I began selling on Etsy in January of 2020. At this point, I was still working out of my kitchen, melting wax on the stove and using my minimal counter space for inventory. It wasn’t until quarantine hit that I finally had the time to create a studio space for myself. I transformed the guest bedroom in my apartment to my studio and through that, was able to increase my production tenfold. Since then, I’ve expanded my shop and have been lucky enough to be able to run Belle Candle full time.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Once I opened my shop, I almost immediately ran into some problems. Although I thought I was, I wasn’t nearly prepared enough for the amount of orders I would receive. At the time, I just simply didn’t have the space to make enough candles at a time. It took a few months of working out the kinks, falling behind on orders, and then finally increasing my production by making a studio space where I could really churn out candles. In the pre-pandemic world, I was also working full time. I would spend my days at the office and then my nights in the candle studio. I was exhausted and struggling to find a way to balance work, my social life, and now my side hustle.
Surprisingly enough, the pandemic has actually been amazing for my business. I was furloughed from my job in March (and then eventually laid off), allowing me to take on Belle Candle full time. At the beginning of 2020, I never thought my full-time job would be a candle maker, but nothing this year has exactly worked out as expected. I couldn’t be more grateful for my customers and support system that has allowed me to create a business (and a profitable one at that) during a year of such uncertainty.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Belle Candle Supply – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Belle Candle Supply is an LA-based candle shop specializing in hand-poured soy candles. What most people don’t know about major candle companies is that the majority of candles are made of paraffin wax, filled with chemicals and parabens that get released when burned. One of the things that’s so important to me is having clean-burning candles. I wanted to make a product that looks good, smells good, and is good for you too. All of my candles are made in small batches, ensuring that the best quality and care goes into each one.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have so many exciting things coming up! With the holidays right around the corner, I will definitely be making Christmas scents, which might be my favorite type of candles. I also have a couple of collaborations with other artists that are in the works and plans to expand my online and in-store presence. As of now, I’m only selling on Etsy but plan to expand to farmers markets, craft fairs, and hopefully a few boutiques in the coming months.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BelleCandleSupply
- Phone: 6176102404
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellecandlesupply/
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