We recently connected with Anna Parsons and have shared our conversation below.

Anna, appreciate you joining us today. So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization or cause. We’d love to hear your thoughts and the story behind how and why you chose the cause or organization you donate to.

Yes, we do. At Vacant Wheel, we believe in collaboration and giving back. Every purchase made leads to a tree being planted. The decision to support the “One Purchase = One Tree” initiative through our partnership with GoodAPI and the Eden Reforestation Projects aligns closely with our values and core principles of sustainability. At Vacant Wheel, we prioritize minimizing our environmental impact and taking meaningful steps toward a more eco-friendly future. This partnership was carefully chosen for several reasons:

1. Sustainability: As a small business, we believe in taking responsibility for our environmental footprint. By collaborating with the Eden Reforestation Projects, we can actively contribute to reforestation efforts, which are essential for environmental conservation and reducing carbon emissions.

2. Community Empowerment: We are passionate about not only supporting the environment but also making a positive impact on communities in need. The Eden Reforestation Projects employ locals to plant millions of trees each year, providing sustainable job opportunities and supporting the livelihoods of indigenous populations.

3. Climate Mitigation: Trees play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. They capture carbon, helping to counteract carbon emissions and contributing to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. Specifically, the focus on Mangrove trees in our initiative highlights their remarkable carbon-capturing capacity.

We believe that trees are not only vital for the environment but also for the well-being of communities and the preservation of precious ecosystems. The trees planted through this initiative support diverse wildlife, act as natural barriers along coastlines, and play a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance of our planet. We are proud to be part of this initiative.

Anna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Anna Parsons is the Founder and Creative Director behind Vacant Wheel, an artisan home fragrance studio located in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma. After two corporate layoffs and feeling unfulfilled working on other peoples websites, she decided it was time for a change. So she wrote a list… next job must include creating something with her hands, design, photography, and her other passion – scent. The idea of sampling and creating fragrances and designing her own collections lit her up and Vacant Wheel was born.

Vacant Wheel is woman-owned and family-operated, committed to sustainable slow living and ethical consumer choices. Devoted to responsible production, you can trust that every VW product you bring into your home is made with clean ingredients and is kind to the environment. You won’t find paraffins, phthalates, or animal products in our 100% soy wax candles, room + linen sprays, and reed diffusers.

Vacant Wheel’s impact extends beyond clean fragrances. We’ve joined hands with Eden Reforestation Projects, and with every purchase you make, a tree is planted. This simple yet powerful act has profound implications:

Fighting Climate Change: Each order contributes to the reduction of carbon emissions, fostering a cleaner atmosphere.

Enhancing Coastal Ecosystems: This commitment extends to nurturing coastal ecosystems, safeguarding fragile environments, and promoting biodiversity.

Empowering Indigenous Communities: Uplifting indigenous communities, providing fair livelihoods, and acknowledging those who often go unnoticed.

Mangroves: Nature’s Carbon Sequestration Heroes: Recognizing the value of Mangrove trees in carbon sequestration, Vacant Wheel nurtures these remarkable trees, contributing to a greener, more sustainable world.

Vacant Wheel is a celebration of clean products, sustainability, and purpose. VW home fragrance products provide more than just fragrance; they offer a pathway to making the world a better place. With each purchase, you take a meaningful step toward creating a cleaner, more balanced world and breathing life into a greener future.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In the face of the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vacant Wheel encountered a profound test of resilience that underscored the brand’s commitment to community. As the world grappled with the scarcity of N95 masks due to overwhelming global demand, I recognized an urgent need to contribute to public safety. In a strategic and agile response, I made the decision to pivot our focus temporarily and leverage our crafting expertise to hand-produce face masks.

This shift in our production line wasn’t merely a business decision but a response to the immediate needs of our communities. We embarked on the ambitious task of crafting hundreds of face masks, ensuring not only their quality but also their adherence to World Health Organization safety standards. These meticulously crafted masks were then distributed to various small businesses across the country, providing a crucial protective layer for communities at a time when the supply chain for N95 masks struggled to catch up with the demand.

The decision to manufacture and distribute face masks wasn’t just a pragmatic business move; it was a demonstration of Vacant Wheel’s unwavering commitment to community well-being. This initiative showcased our ability to swiftly adapt to unforeseen challenges, utilizing our resources and skills to contribute meaningfully to public health and safety. It reinforced the resilience embedded in the core values of Vacant Wheel, highlighting our dedication to being a brand that not only provides delightful home goods but also steps up to address critical needs in times of crisis.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most pivotal lessons I had to unlearn on my entrepreneurial journey was the belief that I could do everything by myself. As a solopreneur, I initially embraced the mindset that self-sufficiency was the key to success. However, a particular incident brought about a profound shift in my perspective.

Amid the demands of managing every aspect of Vacant Wheel independently, from production to marketing, there came a moment where the workload became overwhelming. The breaking point occurred during a major product launch when the scale of tasks surpassed my capacity to handle them alone. Burnout loomed, and the quality of both the products and my well-being were at risk.

Recognizing the need for change, I decided to seek support and build a collaborative team. It was a humbling experience to acknowledge that I couldn’t excel in every facet of the business single-handedly. Delegating tasks, whether in production, marketing, or logistics, not only alleviated the burden but also brought diverse skills and perspectives to the table.

This shift towards collaboration not only enhanced the efficiency of Vacant Wheel but also fostered a richer, more dynamic work environment. Embracing the lesson that I couldn’t do everything myself became a catalyst for growth, innovation, and a healthier work-life balance. It illuminated the value of teamwork and challenged the notion that success hinged solely on individual efforts.

In essence, the backstory of unlearning the “do-it-all” mentality became a transformative chapter in Vacant Wheel’s narrative, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, delegation, and the collective strength of a dedicated team.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vacantwheel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopvacantwheel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopVacantWheel/