We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zakkiyah Hutchinson . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zakkiyah below.

Zakkiyah , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

During the lockdown in 2020, which was a tough time for the world, I decided to explore some hobbies to earn some extra cash. The first hobby I tried was making masks. I saw it as a way to produce a much-needed product and earn some additional income. However, my dreams were crushed when I went to Joann’s fabric and couldn’t even pick out a simple fabric. I also became discouraged when trying to find a sewing machine, as it seemed like everyone had the same idea as me.

My next idea was to try my luck with making candles. I mean, I had nothing but time being in lockdown and thought to myself, how hard could it be to make candles? It seemed pretty easy to me. I watched a few YouTube videos and headed to Dollar Tree for jars. I got some wicks, fragrance oil, and soy wax from a candle supplier and I was ready to go, or so I thought.

My first few candles humbled me and made me rethink this candle-making idea. The soy wax would form weird shapes after being poured and my candles didn’t emit any scent while burning. I spent money and time trying to make this candle thing work. I truly became a scientist because I had to learn how to mix the fragrance oil with the wax at the perfect percentage and temperature. After several months, hundreds of tests with different types of wicks, and training from Diamond at Diamond Shine Soap, I was able to actually make a candle that not only smells amazing but also performs well. What was once a hobby became a business for me. My love for scented candles was now a product that I could make and share with the world.

The investment, time, and determination paid off. For me, it’s not just about making a sale, but being able to provide my customers with a high-quality product that performs well and smells amazing brings me such joy.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Zakkiyah, and I’m a mother of two boys. I was born and raised in New York City, but I currently reside in Florida. Becoming a candle maker kind of fell into my lap. I started my candle-making journey in 2020 as a hobby. I had a love for fragrances, perfumes, room sprays, and car fresheners—pretty much anything that smells good. I’ve also loved candles, but stopped buying them years ago because of their poor quality, such as tunneling and little to no scent throw. Initially, I just wanted to make candles to keep busy during the 2020 lockdown. Then I thought, if I could make a candle that addressed my dislikes, I could actually help to solve an issue in the candle-making industry. My goal initially was to have fun and make some candles. After learning how difficult it was to actually make candles, I said to myself that I would learn and test so I could produce a candle that is safe, burns evenly, and has a scent throw that fills up a room. My goal was and is to make candles that smell good and set the ambiance for any mood.

What sets me apart is that I am actually making candles to bring happiness to people’s homes. I love when customers provide feedback regarding the candle’s scent, longevity of the burn, or packaging. Also, I pride myself on great customer service. Any issues with delivery or damaged items are handled immediately. I appreciate every order that comes in, and to show my appreciation, I add a gift to every order.

Blazin Wiks started as a hobby and turned into a small business. I love how my customers ask for their favorite candle by name. Most of my candles were named by me to match the personality of the candle/fragrance. Customers love the Fly Girl, Sophisticated Woman, and Man of the Year candles. The naming of the candles is fun, and it has added an additional layer of uniqueness to my brand.

My hope is to reach new people who have the same love for candles as I do. I want my potential followers, customers, or supporters to know that I make candles to put them in a better mood, create a happy space, and boost their energy. I want them to be excited to get their package and light their candle for the first time. I want them to actually enjoy a candle that they can smell and burn to the bottom of the jar.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a full-time entrepreneur, I had to break habits of being an employee. I learned quickly that I was and am in charge of my success, and there is no one to tell me what to do and how to do it. I had to learn quickly that if I didn’t market myself, network, and build a social media presence, there would be no money or growth. Working for someone is easy because you clock in, work, and go home. Being a business owner requires a different set of skills, determination, and motivation. The hard work you put into your business may feel pointless in the beginning, but as time goes on, you’ll start to see the rewards of all the hard work.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I used money from my other business to fund the start up cost for my candle business. I believed in my dream, so I invested in myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.blazinwiks.com
• Instagram: @blazinwiks
• Facebook: Blazinwiks