We were lucky to catch up with Tyler Clement recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tyler, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Moonstone Rituals was born from the pandemic, a need to create something tangible during a time when things just felt so uncertain. It was just a hobby, something to occupy the time we all spent indoors and really a method to save money on something I quite liked to purchase. I knew I the candles to be hand-poured in small batches, adhering to eco-friendly practices. So many home fragrance items are quite toxic so it was always my mission to create clean, natural soy candles with uniquely crafted scents; where conscious living harmonizes with the art of home fragrance.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Moonstone Rituals was born from a desire for clean ingredients. Each soy wooden wick candle is handcrafted and hand poured in Los Angeles as is our charcoal based hand-dipped incense. Every ingredient is considered when creating products in our home fragrance line. It all begins with an idea. From here, it evolves, through rigorous testing and feedback from our cherished friends and family. We strive to create home fragrance offerings that are unique in scent and may help anyone add a bit of ritual to their daily lives.
Our handcrafted candles and hand-dipped incense are uniquely curated and ship directly from maker. We strive for a natural and pure approach to scent making. 100% natural soy wax with essential oils and phthalate-free aromatic blends. Free from parabens, dyes, and harmful ingredients. As always, we are cruelty free, vegan, and proudly plastic-free!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Honestly, my best source of new clients has been a mix of authentic word-of-mouth and strategic visibility through boutique stockist on the Faire wholesale platform. When people discover our candles or incense in a small shop they love, it feels like a trusted recommendation. I’ve also found that collaborating with like-minded creators and being active at pop-up events has helped build a really loyal, engaged customer base. At the end of the day, it’s about building real relationships … not just making sales (but of course sales are lovely!)
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
One of the biggest marketing risks I took was signing up for my first trade show last summer. It was a major financial leap for me … between the booth fees, travel, materials, and display, I basically emptied a large portion of the business piggy bank. I went into it with stars in my eyes, fully expecting it to be this huge turning point where buyers would flock to my table and orders would pour in. But … that’s not what happened.
The foot traffic was slow and I had to wrestle with this gut-wrenching mix of disappointment and self-doubt. But here’s the thing … it ended up being one of the most pivotal experiences of my business journey. I learned more in those few days than in months of quiet behind-the-scenes work. I got to observe what drew people in, how other brands communicated their stories, and how I could refine my pitch and presentation. I also got to connect with other vendors.
It taught me that growth rarely comes from when everything goes “right.” It usually shows up in the moments where reality doesn’t match the vision … because that’s when you’re forced to adapt, evolve, and dig deeper into your ‘why.’ That show might not have brought the sales I hoped for, but it definitely brought clarity, strategy, and resilience, which turned out to be far more valuable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mstonerituals.com
- Instagram: @moonstone_rituals
