We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lakisha McMillian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lakisha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I have always been a candle lover. I enjoy good smells and my go to has always been to light a candle. Candles do more than just provide fragrant aromas. They bring back memories, change the way you are feeling and can set a mood. There are various reasons why one can love candles and I definitely agree with the saying – You can never have too many candles.

I come from a family where having your own business is not just a dream, but a reality. Seeing my family have their own business as a child into my adult years has always been an inspiration. I have always wanted to have my own business, but did not anticipate it to be a candle business. One day, I thought about how my family was able to venture into the world of entrepreneurship and decided I was ready. So why not start with something I love – candles. I started doing research, looking on YouTube, reading online, buying books and putting together any information I found resourceful to gain an understanding of what this business venture would entail. I will say once I learned more, I realized this is the most expensive hobby to have. I take pride in everything I do and knew that whatever product I made, had to be tested and up to my standards before I even thought about selling anything. I bought my very first candle kit on June 16, 2018. I will be honest, I was excited when I received it, but scared to use it. I did not make my first batch of candles until November 22, 2018 and this was only because my husband threatened to throw the kit away if I didn’t use it. I waited until he left and tried to see if I was a true chandler. Everything was so easy and I truly enjoyed making my first batch of candles so much I made more two days later! Ever since, I have been learning and growing. I eventually had my friends and family test out products and complete surveys so that I could ensure the products I created were a simple, yet a unique experience. My business name, Simply Unique means that even the simple things can be rare and distinctive. I believe you should always dare to be different, that is what keeps life interesting.

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

My name is Lakisha McMillian and I am the CEO/Owner of Simply Unique, LLC. I have always had a love for candles. Once I decided to become an entrepreneur, I tested various waxes and determined what would be the best option for my business. As I learned more, I thought about the look I envisioned and I decided I wanted to bring a little more to the table. I knew scrubs would be a great addition to my business. Once I started researching scrubs, I decided why not create a few more products so that I can include them as a gift box or basket. I eventually added shower steamers and bath salts, which have been updated to bubbling bath salts.

My goal is and has always been to create products where your self-care is enhanced by adding a simple yet unique experience.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source for new clients is when I vendor. I work full-time and am also working on my Masters degree, which can make it challenging to market to clients on social media. I believe when I vendor, it gives me the opportunity to get to know clients, let them see my personality and see first hand what I offer, allowing me to bring a Simply Unique experience into their home through my products.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I am currently working towards my Masters degree in clinical mental health counseling. Once I complete school and am licensed, I will pivot from the corporate world to counseling. I am very excited about this change and look forward to helping others in a different way. I am also updating some products in my business to shift the focus more on mental health awareness. The pandemic has allowed everyone to understand the importance of mental health, but there is still more to be done. I definitely want to help spread awareness as much as I can.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.itssimplyuniquellc.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/simplyuniquellc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/itssimplyuniquellc
• Other: TikTok: simplyunique_