We recently connected with Laquita Burton and have shared our conversation below.

Laquita, appreciate you joining us today. Quality control is a challenge almost every entrepreneur has had to focus on when growing – any advice, stories or insight around how to best ensure quality is maintained as your business scales?

Over the course of The Rose Ivory Collection’s rising success, growth brought forth a challenge. Ensuring that as we grew we were able to maintain the same quality that allowed us to get to where we are. This became the goal. Being a science lover and having a degree in this field allowed me to use some of the tools learned in school to work for my business. Over time I developed and utilized a formula for crafting products that allowed for modifications to make increases in demand easier to meet. Our candles all have the same base formula but different variations based on scent, jar size, wax type, etc. The same goes for many of our other products like wax melts, room sprays and diffuser sets.

When first starting out there was no formula and just a freehand pouring system that proved fine for small batches but when larger batches were required, that method would not cut it. It showed that if I wanted my business to ever grow I would need a system control in place that would allow me to make multiple large batches. The focus then shifted to what could be utilized to make the most products with the best quality in a shorter amount of time.

As a business owner, you must be able to figure out how to meet the demands of your growing business before you ever began to grow. It’s better to have a solution prepared for a possible problem than to be caught off guard and be unprepared. Growth takes time and when it does happen you want to be able to maintain and continue to grow.

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

The Rose Ivory Collection’s journey began at a rough point in my life. I had graduated college but wasn’t working in a field where I could utilize my degree. I had been working a job in the restaurant industry for a couple of years and although I made a decent living, it simply was not enjoyable. I wanted a change and a way to do something that I loved that would not require me to be unhappy while pursuing my dreams. A friend suggested that I take a hobby and turn it into a business. The idea behind this was that if I did something I loved, it wouldn’t seem like work and would be more enjoyable. I have always had a love for scented candles and products that enhance the overall ambiance of a home. So naturally, I decided to learn candle making and wanted to create a business where I could craft amazing scents like the ones I would purchase all the time. After a year of trial and error, I was ready to present my talent to the world. Along the journey, I learned so much more about myself than just learning a new hobby. It was as if this journey helped me solidify who I truly was and what I truly wanted out of life. My business has grown so much over the last few years that it surprises me sometimes. I am blessed to have made it this far and can only pray that I continue to progress and grow both personally and professionally.

The Rose Ivory Collection specializes in handmade soy wax candles, soy wax melts, room sprays and more. Our products are the most aromatic items created to enhance your home, office, car and more. We focus on high-quality products that our customers can enjoy without breaking the bank. Each item is crafted to aid in relaxation and helping improve the ambiance of some of your most favorite places. We are most known for our creative scent names that perfectly embody the essence of each well-blended fragrance.

Not only do you get an amazing product, but our packaging is so unique that they can often be used for many other things. It’s our way of keeping waste to a minimum. We will be adding mobile candle-making parties for your next birthday, bridal shower, date night and more.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The road to creating and maintaining my business has been full of twists and turns. Being self-taught, early on I learned the true value of constructive criticism. Early in my journey, I was so confident in myself that I believed that from day one, I was a pro. Life has a funny way of humbling us quickly. My first few candles barely created a scent, however they were really pretty! I had focused so much on wanting to bring something different to this industry that I focused more on how my product looked than the actual quality of each candle I created. Although I worked in the service industry for years, I struggled with customer service with my own business. After my first few sales, I had supporters that were completely honest with me. This changed my view on how I thought I should approach handling my business moving forward. It took me realizing that if I truly wanted to be successful, I would need to refocus and readjust. I would later revamp my business with a new mindset. I made changes that fit my brand instead of trying to do what worked for others. I learned to focus on networking and building connections that helped my business grow. The obstacles I faced became defining moments in my journey that helped propel me to a higher level of success. I am thankful for the lessons I learned and realize your level of success is a reflection of the work you are willing to put in despite all odds.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Prior to starting my business I was in a field where the jobs i maintained offered little to no time for handling personal life matters. The hours were demanding, unpredictable and left no room for growth. I knew I wanted to work towards entrepreneurship because I wanted more out of life. I had to ensure it would be beneficial and add value to my life. Before I considered my options for this journey, I knew I needed to change careers as the one I was in would not allow me to work towards what I wanted without complications.

While there are some people who venture into entrepreneurship completely without a 9-5, I knew this would not be appropriate for me. I had a few obligations and was also the main caretaker for my mother. I needed to change to a career that would allow me time to develop my ideas, work towards my goals, and be physically, mentally and emotionally ready to face this next step head on.

After much time I was able to find a new career that allowed me to work towards my personal goals without having to feel so drained. I even excelled in this field and in just a short amount of time, was able to experience success. I gained knowledge that will help with my entrepreneurship goals as well as further my brand moving forward. I hope that the future is bright for The Rose Ivory Collection and we continue to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: TheRoseIvoryCollection.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/roseivorycollection?igshid=ZjE2NGZiNDQ=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseIvoryCollection?mibextid=LQQJ4d