We recently connected with Anya Fleming and have shared our conversation below.

Anya, appreciate you joining 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 always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. In 2019, things were getting rough on my 9-5 job and COVID-19 was starting to spread expeditiously! As a single mom in a city with little to no help, there were many challenges. I was forced to come up with an immediate plan. I started doing research to see what area of business I would excel best in when I came across candles. I’ve always had a creative eye and a love for candles. I began to make them as a hobby to escape my everyday life. I tried different techniques and knew I wanted to make candles that were over the top and not just your ordinary candle. I knew candles that mirrored actual food would absolutely change everyone’s outlook on candles. My friends and family were blown away and pushed me to start a business. Lit Southern Wicks Candle Company was then formed on June 15, 2020. Jumpstart to 2021, from online sales, sold out events, and many supporters, Lit Southern Wicks has been a great success.

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

Founder and visionary of Lit Southern Wicks. I was born and raised in Tupelo, MS in which my southern roots run deep. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in 2017, I shortly decided to relocate to Nashville, TN. As a single parent, this gave me the opportunity to start fresh, explore entrepreneurship, and tap into my creative side. I wholeheartedly take pride in creating extraordinary candles, to give you that over-the-top southern feel. With milkshake and dessert inspired candles, you’ll almost want to take a bite. I look forward each and every day, to providing a southern taste of products for my customer’s home. I specialize and enjoy making custom candles as well. Whenever a supporter thinks of a crazy candle idea; mirroring food items, they run their idea by me, and I proudly deliver. LSW candles aren’t just your everyday candles that you see in stores; we are set apart because we have such a unique intertwine between food and candles.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Owning Lit Southern Wicks hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Many challenges have arisen over the years of being in business. Like any other, there has been numerous challenges. As a business owner, I didn’t believe in taking a mental break from your everyday operation. I had to unlearn that working nonstop was the answer to being successful. A few months ago, I started to lose inspiration and motivation for my craft of candle making. I was burned out and didn’t know how to juggle my numerous hats. My friends, family, and customers all reached out sending encouraging words. After going months of nonstop working, something clicked. I realized that taking mental breaks were in fact okay and needed in order to operate my business. After speaking with my mentor, I knew I had to dig deep and find the drive I once had. I decided to put a plan in place so that I could manage my time more effectively. Planning weekly has allowed me to avoid being burned out and take the mental breaks needed.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building a reputation in the beginning was quite interesting. I wanted to give surrounding areas something they were not familiar with, unique candles that represented my creativity. In the beginning, I was very unaware of the process of marketing, the overall success of my business, and even the beginning steps! It took a lot of trial and error to perfect my craft. I wanted my candles to be as close to perfect, if not “perfect”. After many nights of practicing, starting over and over; I then decided to take a leap of faith. Once I presented my craft to social media, it wasn’t long until one single post went viral. After going viral, I closely reviewed the engagements, interactions, and feedback. By doing so, I was able to pin point my target audience and gain many long-term customers. I continue to keep my audience engaged as well as gain new customers by receiving feedback on orders, obtaining customer favorite scents, and actively listening to new candle ideas.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.litsouthernwicks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litsouthernwicks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/litsouthernwicks/

Image Credits
Michael Brooks De’Shea Douglas