We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley B. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?
Asking friends and family to support your business is one of the first steps in every new owner’s journey. When I opened Ashtrology Candles I did a soft launch. I invited a few close friends, old co-workers, and family members to test my candles before branching out to the public. I wanted to ensure that the product I created was perfect. If it weren’t for the support of my blog subscribers and family my business wouldn’t be possible.
Although support from family and friends is great, in my experience sometimes you may not receive it. Some of your biggest supporters can be people you’ve never met before. If I could give a piece of advice to anyone venturing out into entrepreneurship, it would be don’t let the lack of support from your loved ones discourage you. Continue to post and share your product/service because someone sees it.
Ashley , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Ashley B., and I am the owner of Ashtrology Candles. My candle business sells handmade natural soy candles and wax melts. I’m no stranger to change at all. I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease and became a chronic illness blogger a few years ago. You may be familiar with my website called Ashley’s Anatomy. This is the home of my online candle shop. It’s also where I spread awareness about chronic disease and share honest beauty reviews. I am most proud of the recent collaborations with WebMD that I have done discussing my rare disease called Myasthenia Gravis.
A sudden change in life led me in the direction of starting my own candle business. I’ve always loved fragrances and decided to try my hand at candle making. I fell in love with the process of crafting a beautiful candle from start to finish and opened my online candle business in 2020. My candles are made with 100% soy wax and phthalate-free fragrance oil. They are sustainably created and environmentally friendly to burn.
Ashtrology Candles have a meaning behind each scent. They’re handmade in Atlanta, Georgia. Not only are my candles poured thoughtfully, but they’re also decorated with natural flowers and other herbs on the top. My goal is to create a relaxing experience every time you light one of my candles. I wanted to create something beautiful to share with others. When you shop Ashtrology Candles you’re contributing to making it possible for me to have a better quality of life. Every order over $30 receives free shipping.
Relevant links:
Ashley’s Anatomy site: https://ashleysanatomy.com/
WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/brain/video/myasthenia-gravis-advocate
Have you ever had to pivot?
In 2020 I resigned from my dream job in one of the largest hospitals in Atlanta. I made this decision shortly after the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to my health condition and medications my body is unable to protect itself from illness. In short, I chose to protect my immunocompromised self; quit my career, and embarked on a small business journey. In December of 2020 Ashtrology Candles was created. Sometimes changes are good.
Choosing to be a business owner comes with its own set of challenges, but I am fortunate that I was given to chance to try. As a young person living with a chronic condition, I’ve learned that it is very difficult to keep a 7 am – 7 pm job that requires a strict schedule. Being my own boss has saved my sanity and given me the flexibility to enjoy life. I was devastated to quit my career as a Respiratory Therapist, but some pivots in life are for the best.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
Ashtrology Candles are sold on two platforms. The first is my WordPress website located at AshleysAnatomy.com. The other platform that I use is Etsy and the shop name is AshtrologyCandles. There are several reasons why I chose to have more than one site for my customers to purchase candles.
Etsy is a great site for people all over the world to shop for handmade crafted items. I use this site for exposure and love how simple it is to navigate. It’s a great option for new small businesses that want to bring in new customers. However, there are a few drawbacks to using this platform. For starters, you’re required to pay a fee to list items in your shop. Also, advertising costs money, and a percentage of every sale is taken out of your account on Etsy.
I love owning my website and utilizing Woocommerce. I do not have to pay to list candles on my WordPress website or pay a fee whenever I get a sale. I prefer drawing in customers via email marketing and social media advertising instead of paying fees. Having multiple platforms for my candle lovers to purchase products gives them options to choose from that they’re comfortable with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashleysanatomy.com/shop/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashtrologycandles/
- Facebook: N/A
- Linkedin: N/A
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashtrologybyash
- Youtube: N/A
- Yelp: N/A
- Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AshtrologyCandles Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ashtrologycandles/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashtrologycandles
Image Credits
N/A