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

Braylee, appreciate you joining us today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

I think it’s great to ask friends and family for support, and it’s totally fine to ask them to help spread the word or buy something if they’re interested. I love sharing what I’m doing and letting them decide if they want to be a part of it. I first started by posting about my candles on Facebook, then brought an order form to school to share with my classmates. Everyone was really excited to support me! I also mentioned my business at Pinnacle Gymnastics, and now some of my teammates and coaches have bought from me. My goal is to keep growing my business and hopefully attend a craft show soon!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi! I’m Braylee Brown, and I’m 12 years old. I’m super creative and love everything artsy, especially candle-making. I also compete at Pinnacle Gymnastics, which I’m really passionate about, and I try to stay organized and focused in everything I do.

I got into candle-making after my Great Grandpa gave me a candle-making kit for my birthday. It was such a fun craft, and I quickly got the hang of it. Before I knew it, I was making candles in all kinds of cool colors and scents. My friends and family loved them, so I decided to turn it into a small business. I started selling them on Facebook, at school, and even at gymnastics, and people seemed to really enjoy them!

I make all kinds of candles—from simple, classic designs to unique, personalized ones. I love experimenting with colors and scents to create something special. I even make candles with fun themes like sports or holidays. What sets my candles apart is the love and care I put into each one. I focus on making sure they’re perfect and smell amazing, filling up the whole room with their scent!

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

City of Fountains Invitational. I was super excited when Coach Hannah asked me to make my candles as gifts for the judges at the City of Fountains Invitational, but I was also a little nervous because it’s my first time selling at an event. On top of that, I’m also talking with her about selling my special City of Fountains Candles to all the team gymnasts!

It feels like a big risk, promoting my candles to so many new people, but I’m hoping they’ll love them. Coach Hannah and all of my coaches have helped me see that it’s important to take risks and just go for it, even if you’re nervous.

My parents I also thank because they tell me that when you share your passion, people can really appreciate it, and it’s okay to take a chance—even if you’re not sure how it’ll turn out. It’s definitely a little scary, but I’m excited to see what happens and how people react!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

After getting the candle-making kit for my birthday, I’ve always loved making candles, and at some point, I realized I wanted to turn it into my own little business. So, I asked my mom and dad for help to make it official. I knew I couldn’t do it all by myself, but I really wanted to make it work. My mom has been amazing—she helps with the social media and keeps everything organized when it comes to getting supplies. She’s the one who makes sure I have all the right materials, and she helps me post on Facebook so people can find out about my candles.

My dad has been awesome too. He helped me figure out all the business stuff, like how to price my candles and how to make my business look professional. He also helped me create a logo, which was so cool because I could see how much he believed in what I was doing. It’s been amazing to have their support, and I feel so lucky to have them both helping me grow my business. It’s a family effort, and it makes the whole thing even more special!

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Braylee Brown Creations: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557053548230
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Royal Photography
29 Pixel Studios LLC