We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Candice Clemens. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Candice below.

Candice , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

When I started Witchcult in 2021 it was the perfect time. I had just graduated college with a Social Work degree a few months prior and knew that career path wasn’t for me. I have always wanted to own a business and be my own boss. Why continue to ignore that dream? I decided to finally put my fears aside and start working towards my goals. I think if I started Witchcult sooner I would not have been able to devote the proper amount of time to the business or I would have found a way to talk myself out of it. Starting this journey when I did just felt right and I’m so happy I took the plunge.

Candice , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Candice and I am the Owner/Maker of Witchcult Nail Lacquer. Witchcult was launched in November 2021, but I have been making my own nail polish for about a decade. I got into making polish after seeing a blog post about “frankenpolish”, or mixing store bought polishes together to create a custom color. I fell down a rabbit hole and eventually found myself in the world of indie polish. All of my polishes are made using a “10-Free” formula, meaning that it does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene, parabens, fragrances, phthalates, and animal ingredients. These nasty ingredients are found in most mass produced polishes. All of the pigments used for my colors are vegan as well. I am proud of the unique colors and finishes I create. I especially love the thermal polishes that change colors based on your body temperature. You certainly won’t find shades like mine anywhere else.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building a social media presence takes a lot of work and I still have a long way to go! When I first launched my brand I made sure to include relevant hashtags in my posts. I also spent a lot of time researching the best times to post on various platforms in order to reach the biggest audience. I made sure to reply to comments and post engaging content. I shared all of my posts to my stories as well. I found that being consistent and posting on a regular basis helps a ton. It’s all about beating that algorithm.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I’d say being active in my community and participating in local events has helped grow my clientele the most. You can’t assume that your customers will find you. Sometimes you have to go out there and find them yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopwitchcult.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/witchcult.nail.lacquer
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/witchcultnaillacquer
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@witchcultnaillacquer

Image Credits
@dangerouslypolished @atticus_loves_lacquer @mikkelz_nails @koalatynails @herblknails @lacquerdiary3.14 @miscdruidnails @readingnora