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

Deanndra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

STATE YOUR MOOD was a name that came to me and stuck. I wanted something that was unique but also easy to remember. As I went through the process of starting my business, it was important for me to find a name that resonated with me personally and also one that reflected the brand’s mission statement.

Like most teens, I struggled to express myself due to the feeling of not fitting in or being ignored. Which led me to stay to myself and suppress my talents, ultimately not being who I was. As I entered adulthood, I learned that I shouldn’t be ashamed of what makes me who I am. With that experience in mind, that is how I came up with STATE YOUR MOOD, a name that is like an affirmation to remind others that it is okay to be who you are and to embrace it.

Deanndra, 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?

I was born and raised in a small town called Fitzgerald, GA but moved to Atlanta, GA, in 2022. I’m also a mother of one and a college student obtaining my bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

I’ve always been ambitious and had big dreams for myself. My first dream was to become a professional background dancer, but my dreams gradually transitioned to business. The beginning of my journey as an entrepreneur is different from your average story. I sincerely believe that entrepreneurship chose me. As a single mother, I had to figure out something, and entrepreneurship was what only made sense to me.

STATE YOUR MOOD offers hand-poured candles made with soy wax and a wooden wick. They are the highest quality possible, and we take pride in every single one that leaves our shop. We love creating fragrances that are new and exciting but also comfortable and familiar—we want people to feel like they’ve already smelled our candles before! We’ve got scents for every season (and mood), so there’s something for everyone.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I have to say that I am very lucky to have had some amazing teachers who helped me learn much about the business world. I’ve learned so much from them, which has helped me grow my business.

I also found that trial and error can be your best teacher. It’s so important never to stop learning and growing as a person and also as a business owner!

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

I think one of the things that helped me build my reputation within my market was that I spent a lot of time and energy on product development. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make more environmentally friendly candles and make them smell better. To create an experience for our customers from shopping on our website to when they receive their order.

I had a few setbacks along the way, but I learned from those mistakes and kept moving forward with new ideas. I worked hard to ensure that my brand was honest with our customers about what we were offering, which helped build trust within the community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stateyourmood.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateyourmood/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stateyourmood
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/stateyourmood
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stateyourmood/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stateyourmood/

Image Credits
DeaCreative Studio & Co.