Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Earlisia Petty. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Earlisia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

A lot of practice, patience, and mistakes! Candle making is truly a science (can be very complicated) and a lot of trial and error. Once you narrow down the specifics of the type or wax, wick, and fragrance you want to use it gets easier. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts in candle making. The testing and development stage is extremely important for safety and performance.

I started experimenting with candles in 2018. I spent a lot of time researching different methods, waxes, sourcing materials and following the latest trends to get an idea on the entire process. I attended maker workshops and watched various YouTube videos trying to absorb all that I could to gain the confidence to turn this idea into a business. Truthfully, if you’re not ready to fail A LOT during the early stages (and beyond), you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

Short term and long-term planning are probably the most essential skills other than discipline. If you’re making candles to sell, your efforts will require a somewhat structured approach. Plans show up every day, even when motivation doesn’t. Having a plan in place ensures you’ve traveled mentally to a time in the future and made decisions about what you desire that to look like.

Starting and running a candle business isn’t for the faint of heart. You must think about inventory, social media, branding, product development, budgeting, and so much more. Motivation is overrated; I turned a hobby into a business and quickly realized I needed discipline to remain dedicated to the cause.

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?

My name is Earlisia. I am a DC native, entrepreneur and proud #boymom! I started candle making as a hobby and birthed BAREWICK STUDIO in 2022 to give back, both to myself and my community. The goal and purpose of my candle company is to bring awareness to mental health and encourage a positive approach towards emotional well-being. The pandemic brought a lot of things to the surface, it was also a reminder to take care and show others grace during such hard times. While the vision I have for this venture will go beyond candles, I am extremely proud of the impact we have made thus far and the organizations we have contributed too.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

There is no right or wrong way. Just start. I spent a lot of time self sabotaging while on my journey. I am my worst critic and it’s a bad flaw when you are trying to build or go after your dreams. Majority of the time I had it right the first time, lol. Chasing perfection is the hard road. Finding your way is not a flawless journey either. Staying true to your craft and discipline will get you to the finish line!

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

A lesson I had to unlearn was not asking for help. As I mentioned before, I am my worst critic and a recovering perfectionist (ha). I am very much ‘Type A’ personality wise but running a business requires help at times. Sometimes I forget I am human. I am a mother. I am a wife. I have a full-time job and home to take care of. So, knowing how to manage your load is a game changer for any small business. Utilizing or finding your village is key! Don’t be afraid to phone a friend or get a mentor!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.barewickstudio.com
• Instagram: @barewickstudio
• Facebook: @barewickstudio
• Other: TikTok: @barewickstudio

Image Credits
Personal Photo: Samira Rashid Additional Photos: Diana Spriggs (Flor De Campo)