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

Alright, Elizabeth thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission of my business is to create a safer environment for my customers while creating a “copacetic experience”. The meaning of Copacetic is everything being in excellent order, which is the mindset I want to create for the customers. My candles bring not only peace with the scents I make but also a sense of calmness and an experience of comfort in that time. My business is run out of the South Bronx and provides a healthy option to individuals for their candles. Although health options may be available, they may not take into consideration the socioeconomic levels of the customers in my area. I provide lower prices that these individuals can afford, while assessing the health risk of my candles that people may not think about.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Liz Rodriguez, a Social Worker and business owner. My company, Copacetic Candles, was established in 2020 and designed to bring both affordable and cleaner candles to my community in the South Bronx in hopes to help reduce the negative effects of air pollution. I started my business due to the complications candles can cause for individuals, that are unknown in major society. Many major brand candle companies are using paraffin wax, which is mainly made of petroleum. I identified this issue and polled my community to see if they knew it was an issue and how they felt about it. Copacetic Candles was founded on bridging the gap in my community of affordable products, with a sense of bettering their well-being. I try to combine my social work skills anywhere possible with my business, such as having candles that trigger childhood memories or doing mental health awareness posts on my social media. I am proud to be the founder and owner of such a successful business that encourages reducing health risks and the importance of mental health.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best sources of new clients for me is in-person markets and social media post. The market allows my new customers to feel a human connection and not just an order number. I enjoy speaking to my customers, understanding their wants and needs for a candle, and helping them best choose what’s right for them or who they’re shopping for. Social media post is also a great source of new clients as it allows me to reach customers from all around the world in a short amount of time and highlight the cool features of my candles.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that your family and friends may or may not support you but you must keep going. This was very difficult for me because I began to feel like I failed if my inner circle didn’t approve or support me. This was holding me back! Many people will support larger brands or celebrities simply because they want to fit in. You must be willing to understand that even though your 10 close friends don’t support you, there are billions of people that are rooting for you the way you need.

Contact Info:

• Website: copaceticcandle.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/copaceticcandles
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-rodriguez-2b7a49167/

Image Credits
Liz Rodriguez