We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Felisa Dees a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Felisa , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Back in 2004 I worked for an oil manufacturing company that provided the oils to big name candle and soap makers. While working there I had access to free oils and free candle making information from customers. I was so tired of purchasing candles that smelled good in the store but didn’t fragrance my space once I got them home and burned them. Over time I decided to learn how to make my own candles that would be strong and really fragrance my space. I then began getting tips from customers, and did some research on candle making. Weeks later, I started making candles in my kitchen. Whenever friends and family would come over they always loved how my place smelled. They would ask me to make candles for them and that’s when I got the idea of turning it into a business. I would make up boxes of candles and sell them at the local schools “Back to school nights” and would sell out! That’s when I took the necessary steps to start the business and open an online store. I enjoy providing individuals with a good smelling candle that smells amazing regardless if it’s lit or sitting on a table not lit, it will still fragrance your space. I intentionally created each candle to fragrance the space even while it’s not buring. That’s what majority of our customers love about our candles. They take the lid off and sit our candle in a space and it scents the space for weeks even before they even light it!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I have worn so many hats! I have modeled, I have done some TV, I am an Author, and my first book, “Transformed From Her To Me” is in all the major bookstores (Barnes and Noble, Joseph-Beth, Books A Million, Walmart, etc.) and I sell autographed copies on my website www.felisadees.com, I am a mom of mine/his/ours blended family, I am a co-host of The Gold Mic podcast, I am the executive of my daughter’s art gallery, The Diamond Art Gallery as well. So, I stay pretty busy! I am proud of all the things I’ve accomplished and LC Candles is very dear to me. We provide great products at a great price and they work! They fragrance up your space and they add so much more. When most people think about a scented candle they only think about the smell but a scented candle changes the scent of your space, it changes your mood, the flickering flame offers a sense of hope as well. I think of LC Candles as a hidden treasure because it’s not a mainstream brand however those that do shop with us are all repeat customers. Once someone places an order with us they never leave us. I always want my customers to get their money’s worth by providing them with a strong-scented candle and packaging that evokes luxury and class. You want to feel good when you open an order and we make sure of that.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing our customers has been us stay consistent with our products. Making sure our customers always receive a great-smelling candle in packaging that evokes a sense of luxury. When our customers receive a great product from us every time they keep shopping with us and they tell others about our website www.lccandles.net as well. One of our slogans is, “See It, Order It, Smell It, Love It.”
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to unlearn the idea of doing things myself and by myself. I was so used to not asking anyone for help and wanting to figure everything out on my own but once LC Candles got off the ground I learned there’s no way I can do everything by myself. I learned to delegate tasks and connect with others who knew more than me. When I started doing this everything changed and I was no longer limiting myself and the business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lccandles.net
- Instagram: @lccandlesllc