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

Alright, Jenny thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

At Burnt October, I create 100% natural soy wax candles. Since the beginning, I have had the mission to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Burnt October candles are meant to be home decor, not something that gets tossed away after you are done enjoying your candle. I encourage my patrons to repurpose their candle vessels once they have fully enjoyed their candle. With Burnt October I am constantly striving to create innovative alternatives so that our products can bring a positive impact on the communities that we love.

Jenny, 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?

Burnt October was created while I was furloughed for 6+ months from my full time hospitality job during the pandemic. While starting my business, the top priority was creating a brand that makes every effort to be as environmentally conscious as possible. As a mother of two little girls, I want to ensure that I utilize only the cleanest and safest products within my home, as well as setting a good example for our future. Through preliminary market research, I found that most store bought candles contain additives that are neither environmentally sustainable, nor healthy. It was important for me to create a brand that would bring comfort of space and mind within our homes.

Most of my scents are inspired by and crafted to reflect important milestones of my life, involving people, places, and feelings. They are all a part of a larger story for me.

I am extremely proud of the brand that I have built. Knowing that my products can be found in homes across the country, creating comfortable spaces for others to live out their stories. This, I believe, is one of the most rewarding feelings one can achieve.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Brand loyalty as a small business is one of the most incredible things that I have ever experienced. Building not only a following, but a brand community is something that I am so proud of. I have had the privilege to meet so many amazing people over the years since the founding of Burnt October. I love seeing familiar faces at markets and events. I love getting messages and letters on social media and my website. I love hearing about how my patrons have been able to experience my products. The loyalty I receive from this community is something I treasure, and it is such an honor to have the opportunity to share my story with each and every one of them.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media can be a scary thing to take on. For me, I rely very heavily on it. I feel that my presence across social media platforms, has garnered a vast amount of my success so far.

If I had to give someone advice on their social media presence, I would say that scheduling a window of time each week to buckle down and focus on creating content will generate more excitement and help build your community. Showcasing your brand, responding to messages, posting a picture or two, or simply sharing who you are as an individual, this is all so important to our brand indentity. The thought of posting daily can definitely feel like a chore, but the continuous positive response that I receive from doing so, is both rewarding and motivating.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://burntoctober.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnt_october/?next=%2F
• Facebook: Burnt October Co

Image Credits
Jessica Ajeman Product Photographer