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

Jiel, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

How I turned a candle business idea into machine thats shipping around the country? honestly, GOD!!

Before i had the idea, I was in a very depressed state in my life. Just graduated from college to seeking a full time employment job with no success in the area. In private i had a conversation with God. I told him.. If you’re really real like everyone says you are….. Show me because times are tough. I went into bath and body works with my pastor Daniel Blackshear of Word & Deed Ministries. He went to go purchase rooms sprays for the church. I picked up a candle and something said “CANDLES” in my head..

Jiel, 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?

Everything is trial and error based. There’s no success plan for operating a business. The creative process is tough because you want to make sure you build a bridge for you and your consumers. I love chatting with customers and finding ways to help them in any way I can.

I want my customers to find peace and be in a place of calmness while their enjoying our products. Life is short and we all have difficulties we face everyday. I wanted to sow encouragement, happiness, and peace in everything we sell because thats how life should be… Enjoyable

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I grew up in a small town in Louisville, GA. I grew up in faith filled home, but also with challenges with drug and alcohol abuse from family members that lived in the house. Growing up i helped take care of my great grandmother who was sick and up in age. I helped change her diapers, cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I learned how to make coffee and cook neckbones at 14 years old. Why? bc my mom was a work. My aunt worked a few hours later one day and my granny taught me how to cook nechbones bc she wanted dinner to be ready by 4 o clock. I don’t know what so special with elderly folks and dinner being done by 5 o clock.

When my mother was alive i used to help flush her feeding tubes, cleaning her area where her port was because she was going to chemotherapy. All of this was before the age of 18. Going to college was a huge WOW moment because my experiences in life placed me in a different mindset for success.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social Media played a huge roll.

Be 100% AUTHENTIC in everything you do and create. People will always support things that has real value.
Be creative! Be Thoughtful! BE YOU! On;y you know who you are 100%. Show the world how great you are.

Contact Info:

• Website: hillsidecandles.com
• Instagram: hscandles_
• Facebook: Hill Side Candles
• Twitter: hscandles
• Other: Cash App Donations $HillSideCandles