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

Katelyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

At the end of 2021, just a few months after my husband and I got married, I felt a tug to leave my job. At this time, it just didn’t seem like a logical decision, but I simply couldn’t shake the feeling which I know now was the Holy Spirit. I couldn’t have done it without my incredibly supportive husband, who wasn’t sure how it was all going to work out either. It wasn’t until about 2 months later that I was given the idea, again through the Spirit, to create candles inspired by the Bible. They would not only be inspired by the Bible but we would release a new scent every month as part of a journey along the year to remind believers that God is above all seasons. The idea was only the beginning as we would face many hardships and sacrifices to make it happen. Several times, I felt to quit and several times, God picked me back up again. We are so grateful to have many support us along this “fragrant” journey. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been so worth it. A risk is a decision you make, not knowing what’s on the other side. It’s scary, it’s uncomfortable. As crazy as it may sound, I took the risk of leaving what was comfortable because I knew God to be trustworthy. I knew even while I saw nothing sprout from the seeds I planted, that in just a little while, He would make it happen. And He did.

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.

My name is Katelyn! Growing up, I’ve always enjoyed creating; those that know me would tell you I was always in the art room, doodling, or coming up with a new project to DIY. Interestingly, I didn’t know much, if anything, about making candles and didn’t have much of an interest until 2021 when I felt to leave my job. I began getting involved with candle-making, simply as a hobby until I realized it was meant to be much more. Looking at all the candle companies that already exist, I felt we were making a mistake, releasing one scent every month. Many companies offer dozens, if not, hundreds of scents over the course of the year and we have twelve! However, I think one of the issues we like to bring to our customers’ attention is that, we truly have all we need. We currently live in a world where consumerism clouds our ability to appreciate what’s already in front of us. By releasing one scent at a time, we want people to savor and make the most of the moment they’re in. Simultaneously, with our scents being Biblically-inspired, it encourages our customers to be intentional and to remember where their focus should be. Our candles are created with a slow, burning coconut wax which aligns with our aim to journey through our days, slowly. We’re a company that delivers Light in more ways than one and strive to journey life with purpose.

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

Building your audience on social media, I believe, is probably one of the hardest things to do other than building capital to fund your business. There’s a saying, “You have to talk about your business in order to have a business”. If people don’t know you exist, you’ll probably cease to exist. So, building an audience is tough in the beginning, but I think once you get the ball rolling, eventually it begins to roll on it’s own. As a business owner, the beginning is the most awkward. It’s awkward reaching out to people when you have a low following because you’re trying to build brand awareness and trust without any brand awareness or trust. I remember reaching out to a few people, in efforts to send them a candle and they thought it was a scam. We built our Instagram from scratch and wanted to accumulate a following as authentically as possible. Honing in on our target market was more important to us, than just getting people to support and follow. I think the best advice I can give would be to be patient. It’s not what a lot of us like to hear, but building a business, can be thought of like building a home. We want our homes built on a good foundation, constructed with the best tools and supplies. No one wants to live in a home where shortcuts were taken so that it could be finished quicker; building an audience is no different. Understand it will take time, but with consistency and focused discipline, you will see the fruit of your labor.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

You’re going to pay a price no matter where you sell. I think initially we considered which avenue would increase trust with the least amount of fees. Platforms like Amazon and Etsy are great as they provide a section to review and they’re already drawing in a large audience, but as a new business it seems like you can be drowned out by other businesses that are trying to get themselves seen also. By selling on our own website, we feel we are given more marketing, analytics, and assistance tools that not only benefit us long-term but also enhance our customers’ experience. As previously mentioned, the downside to not using a platform like Amazon or Etsy (as of yet), is that you don’t have the potential to get in the eyes of millions of people. As a business, it’s important to consider which fees are worth paying for especially while still building capital, making profit, etc. It’s a puzzle of sorts figuring out what makes the most sense for your business and which platforms will provide a greater return.

Contact Info:

• Website: omniascent.co
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/omniascent.co/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/omniascentco/