We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Alvarez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

During my pregnancy I had this crazy awesome idea to start my own candle company. I realized every single time a candle was created I was happier and there was a calmness in my home. It help keep me grounded, it was my peace regardless of what my day was like or whatever challenges I might have been facing. I wanted others to feel the love and peace that came from the candles I handcrafted as well. Finding an outlet to be creative and calm simultaneously was huge for me. Everyone who has purchased a Zen by Ren candle feels how much love was poured into it. Whether it be a gift or just an addition to someone’s home it has put smiles on so many faces!

Lauren, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For many years I have dedicated my life to dance and fitness. It was only until the pandemic started in 2020 when I began making candles for fun. It was something I did at home and gifted them to my friends and family. I didn’t take candle making very serious at the time, I just remember it being something that kept me calm. Fast forward 2 years later and I became pregnant with my babygirl! In theory, dancing and fitness sounded fun but truth be told my body needed more rest during this process. So I decided to start my own candle company! I went for it! Not only did I start to master the art of candle making but I found a niche, I created my logo, my company name, played with designs, colors, etc. and decided that this is what I wanted to do moving forward. In the beginning I had some trouble figuring out what my labels and candle designs would be so that you would recognize a Zen by Ren candle, but I knew it would all fall into place eventually. I then hired an assistant to help get my social media started. I reached out to everyone I worked with, fitness clients, friends and family to spread the word about my new company. The amount of love and support I received was incredible and I will forever be grateful. I had this crazy idea that after I gave birth I’d do my first candle pop-up for Mother’s Day just 2 weeks later. Yes 2 weeks after birth I did my very first candle pop-up and SOLD OUT! One of the many reasons my company is so special to me. I birthed my baby girl and my company at the same time. Every single candle is hand poured and designed with either dried flowers or stones, perfectly packaged and ready to put a smile on someone’s face. I am beyond proud of my work because I know how much love goes into it. Every purchase means the world to me.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Word of mouth goes a long way! The internet is great but can also be extremely challenging. People associate success with the number of followers you have on social media and this is simply not true. You can have lots of success with the people you know spreading the word! I personally enjoy speaking to people about my company. The goal is just to get people to KNOW you exist. Everything else falls into place.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

I do have my own website where people can purchase. Zenbyren.com
I have sold through my website but it is challenging to get people to come across the site who don’t know you. I’d say having a website is a great way for people to purchase online if they know about it. In the near future I will explore other platforms to broaden my customer base.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Zenbyren.com
• Instagram: Zenbyren_candles