We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lex Dascoli a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lex, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.
In a Time of Darkness
Everyone has a moment when the light unexpectedly goes out in their life. That moment may come at the end of a relationship, during illness, after losing a job, or when someone you love passes away. Suddenly there is darkness where positivity, happiness, and light once lived. For me, that moment came when I lost my Mom in 2017. When she left the physical world, something inside me left too, but I knew that I needed to find the light again. Not only for myself, but for my Mom too.
Honoring Lex’s Mom
To honor my Mom and find my own comfort after her passing, I decided to make a special candle. Growing up, my parents always had candles burning, they loved the relaxing ambiance and moody Vibes they brought to their space. This memory, along with my natural gravitation towards creativity as an outlet, made creating a candle feel so right.
The Note
After the passing of my Mom, I needed to find comfort. One day I was looking through my Mom’s keepsake box where she stored memorabilia, poems, old id’s and love notes. One note stood out, it’s started with, “Hey Vibie”. It was a note that my Dad had written to my Mom back in ’81. My Dad had given my Mom the nickname, “Vibie” short for her name “Viola”. Right when I read that note, I knew I wanted to use that name someway, somehow. Later on, it would be used within my business name, “Vibes Candles”.
A company that not only was created in honor of my Mom but also bears her Mom’s nickname, “Vibie” that her Dad had given her. My Mom and Dad will forever live on within Vibes Candles like an eternal flame.
Filling Your Space with Good Vibes Long After The Flame Goes Out
There are hundreds of candles out on the market, but the crystal candles and home fragrance products that I create are special in their ability to help you stop and reconnect when your light goes out. The crystals pick up your unique vibrational energy and amplify the feelings you want to cultivate when your candle burns. Filling your space with good vibes long after the flame goes out.
Lex, 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?
Hey! I’m Lex, the owner of Vibes Candles, based out of Marlborough Massachusetts. Where I merge my passions for handmade craftsmanship and creativity to produce uniquely scented crystal candles and home fragrance products that Set The Vibe™ and enhance any space. My journey as a candle maker began at a time where I needed to find my light again. That time came when I unexpectedly lost my Mom. To honor my Mom and find comfort after her passing, I decided to make a special candle. Growing up, my parents always had candles burning they loved the relaxing ambiance and moody Vibes they brought to their space. This memory, along with my natural gravitation towards creativity as an outlet, made creating a candle feel so right. I’ve dedicated myself to perfecting the art of candle making, prioritizing high-quality, non-toxic ingredients and materials with one-of-a-kind packaging designs that gives my customers a magical unboxing experience.
In addition to my work with Vibes Candles, I am an experienced Graphic Designer. My background in design allows me to infuse my passion for unique designs into my candle packaging and branding. I believe that the visual presentation of a product is just as important as its functionality, and I strive to create an aesthetic that reflects the cozy, calm, relaxation vibe that Vibes Candles can bring into any space.
I am also a GIA AJP, PG, an Accredited Jewelry Professional and Pearls Graduate. My journey into the world of jewelry began out of a fascination with gemstones and the stories they tell. This expertise not only enriches my personal endeavors but also influences my approach to candle making, as I draw parallels between the careful selection of crystals that are then hand placed into each candle. The embedded crystals pick up your unique vibrational energy and amplify the positive feelings you want to cultivate when your candle burns, Setting The Vibe™ in your space long after the flame goes out.
Outside of my professional life, I spend my time with my most amazing, kind, loving husband who is my number one supporter in everything that I do. Without him and his daily encouragement in all that I do I wouldn’t be where I am today. I also spend most of my days with my thirteen-year-old fur baby, Schatzi aka Bup (and so many more cute names) who you will most likely see in store with me daily. As an avid coffee drinker, I love starting my day with a freshly brewed German coffee, which fuels my creativity and productivity. I am also a sun lover; there’s nothing quite like taking in the warmth of the sun, whether I’m enjoying a quiet moment in my backyard or soaking up rays on a beach in my favorite vacation destination the Dominican Republic.
Through my work at Vibes Candles and my various creative pursuits, I aim to bring a little more light, peace and good vibes into your space.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Before I started Vibes Candles I started my Graphic Designs career with a manufacturing company who designed and manufactured the spikes that go into shoes for those who played golf, football, soccer, lacrosse, track and other sports. They also designed and manufactured sports accessories as well.
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be an artist of some sort, I would always be drawing, creating or making something out of nothing. So when It came to high school I knew I wanted to go to a vocational school so that I could learn more than academically. When I started my freshman year I already knew I wanted to be in the Graphic Design program, thankfully I was selected. Fast forward a few years, during my junior year I was given the opportunity to work during my shop week. Shop week meant, one week you learned your trade, the next week you were in academics. I saw a local job opening, called and went in for the interview immediately and the rest was history, I was employed with the company for over sixteen years.
During those sixteen years I worked my way up from smaller jobs where I learned how to create artwork that would be stamped into metal divot tools for golf, to learning how to manage my time and communicate with employees overseas. I also learned the manufacturing process on products, and then started to design packaging for those products. I designed packaging in collaboration with big footwear names like Nike, FootJoy, and Adidas. I also taught myself how to photograph high resolution products for catalogs as well as for magazine advertisements that could be seen in the PGA Magazine and many more.
After I graduated high school and while working full time, I was also starting college and needed extra income. I decided to start my own Graphic Design business and LLC that I still run to this day. I already acquired a few clients and knew this was the route I wanted to go in professionally and for my career. Thankfully I made that decision because after sixteen years with my employer they made the decision to sell their company. Although I was left with a goodbye, I I was grateful for the many years of hands on experience, and growth as a Graphic Designer. I was able to work even harder on my Graphic Design business and was able to acquire clients like Boston Scientific as a client and other local small businesses too. During that time I was also named one of Worcester Business Journals 40 Under Forty, that was cool! That kept me going for a year and later I started my small business, Vibes Candles in honor of my Mom.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I am self funded and here’s how I did it. If you want something in life you have to work for it and have drive and passion. I came from a single parent home and saw first hand how hard you have to work for everything in your life. I watched my Mom work three jobs, all while taking care of her three children. She was my inspiration and still is in life, she never gave up. I learned that you have to work hard for what you want in life and that’s what I did. There are some sacrifices that have to be made so if you aren’t willing to sacrifice then starting a small business is not for you. While my friends were out doing fun things, I was working at a local restaurant cleaning tables and later on waitressing all while still working full time right out of high school. I not only was able to pay for my first car in cash from the tips I made, I was also able to fund my own small business. I didn’t have many expenses at that time for business however, I was able to pay for my licenses and my first Mac laptop with the funds I made from waitressing. Later on I was able to use the income I made from my Graphic Design business to not only pay my bills but to also fund the expenses and startup costs for Vibes Candles. Work hard, stay focussed, have passion and you too will be able to achieve your goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vibescandles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibescandles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vibescandles
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/vibescandles
https://www.tiktok.com/@vibescandles
