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

Melissa , appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

I still remember the excitement of launching our website and selling our first candles to… well, let’s be real, our friends and family! But after that initial buzz, crickets. Radio silence. I waited a month, but when the sales didn’t roll in, I knew I had to think outside the box (or website, in this case).
I scoured YouTube videos, TikToks, and every piece of advice I could find on running a small business. And that’s when I stumbled upon the magic word: markets. I wasn’t looking for just any market, though. I wanted a high-end, artisanal vibe that would match our premium candles.
That’s when I discovered a market in Williamsburg that fit our bill perfectly. I got to work curating a table design that screamed “us.” I hand-sewed a custom tablecloth and hand-painted vases and carefully arranged our candles to showcase their beauty.
Market day arrived, but I couldn’t be there in person. Luckily, my husband’s mom and my brother stepped in to man the table. I refreshed the Square app nervously, wondering if anyone beyond our family would buy our candles.
And then, the unthinkable happened. We sold 42 units and made $903 in just one weekend! People loved our candles – the wood wick, the 100% beeswax, and most of all, our unique scents.
It was a whirlwind weekend, but it proved that our candles had a place in the market (pun intended). We’re still buzzing from that first success, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!

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.

So, I’ve always been super creative, always looking for new things to try and make. I love that whole Renaissance vibe, where people were experts in a bunch of different areas, and that’s always inspired me to try new things. That’s how I got into candle-making and started MBur Candle Co.
My obsession with scents started when I was working at Victoria’s Secret. I was a bra fitting specialist (random, I know!), but I loved exploring all the different perfumes they had. After I left, I just kept going, trying out new candles and scents all the time. But then I found out that a lot of candles are made with some pretty toxic stuff, so I started looking into healthier options. That’s when I discovered beeswax candles, and I was hooked.
Now, at MBur Candle Co, we make all our candles by hand using beeswax, fragrance oils that are phthalate and paraben-free, and with wooden wicks. We’re all about promoting self-care and relaxation. We want our candles to be more than just something that smells nice – we want them to be a way to unwind and take care of yourself.
We’ve been pretty fortunate, too – we’ve gotten to work with some amazing companies, like Morgan Stanley, Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation, and Mastercard. It’s been incredible to see our candles make an impact with such influential brands.
What sets us apart, I think, is our combination of unique scents and cool packaging. We’re not just trying to make a quick buck – we’re trying to make a positive impact. And, as a black-owned business, we’re proud to be part of a community that’s all about lifting each other.
Starting this business hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve had some amazing moments. For example, we did our first craft fair at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg, and it was a huge hit. We made $900 in just two days, which was mind-blowing. It was one of those moments where we were like, “Okay, we’re onto something here.”
So, that’s us in a nutshell. We’re just a couple of passionate people trying to make a difference, one candle at a time. We’re all about spreading love, care, and mindfulness, and we’re so glad you’re along for the ride.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

So, our car got repossessed after our first year of running the business. It was a tough time because, ironically, the business itself was profitable. However, we had taken on some debt from a real estate flip that didn’t go as planned. The housing market tanked, and to make matters worse, the house got broken into. We were stuck with a huge bill and couldn’t afford to keep up with the car payments.
Losing our car was a big deal because it was our main way of getting to the fairs and markets where we sold our candles. We had to make a tough decision: either stop selling altogether or find another way to transport our entire setup every weekend. I mean, we’re talking about a 6-foot table, decorations, and a heavy inventory of candles!
But we didn’t give up. We got creative and found a solution. We bought a heavy-duty cart on Amazon, and I started taking the train to all our events. It wasn’t easy, but we made it work. And you know what? We still vend this way to this day!
Looking back, I realize that was a defining moment for me. It showed me that I’m capable of overcoming obstacles and finding solutions to seemingly impossible problems.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my business partner, Donivan, in a pretty unusual way. I was working at Starbucks, and he walked in as a food delivery guy. I was immediately drawn to him, so I decided to take a chance. I scribbled my number on a coffee sleeve and handed it to him. It was a bold move, but it paid off!
We started dating, and things moved quickly. After just three dates, we took a trip to Chicago together. Four months later, we moved into our first tiny NYC studio apartment.
Donivan became a huge part of my life, and when I started experimenting with making candles, he was my biggest cheerleader. He pushed me to create something marketable, and I took on the challenge. Together, we developed the concept, branding, and marketing strategy for MBur Candle Co.
Donivan’s input was invaluable. He helped me come up with some amazing names for our candles, like “Room Service” and “Wine Down.” He even suggested the name “MBur” for our brand, which is a play on my name, Melissa Burnette.
Today, Donivan is still my rock, my partner in every sense of the word – and now, my husband! We work together to grow our business, and I feel so lucky to have him by my side.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mburcandle.co/
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mburcandleco
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/melissa-burnette-mbur
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com