We recently connected with Melissa Lorenc and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Melissa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.
My small business was founded on a desire to give back to my community. I love making quality products, but those products are really just the vehicle that I use to raise money for smaller local nonprofits. I choose a different nonprofit to support every other month. I try to choose organizations that might be lesser known and primarily ones that support marginalized groups in our community.
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.
I got into candlemaking as a hobby. When I first started thinking about turning it into a business, I thought a lot about what drives me. I’m not a sales person, but I am a passionate person about the things that are important to me. In this case, it was about giving back. Being passionate is what has helped give me to courage to build a business when I had no idea where to start or really any idea what I was doing. It helped me to take chances and be outgoing where I normally wouldn’t be because it was for a cause. Along the way, I have learned so much. I have made mistakes (and continue to!), but that doesn’t stop me. The teacher in me knows that real learning can only come from doing and making mistakes and learning from them. I still have so much to learn, and so many ways that I can grow. I’m really just embracing the journey and trying to help as many people as I can along the way.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Candle makers are a dime a dozen, so it can be really difficult to set yourself apart. Being competitive has never been my game on this journey. I feel we all, as candle makers, have our own niche and embracing that is what I have done from day one. I think what has helped me build a solid reputation in my community is staying focused on making a quality product that keeps customers coming back and showcasing the nonprofits that my products support. Customers appreciate that their money gives them a quality product while also giving back. Also, I think with every interaction that I make people see where my focus is and what I’m about. Nothing beats being genuine. I’m just being me!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Having a small business is A LOT of work. My full-time job is as a teacher and I also have a family- two children at home. When I first started my business I put a lot of pressure on myself to get my name out there, do lots of events, be involved in all the things. After those first two years I realized I needed to balance things out in order to function and be effective in the other parts of my life as well. It was really difficult to try and figure out what events to prioritize and which ones I could walk away from. It was scary because when you are a new business every event or interaction can be an opportunity. So, to walk away from some opportunities there was always a fear of missing out in the back of my head. In the end, it all worked out. Looking back, I would say to others that you have to trust yourself to know what is the right way to go and be brave in making those decisions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mybuffalocandlecompany.square.site/
- Instagram: @mybuffalocandlecompany
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mybuffalocandlecompany
- Twitter: @mybuffalocandlecompany