We were lucky to catch up with Melissa Popovic-Iglesias recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I think an entrepreneurial mindset took root early on while I was in college. I went to school for Interior Design and during those years I had the privilege of working for very talented designers in Boston, where I grew up. The jobs I had at the time played a pivotal role in shaping the person I am today. The skills I acquired during those early days provided the discipline and courage I needed to embark on the journey of starting my own business.

I am a huge believer that timing is everything. If you have a vision for your life and career, take the proper steps to get there. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. This mindset has helped me in so many ways within my career and in my business. I knew I still had a lot to learn before I took the leap of faith in starting my business four years ago. I’m still learning everyday! But I’m grateful I didn’t rush into starting my business sooner, as I knew it was not the right time.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Growing up on the east coast it’s second nature to have a certain grit and fight built in you. It’s just part of our nature! It’s a characteristic that has helped me in so many ways! I went to college for Interior Design and didn’t think my path would lead me to starting my own business years later. Having worked for different designers and real estate developers I was thrown into working on all ranges of the business. From helping design and project manage over 800 residential units to multimillion dollar brownstones in the heart of the city, I never took for granted each project I had ever been part of.

I started Culture of Good in November of 2019 with the dream to create genuine, non-toxic candles that were good for your environment but didn’t lack in quality. It was really important to me early on to find smaller businesses with like minded goals in regards to giving back to causes they believed in and being environmentally conscious. With a lot of time, testing and perfecting my craft I’m very confident in the products I sell in my shop. Each candle and room mist are hand-poured using clean, and high quality ingredients. As of this year, I felt it was time to launch our home goods collection which feature curated goods for your home. In addition, I’ve also had the privilege of starting Culture of Good Studios, an interior design studio helping clients achieve the look and feel of their dream home. All of these things wouldn’t be possible without the support of my husband, family, and friends who truly believe in my brand. Taking the leap of faith is scary at times, but if you believe your dream is possible, then nothing will stop you from achieving it!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

My business is 100% funded by my customers and their sales! When I started my business, I didn’t have a clue where it would go or what it would turn into. I just knew I wanted to have fun and if the money came then great! But it has never been the driving goal. A few years in I had the opportunity to get a loan for my business, which I declined. I know everyone has their own ways of running their business but I knew the last thing I wanted was to lose the fun out of creating only to make sure that I was making enough money to put back into someone else’s pocket. The whole purpose is to create beautiful things and give back to a non-profit I believe in.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I specifically remember sitting at a market, watching people stop and smell then walk away leaving without a sale. I was getting this creeping feeling that it was time to pivot. Moving across the country I had to start my business all over again by learning the demographic of the new area I was now inhabiting. I was a small fish in a big pond, and in order to stand out I realized I had to change old ways of running my business. The biggest lesson I learned was no matter what season you’re in, you are always going to pivot and shift ways of doing things. Change is constant and it takes a lot of grit and grace to go with the evolution of change.

Contact Info:

• Website: cultureofgoodhome.com
• Instagram: @shop_cultureofgood