We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melody Paniagua. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melody below.

Alright, Melody thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?

It may sound odd, however, I am going to answer this question by saying that my grandest failure was thinking that I would have things all figured out. We have normalized the standard practice of measuring success through the checklist, playing that process of an elimination game, and being boggled down to that certain moment, maybe date, maybe year, that this task/milestone needed to be accomplished. I think the greatest lesson that I am going to connect back to my journey as the business owner and creative behind Making Magical Candles, my Etsy shop, is that of trusting that your magic will never steer you in the wrong direction There is nothing wrong with having a vision. What matters is that deep understanding that having that vision is not just having that vision. In addition to having that vision, your intentionality, your investment, your connection, all of that matters. Through this understanding and through committing to doing that work, you unlock magic and develop your intuition, that manifests your vision. That requires lifelong learning — so maybe you may want to do that thing you are hesitant to do that you think you aren’t quite ready for.

Melody, 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?

My name is Melody. Social Media knows me as Magical Mel and the voice behind Making Magical Candles. I am a Latina who grew up in NYC, currently residing in Queens, NY. I am a first-generation graduate with an MSED in Bilingual School Counseling. I currently have been working as a Bilingual Middle School Counselor for what will be three school years this June. In addition to being an educator, I am also the small business owner and creative behind Making Magical Candles (MMC), my candle shop on Etsy. MMC are handcrafted intention candles scented and dressed with natural oils, plants/herbs, and ingredients, and include crystals to add an extra touch of magic to your intentions. They aren’t just any candles, they are magical candles made with your magic in mind every step of the way.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

Prior to selling on Etsy, I was primarily selling word of mouth, and like most start-up initiatives, looking to manage the small amount of money in my own account. For me personally, Etsy has been such a great support in getting me from that stage of being the small business owner, to where I am now. I did not have much of a business framework prior to investing in coaching and doing more professional development, so for me Etsy was a big plus in launching something before I was fully ready, but when I knew I had a quality product. Some pros I can think of and that also keep me on Etsy, which I have been on for close to three years, is having a target audience, and financial reports and data being generated for me as well. It helped me a lot when I got started. Some cons, fees have begun increasing which cut into your profit, and learning the keywords, and SEO strategies can present barriers and challenges to reaching a wider audience. This makes you further consider how seamless in actuality is Etsy really?

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I have been blessed in seeing how my candles come alive in every client’s practice and through their engagement have also fostered so many other ways to organically connect with my fellow magical family. I am embarrassed to admit it, but I did become dependent on Etsy and didn’t start an email list until about a month ago, October 2023. Having an email list is a game changer, you are able to be more targeted in your outreach and connect with your community in various ways. As a Small Business Owner, I have also been privileged to be viewed in my community as an expert in my field and it has also led to speaking commitments, and hosting workshops for my community. Last February, I hosted my first event, She Is Magic, highlighting women’s wellness and spirituality. Instagram has also been a game changer, as people can have instant access to your product and engage with you on a more personal level, which builds additional brand identity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://makingmagicalcandles.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makingmagicalcandles/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpaniagua3/