We recently connected with Noreen Martin and have shared our conversation below.
Noreen, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
My company name is Billi Kay Designs N Candles. I have always love making things for others. I put in a lot of time to come up with an idea or gifts that I know they would love. I am one of those people that always ask a lot of questions and pay close attention to details. I was in search of an idea so I could make some extra income for myself and my family but would not take me away from home every evening. I already have a full-time job during the day. I started to do some floral arrangements and they came out amazing but it was difficult selling them online. I have always loved lighting candles in my home since I was a teenager. I love all the different scents. When you light a candle and smell a certain scent it can bring back a memory or make you relax. When your home smells amazing it can make you in a better mood. I ordered my first candle supplies back in late 2020. I wrote everything down in a note book when I first started. Some people really don’t understand there is a science to making candles. You have to figure out how much wax you need, what kind and size wick, how much fragrance oil per candle. You then have to heat up your wax to a certain degree, and then add your fragrance at a certain degree and pour at a certain degree. You also have to test different vessels, scents and waxes. I decided that I wanted to work with soy wax because it’s healthy, eco-friendly, and non-toxic wax. I also liked that the suppliers that I purchase soy wax from buys it from farmers here in the United States. I now came up with the wax, vessel and some fragrance oils to make some candles. But where do I sell them? I tried to sell on Etsy and a received a couple sales but I knew this was something I had to do face to face with people. I did a lot of research and applied to several farmer markets in my area. But at the time most farmer markets already had a vendor selling candles. This was the hardest part for me because I always try to do my best and being turned down, I took it personally every time. I was finally able to find a local farmer market and I was accepted. I start to network with other vendors about events. I found some other pop-up events and starting selling. My first farmer market didn’t work out so well because there weren’t enough people coming to buy. But I did learn so much from that experience. The evening Pop-up events were helpful and successful. Every customer I sold to or spoken to, I listen to what they would like to see or smell in a candle. I started to research other scents.
I have now over 40+ scented candles available on my website. I have changed a lot since I first started. I have changed the label, vessel and added a lot more scented candles to my line up.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Noreen and I am the owner and creator of Billi Kay Designs N Candles. I am a mother and wife. I also have a full-time job and do farmer markets too. I am a true candle lover. I was always buying and burning candles before I started making them. When I started to look into what harsh chemicals were put into the big box store candles, I was horrified. I couldn’t believe I have been burning these candles in my home since I was a teenage myself and now, I burned them with my own children around.
I started doing research all hours of the day and night to find out what is the best candle wax there is and still make it affordable for everyone. It’s really important to me to make my products affordable and non-toxic for customers. I know I am one of many that has a candle business but I really do put in the time, love and make sure my product is good in anyone’s home or office. The first time, I ordered my supplies and when that first fragrance oil bottle was delivered, I was hooked for many reasons. I had fun making them and my family enjoyed smelling all the fragrances. It calms me when I am making the candles. I have over 40+ scented candles available on my website and the local markets I set up at. We also have wax melts, room & linen spray, dough bowl candles and other exciting candle products coming this holiday season. I have taught myself to do so many things as a small business owner. I learn to set up a website. I taught myself how to take pictures of my product. I taught myself about social media. I am now permanently at 2 farmer markets that I sell at each week. I am at Phillippi Farmhouse Market in Sarasota, FL every Wednesday from 8am to 1pm from October to April. I am also at Venice Farmer Market in Venice, FL every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. I love being part of a farmer market family. We all look out for each other and support each other. It is an amazing feeling. You can also find my product on my website, www.BilliKay.com
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
I do sell online. I have my own website. www.BilliKay.com I have tried Etsy before but I think there are so many other sellers on that site that it makes it difficult to get customers to your store. When a customer search for soy wax candles they can see a ton of other sellers before they even see yours. I found that it is easier to set up your own website and advertise it on social media. I do believe that most of the time it is word of mouth to get people to your website. Candles are hard to sell online because everyone likes a different scent. When I created my own website, I had to learn a lot. It is something that takes time and I am always trying to update to look better.
Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?
I don’t really have any “death moments” stories. I do know what it is like having ideas of ways to grow my business but not having the funds in the account to do it. I also know what it feels like to go to event, pay for it and make very little amount of money at it. Those days really take a toll on you. You work so hard to have product and you have people coming over to see your product but then they walk away because they don’t have the money to spend on your product. And then you have days that people walk up to your booth and buy 4 candles because they loved them so much. Nobody really understands the hard work that it takes to set up for event unless you have done it yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BilliKay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BilliKayDesignsNcandles
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/BilliKayDesignsNcandles
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/billi-kay-designs-n-candles-bradenton