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

Hi Ogi, thanks for joining us today. Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?

Like most businesses, I started out as a solopreneur. For me, this part of the journey was the hardest. You have this amazing idea and you are more than excited about it, but there is no one to share that excitement with. It can be the loneliest feeling and truly disheartening. This is the time in your entrepreneurial journey that you learn what you are truly made of. It’s the time to put everything you have into your idea and master the art of manifestation. I quickly realized that my dreams and passions were my own. Believing in those dreams, that’s the only way to get others on board to do so as well.

While you are flying the plane solo, it’s the perfect time to create a map to success. I would often carve out time from my day to think about the future. What will my business need and where would it be in 5 years, 10 years or 20 years from now. If I had unlimited resources, what type of talent would I need. What roles would they play and how could I create a culture that would not only provide them with a paycheck, but enrich them to be better people and impact their lives in a positive way. Once the foundation is set, building the team of your dreams becomes something that you look forward to. You’ll know all the attributes that are warranted and you’ll be clear and concise with expectations which can only set your talent up for success.

I posted job postings on LinkedIn, Indeed, Zip Recruiter and even Craigslist. Honestly, I didn’t get the responses that I hoped for. I decided to switch it up and write job postings in a personal and conversational way. Talking to the prospective candidate as if we were acquainted and had many things in common. I decided to speak from the heart and express not only want I wanted, I spoke of what my business needed. This was a total game changer. Our interviews were purposeful, uplifting and fun. Our hiring process became less of a process and more of a “let’s get to know each other” process, which was more in depth. Prospective talent interviews, attends a free candle making session and is invited to have lunch with the entire team BEFORE making a decision on if they’d like to work with us. Once they have made a decision, we then make a decision a unified team decision. If we decide to move forward, an offer is submitted to the talent. Everyone loves the fact that they play a role in procuring new team members.

Every month, I ask Team Members to tell me what they love about working for our company. I recently got this reply from one of our Senior Sales Representative, Evan Mink.

“The culture at Above Average is unparalleled to any other business I have worked for. Everyone on the team brings their own unique talents and special light to the environment that creates a strong undercurrent of respect, accountability, empathy, and inspiration. Our founder and owner, Ogi, without a doubt, has curated this atmosphere in an effort that has enabled the spectacular growth and nourishment of Above Average DIY Candle Studio and the Mobile Candle Bar. As an employee and member of the team here at Above Average, it is without a doubt that I leave each engagement feeling rejuvenated and inspired. What makes Above Average so special is that this feeling I have, I know is resonated throughout the business with each employee and even more so, the contagion spreads to each and every loyal customer that has and will have the opportunity to engage with us here at Above Average Candle Studio.”

This is proof that sometimes you bring unconventional elements to your recruiting/training processes and get unconventionally amazing results. Continue to think outside the box, in ALL AREAS of your business! Here’s to the “sweet smell” of your success!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Ogi Merzier-Emiabata is the Owner/Founder of Above Average DIY Candle Studio. A creative space that is much more than making candles. In fact, candle making is the bait to get you there! Upon arrival you may miss the Residential Garden Level, cozy and intimate studio, located in Chicago’s North Park neighborhood. One step inside Above Average, you instantly feel the comforts of a safe place. If packed to the brim, on any given Friday/Saturday night, one class can host up to 12 Couples. With 5-7 classes per day, the studio can easily see up to 170 people per day or 84 Couples.

A true lover of fragrance, Ogi Merzier-Emiabata launched Above Average Candle Studio in 2021 with the goal of creating connections to help heal others (and herself) after the world wide pandemic. A previous retail Store Manager for fragrance brands giants, Bath & Body Works and UK Based The Body Shop, Merzier-Emiabata is a certified perfumer, artist and established Entrepreneur. A lifelong Chicagoan, hailing from the city’s East Garfield Park neighborhood, she was one of the first to open a hands on candle making experience in Chicago. Featured on WGN Channel 9 Day Time Chicago, WTTW’S Black Voices Tonight and The Roku Channel’s/CBS’S Destination Chicago, she has big plans for her company More Than Average LLC which includes creating scentsational experiences all across the world!

Partnerships with popular local social media influencers and online event marketplaces Groupon, Fever Inc. and Eventbrite often lead to sold out or overbooked classes & workshops. Merzier’s “love conquers all” mindset has paved the way for a soon to be 7 figure business that doesn’t sell candles, but DOES sell memorable connections.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Currently my business has been bootstrapped thus far by ME! I actually went back into Retail Management to earn capital for my business. What began as a hobby was quickly turning into something much bigger at a faster rate than I had anticipated. I have no regrets. If working for someone else is what you have to do to fund your business DO IT! This journey has taught me to be extremely purposeful and diligent with time management and it was the catalyst to propel me to hire. Commitments to my 9-5 day job meant that I could not be at or in my business 24/7 – 365. Now that we are in the process of acquiring funding it’s comforting to know that the business does not need me in the day to day operations. In fact, we’ve built a culture around less time equals more money. Our talent will never have to give 40 hours weekly to make a competitive and fair salary because when we do work we work for the bigger picture.

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

Originally the goal was to own a Doggie Day Care in the space that I leased. We got our business license in March of 2020 when no one needed a Doggie Day Care. This forced a pivot. I knew that I wanted to have a successful business. Rather than sulk in the fact that I cleared out my 401k to start this amazing hobby business that could not survive, I immediately started to think of the future, my talents and skills and what I could offer the world. Creativity is the catalyst for everything good (in my opinion) and after much thought and reflection, I came up with the idea to host creative do it yourself workshops that would help people connect. Pivots are great opportunities to enrich us personally or professionally. I’m super grateful for each and every bump in the road!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aboveaveragecandlestudio.com
• Instagram: @aboveaveragecandlestudio
• Facebook: @aboveaveragecandlestudio
• Linkedin: @aboveaveragecandlestudio / @ogimerzieremiabata
• Yelp: @aboveaveragecandlestudio
• Other: www.themobilecandlebar.com – www.feedtheromance.com – www.curatedbycupid.com