We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samara IVERY a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Samara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The vision for my business was implemented while on maternity leave after giving birth to my first son. Everyone states having a child changes you and I can agree to this. It helped me start thinking about a legacy I could leave behind. I never thought I would be a businesswoman. My expertise has always been in healthcare. That is my current career field & I have also attended college to accompany this field. Having my son has opened my eyes to a new light and the importance of finding my inner peace. This is how Just K’s Kandles & More was created. The “K” stands for my son & husband’s name “Kwmaine”. I got where I am today because of my support system which includes my husband, mom, sisters & close friends. They have helped me tremendously get through all the kinks.
Samara, 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 business is soy wax candle business. I currently sell scented candles, wax melts, room sprays & candle accessories . We also have coming soon are cocktails in a bottle. My dream in the future is to have a storefront shop one day. At Just Ks, we do private labeling and customized orders for weddings, engagement parties, birthdays and other businesses that like to give their customers a nice gift to leave with. What sets us apart from the rest is we sell aroma scented candles named after a cocktail or wine. I chose this route for my candle brand because most enjoy their time unwinding with their favorite cocktail or a glass of wine that’s where finding your inner peace comes into play. Like most, we all wear multiple hats in our everyday lives, but we sometimes tend to forget about ourselves or daily self-care. I’m hoping when a customer ignites one of my candles, they are reminded to take the time out to stop and smell the aroma and relax while reaching their inner peace after a long day or week. I am most proud of how far my brand has come compared to where I started from, this has inspired me to continue. Thanks to my customers for helping me accomplish my dreams. · Our mission is to EMPOWER self-care. There is nothing like having your favorite cocktail and unwinding from the world momentarily. Our cocktail collection aromas are uniquely tailored to encourage to embark on a self-care journey. Applying self-care to your daily routine will help you IGNITE YOUR INNER PEACE & be the best version of YOU!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
The road has not been smooth at all! With candle making, you go through months of testing different wax, wicks, and jars. I can’t count how many times I’ve changed my jar to match my vision/brand. During my beginning months, my candles didn’t smell as strong. Furthermore, the back-end details have not been the easiest. Keeping up with inventory, mileage, sale tax & the list goes on. The biggest struggle has been the pandemic because it has been so difficult to get supplies which require us to improvise, but I am forever grateful for this journey that I am on.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I am not the one to sit and read a book page to page but I do enjoy talking to other business owners and networking. I feel I get the most insight about the small business world through them. I never seem to be amazed of all the thing I still need learn about business. Honestly hearing other people struggles and how they push through gives me the motivation I need to stay motivated and keep a girl boss philosophy.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.justkskandlesandmore.org
- Instagram: @justkskandlesandmore
- Facebook: @justkskandlesandmore