We were lucky to catch up with Sherise Vargas recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sherise, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
With a little help of my loved ones, once I knew I wanted to start my candle business we all started brainstorming. Long story short being Dominican-American I knew I wanted to include my culture in my brand. Growing up we always spoke Spanglish (Spanish and English mixed) the name La Lu is slang for saying La Luz which means “The Light” in Spanish. In these dark times we wanted to give our community a little light with every purchase of La.Lu Candles & Co.
Sherise, 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 Sherise and I am the creator of La.Lu Candles & Co. My journey started in 2020 during the middle of the pandemic. My passion for crafting/ DIY and my love for candles pushed me to research how to make my own candle. We make 100% Soy wax Candles among other candles accessories like car diffusers, Linen/ Room Sprays, Macrame Coaster and concrete trays. All of our products are made with all natural ingredients. Our candle brand is inspired by a minimalist bohemian style that I believe fits in anyones home.
We always get customers that get allergies or have difficulties breathing when burning store bought candles. I always let my customers know that I also do suffer from really bad allergies and since my candles are made with all natural ingredients I can still enjoy a strong candle in my home. I am most proud of my growth since I started, every year that has passed gets better and better. I am always learning new things to improve my brand and remain a student. The main thing I would like my potential client/ followers to know is that I now have a greater purpose in life thanks to them. My clients are the ones that keep me going and I will always be eternally grateful.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
As I previously mention I started La.Lu Candles in the middle of the pandemic. After being a hotel concierge for 5 years, like a lot of us, I lost my job due to Covid- 19. While unemployed I took advantage of the time and extra funds to start a business instead of going to Mexico LOL.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Since my brand is a online store the best way to source new clients is by participating in local pop up events or local markets. For me growing my business strictly on social media and my website was not enough. I started searching for local pop ups in my neighborhood and found so many that help small businesses like mine to grow. Thanks to these pop ups and local markets I meet new clients and grow my following on social media.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lalucandles.com
- Instagram: @lalucandles
- Other: tiktok: @lalucandles
Image Credits
Daniel Alcantara