We were lucky to catch up with Tina Renee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

When it comes to asking friends and family to “support my business”, I have one rule – I DON’T! Everyone in my circle is fully aware that I am a Candle Maker, and although I hope and pray that they will have a willingness to promote and support my brand, it is not expected.
The unfortunate reality is that most of a small business’s support will come from complete strangers. And although it may seem harsh to accept, most people who personally know you do in fact have a hard time accepting that their support could potentially be the cause of your success.
I have learned that I cannot count my business out simply because close friends, family, and acquaintances choose not to support me.

As a passionate small business owner, it is vital that we understand that the world is filled with strangers, who can’t wait to buy your products, tell their friends and family to check out your brand, and rave all over the internet about our small business – Trust Me!
The interesting thing about support is that it typically never comes from within until it starts to come from the outside.
God will place your products and services directly in front of whomever they need to be placed in front of! TRUST THE PROCESS!

Tina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Candle Making was not an initial passion of mine, in fact, it started as a hobby. After discovering how exciting it was to create my very own line of signature candles, candle-making developed into a true desire to turn my craft into a career. Growing up in the small town of Trumann Arkansas, my mother and father always kept me involved with local programs like Girl Scouts and 4H Clubs, so having that artesian spirit was always kind of kindled within me from a very young age.

I made my very first candle in 2017, and here we are, six years later – Whiffs on Wheels is operating as a full-service vegan candle brand. Last year we started offering our mobile candle-making parties to the Southern California region, and the support has been overwhelming! Our customers truly love that they can enjoy a fun and educational crafting experience from the comfort of their very own spaces. At one point, I despised not having a brick-and-mortar for my customers to come and enjoy their candle-making, but after hearing my customers’ feedback, I am so glad God made me wait and ultimately changed my entire game plan.

When our customers purchase our candles or book parties with us, they are not only purchasing quality, but they are pouring into a brand that seeks to one day be able to provide educational and employment opportunities to individuals who have all too often been overlooked by society. I personally understand the disparities that come with wage gaps, and Whiffs on Wheels wants to be one of the many companies helping to bridge those gaps.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Being consistent is by far my most effective tool for growing my business. Being a “no-name” makes it extremely difficult to generate sales and even more importantly, retain sales – Being consistent in my business builds trust and it shows current and potential customers how serious I am about my passion. Consistency is an important business strategy, especially at a time when people demand reassurance due to all the scams that are thriving.

I understand that growing my clientele is so much more than just social media posts, it must be in everything that I do and every interaction that I have with my customers. Maintaining consistency in my product formulation and service generates trust and demonstrates professionalism to my customers. If I start delivering late or if my quality diminishes, those inconsistencies will affect my business’s reputation, customer perception, and overall retention.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Effective communication is key to managing a team! An employee should feel comfortable asking questions and speaking up, if they are made to feel like their voice does not matter, their morale will be affected. At Whiffs on Wheels, we are a tiny team, but each voice is valued!
I come from the corporate world, so I know firsthand what it is like to have a demeaning and condescending boss – It’s not fun. Alongside having an open line of communication, I make sure to foster a culture that encourages employee feedback. Asking my team what their likes and dislikes are shows that I truly care and them and in turn boosts and maintains high morale.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.whiffsonwheels.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiffsonwheels/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@whiffsonwheels
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/whiffs-on-wheels-los-angeles

Image Credits
D. Kay Smith