We were lucky to catch up with Trina Randall recently and have shared our conversation below.

Trina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Wow!! Where to start!! Back in 2021 I was working for children`s social services. This was a job I had done for 10 years. The stories I could tell you!!
I loved my job. I loved helping and supporting people. I worked with a really amazing team who were friends as well as team mates. Things were really good.

As much as I loved the job, it also at times took its toll on my own mental well being. In the ten years I had been there I had suffered a number of mental health breakdowns which I had never experienced before in my life. I was feeling depressed and suffered with high anxiety. I made a positive come back each time. I had amazing support from my partner and my children who kept me going. I found things that worked for me such as walking, going to the gym and reading and I did decide to go on medication for extra support. I was keen to get back on track and get back to doing the job I loved.

Towards the end of 2021, we were now fully coming out of lock down, work and life was returning back to the new normal. Things in life were changing. I felt something in me was not feeling right. I was crying every day, I would return home from work and sit and cry for hours. My anxiety was in full force and I was going completely down hill. Nothing that I would normally do to support my well being was working and I didn`t know what to do. I felt that life was not worth it if this was how I would feel all the time. I knew I had to go to see my GP. My GP is amazing. He listens and really cares. I was signed off work and started to take medication again.

I was finding it really hard to leave the house. I would pace for hours before getting myself out the front door! I would not go out for days!

One day I was scrolling on social media. I saw a article about candles. I stopped and thought candles, I can make candles. So off I went to amazon and ordered some candle making kits.

I was so excited when they arrived. I felt a light had turned on inside me. I made the candles and I felt so proud of myself. It reminded me how creative I use to be. I became obsessed. I then started looking for candle making classes, wholesalers, you tube videos. I felt more content then I had in a long time. I ordered lots of stuff and started to experiment It was so much fun. I felt like my old self again.

Time was going by and I had been off work for some time. It was approaching time where I was starting to think about going back. Every time I thought about it- I went 100 steps backwards. My anxiety would be awful, I would have panic attacks, This had not happened before- normally I would be really keen to get back to work and continue my job which I once loved.

I knew something had to change. I thought about leaving- but thought what else would I do? As the only adult in my home- How would I pay all the bills? Could I take the risk in leaving my full time job?

It was coming closer to returning to work- my mind and heart were telling me it was not the right decision for me. I spoke to my partner and my children and decided that it was time for me to hand in my notice and start a new chapter in my life. And you know what?- when I handed in my notice it felt like a weight had been lifted. I felt so happy, it was definitely the right time for me to go. But what would I do to pay the bills? I knew what ever I did it had to be something that is good for my well being. Our mental health is so important and we only get one life.

So I took the risk!! I decided I was going to set up my own candle making business. Some of my friends thought I was crazy, some were really supportive. So I threw myself in to it. I created a range of candles. One of the first scented candles I made was wild mint. Mint is good for reducing stress. My next candles was lavender chamomile and vanilla which are all scents for helping to feel calm and relaxed.

I was making candle and testing candles everyday and I loved it!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Im a single mum to two amazing children. My son is 17 and my daughter is 23. My daughter really empowered me to set up my own business. She has her own successful business.

My children help me alot with my business. They like to test candles for me, help me try out different scents and waxes. They often help out at events too. They also liked to help with designing my logo.
I needed a business name. I wanted a name with meaning. My business is called Lelowa as these are the initials in my daughters name. I love telling people why my business is called Lelowa candles.

I wanted to create a feeling of relaxation, happiness and enjoyment when people see, smell and take my candles home. It makes me so happy when Is see people smile when they see my stall at a market or fair. A smell can bring back a million memories. I love when people smell the candles and they tell me stories of something it reminds them of.

I feel so proud of myself and how far I have come. I love running my own business. I also love to speak to and empower people who are thinking about setting up their own business. People ask me if I did the right thing in leaving my 9-5 job. My answer is always yes!! My mental well being is the best it has been in a long time. I work hard, but at my own pace. I get much more time with my children.

I have expanded my range of products. I made hand made vegan and crulty free candles, wax melts, diffusers and pillar candles.
I am always thinking about what Id like to do next. As candle making really helped with my own mental health. I would love to set up candle making sessions in the hope it can also help other people.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Wanting to start a business in one thing. But how do you start and fund a business when you have no money!!

A good friend of mine got me a book called `start with gratitude` a few years ago. I was writing in it everyday, the things I was thankful for, the things that made me smile that day. It really helped my mind to stay positive. Im a big believer in being positive and it come back around to you.

I had been writing in my book for a few weeks, and magic things just started to happen. One amazing thing that happened was a letter in the post from my bank. They had over charged me on my credit card for years and were going to give me the money back.

This was amazing and this helped to start up my business. At first I did make mistakes. I brought things I did not need, I was testing a lot of items at once. I was using expensive wholesalers. I was spending a lot of money on packaging. But as a business we are always learning.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

Last summer a good friend of mine sent me a link to apply for a pop up stall in Westfield shopping centre White City. This was amazing!! I remember looking at it for ages thinking – I cant do this, Im new in this small business world, I doubted myself thinking me and my products were not good enough for Westfield!! I looked at the event so many times before I booked 3 days at the pop up. I said to myself I had to try, I had to put myself out there.

So the day arrived when I rocked up at Westfield shopping centre with my little trolley and my stock. “Hi im Trina my business Lelowa candles” I was greeted by two lovely ladies who said they recognized me from my intagram, I could tell they were nervous too! I was so scared!! I was shown to my stall and I set up my lovely colourful scented stall. I would spend the next 10 hours at this pop up with people I had never met before and was hoping people would stop and like my items.

I had a great day. I met some amazing people. I made sales. I gained new followers on instagram. People were liking my stuff!!! I was so happy. I then ended up taking on more days at the Westfield pop up. Instead of 3 days, I ended up doing about 9. I loved being there.

I have now been to the pop up by I do hand made pop up and number of times. It has really helped build my clients, build my social media and I have met lots of new friends, we support and help each other. We have become a small team. Having your own business can be isolating, but having these small business friends, you never feel lonely.

When at events, its really important to make connections with people. You never know where it may lead!!      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lelowacandles.com
• Instagram: Lelowa_candles
• Facebook: Lelowa candles
• Other: Tiktok: @lelowa_candles