We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tyra Harper. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tyra below.

Hi Tyra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I chose the name ‘Color My Voice’ for my Open Mic because I believe that every artist, whether they’re a singer, rapper, or poet, has their own unique voice that they use to tell their stories. Just like a painter uses different colors to create a beautiful piece of art, an artist uses their voice to create a unique and memorable experience for their audience.

The phrase ‘color my voice’ also reminds me of the advice I received early on in my career to add more personality and flair to my performances. This advice resonated with me deeply. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and that through music, we can share those stories with the world. ‘Color My Voice’ is a commitment to using my/your own voice to tell stories in a way that is both authentic and inspiring.

And for my candle business “TyyRitas Aromas” it perfectly combines my stage name with the essence of my product. It’s memorable, unique, and directly related to what I offer.

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.

I started making candles four years ago during the pandemic. I knew that I had always wanted to be in the mental health field, but I just didn’t know where I would fit in, given that I’m not much of a talker. Which is ironic because I am a poet, host, and writer. I’ve always loved to write as well, but I knew nothing about the poetry world until 2023. I remember when I went to my first open mic, and I was the only poet who showed up. I also remember being the only person who showed up in the candle-making class right before I launched mine.

I feel like God has a way of putting me in spaces by myself just to give me confirmation that I am on the right path and this is what I am supposed to be doing in that season. My poetry space and candles make me feel like I have something to offer in the mental health field. Candles make people feel relaxed, and poetry spaces make people feel comfortable. Even as far as in my writing, even just speaking on something someone has been through, helps people not feel alone.

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?

I remember years ago, I needed to pay my rent and had to figure out how to flip what I had. I’m really good at flipping money, but honestly, this was the first time I really had to hustle, given that I was on a time crunch. I remember sitting myself down and asking how I could make some money. During this time, I wasn’t making or selling candles. So what I did was ask myself, ‘What else do you like?’ I love flowers, so what I did was buy a whole bunch of flowers from the grocery store and went to another store to buy some vases. I made my own flower arrangements and sold them to my coworkers. I remember carrying this heavy box for a week straight, selling to people. I even sold to people who lived in my building. I also ended up paying my rent.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Networking, attending events, and engaging with people online are all crucial strategies for building an audience and establishing yourself as an entrepreneur. Building an audience on social media requires a multifaceted approach. Networking and attending events is a great way to connect with like-minded people and potential customers. Engaging with people online through comments, messages, and social media groups can also help you build relationships and increase visibility.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: TyyRita / Color My Voice / TyyRitasAromas