We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Valen Elaine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Valen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

As a small business owner who handcrafts all my own products, the biggest challenge to profitability is scalability. When you’re making everything yourself, there’s only so much you can produce in a day, and your time is directly tied to your income. Unlike mass produced goods, where you can increase production with automation, handmade businesses are limited by the creator’s time, energy, and resources.

Last year was hard for a lot of small business owners like myself, customers weren’t shopping small as much, and because of that, I felt I had to compete even more with big box companies. When you’re making everything yourself, you will never be able to produce a product that can compete (price wise) with something you can get at corporate store like Walmart or Target. Material costs fluctuate, shipping prices keep rising, and marketing takes time and money. It’s a constant balancing act between charging enough to make a profit but not so much that customers won’t buy.

The dream is to grow without losing the quality and personal touch that makes handmade products special. But figuring out how to do that is where the real challenge lies.

Valen, 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?

Who we are:
Hi, I’m Valen, a creator making unique, handmade goodies that bring a little joy, self care, and magic into everyday life.
My mother (business partner) Toby, offers intuitive tarot readings that are guided by 35+ years experience reading, her readings can turn the most skeptic into a believer!

How it started:
My mom and I always talked about starting a business together, and in 2022, we finally did it. I create handcrafted self care products and art, while she shares her intuition and tarot wisdom. Together, we make things that help people feel good, whether it’s through a cozy candle, a funny sticker, or a tarot reading that just clicks.

We offer:
Crystal embedded, pet safe, skin safe candles Hand poured in cement vessels I make or thrifted glass jars (because sustainability matters).

Whipped soap: Fun, skin loving, and packed with personality.

Body positive art prints: Self-love and representation matter.

Quirky and funny stickers: Because everyone needs a little humor.

Handmade jewelry: Unique pieces for self-expression.

Intuitive tarot readings: Toby helps bring clarity and insight.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

For us, the best source of new clients has been a mix of word of mouth, social media, and in person events.

Nothing beats happy customers telling their friends and family about our products and my mom’s tarot readings. People love to share things that feel special and personal, and our community has been amazing at spreading the word.

Platforms like Instagram have helped us reach people who connect with our vibe. Whether it’s showing off a new candle, sharing behind the scenes chaos, or posting relatable art and stickers, social media has been huge help for us even though I’m absolutely terrible at it.

Meeting people face to face at local markets has been a game changer. People get to see, smell, and touch our products (which makes a big difference), and Toby’s tarot readings are always a hit in person. Plus, these events help us build real relationships with our customers.

Honestly, the biggest key has been staying authentic and having fun, when people see that we genuinely love what we do, they want to be part of it!

How did you build your audience on social media?

My audience might not be huge yet, but it’s growing little by little every day, and that’s what matters to me. I’ll be honest, I’m still learning the ropes of the business side of social media, and I’m not always the most polished, but I focus on making every post reflect my love and passion for what we do. It’s less about perfection and more about connecting with people who vibe with our journey and what we’re creating.

For anyone just starting to build their social media presence, my advice is: don’t worry about being perfect, just be real. Share your process, your struggles, your wins, and the things that make your brand unique. People connect with authenticity, so let your passion shine through. Engage with your community, reply to comments, and don’t be afraid to show behind the scenes moments, those are the things that make people feel like they’re part of your journey. Stay consistent, have fun with it, and trust that the right people will find you.

Contact Info:

• Website: under construction
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manichabit/