Today we’d like to introduce you to Juanita Rodriguez.
Hi Juanita, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was a new mom desperate to find new meaning in my life. I had just been through so much change in such a short amount of time – new job, new home, new car (bye bye two door coupe), and now a new baby. Did I mention during the pandemic too?! I remember playing with my daughter, Lily, and the thought of making candles popped in my head. I had this idea a few years prior but never pursued it. When the thought of candle making popped into my head this time around, I decided I was not going to put it in the back burner of my brain again. I started researching all about candle making. Finally, I bit the bullet and decided to purchase my first set of supplies. I went through so much trial and error and realized how much time is put into candle making. There is so much testing and science behind it! I almost gave up but continued to push. After so many trial and errors, I decided to gift them to close family and friends. They were a hit! From here is when I decided to turn this little hobby into a business in which I launched January 2021. My daughter was a big push for pursuing this dream and hence the name Wax and Lily Candle Co. – Lily, after my daughter.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road! I love making candles but the testing process can be so tricky. There are many types of wicks out there and not one wick fits all. There’s math and science behind creating candles and making sure you have constant variables during your testing is important as well. Each fragrance oil that I use requires testing and sometimes its multiple rounds of trials. Additionally, time management can be a challenge – working full time, being a mom, home duties, and being a new business owner can be overwhelming. When I became a business owner, I felt the need to be working on my business all the time which lead to burn out. I’ve come to learn how to better balance my time in regards to any responsibilities I need to to uphold and most importantly, making time to practice self care.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Wax and Lily Candle Co. is a handcrafted candle business out of St. Cloud, Florida. It’s run by me, Juanita, a new mom and new business owner. In the corporate world I specialized in quality assurance and I definitely strive to do the same with my products. Each candle is made with love, quality, and precision. This business is known for high quality candles but with a minimalist style.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Take your time! Take time in research, take time in your testing process, and take time for yourself!
Contact Info:
- Email: waxandlily@gmail.com
- Website: www.waxandlily.com
- Instagram: @waxandlily
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waxandlily
Image Credits
Shelby Wright (Shelby Wright Photography)
