Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Stineman.
Hi Maggie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started out making soy candles as an affordable way to feed my candle addiction. I am extremely sensitive to chemicals and additives and had to avoid candles until I discovered natural soy candles that were scented with essential oils. After spending several years purchasing all of our candles, my husband (an engineer) and I decided to try making our own as a way of saving some money. What I thought would be easy turned into endless hours of watching YouTube videos, countless how-to articles, and many failed attempts.. until we finally found the right formula for our candles. The rest is similar to many other business stories, soon friends and family started asking us to make candles for them. They started giving our candles as gifts and strangers were contacting us to make candles.. and so Georgia Rustics Candle Co was born. As a disabled Army Veteran, it’s difficult to work in a traditional workplace, Georgia Rustics allows me the freedom to have my own business and be involved in our community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
More times than not it seems like it’s been one step forward and two back.. but each time it’s been a learning experience.
For instance… The first struggle was determining the correct formula for a good, high-quality soy candle. What container to use, and what wick size (and type) is best? Which type of scent oil and mix ratio? What are the melt and pouring temperatures? Then you have to wait a couple of weeks to do test burns (and record all of this in a ledger book so you can determine what works and what doesn’t) That entire process is a huge exercise in patience 🙂
The other ongoing struggle is marketing. Most of our business has been built on word of mouth, along with some retail locations up in north Georgia. We attend many of the local Farmers’ and Holiday Markets and that was how we started to grow the business. We also have a website for online sales and that’s what we are currently trying to grow. We are in the process of trying to learn the ins and outs of social media marketing… It may seem like running your own business is a struggle at times, but its really just multiple opportunities to learn and grow.. its what keeps it exciting… most of the time 🙂
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a self-taught Chandler. I specialize in creating all-natural Soy wax candles and melts and have owned my own business, Georgia Rustics Candle Co, for about seven years. I’m extremely proud of the fact that most of our business has been built on customer referrals and word-of-mouth reviews and I think this is a testament to the love and attention we pour (pun intended 🙂 ) into our candles.
We are a disabled female veteran own and operated business. I think this tends to set us apart from many other boutique businesses.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Never be afraid to ask for help. In the beginning, I struggled with so many basic things trying to set up my business. Money was tight so hiring a consultant wasn’t an option. I belonged to a couple of Facebook groups and followed some people on social media and finally swallowed my pride and asked for help with some issues I was having. I was shocked at the support that I received the advice and offers for help. Despite all the bad press in the world today, people really do want to help each other.. we just have to ask.
Pricing:
- Eight ounce all natural Soy wax candles – $17.95
- All natural Soy wax melts – $5.95
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.georgiarustics.com/
- Instagram: georgia.rustics
- Facebook: facebook.com/georgiarustics
