Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayla Rodriguez.
Hi Shayla, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Deseos Candles Co was a simple dream, it was one of those things that you say “it would be so cool to “ but don’t actually go for it. I had been wanting to start a candle business since I was 15, it was a method I used growing up as an emotional stress reliever. Many people would see what I was creating and would always ask “how much”. I didn’t think people were actually serious, so I would always push it to the side. As time went by now in my 20’s, I went away for college to double major in Business Marketing and Political Science because I was attracted to helping other entrepreneurs manage their businesses, developing different strategies for businesses to flourish, there clearly was still a spark of having a business, something my older sister, Berenice saw.
Therefore for my 20’s birthday, she invested in my dream she bought me all my supplies to start this business, it meant the world to me because people believing in you like that is rare to find. I was scared. I was nervous that the business was going to fail, felt like if it failed it would be failing my sister too. I was also nerve-racking trying to figure out Deseos Candle Co-branding. I wanted to make sure this business was something I looked back in ten years and still love the branding it carries. I wanted a clean, elegant and modern look which was not easy, playing with colors, fonts and many other new tactics. Every time I make a candle I put in a lot of love because I want to make sure that our client feels it when they receive their orders. Deseos has thrived, it has given me the ability that I learn in the classroom to apply it to my business bringing a different level of passion into it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Many people who aren’t in this industry underestimate how hard to make a candle actually is, the shaping, the scent, and the many failed materials that it comes with it. It was a struggle to learn how to actually do a candle again since I had not done one for a very long time, sometimes the candle came back cracked, or sometimes even broken so all I had to was try over and over. Additionally, the money also spent in packaging, wax and molds is not a cheap process but at the end of the day, it is always worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
When I started Deseos Candles Co I committed myself to crafting candles that made individuals’ homes smell good but also make the client feel sexy, empowered, and elegant. We have a variety of candles, different body shapes and other home decor shapes. My biggest thing that I am proud of for Deseos is that we have an enhancement of body empowerment, each shape and gender is recognized in our business. Many candle businesses focus solely on the scent but what makes us apart is that there are different layers of focus such as scent, representations, shape, and quality. With that being said, just like we are committed to representation, quality is essential to us and that has been very challenging. I underestimated how hard it is to get a woman’s body out a candle mold, with one crack of the candle the candle is a sign of starting the candle all over, meaning we have to wait another 24 hours for the fresh new candle, which is not easy especially when we want to make sure our candles are at our client’s homes asap. This business has forced me to practice patience and gentleness, you can’t rush candle molding nor can you rush taking 50-plus candles out of their molds. Running a business is not easy especially when you are running each component of it, but completely worth it. I am super excited to announce that starting 2023, 10% of our monthly profits will go to The Body Positive Organization.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Patience. Something I have struggled a lot especially because I have seen other businesses blow up so quickly and I would compare myself asking why was I not blowing up as fast, I found myself comparing my work to others that have been in this industry for way longer but I have to always keep in mind that I am barely starting and make sure I am building relationships with each of my clients assuring their product comes out as they expect it to be
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deseoscandleco.myshopify.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deseoscandles/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeseosCandlesCompany
Image Credits
Shayla Rodriguez
