Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Driessen.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, I have always been a hidden artist. From music to crafting to photography, I have dabbled in all forms of art. I always knew that eventually, I would start a business around a form of art but never in a million years did I think I would have a candle company. Naturally, I move to the beat of my own drum and the traditional 9-5 irked me to my core. At the time, that MaeRose and Co. were thought of, I was very unhappy work wise and I had also just passed my real estate exams to sell real estate. During this stressful time, I needed an additional relief, a creative outlet, so I tried candle making. It was then that I fell completely in love with the process. Once I got the craft down, I turned it into a business and MaeRose & Co. was born.
Great, 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?
It has not been a smooth road. Coming from a single parent household I developed a grind early on. I got my first job when I was 14 and have worked ever since. I had my first child during my senior year in college and refused to drop out. I finished college on time (Go Dawgs!) and went to work in corporate America to make ends meet. Fast forward to launching MaeRose & Co., I did not have the capital or money so this company was completely bootstrapped. I definitely wanted to give up, but the way I am wired that was just not an option. Everything I have today has been earned through blood sweat tears and unbreakable perseverance.
MaeRose & Co. – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
MaeRose & Co. is a candle company that was built on a family legacy of strong women who endured and overcame some of the most difficult situations. When I decided to launch MaeRose & Co. I knew I wanted to honor my maternal bloodline but I also knew I wanted to bring awareness to mental health in women. So often women have to be “strong” and endure things while pushing their feelings aside. Actually, I was in a pretty dark place mentally when I thought of MaeRose & Co. Women have so many life roles to maintain and with the whole “stay strong” narrative women deal with anxiety, depression, postpartum depression and so much more. The name MaeRose came to be as “Mae” is the middle name of my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother while “Rose” symbolizes balance, strength, and hope. The “Co.” is short for the company, which signifies the large group of women who need a reminder that they are not alone. Being that this company is being built on such strong values makes me proud to call it my own.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
So far, my proudest moment is being apart of the RAW artist Showcase on June 27th in Atlanta. A RAW artist showcase is an event where artists of all kind come together and put their art on display. The artist is selected by the RAW team and this year they reached out to me to be featured as one of the artists in the showcase. I am able to introduce MaeRose & Co. to thousands of people in one place as well as travel to another RAW showcase in another city. It’s a bit nerve racking but it’s so exciting.
Pricing:
- 4 oz candles – $10
- 9 oz candles – $15
- 12 oz men’s candles – $18
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maeroseandco.com
- Email: hello@maeroseandco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maeroseandco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maeroseandco/
Image Credit:
Calven Mitchell
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