Meet Sharon Stewart: Luxury Candle Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sharon Stewart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sharon, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My creative nature has allowed me to always find something to produce with little effort. I started making candles and developing fragrances during the weekends and offered my candles as gifts to friends and family. They became very popular and gradually I began to receive orders. It was at this time that I felt I should take what I have enjoyed doing for many years and turn it into a business. I also wanted to demonstrate to my daughters that entrepreneurship is far more rewarding than being an employee. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Good quality candles are expensive and many of the commercial brands contain toxins and pollutants. I wanted to create something that was vegan, natural and burn more cleanly. So I researched the different waxes in the market and decided that in order to achieve an all natural product I would use soy wax made from soy beans. Through trial and error, I was able to create a beautiful product that I am very proud of. The fragrances used are developed to conjure up feelings and emotions of moments in one’s life. The most popular fragrance is Happy Moments, which is created with caramel, coconut, vanilla and maple. The fragrance enhances your senses and reminds you of your happy moments in life. I have a a masters degree in public administration and have found that my education strengthened my resolve for detail, consistency and focus. These attributes are necessary when starting a new project as it will take time and patience to achieve the outcome you desire. Setting up the company was relatively easy, however gaining customers took time. In order to overcome this challenge, many hours were placed in marketing strategies, such as social media platforms, also attending numerous craft fairs, farmers markets and summer festivals. The results materialized and our return customer base has increased tremendously. One of the lessons I have learned, is that there is a space for everyone. When I first discussed my idea with friends, there was some discouraging voices, stating that there are too many candle companies how are you going to be successful? I had to learn to silence these voices and keep focused on my vision because there is a space for everyone in the market if you are willing to put in the work. Its not easy to start something from scratch but it is so rewarding when success comes to fruition. You can be assured, that if you purchase a product from Judie’s Story, it will have been made to the highest quality and with love.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I was born in England and my family visits often, primarily for the weather, lol, but one of the best places they like to visit is Venice Beach. They love the sights and sounds of the performers, characters, restaurants and of course the beach. My personal favorite places are always museums and restaurants. The Getty Museum and the Getty Villa are always full of beautiful and interesting exhibits. I love Italian food and always search for different ones around the city. My current favorite Italian restaurant is Colapasta in Santa Monica. Los Angeles is so diverse, so whatever your tastes are, you will find something to satisfy your pallet.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person who supported and still supports in every endeavor throughout my life, has been my mother. No matter what wild idea I had, she encouraged me to try and if I did not succeed then I should try again. Its important to have people in your life that uplift, empower and love you. It’s important to have people in your life that support you when dealing with the successes and the failures in life.

Website: www.judiesstory.com
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Twitter: @judies_story
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