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

Hi Shemeka, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most crucial lesson my career and running my business has taught me is that resilience is the key to overcoming challenges. Embracing setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow has been essential for long-term success.

What should our readers know about your business?
Be You Candles is candlelight meeting resilience. Born amidst the calm and chaos of the pandemic, our candles became the soothing companion for countless homes. Crafted with care and ignited by the spirit of hope, each candle is a testament to the strength found in simplicity.

Years later, Be You Candles has evolved into BYC Home Décor, a vibrant collaboration of infusing highly fragrant scents and design with curated accent pieces and decor, it expands the journey from candlelight to a holistic expression of personal style.

We are certified Black Owned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We are certified Woman owned by Supplier Gateway and was nominated for the 2023 Home Goods Business of the Year Award by non-profit organization, Buy From A Black Woman.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting for a week, I’d start by taking a quick flight to Napa Valley for a day of wine tasting and scenic vineyard views, if caught at the right time and booked early enough, a straight flight, round trip, is less than two hours away, leaving from LAX. We’d transition to Los Angeles for Hollywood glamour, exploring the Walk of Fame and Rodeo Drive and have dinner at Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine. I’d used another day to relax on Santa Monica Pier’s beach, then drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to witness Big Sur’s breathtaking coastline.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A big shoutout to Nikki Porcher, the incredible founder of Buy From A Black Woman! Your dedication to putting Black Women Business Owners on the map, opening opportunities, uplifting daily is truly inspiring and making a significant impact. Thank you for your tireless efforts in promoting Black Women’s economic empowerment and fostering a thriving community.

Website: https://www.beyoucandles.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyoucandle/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shemeka-wright/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShemekaWright

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bucandles/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChyTDH0BqQikLL3ug9sCNAQ

Other: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/beyoucandles TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shemeka_wright

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.