Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Levis.
Michele, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My fun adventure started in 2011 while my husband, Kyle, and I were rock shopping for our backyard patio. I fell crazy in love with a candle idea I saw, and my dream began! Experimenting with a little creativity and a lot of love for rocks, I created a very unique small business crafting rock candles. My prior business degree and work experience were very helpful in setting up the company, and my very handy husband was a huge help with the manufacturing. Our daughter and son came up with the company name and logo. I was inspired by the Christian song “This Little Light of Mine” and the Bible verse John 8:12 that kept popping up in my mind. They’re the key parts of our name and logo, and a reflection of our faith.
Has it been a smooth road?
My adventure has been both fun and challenging. The hardest part for me has been juggling both work and family while finding a healthy balance that includes personal and spiritual time as well. Finding and maintaining balance is so challenging in today’s busy world. Many women are very creative, strong, and capable with college degrees and a desire for a career, but still, have the home and children to care for. Another big challenge is starting a company in a world with such a high rate of small businesses that fail within the first few years. Taxes and expenses make it almost impossible.
I’m so very grateful for the support I’ve had and the ability to work from home, give back to the community, and remain successful. My husband and I enjoy time together making candles and meeting friends and interesting people at craft shows. The best part is working with different rocks outdoors while listening to music with Beakster, my little green parrot and business associate. I absolutely love what I do, so the struggles are all worth it!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Light of Mine Rock Candles story. Tell us more about the business.
My company makes and sells beautiful oil-burning candles, handcrafted from a large variety of rocks, fossils, and minerals. These rock candles are a unique and versatile home and garden décor. They’re also perfect as a gift because each comes as a kit with everything needed. We sell them online and at craft shows, or customers can call and order any time.
As the company grew we became more efficient, adapted our equipment, created new products such as our flaming boulder torches, glass votives to shield the flames, and bling candles with genuine Swarovski crystals. We also became a distributor of Firefly Fuels, selling their clean-burning fuels for indoor use, and fuels with citronella and eucalyptus for outdoor mosquito control.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
* Square app for processing credit cards
* ConstantContact.com for email marketing
* KSBJ Christian radio phone app for contemporary Christian music
Pricing:
- Single Wick Rock Candle ($49) -our best-seller
- Double Wicks to 6-Wick Candles ($59 – $149)
- Fossil, gems, minerals, petrified wood, & Honeycomb Calcite candles (prices vary)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lightofminerockcandles.com
- Phone: 281-795-4210
- Email: rockcandles@outlook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightofminecandles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rock.Candles
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