Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Teal.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m Brandi, the owner & chandler of Brandi’s Candles— the highest quality squeaky clean candles out there, that I custom mix and hand-pour in small batches in Montgomery, TX. I am also a wine consultant for a winery in Napa that had me at “no-headache-wine.” It’s my favorite wine, and you can try it from the comfort of your home!
What’s my story? I really love candles, and scent, and warmth, and natural living.
In the very beginning, 25+ years ago, I spent more of my allowance on candles at the mall candle store than I did on candy, toys, or clothes. True story. I’ve loved scent and creating a cozy living space from a very young age. And I didn’t really realize that about my childhood until recently when I was trying to remember when I fell in love with candles and home decor… I couldn’t pinpoint the beginning!
Fast forward— when we all began to realize the dangers of what we blindly use in our homes, I made the switch to soy candles. But they either weren’t as strongly scented as I like, or they had toxic scent despite the soy wax, or they were dyed (I like a natural cream candle), or they had an ugly label… they just weren’t ever quite right! A friend of mine found some AMAZING candles that we loved, but the maker was a little unreliable, so sometimes we could get them and sometimes not. One day he asked if we’d like to know how to make them, and we said YES, yes, yes. With that kick-start + some refining tweeks, I soon had perfect candles that I have continued to make for these few years for myself & friends.
Professionally, I have been a CT radiographer and worked in medicine up until June of this year, 2017. It was a very interesting job that I really enjoyed, but I craved freedom. Freedom for adventure in the structure of my life and freedom to make a true, although tiny, impact in healthcare by providing a product that aligns with clean preventative living. That’s when I thought… let’s see if more than just my friends like these candles. So with a little leap, the business began.
Now a few months in, the wine has been added, because… wine not? 😉 I do consult and in-home wine tastings for a winery in Napa. Any reason to have friends over, taste artisan wine, and shop the candles! I don’t have a storefront, nor do I intend to in the foreseeable future, so this is a great way to provide customer access to my candles and celebrate friends. I love to collaborate with other local businesses to add workshops: beauty/spa, massage, essential oils, calligraphy, floral arranging, jewelry making, etc.
So where did I get the name, Brandi’s Candles? Extremely creative, I know I know. I believe in simplicity, so as the design of the candles. I’m Brandi, and these are the candles I make!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Everyone says the first year in business is hard, and I would not disagree with that! However, I think that I’ve had it pretty good. I feel like I’ve made some solid decisions, and I’ve met some incredible people that have been invaluable to my business moving forward.
Sound instinct and the kindness of strangers have smoothed a potentially rocky road for me, and that alone has restored my faith in humanity and the joy I believe we are meant to be working for. If operating in the black is the cake… finding purpose and peace in the work you do is the icing. Or maybe it’s the other way around? I don’t know, but they are both equally delicious.
I am however writing this on a good unstressed day at the end of a delightfully productive week! I did just lose my studio space in December. With 3 weeks notice. In the midst of my busiest time of year. That wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t terrible either. I transitioned back to my home setup pretty easily, made some changes, and can only accelerate forward!
My biggest issue has been finding my process, figuring out how to shut the work off, sorting through the good ideas / bad ideas, and finding materials for those ideas, and then remembering I’ve got to actually make some money doing this, so I’ve got to find a profit margin, etc! General creative and organizational growing pains. When this would cause undeniable stress (manifesting as insomnia, muscle twitching, breakouts… you know, when your body outright screams at you), I’d consider how easy it would be to go back to radiology.
There are jobs, and the pay is good, and I can do CT’s in my sleep after doing it for so long. It would sound SO GOOD some days to make “work” easy again. I work a shift and then come home and not have to think about it until the next shift. I would think, “No, stick with it one more month. I’ve got enough money for one more month.” So I would, and I did, and at the end of that month, I’d have enough for another. I’ve done this seven times now, and I’m still here, on into the new year!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Brandi’s Candles – what should we know?
I make soy candles. They say they are the best candles ever. Who are “they”? Don’t worry about that, haha! Friends and family all know that I am pretty passionate about natural living. Clean eating, clean products. They also know that I like fancy things! Not in a branding/expensive/glitz & glamor way. I just don’t like junk. Quality > quantity. I expect things to work and thrive in simplicity. Thus, the design of my candles!
So first, they must not be carcinogenic! My products are non-toxic, phthalate-free, natural soy wax, with lead-free wicks.
Next, we tackle quality. They burn slow & thoroughly, and I make that scent STRONG. No skimping there! And no fake-smelling scents either. I don’t really know how to describe it, other than some scents just smell cheap and chemically… I don’t use those.
Simplicity by footprint: We have too many materials in our lives and so much is wasted. The glass is a tumbler and washes out clean. It’s meant to be reused in your home! Also, my packaging is a handkerchief wrap. So many fun ways to re-use it as well! And no labels. I’ve been trying to figure out how to eliminate sticker labels since the beginning, and I finally have it! My business card now doubles as the label (it’s held on by the tie of the hankie-wrap packaging). If someone makes a great product in the USA, that’s what I’m using! Glass, scent, wicks, soy… it’s all here.
Simplicity by design: Again, no label! I just love the clean simple look of un-dyed cream wax in a sleek glass. What more do you need?!
Well, sometimes you need to customize for more personal gifting/marketing, so I do offer “greeting lids.” These are hand-painted messages (happy birthday, thank you, etc) on metal lids that can be added any candle. For marketing/business gifting they can be customized to your business! And yes, I said hand-painted. Local artist, HELMS Design hand writes each one. They are beautiful!
I unintentionally specialize in scent design. It started with my inability to say no and avoid complicated projects. Someone would say, “I love the ____ scent from ____. Do you make anything like that? Can you make it for me?” Well, of course, I can! (Wait, can I?). I got to mixing, and I must say, I have a knack for it! And it’s so fun! That led to creating signature scents for retailers, then lead to “why can’t everyone have their own scent?!” So now I do that. You can describe a scent to me, I’ll get it as close as I can get, and viola! You’re fancy.
I also have a monthly layered candle. It’s a tall 20oz pillar that has 5-7 layers. The scent layers change every month. It’s basically an adventure in a candle, and I love it!
I am proud to be building a business that can financially support me with the freedom to focus on more than the bottom line. I am able to find depth in my work by providing a healthy product and forming strong relationships with like-minded people.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I am so afraid to name people because I am worried I’ll forget someone! I am constantly in awe of the kindness and effort of the people I have met through growing this business. One of these people (Sam, artist, and owner of HELMS Design) said to me recently, “Rising tide raises all ships.”
And I know I believe that, but I am so wonderfully surprised that there are many other people out there that still feel that way too. Maybe it was just the environments I had worked in up until now, but I’ve felt like we live in a dark, greedy world. I’m recently seeing we don’t.
People taking the time to introduce me to other people, give me advice, tell me about sales opportunities, actually be the sales opportunity, share my posts, leave lovely reviews… and so on. Busy people taking time out of their days and lives to lift me up. There are so many, and I am so grateful!
I will also name Courtney Weidner, as she is responsible for this interview. She is the #1 most amazing people-helping business woman I have met to date. I’m not sure she’s human, but I sure am lucky to have found her! Or did she find me? I don’t know, but everyone she finds is lucky. Such a superwoman!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brandiscandles.com
- Email: branditeal222@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandiscandleswithwine/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandicandleswithwine
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
