Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Chang.
Hi Candace, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always had a love for plants, which was only heightened during the pandemic. The only issue with my growing collection of plants was the need for planters that were unique, functional, and most importantly sparkled. So with that, I decided to create my own planters! Each of my planters are handmade, one at a time, so rest assured that each piece is one-of-a-kind.
The planters in which I have infused crystals into actually started out as an accident. One of the planters I was making cracked and instead of throwing it away, I took the Japanese idea of “wabi-sabi” and my love for crystals and geodes and decided to fill the cracked planter with crystals! Plants already give good vibes and bring health benefits to a home, the crystal planters only amplify the effect.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have attended markets where my product doesn’t sell as well, which was discouraging and since all of my products are handmade, it felt that my creations were not good enough. It’s good to have friends and other market vendors in these times that are encouraging as well as all of the comments and likes on my Instagram definitely help!
I have also had rough markets where the wind completely knocked over my display shelf along with my entire inventory. That was definitely rough since my products take about a week to make. I have also had my market tent completely destroyed by the wind, the tent actually bent in half due to the wind. I learned my lesson and bought some heavy kettlebells and water weights to anchor the tent.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Some may know me as the owner of Dolce Delights, which was a french dessert shop in Midtown. I am a trained pastry chef and since Dolce Delights has closed, I have since took my experience in creating unique and aesthetic desserts into concrete pots and home decor.
I feel honored when my customers comment that my work is truly one-a-of-kind and receive compliments from their friends who see it in their homes. Making a concrete pot is not too difficult, but I consider my creations to be works of art that serve as functional pieces for the home, whether it be a planter, coasters or a jewelry tray.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My brand name is dedicated to my daughter, Coco, who sadly passed away when I was 16 weeks pregnant. She is my inspiration and I do this for her. Each time someone compliments my work or brand, it pushes me to keep going and reminds me of why Coco and Palm Trees was created.
Contact Info:
- Website: cocoandpalmtrees.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocopalmtrees/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CocoPalmTrees
Image Credits
@mariterecr
