Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Cormier.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I remember the very first business idea I had back in high school. I knew I wanted it to give something to others. Soy Society Wellness is an evolution of that first dream. It took living life- trying, failing (sometimes succeeding), and getting back up but more wise. I found myself in a depressed state of being that led me to teaching yoga and thriving off of my anti-depressants.
Within Soy Society Wellness, I was able to bring little pieces of me to each candle. Our candles give you a sense of belonging with intention themed scents and aromatherapy benefits thru added essential oils. CONFIDENCE, BRAVE, and WELLBEING (my personal favorite) are some of the candle names that not only smell good but are meant to help you on your own journey of healing.
Consistent brand building and keeping my head down while I work have been some of the traits and skills that have gotten us to where we are now. Some companies do have what looks like overnight success while others work 2-3 years before being seen. Don’t let that discourage you. Also, I’d add to go out for every opportunity. Don’t count yourself out until they count you out.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wish I could say that it has been a smooth road. Each time the business moves to a new stage there is a new learning curve- We can’t see what is coming around the corner when we make the turn but you can bet you will trip on something. It’s how quickly you BOUNCE BACK that matters more than what knocked you down. It has been helpful when I ask God what to do versus just making plans and hoping that God said yes. It’ll take away some of the guessing and insecurity when you do things like “charging what your product is worth,” or bringing on a second or third contractor to help with demands.
Most recently, one of my struggles has been pivoting the business model. With Covid-19, Tik Tok Viral videos and the constant need to post on social media, career changes, and adulting that I had to make changes to Soy Society Wellness that will strengthen the business and also allow me to give back in the ways my vision has shown me. We went from having Sip & Wick candle making classes which have been shelved due to the pandemic, we moved from 4 monthly events to doing e-commerce only and now a strong mix of both, and then landing a spot with a cohort overseen by the University of Texas at Austin school of Advertising & Public Relations.
Having the additional help and input from someone on the outside looking in is valuable. Have you heard of the phrase “Missing the forest for the trees?” Our current direction is focusing on e-commerce and wholesale. I’m proud to announce that we are now in 5 Whole Foods stores (4 in Austin, TX and 1 Houston, TX) and we are in the middle of revamping our website and youtube channel to | Lighten Your Lifestyle |.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Within Soy Society Wellness, I am and do everything from social media to hand pouring and labeling each candle. My favorite part of running SSW is that I get to customize each candle scent in our collections. Ours is truly unique because I add an additional 30% to 100% essential oil in each candle. That way you get real aromatherapy as there is no industry standard on how much essential oil is needed for a product to use the label “aromatherapy candle.”
I’m most proud of my tenacity. I have been gripping some ideas for a long time to push us from just being a candle brand to being a wellness brand. This year in 2022, we will be hosting donation-based community yoga classes to help self-healers get more out of life and their Soy Society Wellness candle. This is one of many projects we will be unveiling to give back.
With Love, is our 2022 Spring collection. I believe that with love we can ALIGN, BELONG, CREATE, RELAX, and have FAITH.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
One thing that’s surprising is that I grew up here in Houston. The SWAT to be exact 😀 I went to Mahany and Hearn Elementary, Miller Intermediate school, and O’Donnell Middle school. Sadly, I lost all of my southern twangs when we moved to Los Angeles for my high school years.
You can find our candles in the Whole Foods Store on Kirby Dr. here in HTX.
Pricing:
- 10 oz – $36 plus free shipping
- Room sprays – $32 plus free shipping
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@soysociety.com
- Website: www.soysociety.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/soysocietywellness
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/soysociety
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQjFS885ZZb6fjEQdvRTLkw
Image Credits
The Lab
Erica Wilkins
