I built a candle company from the wax up, starting with the basics of melting, pouring, and crafting each candle—a tangible reflection of my spirit. I launched my creations at pop-ups throughout Seattle and even went viral a few times on TikTok, sparking connections with customers across the country. My hands-on approach in crafting, marketing, and distributing my candles to local shops was a crucial to sharing them in stores locally. While my candle company is no longer in operation, the experience has profoundly enriched my understanding of running and marketing a small business.