Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra.
Hi Sandra, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After taking an oath to become the best loving and caring mother and wife, I was committed and dedicated to fulfilling that oath. Many would agree that being a devoted mother and wife is a demanding job and it leaves little time for other matters in life. My husband also took an oath to this great nation, he honorably and faithfully served 20 years of his life with the United States Navy. He worked hard to make sure that we had all of life’s necessities. He always wanted to set an example for our children, and there was never any doubt that we were so proud of him.
When my husband retired, I knew that a new chapter in our lives was going to unfold. I also wanted to inspire my children with a different perspective and leave a legacy for them to remember me by. One day, I brought the idea to my husband that we should embark on a family business; there was no secret to him that I’ve always been obsessed with candles, so when I pitched it to him—he love it! and the idea of starting Candles By B&L, originated from this sentimental thought. As always, we continue to grow and love each other unconditionally.
This has been a one-of-a-kind experience and very heartfelt for me. It gives me such pride to represent Latina mothers—and as a Latina and entrepreneur, I hope to learn from this journey as we grow, and that I may be able to set a founding example not only for my kids, but for those who are still waiting to leap into their dreams.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with anything in life, nothing is guaranteed to be as easy as we would wanted to be. There were so many struggles trying to bring my dream to life. For starters, once I wasn’t prepared or had much knowledge for what it was all required to have in order to be a small business owner. But, I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason; I was determine to do what I had to do; I was and am very fortunate to have a very supportive husband–who’s always been my co-pilot in life. My husband, a retired Navy veteran, acquired many skills thr0ughout his career, and with the combination of my vision and his administrative and financial skills, we went from ‘vision’ to ‘mission.’ We had suppress a lot of knowledge of the small business spectrum, and with it, came many errors and headaches. Everything from registering our business name to license as an LLC, to launching a website, acquiring inventory, creating a financial database, etc., was so overwhelming! There were many times that we felt like that our goal was unreachable, that we would never see the light at the end of the tunnel; but we always support each other, emotionally, spiritually, and in partnership, and we kept moving. Today, we have mastered most of the business trade, but, challenges are part of the business, and the only way to master and learn, and become better, is to make mistakes and to learn from them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialized in handcrafted, scented candles.
We use only the finest ingredients in our candles, including 100% premium soy wax, natural phthalate-free fragrances, lead and zinc-free cotton wicks. Our candles are free of harmful chemicals, making them safe for the customer and the environment. We believe that using high-quality ingredients is the key to creating candles that look and smell amazing, and that burn cleanly and evenly. We acquire our ingredients from Candlescience, one of the nation’s leading candle products provider.
Every candle we make is handcrafted with care in small batches in our studio. We use traditional techniques and modern technology to create candles that are both beautiful and functional. We take pride in every candle they produce, and we’re confident that our customers will experience an everlasting moment with our scented candles.
What sets us apart, and what has brought us recognition locally and statewide, is our unique craftsmanship. We take candle making to a different level. Our unique candles are handcrafted and are designed on intuition; every candle is made from scratch to order. We customize candles orders for specific events, such as: weddings, first communion, baptisms, valentine’s day, birthdays, and many more. We have been recognized by the city of Frederick, MD (The Everything Frederick Show), as an innovative and uprising candle entrepreneur; this has set us apart from the local candle vendors.
What matters most to you?
Family values. Whether you’re married or not, or if have children or not, family values are essential and should be the foundation of life. Family values to me are the pillars to my everyday life. As a Latina mother, wife and entrepreneur, I relentlessly seek to provide my children with an opportunity in life, even after I’m no longer exist in their life. My dream, became my vision, my vision is now my hobby and passion, I hope one day my passion becomes an extension of their lives and they can continue to keep the dream alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.candlesbybnl.com
- Instagram: @candlesbybnl
- Facebook: @candlesbybnl
