Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Lamb.
Hi Taylor, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Hi! My name is Taylor Lamb, I was born on the East Coast in Connecticut but moved to California when I was 2. I grew up there then went to cosmetology school at the Aveda Institute in Los Angeles… Not long after was when I met my husband and we got married in 2012, we Lived in Costa Mesa, CA [Orange County] until 2014 then moved to Montana for a short period, then a job brought us to Utah and we never thought we’d have so much amazing access to resources that otherwise I would have never known about. and I’ve always been a candle connoisseur. My husband and I started talking about if we were to turn the candles I was making as a hobby for friends and family… into something more, something like a business. The conversation around this started in 2015, and we officially doubled down on the name and brand for the company at the end of 2017, beginning of 2018, and that was when BE:LIGHT Candle Co officially launched! We had our very first art walk where our products would be featured us doing all the set up and then customers had the opportunity to purchase from individual sellers.in Sugarhouse March 9th 2018. We got great feedback and were extremely encouraged by the people we talked to.
As we started researching one of the first things, I did was deciding to quit using paraffin or any other toxic filled wax, and switch to something clean and healthy. We switched to 100% soy wax and it’s all non-toxic non-GMO we know where it comes from in the United States.
We recycle the glass that we use to refill customers candles when they are done, at a discounted rate to encourage more people to hop on the recycling.bandwagon!
The name of our company is Be Light Candle Co. Matt, my husband had come up with it a while before the business even started and for some reason, I was skeptical… but then when he explained the why behind it, it made so much sense to me. Our mission statement is about people not feeling alone and knowing that there is hope, and we give 15% back to the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention and Awareness because it is such an epidemic in our society. We let people know that the name “be light” is supposed to be (be:light) as my husband likes to say, a call to action. A call to do something and make the world a better place. Consumers get to be light literally and figuratively by supporting us as a small business because they are also helping suicide awareness information as well as mental health concerns to come to the light and not be such a stigma anymore.
We know we have a long way to go, our only employees are myself and my husband so we try to keep up as much as possible. There are slower seasons but I don’t believe it has to be that way. Soy candles burn an average of nine hours per ounce. The average paraffin candle or other cheaper alternatives, burn about an ounce in one hour… You get a longer burn time and you also can blow it out after only one to two hours. Because the candles are made using all essential oils, the oils still permeate the air so you are still getting the benefits of that particular candle, whatever health benefits those oil contains, are still able to be a benefit to anyone around them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I went into the start of the company knowing that it takes on average three to five years for a small business or starting business, to profit. I wanted to make sure that I could keep track of the business’s numbers and didn’t anticipate that we’d run out of money! We self-funded but expenses to make the candles on top of expenses to get into craft shows or events, those all charge up front so you really don’t know if you’re going to be on the profit or loss side until it’s over.
The scents we have found some that are our best sellers and staples. we try to release a new candle each quarter. We have done unique collaborations with organizations or companies who want some of their branding on the candle or want to pick the scent that they will carry in their office, store, wherever it may be.
COVID was really hard considering we do a lot of events and that is primarily where we had met people, networked with other businesses, and so much more. We love getting to know our Salt Lake City community! Finally starting April of 2022, we are started to plan and make strategic moves in order to get our business mindset that took us back to the what we originally were doing, why worked, what didn’t work.
We want to try new things, step out of the box, launch retail, stickers, clothing, hats, Employees or helpers is something that’s been a challenge in terms of events being all day, sometimes you need ab real, and it’s not like you can call out sick if you really are sick [I have multiple autoimmune issues).
We knew that if we want to have a result we’ve never had, then we have to do things differently than we ever done. We didn’t and still don’t always know what that looks like. Overall being part of starting something from the ground up is one of the most rewarding things.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a cosmetologist I specialize in color correction, and pretty much all things color I love and thrive in. As far as for candle making goes, I am pretty much involved in all of it. My husband designs our labels, giving me the creative freedom to suggest something else, or whatever type of thing.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Hmmm. That is such a good question! You know, I would have to say I have had a number of those “serendipity” moments, or deja vu, whatever you want to call it. Although I think it comes down to being in the right places at the right time. Just like you can apply that to bad luck.
Pricing:
- 20
- 30
- 60
- 10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.belightcandleco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belightcandleco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belightcandleco
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/belightcandleco
Image Credits
@matttthewlamb
@mrstaylorlamb
@belightcandleco
