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Happy Monday to all of Torbay! We hope you had a lovely weekend (or week) of nice weather like we did!
We’d like to introduce our readers to our newest member, Wicks and More, who specialise in custom made wax melts and fragrances. Visit their Facebook page here and give them a like to support local business.
Wicks and More has been running since November 2020.
I recently asked the owner of this amazing business, Teri Ellen Howell, a few questions about what led her to establishing Wicks and More. Here’s what she had to say…
How did you get into starting the business?
So, I have two businesses under the same name Wicks and More. It started as a Wax Melt business, I have always loved having strong fragrances around my home but I found store bought ones just didn’t last very long at all, so I was considering just making them for myself, my own supply of highly and long lasting scents to keep myself happy.
I started getting people asking if they could have some and stating that they would pay, so I started looking into the legalities around gifting and selling which includes having a CLP label on all products in order to do so and I started buying these from other small businesses that provide this service and from there I was able to open shop.
However, last Christmas, I had bought my CLP from somewhere and they never arrived, I had around 15 orders backed up that couldn’t be dispatched until I had these labels as they are a legal requirement, so I started researching exactly what goes onto CLP etc and found most reputable suppliers of fragrance oil offer a template for this.
I got myself a printer, some label sheets and a printer and did them myself. After a while some other small businesses also selling wax melts asked if I could do theirs and eventually my printing business was born and I now have 100+ regular customers that I now offer all sorts of small business stationary to including CLP, thank you cards, stickers, logos and more.
So basically, from word of mouth and a little push here and there.
What is the most rewarding part of running your own business?
The reviews from my customers, I can sometimes get very nervous that my products aren’t the very best, but I take a step back and remember I am one person with a small business working from home.
When I receive a good review from any of my products and when a customer says that my customer service is the best, I do a little happy dance.
What has been the most difficult part of it?
The most difficult part is setting up all the tax side of things. Keeping up with everything that needs to be done etc, for example, I don’t just make the products, I need to research and resource quality supplies, take photos/videos, edit those, upload them with content, keep my website up to date and so many other things.
When I started I don’t think I thought about everything I would have to do, I was used to having one role in employment, now I am every role to keep things running.
Any plans to expand in the future?
I have been looking in to new products for both businesses, to include personalised gifts, such as jewellery, ceramics, clothing etc and on the printing side, I am looking into introducing packaging such as boxes for other small businesses.
Any advice to young people in the area looking to start a business?
Make sure you have a spare room or a big place to store all your supplies and stock. I unfortunately do not and didn’t realise just how much it would take over my home.
Most importantly, give people an experience that you would be happy to receive if purchasing from somewhere.
There is also lots of government help for start ups that I was unaware of and didn’t utilise.
What’s your favourite thing about Torquay?
My favourite thing would be being by the sea and living so close to the harbour, although I don’t get to the beach very often, we are very lucky to live so close to such beautiful scenery.
Thank you so much Teri for answering all our questions in such detail and congratulations at how far you’ve taken Wicks and More so far. Remember – visit their website here and their Facebook page here.
