Meet Anya Fleming | Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anya Fleming and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to give surrounding areas something they were not familiar with, unique candles that represented my creativity. In the beginning, I was very unaware of the process of marketing, the overall success of my business, and even the beginning steps! It took a lot of trial and error to perfect my craft. I wanted my candles to be as close to perfect, if not “perfect”. After many nights of practicing, starting over and over; I then decided to take a leap of faith. Once I presented my craft to social media, it wasn’t long until one single post went viral. After going viral, I closely reviewed the engagements, interactions, and feedback. By doing so, I was able to pin point my target audience and gain many long-term customers. I continue to keep my audience engaged as well as gain new customers by receiving feedback on orders, obtaining customer favorite scents, and actively listening to new candle ideas.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Lit Southern Wicks is a candle company based out of Nashville, TN, offering hand-poured wax milkshake and dessert-inspired candles. They are made with 100% soy, paraffin, and gel wax mixed with natural fragrance oils. As the owner and creator of LSW, I specialize and enjoy making custom candles. Whenever a supporter thinks of a crazy candle idea; mirroring food items, they run their idea by me and I proudly deliver. LSW candles aren’t just your everyday candles that you see in stores; we are set apart because we have such a unique intertwine between food and candles.

Owning Lit Southern Wicks hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Many challenges have arisen over the years of being in business. Like any other, there has been numerous challenges. As a business owner, I didn’t believe in taking a mental break from your everyday operation. I had to unlearn that working nonstop was the answer to being successful. A few months ago, I started to lose inspiration and motivation for my craft of candle making. After going months of nonstop working, something clicked. I realized that taking mental breaks were in fact okay and needed in order to operate my business. After speaking with my mentor, I knew I had to dig deep and find the drive I once had. I decided to put a plan in place so that I could manage my time more effectively. Planning weekly has allowed me to avoid being burned out and take the mental breaks needed.

Founder and visionary of Lit Southern Wicks. I was born and raised in Tupelo, MS in which my southern roots run deep. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in 2017, I shortly decided to relocate to Nashville, TN. As a single parent, this gave me the opportunity to start fresh, explore entrepreneurship, and tap into my creative side. I wholeheartedly take pride in creating extraordinary candles, to give you that over-the-top southern feel. With milkshake and dessert inspired candles, you’ll almost want to take a bite. I look forward each and every day, to providing a southern taste of products for my customers home.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
With my friends and I all living in different states, I really enjoy when they come to visit! They all know that I’m the planning friend and every day that they are in the city, an activity will be in the mix. We always have the best time when going to places like Topgolf, Spoken Word Nights(poetry), and also events that host Paint ‘n Sips. There are always events happening and new exciting restaurants to try. J. Alexander’s is one of our top favorite picks and is a MUST that we visit each and every time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
None of us have made it as far as we have without that special someone pushing us beyond our limits. I would like to give a special shout-out to my mentor/ aunt, Kim. She has always been in my corner to lead and groom me in the right direction, professionally. I am extremely thankful for her guidance, as well as her motivating words. There’s been numerous times I wanted to throw in the towel, but she always reminded me to finish what I started. Like any other person, sometimes I can be stubborn and want to do things my way but she has always held me accountable , right or wrong. Kim, Thank you so much for being such a light and inspiration in my life and for my small business.

Website: https://www.litsouthernwicks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litsouthernwicks/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/litsouthernwicks/

Image Credits
Michael Brooks De’Shea Douglas