Meet Brianna Vaughan | Village Justice, Attorney and Candle Maker.

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

Hi Brianna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started Black Gold Luxury Brand shortly after the pandemic started. Candles have always been a part of my self care routine. So when I began working from home, I immediately lit candles in my makeshift work office and did so on a daily basis. I began to notice that after burning the candles day in and day out I began having migraines. After doing some research, I learned that many of these big named candles are made with paraffin wax which is a byproduct of petroleum and releases toxins into the air. This sparked my idea to create my own candles and skin care products to enjoy a natural product that would be safe to burn for extended periods of time without causing people to suffer from migraines or other health issues that are caused by other unnatural wax candles. I wanted to create a brand that was luxurious but also affordable. I wanted a product that expounded on self-care and aided in mental health practices, but most importantly I wanted to create a brand with products that just make the consumer feel good. And that’s just what I did. I created candles that create a vibe with every scent, and then I branched out into skin care, to make the self care experience both mental and physical.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I currently own two businesses. Black Gold Luxury Brand, is a black-woman-owned luxury hand crafted candle and skin care brand. We are distinct from others because we create every candle by hand, in small batches with all natural soy wax, phthalate free fragrance oils and essential oils and every candle transcends you into an olfactory oasis of self care as “every scent creates a vibe.” Black Gold Luxury Brand, genuinely prides itself on having a quality product that is environmentally safe. A major milestone in my business was being featured multiple times in BuzzFeed. Business wise, all of the success that I have achieved has been from the support of return customers and word of mouth of the quality of my product. Success for my business has not been easy in the least. Like many other business owners I suffer from down-seasons where there are lulls in business. I have had $0 days, $100 days and $1000 days. I have exhausted a lot of money in promotions and influencers that did not yield a single sale. I overcame this by going back to my roots and connecting with the consumers at pop-up shops, and by really focusing on my return customers and making sure that they truly enjoy the experience. Like every small business owner, I am still learning, growing and working towards expansion. Along the way, I have learned that market research is super important! I have learned that customers don’t like gimmicks and that it is important to sell yourself and be authentic and to always stand behind your product. Personally, I use every product I sell. I want the world to know that every product that I create and sell is made with the consumers happiness and health in mind. I am a person who values mental wellness and self care and Black Gold Luxury Brand is my way of giving back.

Recently, I opened my second business, the Law Office of Brianna A. Vaughan, PLLC. It was a major step for me as I am currently a presiding Village Justice for the Incorporated Village of Hempstead and am the youngest elected judge in New York and the youngest to ever hold the position. As much as I love the bench, I missed advocating in the court room and I opened my own general practice firm, taking a step out on faith and making my childhood dream come true. I do everything on my own and there are days where juggling my schedule can be hectic but I love what I do and it gives me further purpose.

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?
I hail from Long Island, NY, if my bestie came to town I would take her to to see a Broadway Play, we would definitely hit Coney Island for a day at the amusement park and Long Beach for a relaxing day on the beach. We would have to go to my favorite Italian restaurant Cafe Baci in Westbury, Mesita in Rockville Centre for Taco Tuesday and Margaritas, and to the Capital Grille for a nice steak and wine pairing. Some honorable mentions would have to be Central Park, and the metropolitan museum of art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes to my amazing parents Zoraida and Otis Vaughan, and my wonderful signifiant other Manfred Cadet. My parents for always pushing me in the direction of whatever dream I had and for always speaking life into me, especially when I decided to start a business while working as an assistant district attorney during the pandemic, and for allowing me to take over their basement with inventory. My mother for always being my assistant at every pop-up shop and for being the best sales representative that I have. Lastly, my boyfriend for believing in me even when I don’t believe in myself. Manfred convinced me to run for Village Justice when I was too scared to leave the comfort of my job. He supported and encouraged my idea to start Black Gold Luxury Brand, and even gave me seed money to purchase inventory and lastly for supporting me in opening my second business the Law Office of Brianna A. Vaughan, PLLC.

Website: www.blackgoldluxbrand.com & www.briannavaughanlaw.com

Instagram: @blackgoldluxbrand

Image Credits
Photographer: Kyla Bynum