We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla T. Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
One of the most important decisions I made was bringing my husband on to handle our digital marketing. His efforts and expertise really helped shape our brand and were instrumental in driving growth.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I love all things home decor.. From art to throw pillows, dishware, accent chairs, bedding.. you name it! One thing that matters the most to me, however, is what my home feels like to others and how that first impression is so important. That being said, having a home that smells just as good as it looks is very important to me. Unfortunately, a lot of candle brands have colorful vessels, with prints and designs that may take away from someone’s personal style, not to mention, the ingredients can be unsafe for people or pets. So, I found a way to create a timeless and long-lasting candle and the cherry on top is that we use clean ingredients. Our candles are a statement piece themselves, in a sleek, glass vessel it weighs in at just about 12 lbs which is sure to be a “wow” factor for any host.

Business wise- we are just getting started. We have done a lot of ground work in this last year especially in regard to our online presence, ads and our website. One of the most challenging things we have come across is how to convey to people just how big our candles are just by seeing them online.

One lesson I have learned is to just start. It’s very seldom that your customers will spend much energy worrying over your labels, packaging or perfectly edited images.. They are just eager to know about your brand in a way that is informative and trustworthy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
WOW! This is one of my favorite things to do both with local friends and out of town guests 🙂
Being sure to give a good variety of things to do, I’d always suggest Chastain Park for a fun walk while you check out the beautiful homes of the area. One of my favorite dinner places is either Antico’s (for something casual) or Hal’s for one of the best dining experiences and service around.. For music or fun, I have found myself at Spaceman a lot lately…Fabulous Djs and light bites.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, Keran. Also, my closest friends and family.. A huge part of our initial sales were just from the support of them. A special shout out to Bonnie Teifer, my childhood friend, who has brought me upwards of 10 sales just from referring me to her friends, family and even her hair stylist!

Website: https://butrcandles.com/

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

Image Credits
HANNAH LOZANO

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