Meet Sherry Jefferson | Master Chandler & Aromatic Specialist

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

Hi Sherry, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
If someone had told me prior to the passing of my mother that I would have a Candle Business, I would probably think they were nuts. I have been in the insurance industry for the most part of 19 years with Medicare Insurance. I was in New Business Development and I did group insurance. I traveled to 5 counties each week having left the house before dawn each day and returning after dark. Seriously. I have never been a candle person. I can count on one hand the number of times I had ever purchased a candle. They just wasn’t my thing. Every year on my birthday I would get a “Happy Birthday” cake with the candle, or a birthday text with a picture of a birthday cake with a candle on it from my mom. This had become a tradition. I looked forward to the “Birthday Cake” texts that came at the crack of dawn every year, but in 2015, I did not get a birthday message or anything, because, my Mother passed away in July of 2014. Although devastated, I decided to keep the tradition going somehow. Each year I would go and get my own “Birthday Cake Candle.” Then in 2020, Covid happened. On March 6, 2020, Alabama went on Covid lock down. I remember it because that was my birthday. I was unable to get my Birthday Cake Candle, but I was still determined not to break tradition. I decided if I could not go get a candle, I would make the candle. I looked up a couple of candle companies and ordered a candle making kit. When it came, I made my “Belated Birthday Cake Candle.” I found out that I really enjoyed making candles. I ordered kit after kit until the lady at the candle company called me and I explained that I was just testing because I enjoyed it. She helped me make my first supply order and I haven’t looked back. I practiced with this for 8 months using friends and family as “testers.” I was getting good feedback, so finally, I felt it was time to branch out. I did my first vendor event on Black Friday. I sold 3 candles. That’s right 3 candles. To say I was discouraged was an understatement. To make matters even worse, 2 days later I tested positive for Covid. While confined to bed, I decided I would create the website with help from my daughter and I formed my LLC. I continued testing until January when I was better, and then received a phone call from one of the 3 persons, who had bought a candle from me on Black Friday. She let me know that she owned a boutique in Blountsville and wanted to put my candles in her store.

I applied for Farmer’s Markets, and vendor events and every Fair and Festival I could and I sold out on several of them.

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?
Flirty Flame Candle Co LLC is a minority woman owned business. I use a proprietary blend of coconut soy wax, and clean fragrances that are paraben free and phthalate free as well. As a chandler, (person who makes candles), I like being creative with colors, custom fragrance blends, and product selection. I enjoy adding a variety of botanicals to my wax melts, because it makes them “flirty.” I am where I am because I took the time to do my research, study, and practiced my craft until I felt it was good enough. I like to make myself relatable to the customers and be easily approachable to the customers. I greet everyone with a smile even if they are just walking by. I try to build a rapport with my customers and I ask probing questions to see what they are looking for before I try to suggest a product for them. I try to learn from my experiences because I really am my own worst critic.

My motto is “Self care is our love language”. Self care means taking care of yourself physically and mentally. With this in mind, I try to have scents that make you want to relax, have a glass or wine, or even take a long bubble bath. I recently added an aromatherapy line where I use fragrance oils infused with essential oils that help stimulate the mind and create the perfect moods. Aromatherapy has been around so long because it works, plain and simple. I focus on Energy, Clarity, Calm, Stress and Uplifting our senses and spirit. I try to create fragrances and scents that evoke memories. For instance, my Honeysuckle Jasmine reminds me of being a young child and going to my Grandmother’s home where there was an abundance of honeysuckle growing on the fence, or the Pipe Tobacco scent that reminds me of my Grandfather’s who both smoked pipes, and the Pineapple Sage takes me back to November of 2019 when my sister’s and I took a girl’s trip to the Bahamas.

One tough lesson I had to learn is that I am not my audience. Everything starts with knowing your audience. I used to only make products in fragrances that I liked. I only liked 2 or 3 scents so when people started asking for different scents, I had to listen.

I want the world to know that we are here for all of their wedding party favor needs.
I am grateful for the many customer’s that I have had. I have shipped to Hawaii and 31 other states and I have shipped to France, Italy, and Canada.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Because I am a homebody, getting out into the city would be a welcome outing. We would probably head downtown to get breakfast at the Wildwood Deli, and the I would help her pick put a few souvenirs from some of the eclectic boutiques and small businesses on the Courthouse square. I would definitely take her to the award winning, Athens Florist downtown and pick out a fresh flower bouquet and other gifts there. We would also pick up a few gifts at The Last Word and Sassy Sisters Boutique, because let’s face it, the name itself, is intriguing. We might grab dinner later at Ramona J’s and finish up the night at Athens Alehouse enjoying a glass of wine and listening to some of live music.

Throughout the week we will visit nearby cities and enjoy some fun events. Because we love a good wine, a stop at the Wine Cellar or Robyn’s Garden in Huntsville, would make for a great venture. They both usually have unique live events going on and who doesn’t love a good charcuterie board.

Cooking is one of my passions and being from the South, you know we love a good BBQ. We could fire up the grill and lay a couple slabs of ribs on the grill, smoke a pork shoulder or even a few burgers. To keep us cool, I would definitely put them on to my friend Donna’s Pours and Potions that are awesome beverage mixers we can enjoy with or without alcohol added.

We love all things crafty so we would try to catch a few Farmer’s Markets or Craft Shows.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I can honestly say Flirty Flame would not be where it is today without the love and support of my Top 3. My 2 daughters, Rayven, who graduated from The University of Alabama with her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Marketing and Kristina who is an aspiring plus size model, working on her undergraduate degree in Business Administration, and I can’t forget my favorite guy Ray, who always is ready and willing to give a helping hand with deliveries or whatever is needed. My siblings and their families, and my extended family and friends have all been so supportive. I have to give a special shout out to Pammie Jimmar and the Limestone County Chamber of Commerce for making me step outside the box and get into my local community with the Farmer’s Markets, Business Expos, and other vendor events and opportunities. I am forever grateful to the people who I have met up with in parking lots, post offices and other places just so they could try my products. My heart is full and I cannot complain. A special thank you to these businesses who I have been fortunate to have or have had my products at: The Rustic Sunflower, Salon Elite, The Wine Cellar, Madison Mercantile, Studio 72 Salon, The Last Word and Sassy Sisters Boutique and last but certainly not least, The Athens Florist in downtown Athens. God is Good!

Website: flirtyflamecandleco.com

Instagram: @flirtyflamecandleco

Facebook: Flirty Flame Candle Co LLC

Other: email: flirtyflamecandleco@gmail.com

Image Credits
Valerie Robinson Burwell @2pearls photography