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Name: Shante Cozier

Business: Pontie Wax

Location: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

Industry: Consumer Goods 

Reason for starting? I am an obsessive hobbyist and all around passionate creative. I became very interested in candles 3 years ago. I would buy very expensive candles and obsess over them. At the end of 2014, I started to collect old candle jars in hopes of recycling them into new candles as a hobby. I bought a DIY home candle making kit and realized that I was quite good at it. From there, I decided to actually try to monetize this hobby by starting Pontie Wax. It took me a year to launch, as I did lots of market research and candle testing. What is special about this business is that each candle comes boxed and ribbon wrapped. It is a expression of my own love language, gift giving!

Related: Knitter Turns Hobby Into a Multi-Million Dollar Business 

How do you define success? Success is transformation. For me, I am successful when I set out to do something and I am able to do it. Success is the constant growth of my spiritual and emotional self. Success challenges me and I challenge the boundaries of success by committing to my list of goals. Pontie Wax will continue to be successful as long as I am steadfast in meeting my goals.

Biggest success: In addition to being a business owner and candle maker, I am also a fiction writer. To date, my biggest success has come from starting Pontie Wax and from publishing my first collection of prose poems via Small Anchor Press.

What is your top challenge and how you have addressed it? My biggest challenge is marketing. I am not naturally good at social media, but I know that it is essential. I therefore have created schedules for my Facebook and Instagram post in regards to Pontie Wax. It may seem corny and not “instant” as the medium suggest, but it is the best strategy to remain current in this ever changing technological world.

Related: Small Business Social Media Trends

Who is your most important role model? The business is named after my mom, Mary. But everyone calls her Pontie. She has been my biggest supporter in this venture. She is, without a doubt my role model.

[box_light]Website   www.pontiewax.com
Instagram   instagram.com/pontiewax
Other   etsy.com/shop/pontiewax[/box_light]

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Edited by The Story Exchange