Rising Stars: Meet LaToya Anderson

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaToya Anderson.

Hi LaToya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I purchased my home three weeks before the 2020 pandemic hit. I never considered myself crafty however I wanted to repurpose some of my existing furniture, so I turned to YouTube. I quickly went down a rabbit hole of crafts and candles seemed like a cool thing to try so I did. I have no idea how much it would help my anxiety and quickly become a passion.

Making candles was the easy part, making candles that expressed my true self took some time. I am a firm believer in the law of attraction and the universe and making my chakra line allowed me to connect myself to my passion. Along the journey of self-exploration, I found my love for soap making and quickly added that to my product line as well.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road was not smooth at all. There were a lot of things I did not know that I did not know lol. For instance, I use social media daily to catch up with friends and family, post pictures of my kids, and leave. I had no idea how important social media would be for marketing and how difficult it would be for me to post content without over thinking.

Another struggle I faced was branding, I decided to rebrand my business with the help of Craft Ave, (another local business in Knightdale) and it required me to learn the science behind branding and the feeling I want my products to bring to my customer. It is not an easy process but looking at where I started, I am really proud of the look of my products now.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most known for my Chakra line of candles. We all have seven main energy points in our bodies (our chakra system) and my candles focus on the alignment of these chakras. All of the colors, scents, crystals, and even the affirmation on my jars all corollate with that particular chakra.

My goal is to do everything with intention, and I encourage my customers to do the same. Don’t just light your candles, take a moment to breathe and thank the universe for the moment and really be present.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid taught me that everything I considered to be important really wasn’t. That my main focus was my family. That loving yourself should be a priority and that self-care is required however it does not have to be face masks and pedicures (but it can be and sometimes should be) it could just be lighting a candle and reading a book.

Pricing:

• My products range from $6-$30 currently

Contact Info:

• Website: somemorecandles.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somethingmorecandles_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Somethingmorecandles/

Image Credit:
Kelly Hollis