Meet Megha Kesarwani

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megha Kesarwani.

Hi Megha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a finance professional and have always been in this profession since I started my career – almost 10 years. Creativity runs in my family, as a small kid I used to help my elder sister with her crafts assignments and orders. Being in an entirely different profession, I almost completely lost touch with my creative side. I would find small escapes from the daily routine to find solace in doing something creative. Such was a time in 2018 when I took a class through Skillpop Raleigh to learn “how to make a Soy Candle”. This was a very random choice that I made and it changed my life forever!

I found a new hobby and it was more like a therapeutic activity for me. I started making Soy Candles in my free time for my family and friends and researched more about the nuances of making a perfect Soy Candle. All my family and friends slowly started switching to using Soy Candles instead of the store-bought Paraffin wax candles as they felt the differences in the burn. Soy candles that do not produce soot and carbon are definitely a safer choice for home.

Paraffin is a petroleum by-product that produces a lot of soot and carbon when burnt. Soy wax is of-course plant-based and does not produce much smoke, soot, and carbon when burnt. I use fragrance oils that are Phthalates free and Parabens free and the wicks that I use are made of cotton and are lead & zinc free. If burnt correctly, the Soy Candles last longer than the usual paraffin candles and have a cleaner burn.

When I had my baby, I initially took 6 months break and went back to work part-time. My husband and I were both working from home and Covid was still around so we thought we will manage childcare ourselves by working flexibly. 3-4 months down, we both were super exhausted with managing everything ourselves and knew we will have a breaking point soon if we do not slow down. I had always been in a corporate job and was working towards climbing the corporate ladder. My daughter who is my biggest inspiration changed my perspective on life by choosing me as her mom and I reconsidered my choices. I spoke with my husband about wanting to quit my job and start a business to make and sell Soy Candles and he was very supportive of my idea/business plan. I finally took the plunge and quit my job. Today, I am enjoying every bit of the time I get to spend with my little bub and nothing makes me happier than being able to work on my passion as a profession!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Taking a risk comes with its own outcomes. When I quit my job, we had to figure out a lot of things personally to make this situation work. Additionally, I realized that the Candle business is mostly a saturated market and I will need to have a solid plan to get noticed and put my work out there. I also needed a niche to exist and survive in this market. So, I worked on a plan that could help me enter the market and get a kickstart. Before starting, I worked on finding my niche and researching the market for prospective retailers and pop-ups that could help me. I believe this is going to be ongoing forever.

Overall, managing my baby, household, and my business all at once definitely gets overwhelming at times. Parenthood is new to us and comes with its own learning curve. Figuring out how to start a business and making time for everything else too, calls for a great amount of planning and discipline. The fun part of this is working and taking care of my family never makes me feel tired as I truly love what I do. This feeling of accomplishment keeps me going and asking for more each day. The struggle of keeping the business running is ongoing but I have learned to find happiness in small wins and I am beyond grateful to God for everything I have achieved so far! And I am just getting started…

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently selling my Soy Candles through Instagram, a new website, and also through 2 retailers in Cary Downtown – Seagrove Pottery of Cary and Plucked Consignment store.

What I am known for are the unique fragrances of my candles that sets me apart from others. I am an Asian and there are a lot of fragrances that I can relate to my culture and childhood – namely Patchouli, Nagchampa, Rose, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Ginger, Clove, and Saffron. I try to work with those scents and come out with the best and most unique blends. When people ask me about the composition of those unique fragrances – I gladly explain to them about my inspiration and connection to the Asian roots that lead me to these beautiful blends. I plan to introduce more of such scents in the coming times.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking is definitely fruitful. If it doesn’t result in success, at least you learn a lesson for life. I am generally a very conservative person in decision-making and would always take a calculative and safe step.

Leaving my corporate job and starting this business to change a hobby into a full-time job was a very bold step for me and I am glad I took that risk. I’d like to give full credit of that to my little baby and my husband for giving me the courage to go forward and work toward my passion. There has been no looking back since.

Pricing:

• $5-$30

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blessedmamacandlesco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blessedmamacandlesco/

Image Credits
Plucked Consignment Store