Check Out Alli Chapman’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alli Chapman.

Hi Alli, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Alli Chapman, and I’m the owner and creator of Alli Cat Creative Co., a handcrafted candle company that I founded in 2020. What started as a creative outlet during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a business entering its sixth year. Today, I create hand-poured soy coconut wax candles and immersive seasonal experience subscription boxes that are designed to help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and find a little more peace in their everyday lives. Every product I create is centered around the idea that self care doesn’t have to be extravagant. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as lighting a candle and allowing yourself a moment to be present.

I’m also a proud female United States Air Force veteran. Military service is an incredible honor, but it also comes with unique challenges that don’t always end after leaving the service. Veterans experience higher rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and difficulty transitioning back into civilian life. Female veterans often face additional challenges, including military sexual trauma, barriers to care, and feeling overlooked within systems that have traditionally been designed with male veterans in mind. Having served myself, I understand that healing isn’t simply about treating symptoms. It’s about rebuilding purpose, finding healthy ways to cope, and creating moments of peace in lives that have often been defined by constant stress and responsibility.

That understanding has shaped both my personal life and my business.

Over the years, I’ve spent a great deal of time doing my own inner work and learning the importance of slowing down, being intentional, and caring for my own mental well-being. One of the simplest practices that has stayed with me is lighting a candle. It creates a pause in the day. It encourages mindfulness. It transforms a room into a place that feels calm, safe, and restorative. While candles aren’t therapy, they can support the habits that promote emotional wellness and presence by encouraging us to step away from the constant demands of life and simply be present for a few moments. That philosophy has become the heart of Alli Cat Creative Co.

My passion for helping others extends far beyond my business. Throughout my professional career, I’ve worked in behavioral health, addiction recovery, and mental health settings, serving individuals during some of the most difficult periods of their lives. Those experiences inspired me to pursue a career in social work, where I could have an even greater impact on the people and communities I care about most.

Earlier this year, I earned my Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, and I’m currently pursuing my Master of Social Work and Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credentials through Liberty University. I currently serve as a social work intern assisting justice involved veterans, helping connect them with resources and support as they navigate the criminal justice system while often facing challenges related to mental health, addiction, trauma, housing, and reintegration. My long term goal is to become a forensic social worker dedicated to serving justice involved individuals, with a particular focus on veterans. I believe that every veteran deserves access to compassionate care, evidence based treatment, and someone who believes in their ability to heal and move forward.

In many ways, my business and my professional mission are rooted in the same purpose: helping people feel supported. Whether I’m advocating for veterans through social work or creating products that encourage mindfulness and self care, my goal is to make a meaningful difference in someone’s day. Sometimes that difference comes through connecting someone with life changing resources. Other times, it’s creating a quiet evening at home where someone finally gives themselves permission to slow down and breathe. Both matter.

Today, you can find a selection of my candles at 5 Bean Coffee in Reynoldsburg, and I’m excited to be a vendor at Columbus Oktoberfest this year. I always enjoy meeting customers in person, hearing their stories, and sharing the inspiration behind my products.

If you aren’t local, you can shop online at my website, and I proudly ship my handcrafted candles throughout the United States, bringing a little comfort, creativity, and calm to homes across the country.

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?
Like many small business owners, my journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Over the past several years, I’ve balanced running my business while working full time, pursuing graduate school, navigating significant health challenges, and adapting to major life changes. There were certainly moments when life required me to slow down, reevaluate, and adjust my expectations.

One lesson both the military and life have taught me is that resilience isn’t about never facing obstacles. It’s about adapting when circumstances change and continuing to move forward one day at a time. I’ve learned that success doesn’t always look like giant leaps. Sometimes it’s simply showing up, making progress where you can, and trusting that consistency over time matters more than perfection.

Running Alli Cat Creative Co. while earning graduate degrees has required flexibility, discipline, and a willingness to adapt. Some seasons have allowed me to pour more into my business, while others required me to focus on school, my health, or my professional goals. Rather than seeing those seasons as setbacks, I’ve learned to embrace them as opportunities for growth. They’ve reminded me that businesses, like people, evolve over time.

That perspective is something I hope to carry into my future career as a social worker. Healing isn’t linear, and neither is personal or professional growth. Whether I’m supporting justice involved veterans, creating candles that encourage people to slow down and be present, or simply navigating my own journey, I believe that progress comes from extending ourselves grace, remaining adaptable, and taking life one step, one day, and sometimes one breath at a time.

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?
At Alli Cat Creative Co., I believe candles should be as unique as the people who burn them. I create original scent blends you won’t find anywhere else, paired with creative designs like handcrafted wax embeds and my signature glow in the dark drip paint on the glass. From fun themes like **Cereal Killer**, **True Crime & Chill**, and **Campfire on the Beach** to my classic 10 ounce candles and extra large **Slow Burn** collection made with recycled, locally sourced glass, every candle is designed to be a one of a kind experience that combines creativity, quality, and craftsmanship.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Based on everything you’ve shared, I think the strongest answer isn’t just “I started a business.” It’s that your life has consistently involved taking **purposeful risks**. You joined the military, transitioned into behavioral health, earned one master’s degree, are earning another while working and running a business, and chose to start a company during one of the most uncertain economic periods in recent history. That paints a picture of someone who doesn’t take reckless risks, but calculated ones when they align with a meaningful goal.

I don’t consider myself someone who takes risks for the sake of taking risks. Instead, I believe in taking calculated risks when they align with my values and long term goals. For me, the greatest opportunities for growth have come from stepping outside my comfort zone while remaining adaptable enough to adjust when life doesn’t go according to plan.

I’ve taken several major risks throughout my life. Joining the United States Air Force challenged me personally and professionally, and transitioning back into civilian life required me to redefine my purpose. During the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to start Alli Cat Creative Co., turning what began as a creative hobby into a business that is now entering its sixth year. Since then, I’ve continued to invest in myself by earning a Master’s in Forensic Psychology, pursuing a Master of Social Work while working and running my business, and committing to a career dedicated to serving justice involved veterans.

Over the past few years, I’ve also navigated significant health challenges and major life changes while continuing to move my business and career forward. Those experiences reinforced an important lesson: resilience isn’t about avoiding uncertainty, it’s about learning to adapt to it. Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t failing. It’s allowing fear to keep you from pursuing something meaningful.

Today, I approach risk with preparation, purpose, and flexibility. I don’t expect every plan to unfold perfectly, but I trust my ability to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward one step at a time. That mindset has shaped not only my business, but also the way I approach my career, education, and service to others.

Pricing:

• Wax Melts $5-$7
• Standard Candles $20-$30
• Slow Burn Extra Large Candles $55-$60

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allicatcreativeco.com
• Instagram: @allicatcreativeco
• Facebook: @allicatcreativeco