Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Ofordire
Hi Mackenzie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started this company as a way to honor and continue the legacy of my daughter Samantha Rose, who is in heaven due to a late-term pregnancy loss. As a way to cope during the isolating global pandemic, I began making candles. I thought these candles would not only bring comfort to myself but also to others. I began sharing them with friends and co-workers who enjoyed them! Wanting to make a difference and seeing how much people enjoyed my candles, the Samantha Rose Candle Company was born!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I would not have started this company if I didn’t lose my daughter Samantha Rose. What motivates me to continue the business every day is, of course, my daughter, but also just wanting to bring awareness to maternal health issues. It’s challenging with being vulnerable with my story and telling customers the origin story of this business.
Another challenge I face is running the business by myself and not having a team of people to assist me yet…… I am the marketing team, in-person events director, chief financial officer, procurement director, etc. It is hard to do all of this as one person in addition to having a full-time job and a family.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are an artisan candle company that creates all-natural soy candles with phthalate-free premium fragrance oils. Our hand-poured candles provide warm and comforting scents and are made in small batches to ensure quality. They are also vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic, and contain no lead, plastics, parabens, or phthalates. Our company’s mission is to bring awareness to maternal health issues and donate a percentage of our profits to organizations that support these causes.
What sets my company, the Samantha Rose Candle Company apart from other candle companies is that we are a mission based company with a focus on bringing awareness to maternal health issues. We also find maternal health organizations to donate a percentage of our yearly profits too to continue to help advance the cause. My company is still a small business and we have an online presence through our website and social media and also do in person events such as farmers markets, street fairs, bazaars, etc. It’s definitely not easy being a small business as many people aren’t comfortable discussing maternal health issues or even aware of all the challenges that women and their families face. We also have competition from other local candle companies or well known candle companies such as Bath and Body Works.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I would say my family and friends matters to me most as I have learned life is short and unexpected and we should cherish the moments and time we have with others. You never know when it will be your last time speaking to or interacting with a loved one so make the most of your time with one another.
Pricing:
- Candles are $18 each
- Wax Melts are $10 each
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.samantharosecandlecompany.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samantharosecandlecompany/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/samrosecandleco?lang=en
