Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Van Hoose.
Hi Lynn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am born and raised in Northwest Ohio. I currently live in a suburb of Toledo. I’m divorced, and an empty nester with a 21-year-old daughter. I have lived in the Atlanta area and Jacksonville, Florida. Currently, I live with my partner of 7 years, Rick, and we have a beloved furbaby, Snowy Olive. We just lost our other furbaby 2 months ago, Liberty.
I have a certificate in music production and audio engineering, I’m an ordained minister, and a yoga instructor, and worked for Apple for 8 years before leaving for a whole new career. In my spare time, I can be found in the Upper Peninsula, or on my aerial hammock. After 25 years, I finally got my Associate’s in Psychology and am planning to continue my education.
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?
I’ve learned a lot about running a business. It’s been very bumpy for me because I have no background in the back end of things. I also have had mishaps with the wrong wax and some molds that didn’t hold up very well.
I started Tranquil Iris while finishing college. Then I got shingles during the holiday season. Trying to juggle all that and candle orders has been pretty difficult. But I have successfully met all order deadlines AND graduated.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I started to study candle making during Covid. I realized I enjoyed it, so I started studying the craft through the Makesy YouTube tutorials. I realized that making mold candles excited people, and was asked by a friend if she could buy a few Halloween candles I had made. Once she asked, more people asked, and I realized that I could start a business making pillar candles.
I started buying more molds and experimenting with more waxes. I decided to focus on waxes that were friendly to the environment and moved away from paraffin. I continued to get requests for candles and decided to start Tranquil Iris. The thing that makes Tranquil Iris stand out from other candle companies is the pillar aspect of the candles. Also that we focus on customized candles. We offer a wide selection of scents. We also allow you to select your preferred color of the candle. I have expanded into many niches with my candles.
We have a lot of animal candles and even an adult candle line. I’m learning how to make my candle molds to continue to produce candles people have directly asked for. I have started vending shows and meeting people and getting to see a direct reaction of my candles and it makes me realize this is what I want to do. I currently have my candles in a few local stores. And run a website. I will also be in a lot more local fairs and vending spaces.
Any big plans?
I want to finish my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I won’t rule out a further study focusing on the Psychology of Religion. I plan to learn more about expanding Tranquil Iris. I want to learn more about online sales, in-person vending, advertising, business planning, and finding an accountant to help me monthly. I plan to hire someone part-time to assist with the labeling and shipping of my candles.
My goal for 2023 is wider exposure, rebranding our website, rebranding our labels, and finding a mentoring program to assist with this. Eventually, I would love to own a traveling candle shop to get my candles out to the community. And then maybe open a store.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tranquil-iris.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tranquil_iris
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/tranquiliris
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/tranquil_iris
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tranquiliris2639
