Katrina Williams stands with her check after winning the Chamber of Commerce’ s Entrepreuneur
Bootcamp competition.
closer to family.
The candles are literally home-made. Williams’ s 14-year-old son sometimes helps with labeling them. Many of her biggest customers are boutiques, salons, and barber shops.
“ I go out to those areas and I sell,” Williams said.“ I make the business my customer.”
The establishments buy candles in bulk from Williams and resell them to their customers. Many of these businesses burn the candles inside their establishments, which Williams says has certainly increased sales.
“ Atmosphere matters to their customers. So( the business owner) wants his business to smell great. So I keep( their) business flourished with the scents that are going to attract( customers), and I change them out seasonally,” Williams said.“ You see, it ' s
a relationship I ' m building with a business. By way of me servicing the businesses, the stylists, the barbers, they become my customer and they ' re my repeat and residual customer.”
Williams said she often has to restock businesses more than once per month.
“ In the summer, it ' s a little slower. So I go out just once a month. And then in the fall, from September to December, I ' m out like every two weeks because it ' s the holiday time and people are ready to shop,” she said.“( The businesses) love it when it can just come right to them.”
Williams said that her favorite part of the job is getting to meet and visit with so many people, and that her goals for her business are more than just candle sales.
“ My tagline is‘ let your light shine’”... because I really come to turn on the lights. There ' s a lot of people that are in dark places,” she said.“ So candles give me the opportunity to get in the door. But my real objective is to uplift and to inspire people. And so I ' m able to have conversations.”
One running a business must make
“ Atmosphere matters to their customers. So( the business owner) wants his business to smell great. So I keep( their) business flourished with the scents that are going to attract( customers), and I change them out seasonally. You see, it ' s a relationship I ' m building with a business. By way of me servicing the businesses, the stylists, the barbers, they become my customer and they ' re my repeat and residual customer.”
changes as they progress. Williams is about to transition to using 12 ounce jars instead of eight ounce jars for her candles. She is also thinking of putting her business on Etsy to explore new markets.
“ There ' s no limit to my possibility unless I create a limit,” she said.
Williams ships all over the country, you can peruse and purchase her merchandise at trueheartcandles. com.
Written by Ben Martin
— Katrina Williams
24 • THE VICKSBURG POST & VICKSBURG-WARREN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE