Meet Lauren Dunbar | Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Dunbar and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Lauren, how do you define success?
I define success by embracing the moments i am most proud of. Everyone’s definition of success is tailored to their own unique vision and goals. Being a new entrepreneur, I define my success remembering my ” WHY?” and looking back at the moments that I was most proud of. I believe that success is also defined by understanding your “Why?’ and not giving up. It is defined by understanding that everyday is a learning process and in order to be successful we have to continue to evolve and not stay stagnant. Whether I am doing pop up event, Pitching my small business and the benefit of soy wax to a customer, or researching a new product; I define these all as successful moments because they lay the foundation for my business to evolve over time to reach my short term and long term goals.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Lulling Candles and Co. we make handcrafted and eco-friendly candles and melts .All products are made with 100% natural soy wax and chemical free fragrance oils. At Lulling Candles and Co., It is our mission to produce candles and melts with bold and unique scents that are safe for the environment and our health. At Lulling Candles and Co. We pride ourselves on the unique blends of fragrances that are not the typical candles scents. Each of our candle scents are blends of fragrance oils that you will only find at Lulling Candles and Co. We are a black owned and family based candle company, we representation in Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles, CA.
As a new small business, we are most proud of the response and support we have received from our community. It was a huge milestone for us to launch Lulling Candle and Co. on June 29th, 2021, after a year and half of testing and researching wax, oils and containers. We are hopeful and excited to see what the future hold for our business.
The making and branding of Lulling Candles and Co., was not an easy process. In fact we had a lot of bumps in the road to get to where we are today. We had to go back to the drawing board numerous times, and refused to give up. We overcame our challenges by remember our “WHY” and understanding that we are not perfect. We learned throughout the process that it will take time to get to where we need to be as small candle business. Through the process of becoming and being a business owner , we have learn that a business does not become successful overnight; It takes time, patience, and dedication to get to where you need to be and accomplishing the goals you have set.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would first make sure we go to the best brunch places in Phoenix, Hash Kitchen, Breakfast Bitch, Snooze AM Eatery and of course end the week off with brunch at Maple and Ash.
We would also enjoy the amazing sunrise by hiking Camelback mountain and Piestewa Peak. After Hiking would enjoy some shopping at the local uptown farmers market and park west market.
We would end the night by going to dinner at the Compass Room, Hulus Modern Hawaiian Tiki Grill, Bobby Q’, and Steak 44. Finishing the night off with Drinks at 36 Below one night.
If my best friend was visiting in the beginning of the month, I would also take her to First Friday in Downtown Phoenix.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my family and friend who have encouraged, motivated and supported me every step of the way. I want to also dedicate my shoutout to the Lulling Candles and Co. community and my fellow small business owners. Thank you for creating and welcoming small business owners and giving us a space to share products and visions to the world.
Website: www.lullingcandles.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lullingcandlesandco/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.lullingcandles.com/
Image Credits
All Images credit : Martez Cornelius
