On Friday, August 24th there’s an ETSY party happening at my new favorite hang out in San Pedro (CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles) A lot of the vendors will be offering different projects for you to make and take as you shop, eat some food, and just enjoy a night out. If you’d like to partake in this invite make sure you RSVP here:
Etsy is a great online community in which local artists can sell their goods, and a lot of the artist’s that have booth space at CRAFTED are also on Etsy. Some of my favorites include: KokoCandles, Hydrangea Hippo, Desiree B, WoodBrain, It’s Me, Mary, and JadenMoon Soaps and Sundries.
I sent a few questions over to the founder of KoKoCandles (which makes some fabulous candle designs from cupcakes to pies to mac and cheese noodles that I just love and adore.) And I want to share those questions and answers with all of you:
How did you get started with Kokocandles?
I got started with candlemaking about 14 years ago, in the early high school days. It began as a mere hobby from simply playing with the wax of burning candles to a full-on life-consuming adventure. KOKOCANDLES was officially launched as a business May 2011, with our Etsy store opened since October 2008.
What is the biggest challenge as a small biz owner?
The biggest challenge as a small biz owner is having to do everything yourself and keeping things in perspective. Choosing where to invest my limited amount of time in has been a big lesson in time management and planning.When you first heard about CRAFTED, what were your thoughts?
I heard about CRAFTED months before I applied. As a solo-preneur that has done pop-up shows only, the thought of getting my own permanent storefront was only a pipedream.How have people taken to KokoCandles since CRAFTED opened?
Everyone has been so supportive and wonderful ever since we’ve opened. I know that KOKOCANDLES has a unique point of view to offer, and I feel so blessed to be able to share it with the CRAFTED audience.How successful has Etsy been for you?
Etsy has been a overall a great success for me. Although I am just shy of 400 sales, it has been an essential platform in helping big players find me. KOKOCANDLES was featured in the December 2009 Food Network Magazine and also a contributing author in “Candlemaking the Natural Way: 31 Projects Made with Soy, Palm & Beeswax”, and both of these pieces were through being found thru Etsy.What is your favorite kokocandle?
My all time favorite piece is the Mac & Cheese DIY Candle, I love it because its one of my original candles. The process of creating the wax “noodles” with a hole in the center was difficult for figure out, and each noodle is handmade individually. The DIY factor where you assemble the kit is just so fun, while watching a ramekin full of mac & cheese burn is quite awesome too.Kokocandles is a really neat vendor and I highly recommend you get in contact with them:
WEBSITE & STORE: www.kokocandles.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/kokocandles
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/kokocandles
EMAIL: kokocandles@gmail.com
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP: http://ow.ly/beEf8
Kokocandles is also putting on a giveaway right now on their facebook page in which you have the opportunity to win one of their candles, so definitely take the time to check them out there, and have fun. Have you discovered Kokocandles at CRAFTED yet?
CRAFTED
Have you been to CRAFTED yet? If not, what are you waiting for. Friday, August 24th will be a great night of fun, and a fun time to come out and see what ETSY is all about.