Burning Both Ends of the Candle: Bonita Fierce Candles
The Steve Harvey Morning Show
iHeartPodcasts
4.5 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 20 February 2024
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Melissa Gallardo’s childhood smelled like dark-roast coffee and lavender Fabulosa. As an adult, she found it difficult to find fragrances that made her feel at home, so she took it into her own hands and taught herself to make candles. It was a fun hobby side hustle until a 5,400 candle order almost sent her over the edge.
Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Melissa, founder of Bonita Fierce Candles, about taking her passion project from her side hustle to her full-time job. Discover how she started the company in her spare room while working 9-5 and finishing a graduate degree, built a relatable brand by focusing on her personal experience and how she landed her first big order. These are the Unshakeables.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | For Melissa Galardo, founder and CEO of Benita Fierce Candles, starting a candle business |
| 0:07.2 | from scratchment handling every single part of production. |
| 0:10.8 | From wax pouring and fragrance mixing to packaging and shipping. |
| 0:15.0 | She mostly had been getting small orders from local boutiques, |
| 0:18.0 | but that all changed one night in 2022. |
| 0:22.0 | We got a faxed PO from Barnes and Noble, a literal fax sent to my email at midnight |
| 0:29.0 | and it said 5,400 candles. My biggest order to date, I think I woke up and I couldn't fall back asleep. |
| 0:37.0 | It was like, how in the world are we going to do this? |
| 0:41.0 | I just stare at my ceiling. I'm like, there's no way. I don't even have the money |
| 0:46.1 | to get this far. |
| 0:51.6 | Welcome to the Unshakableables from Chase for Business and Ruby Studio from I Heart Media. |
| 0:57.0 | I'm Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business. |
| 1:00.0 | And I'm Tanya Niedbo, a lawyer and consultant for business owners. |
| 1:03.4 | On the unshakables, we're sharing the daring stories of small business owners |
| 1:07.4 | facing their crisis points and telling the stories of how they got through it. |
| 1:13.0 | Hey Ben, Hey Tanya. |
| 1:14.0 | I think you're going to like this one. |
| 1:16.0 | We've got a guest today who really mastered the art of PR |
| 1:19.0 | and successfully managed to weave her culture into her brand |
| 1:22.0 | and into her products. |
| 1:23.6 | Awesome, let's get going. |
| 1:25.2 | On today's episode, Bonita Fierce Candles from Long Island, New York. |
... |
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