Sam Isaacs is a proud small business owner and experienced brand marketer. She currently lives in Brooklyn where she draws inspiration from each and every day. Her goal is to create a unique candle business that allows people time and space to carve out peaceful moments and savor their down time. You can learn more about her small business, Idyll Candles, at idyllcandles.com.
the story
It was the height of lockdown and I was sheltering in place in a quaint town upstate New York with my partner. Each day bled into the other, my job was weighing on my spirit, and I was detached from everything that once made me, me. Even though I was seeing a virtual therapist at the time (who was honestly so unhelpful), I felt like I had no true outlet for the complicated and depressive emotions I carried. Not unlike most of us during that insane time.
If asked, I couldn't really pinpoint when I decided to channel all of that frustrated, sad, and overwhelmed energy into a craft, but I do remember Googling “ways to cope with feeling trapped”, and one of the top suggestions was to make something with your hands. As a kid I always leaned towards creative outlets like singing, drawing, crafting, but as you get older and reality sets in, so much of that wonder and ability is often snuffed out. Can I actually make a living as a creative? Or should I find something more practical to sustain myself?
By 2020 I was already 3 years into my marketing career, making enough to feel comfortable. So I decided to take the leap and invest in Google's suggestion; I decided to make candles. The more I learned about the process, tested, made mistakes, and created something that I was proud of and excited to share with close friends and family, the less I felt trapped in my own mind. I was beginning to feel excited about something again and felt inspired to hone my craft until it became more than just an outlet.
Fast forward 3 years and I’m the proud owner of a certified candle business that has achieved over 100 e-commerce sales and exciting wholesale orders with local shops in Brooklyn.
the lesson
Grappling with complicated emotions is no small feat that can be solved by finding the right project to channel your energy into - it’s unfortunately not that simple. But I was so lucky to find something that pulled me out of a seemingly endless funk, and turn it into something that brings me joy every day. From selecting new scents, brand building, and everything in between. The act of creation not tied to my career or my worth brought back a childlike spark that I was afraid I’d lost. Creating my own business has shaped my life for the better, and regardless of its success I will always be grateful that I took the chance to make something for myself.
the light
If you’re considering taking a similar leap, I’d imagine you may be pushing past the mental barriers and doubts that come with any risk. I found myself thinking, “who am I, and why would anyone care that I made this?” Challenging the idea even before it had a chance to be challenged IRL.
My advice? Do it anyway!
Take your time, test and learn, find your audience, and create only the way you can. I remember being so scared to invest my hard earned money into something I had no way of ensuring would be successful, and that fear is valid. What I can assure you of is once you take the chance to bring your unique idea to fruition, you’ll realize how ready your community is to show up for you and support in countless ways. Learning this lesson in my 20s was beyond formative, especially when this time of our lives can feel so definitive and lonely. At the risk of sounding corny, your story is still unwritten. Hold on tight to your creative freedom and self-expression, and always bet on yourself.