Sende Candles | Two Best Friends in Business
Today we are bringing you yet another inspirational entrepreneurial story. This time we are collaborating with Gilliany Briesen-Oduber and Rocío Burgos from Sende Candles. Are you thinking on starting a business with your best friend? This one’s a must-read!
Partners since day one
So how does one decide to go in business with a close friend? How do you know that it’s the right move? Gilliany and Rocío tells us that they have always been partners, whether it was for school or carnival projects. They even worked at the same establishment for a while. It was a natural transition for them to go in business together as they have always discussed partnering together and developing their own brand.
So tip number one if you are thinking on going in business with your bestie: try working in several projects together beforehand so you have an idea of how the work will flow.
Sende Candles; how it came about
Sende Candles launched on September 15th 2020. With the pandemic shaking up everyone’s realities, the Sende Candles ladies wanted to create a unique product that would carry their personalities through positive messages and energy to the clients home.
So how did they come up with this one-of-a kind name?
“We’ve been using the slang “sende sende” for the longest time to hype each other up and we wanted to translate that very same feeling to the candles when our client’s light them up” says Gilliany and Rocío, so that’s how Sende Candles got its name.
An Experience
Sende Candles are not just candles, they are an experience. Both ladies are fully involved in the candle making process from start to finish as each is handmade. Gilliany and Rocío carefully hand pour their own recipe that is made with organic ingredients.
#FunFact: each candle is part of a collection that is named after a local tradition or a current momentous event and the candles each have a unique message which showcases the ladies’ love for our native language, Papiamento.
Each Sende Candle comes with a barcode that includes a playlist for you to enjoy once you’ve lit your candle. For visual pleasure, the candles come with a shopping catalog which includes their social media platforms. Sende Candles clients are also encouraged to upcycle their empty candle glass which can be used as a cosmetic container for makeup brushes, accessories, or cotton pads for example.
The rewards and the risks
Starting a business always comes with rewards and risks, and this is no different for Gilliany and Rocío. For the ladies, launching this business together has been an amazing journey of creative freedom. They have enjoyed every step of building this business together: from selecting the different messages, the packaging, and most of all, eagerly await for feedback to continue improving their product. The support overall has been tremendous, says both.
With success, there are always challenges in business. Gilliany and Rocío explain that candles are complicated in the best way. Both ladies have endured a long process of trial and error in the candle making process. The ladies reveal that you can face many challenges as working with wax and its temperatures is truly a science of its own.
Words of wisdom from 2 best friends in business
When we asked the Sende Candles ladies if they had any advice for two besties who are thinking of starting a business together they immediately said “do it!”. Communication, honesty, and transparency are key ingredients to a successful partnership. The bond you have with each other will translate into your work and product(s). It is important you empower one another and built your business together as partners and therefore showcase what your creative minds can do collectively.
Sende Candles: the future
What does the future hold for Sende Candles? Both envision and talk about their little candle shop every day. The vision they have for Sende Candles is that it will be the “fragrance of your home”. How? by providing a wide range of scented organic products that continuously highlight our local traditions, language, and positivity which is the essence of us locals.
We can’t wait for the day “Sende Candles” is known on the island as one of the top take-with-you souvenirs and have our dushi Papiamento be the light in the homes of our clients and guests visiting our island as well.
So what we can take from this inspirational story of Sende Candles is to dream big! Dare to take the challenge but enjoy the process along the way and if you are thinking to go in business with a friend, start doing projects together. If that goes well, the next step is to do it!
Follow Sende Candles on social:
Facebook
Instagram
