Meet Cheryl Gant | Owner and Chief Pouring Officer of With Love Candle Studio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cheryl Gant and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cheryl, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?\

For a long time, I thought maybe I wasn’t cut out for entrepreneurship. My journey consisted of a handful attempts at either starting a business, but never following through to launch; a few multi-level marketing opportunities; and just daydreaming about the type of business I could start, but never venturing beyond my comfort zone to go through with it. So, when I declared that I would start a business making and selling candles, it was completely on a whim without any warning, forethought, or pre-planning. It felt right. I literally just put the message out to the universe and wasted no time getting to work. I ordered a candle kit, poured my very first candle and With Love Candle Studio was born.

I immersed myself into learning everything I needed to know about the candle making process; because, if there is one thing that customers want, it’s a candle that smells good and lasts a long time. Countless hours were spent testing, redoing, and testing my candle formulas to produce the perfect burn and scent combinations that my customers would love and enjoy. I joined Facebook groups for candle makers and business owners, followed other candle makers on social media, watched YouTube videos, you name it. I leveraged every free resource available from reputable industry experts that helped me get organized and plan my launch.

And, on 11/11/2020, I launched my business releasing my signature line, The Empowerment Collection. Each candle in The Empowerment Collection was thoughtfully curated with a scent profile formulated to align with the specific intention of the candle. For example, the scent for my ‘Trust Yourself’ candle is White Sage and Lavender. These two herbs together are commonly used in aromatherapy and spiritual practices to enhance intuition. The objective of this line was to create a beautiful collection of candles that would not only enhance my Customer’s space but would also promote a feeling of self-love, self -empowerment, and self-acceptance.

Starting this business hasn’t been easy, but it certainly has been rewarding. It’s forced me to grow beyond my comfort zone and do things I never thought capable. There is a sense of pride that comes with being an entrepreneur and I’m so fortunate that I get to share my creations with the world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My corporate experience spans 25 years in technology as a Project Manager and Agile Delivery leader. However, my very first job was in a family-owned party store in the Bronx, NY at the age of 12. I remember being so proud to be making my own money. I guess that was my introduction to capitalism, because with every paycheck, I would go shopping and was able to build my wardrobe for the upcoming school year. I believe my early introduction into the workforce created a work ethic within me that continued in my career as a working adult and continues in the practice of running my business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A visit to Dallas is not complete until you’ve had a nitrogen margarita from Beto & Sons at Trinity Groves, shopped at North Park Mall, visited the Dallas Museum of Art, the Arboretum, Klyde Warren Park, Deep Ellum and checked out the Star in Frisco. Saturdays are also fun at the Dallas Farmer’s Market and if it’s football season, catch a Cowboys game at the iconic AT&T stadium.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

It has certainly taken a village. From the very beginning, I’ve received a tremendous amount of support from my family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Everything ranging from direct support by purchasing candles to spreading the word on social media and even signing up to helping in the candle studio, delivering orders, and even assisting at vendor markets and fairs. So many people have been instrumental in my success as a candle maker.

My mom was my very first customer. I hadn’t officially launched yet and, quite honestly, I was holding on to fear and doubt. I will never forget… she pulled 30 or 40 dollars out of her wallet and asked, “what can I buy with this?”. I don’t think she realized it at the time, but that gesture helped propel me forward and get over the fear of launching my business. She remains one of my top customers to this day.

My son, Dominic has been a huge part of my business, especially in the beginning. He helps with pouring candles. He’s a college student now, but when he’s home, he is always willing to assist where needed. I must also shout out my niece, my sister, my stepmom, and my best friend who have all signed up or been “VOLUNtold” to assist with vendor markets and fairs, and even delivering orders from time to time without complaint.

There have been so many others who have showed so much love and support that I could go on and on. I do want to call out The Black Candle Makers Club (BCMC) Facebook group. I’ve joined several Facebook groups that support small candle businesses, but BCMC has created a space for black candlemakers to share ideas, network, and learn from each other by providing opportunities to help us learn, grow and scale our businesses. In April of this year, we held our first annual BCMC conference in Santa Monica, CA where candlemakers from around the country met up for workshops where we learned from some of the top candle experts. BCMC has been invaluable and key to my business’s growth and success.

Website: withlovecandlestudio.com

Instagram: @withlove_candlestudio

Facebook: @with.love.candle.studio

Other: Tiktok: withlove_candlestudio