Meet Tosha Lacy: Chandler

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

Hi Tosha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to invest in myself and learn something I could teach my daughters and leave a legacy for them. I started learning to make candles in 2019 but did not have the drive and focus to truly learn and perfect the craft. The weekend before I turned 40, I made the decision to go to Atlanta, GA for a 1 on 1 class with a well-known African American Chandler. She took the time to pour into me a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and encouragement to restart my journey into candle making. Since then, I have been able to put into practice what I have learned and build my brand.

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.
I have been an LVN for 10 years and in the healthcare field over 20 years. I truly have a heart for the Geriatric population. I love being able to help people be as independent as they can, as well as be an advocate for them. I am most excited when my clients/patients call and express how excited they are because their weight has gone down, their blood sugar or blood pressure is normal, or they have received some type of community based assistance they were not able to receive or had difficulty beginning the process had I not been their advocate. That is what makes being a nurse and case manager worth while. Nursing school definitely was not easy and it is true what they say, “if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen while you’re in nursing school.” There were a lot of challenges but to look back to where I started and where I am now, I would do it all over again. I have made many great connections, relationships, and friendships along the way. I have learned to appreciate the moments and never take anything or anyone for granted. My brand is a reflection of who I am becoming. I chose the colors black and gold to represent my growth into the meaning of the colors, black: power, strength, and sophistication; and gold: passion, courage, and love. When retailers, wholesalers, or private label clients see my brand, the products they ordered, from the first lighting of the candle to the last, I want to leave a lasting impression with my brand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My choice would be New Orleans. I love, love, love music! I would definitely plan evenings that would include jazz clubs and the House of Blues. We would not have the “traditional” itinerary, but would go with the flow of things. There are a few places we would definitely visit: Bourbon Street, Congo Square, The Backstreet Cultural Museum, and Studio BE.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes, most definitely. I would love to give a special shoutout to Ms. Kim Braud. I followed her on Facebook for a long time before reaching out to her. I remember commenting on a post in a candle group, asking if she did 1 on 1 classes for those out of state and she said, “yes!” After that day, I started making preparations to drive 10 hours for this class. She has such a beautiful soul and spirit. She has been a truly blessing, support, and mentor on my journey. I recently lost my job on July 17th and I reached out to her. She was so positive and gave me the truth about the next phase of my destiny. The statement that I continue to hear her say and that keeps me going, “you’re already there, all you have to do is step out of faith.” To know that I have her support and mentorship is worthy of a shoutout. My family also deserves recognition. They have truly been my backbone. They have supported me spiritually, financially, purchasing candles, promoting, and being my truth when I had moments of self doubt. They have been my rock during my time of transition from laying the foundation to building my brand. I would not be where I am without them.

Website: www.flickandflauntcandleco.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/flickandflauntcandleco
Facebook: www.facebook.com/flickandflauntcandleco

Image Credits
Shannel Gray(headshot)