WE MADE THE NEWS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorna Owens. Lorna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far. I started Desert Sage Soy Candle in 2015 to help support the work I do around the world through my Footprints Foundation. Footprints Foundation help to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Sub Saharan Africa and Jamaica by training doctors, nurses and traditional birthing attendants. Plus, I thought it would be a nice break from the rigors of my law. Little did I know I would have fallen in love with candle making. It really gets my creative juices going. Each candle represents a different country e.g. Soweto Jazz-South Africa, Mango Guava-Jamaica, Blue Nile-Ethiopia and so on. Our Soy Candle take you around the world, ‘Journey of the Senses’. Our candles contain no lead, sulfate or paraben. They are all hand poured and will burn cleanly for up to 80 hours. Our latest collection is called Imagine a World. The intent is reminding us that no one should die giving birth. The candle is Sandalwood and Musk and is made from a special blend of cosmetic grade coconut, palm and soy wax, a true massage candle. My candle business has changed my life and by that, I mean I am up until one in the morning coming up with fragrance idea, package design and marketing. I chose to take our candles directly to the consumer by using Independent Candle Consultants that has caused us to develop a support system and a very robust training program. Our consultants know I am there for them and that they can call me anytime. Using consultants fit with what I have done all my life which is empower women, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Doing so is a natural fit to me being a former registered nurse and midwife. Like every business, one has to become a student of the business so I read a lot not just about candles but also the fragrance industry, I want to be able to bring to the marketplace some the most exotic candles. I believe I have done just that with Desert Sage Soy Candle and I am just getting started. Remember every time you purchase a Desert Sage Candle we donate 15% to help save the lives of mothers and babies around the world. Has it been a smooth road? Business is never smooth. Two of my fragrances didn’t do as well as I had hoped so I had to redesign them. Retail is a nightmare. People don’t return calls but you just have to get up every day and just grid it out. We’d love to hear more about your business. We specialize in Soy Candles. We are known for having great fragranced candles that burn cleanly for a long time and will fill up a large space. I am very proud of the quality of our candles. We believe in the power of aromatherapy and we hold seminars around that subject. We do Networkers for women called Sip and Tweet. They are well received. Additionally, at our Sip and Tweet we honor one woman with our Desert Sage Big Heart Woman Award. That is a woman who is always helping others but often go unrecognized. Is our city a good place to do what you do? Yes, I believe there is money for business but I think one has to work hard to be found. This is as good a place as any to start a business. Pricing: Our 9 oz candle retail for $35 Our 11 oz candle retail for $42 Our 20 oz candle for $60