Customer obsession is not a buzzword we use for effect. Our whole aspiration is to help people who choose turn their ideas into fully functional and accessible websites. This time, we are sitting with Karen from speaking about her adventure, tribes and tribulations while building a successful business that led to an exciting partnership opportunity with Rolls Royce Motor Cars.
an unexpected start
Becoming a mother who cares about the safety and health of products motivated Karen to start her own company. In just four months, a fulfilled idea brought him large-scale results!
What led you to the idea of a candle business?
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I discovered that most commercial candles were full of toxins that could be harmful to my baby and me by breathing. Unable to find natural, clean-burning, good-smelling candles, I started making my own.
How old is your baby”? How did the business develop from day 1 to now?
We officially launched a business on August 8, 2020, the same day as our baby’s first birthday. Therefore, our first scent, Luna, is actually named after her. We started with three scents in one size, hoping to get some requests from friends and family. By November 2020, we had seven fragrances in three different sizes, candle refills, gift sets, and packing an incredible number of Christmas orders!
Now for Christmas 2021 we offer a range of ten scents in four different tumbler sizes, all refillable, an Advent Set and various gift sets. All can be personalized, gift-wrapped and come with a handwritten gift card, so you have endless possibilities when looking for a unique gift for your loved one.
Roller coaster of running your own business
From the lack of crucial ingredients for Little Karma Co. products to the decoration of all the promotional events organized by Rolls Royce Motor Cars, Karen approaches her business as an exciting non-stop challenge.
What were the biggest challenges you’ve faced when creating or running your business?
We probably couldn’t foresee how popular our candles would be in the months leading up to Christmas 2020. We thought we were ordering enough materials to make what was needed, but we always ran out of crucial ingredients!
What was your proudest moment in running your business?
Rolls Royce Motor Cars London requested to decorate its new showroom in Mayfair with several giant scented candles with a custom design and an exclusive Rolls Royce scent. Since then, we have made one with them, supporting all their promotional events carried out for their clients.
An enterprise that contributes to society
By taking a green approach to its products, striving for sustainability, and giving back to society, Little Karma Co. builds a strong community around itself and connects closely with its customers.
What do you really love about your business?
We love the ethos we aspire to live by by making all of our products plastic-free, recycled or recyclable, and offering candle refills to save our customers and the planet money! Plus, we make sure the ingredients are all-natural, including vegan coconut and rapeseed wax, essential oil blend. The production process even involves waxing the wicks in-house to avoid the thin layer of paraffin found on pre-waxed wicks, which are more commonly used in mass production.
How does your company contribute to the community?
We regularly support the charities we love the most by giving them part of our sales as a donation. We give £1 from every sale of our UP YOURS CORONA candles to Mind, the mental health charity, which raised over £3,500. This Christmas, we’re giving 10% of our Christmas fundraising proceeds to the Trussell Trust, whose is to stop hunger and poverty in the UK.
What relationship do you have with your customers?
We also like to connect with our customers through Instagram. As our company grows, we share with our customers our personal experiences and stories about new products and products from other independent companies that we love.
A website that leads to your online success
Karen decided to turn to to build her website. Currently, her online business operates with the from and grow as .
When did you create a website for your business? Did you do it yourself or did you seek help? Do you feel confident in your knowledge to create and maintain a website now?
I created the website in the summer of 2020. At the time, I had basic coding skills. After combining it with my design experience, I was able to use a template and make specific changes to it to create the exact look and feel of the website I was looking for.
The website is maintained for now, but as we continue to expand, you’ll probably need help keeping all the products and pages up to date! takes care of all of that and allows me to focus on the real business.
Does the website help you achieve your business goals?
We use the Little Karma Co. website backend for order management, fulfillment, stock levels, etc., so it’s pretty comprehensive to all business operations.
Inspiration for the future
Karen firmly believes that having a strong passion is the direct path to amazing achievements. With her family by her side, she is eager to see Little Karma Co. expand both in the UK and internationally.
If you had the opportunity to change only one thing when creating and maintaining your business in the past, what would it be?
I would probably say that it should have started earlier. It’s so nice to wake up every day and know that I’m doing something that I really enjoy with my family by my side.
What are the future plans for Little Karma? Tell us about your goals
We would love to expand our customer base in the UK, Europe and beyond by stocking our candles in more stores and websites, so everyone can enjoy our naturally scented candles.
What suggestions do you have for those who have an idea for a business, but are afraid to start?
I’d say just go for it: you don’t have to quit your day job when you start, just do it little by little or as much as you can, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish. If they are passionate about something and proud of the product they offer, chances are someone else will be interested in it and willing to pay for it. And if not, they will have accomplished something by learning new skills along the way!
We decided to order personalized Christmas gifts and they brought the real festive spark to the office. So, if you’re still looking for encouragement to make your dreams come true, we think Little Karma’s story will give you the inspiration you need!
Three. Two. Light!
Have you used to share your ideas with the world? We would love the opportunity to hear your story and expand on your adventure. Feel free to contact and express your interest.
Carlos is a professional in digital marketing, eCommerce and website builders. He loves helping businesses grow online through his tips. In his free time, he is surely singing or practicing martial arts.
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