Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Bassett.
Hi Rachel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was growing up and was asked the typical question of “What do you want to do when you get older?” I would always respond with the answer that I wanted to be a lawyer, a coroner, or a business owner. Truthfully, I knew that above all, I really wanted to own my own business someday, but I really had no idea what I wanted to do and what I wanted to focus on. The idea of creating something, calling it mine, and being responsible for its success or failure was exciting to me.
Since I was unsure what career to pursue after high school, I continued my education at SIUE for my undergrad. I started off pursuing a business degree, which would make sense, but then I switched and ended up graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. At that point, I thought that I wanted to pursue a career in political campaigns, but also knew that this degree was a good starting point if I wanted to continue the path of becoming a lawyer. I was so unsure what I wanted to do! In the meantime, I continued to work at my job at a local print shop.
In 2019, I was sitting on my couch after work scrolling social media, looking for a new hobby or craft to do. That is when I came across an advertisement for soy candles. Something clicked in that instant and I thought to myself, “I can do that!” And then, without another thought, I started researching the process of making candles. I have always been creative and liked to do different art projects and DIYs (Pinterest projects were my thing), so candle-making seemed right up my alley. I started with the idea that what I made would be used as gifts for family and friends since it was typical of me to gift something that was handmade.
Once I realized that I loved the creative freedom candle-making gave me, I dove in even deeper. Soy candles were not extremely popular, but sought after, and only a few local businesses were making soy candles and clean home fragrance products. That is when I decided to make an Etsy account to try and sell some of the products that I was making. I had no idea what to expect, and I was unsure if any of the candles would sell. I launched my first small batch online and it sold out within one day! I was ecstatic. That is when I realized that this candle-making hobby could turn into something even bigger. I never dreamed that I would turn candle-making into a full-on business, now called Rustic Rays Candle Co.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I have encountered struggles during my past four years of owning and operating Rustic Rays Candle Co., but there have been challenges. When I decided to take my business full-time instead of just as a hobby, I was living in an RV with limited living space, let alone space for a candle business, and it was during the height of Covid. Supplies were hard to get ahold of, and my business was based around products that needed to be held and smelled in person. Nevertheless, I did what I could to sell my products online and I worked on growing my presence that way. I feel that every day I continue to learn and grow as a business owner, and I am facing any challenges that arise head-on.
We’ve been impressed with Rustic Rays Candle Co., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rustic Rays Candle Co. is a home fragrance company based out of Glen Carbon, Illinois. We pride ourselves in creating long-lasting home fragrance products made with clean ingredients. Each product is handmade with you in mind in our home studio. Our collections include 100% soy wax candles, wax melt packs for fragrance warmers, room sprays, and diffusers. When creating our products, we choose ingredients that are safe for you and your home. We use 100% soy wax in all our wax products, along with phthalate free premium fragrance oils, and lead and zinc-free cotton wicks. As mentioned, all of our products are handmade and hand-poured. We also proudly design our product labels, packaging, and informational cards.
Since everything we create is done in our studio, we can lean in and focus on what we want our brand to represent and look like. Over the past four years, we have changed our product designs and styles to achieve a more luxurious feel. However, we have kept our formulas the same so that you know that you are receiving the same great home fragrance product that you initially fell in love with!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
A few great ways to network would be to get out in your community and to join community-based or local business-based groups online. When you are physically out in your community, whether at a market selling your products or just doing something to support your community, it is always a networking opportunity. You never know who you will encounter, so start a conversation and see where it leads. Online groups are great, too, because they are more niche based. Not only can you find groups for your community specifically, but you can also find ones for small business owners. This is where I find answers to most of my business questions. If you don’t know the answer to something, need help brainstorming, or want to gain new business owner friends, these groups are the best way to do so!
Pricing:
- Soy Candles • $15 – $30
- Soy Wax Melt Packs • $5
- Room Sprays • $12
- Diffusers • $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rusticrays.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoprusticrays/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopRusticRays/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shoprusticrays
Image Credits
Divine Daisy Photography, Verdigris Photography & Design
