Today we’d like to introduce you to Fiona Thomas.
Hi Fiona, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my business in 2019 while I was still working as a paramedic running emergency calls for a busy ambulance service. Making candles was my way of relaxing in between 24-hour shifts and finding a means of stress relief. I rapidly fell in love with melting wax in my double boiler and adding dyes and scents, but it wasn’t long before I decided that I wanted to make my work more ‘me’, and part of that included sharing them with the rest of the world.
I researched the best kinds of wax for what I wanted to do and settled on pure soy – my candles are vegan because of being a non-blended soy, and I make sure to source everything Texas-local wherever I can. Past that, my blends are my own – a huge part of my initial process is taking the time to blend each scent to perfection. This doesn’t matter if it’s in a candle or if it’s in one of my soaps: my blends are mine and took plenty of time to put together to a level that made me happy for release to everyone else.
I’ve long since taken the leap to a full-time maker and have branched out from my original farmhouse style mason jars and dough bowls to a luxury line that includes my Texas-themed candles based on different aspects of Texas history or “Texas Americana”.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road! Things I thought were going to be a smash hit were a flop, and I’ve had to make some tough decisions about where I should pivot my business over the last almost four years. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned, it’s that every single market is extremely different and what works well in one location is not going to work well in another. The biggest, most important thing is to never take those struggles or failures personally – it’s harder to get back up when you’re the one pushing yourself down.
As you know, we’re big fans of Fairy Fire Creations. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At its core, Fairy Fire is a candle company. We make candles in anything from mason jars and wooden dough bowls to luxury travel tins and larger glass vessels (and wineglasses!) without sacrificing quality. The end consumer gets the same quality in our product no matter what they purchase from us – a small mason jar to trial some scents or a luxury glass jar with crackling wicks.
What sets us apart? The fact that our scents are good until the very last drop in whatever container you use. They’re not just beautiful statement pieces, they fill up your home with the scent you’ve chosen. We also focus on reducing environmental impact by having a recycle program; our dough bowls are refillable (we come to you, dear Austinite or Greater Austinite!) as are some of our other vessels (you never pay full price again on those refills); mason jars we love to receive back and will net you a discount on your next purchase.
While we predominantly offer candles to the world, we do also make soaps (and we might have something else fun in the works!) and keep things environmentally friendly thereby steering 100% clear of palm oil, even if it says it’s environmentally friendly. We like bath products that take care of you and give back, and if we won’t use it on us, we won’t sell it to you.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Being a small business owner involves taking risks. I wouldn’t have some of the customers across the state or across the nation that I currently have if I didn’t opt for the advertising that I do.
The biggest risk that I took was probably choosing to drive all the way to Colorado from Austin for a craft show with my SUV loaded down with product, a tent, and tables, and hope that I wouldn’t be bringing it all home at the end of the weekend. The show wasn’t exactly cheap and getting up there was pricey both in terms of driving and staying. I ended up as the only person selling my style of candles, sold out of things (trust me, you don’t actually want to completely sell out, no matter how amazing that may feel!) and drove home significantly lighter than I drove up. I’ll be headed back this year for Round 2 and I can’t wait to see some of the same faces again!
Pricing:
- Mason Jar Candles Start at $9
- Dough Bowls Start at $35
- Travel Tins $25
- Wineglass $30
- Luxe Glass $45
Contact Info:
- Email: fairyfirecreations@gmail.com
- Website: https://fairyfirecandles.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/fairyfirecandles
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/fairyfirecandles
Image Credits
Fiona Thomas Amber Amman
