Today we’d like to introduce you to Tai Clay.
Hi Tai, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After high school, I received my degrees in Baking and Pastry Arts and Business in Denver, CO. I worked in the catering/pastry industry for years, and after I lost my job due to COVID, I had to break my lease and move in with my parents in Austin, TX.
With the culinary industry suffering, this provided me an opportunity to put my business degree to use. I have always been a natural entrepreneur, starting my first business in just the fourth grade. I sold stickers online to stay afloat during the pandemic and after months of testing, decided to develop a candle line in October of 2021.
Although I was new to candle-making, it was surprisingly similar to working as a pastry chef, requiring precise equations and recipes. I was able to go wherever my imagination took me with my products. Seeing people’s reaction to my hard work gave me the same feeling as when I would spend all day creating desserts for a special event. This gave me the motivation I needed to move forward with my new business venture, turning my extra bedroom into a candle studio and pouring every last dollar and free minute into Clay House Candles.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I was sixteen years old, I discovered a popular series of white crewneck sweatshirts online, all sporting different colorful designs on the front. I remember thinking, “I can do that, but better. And at a lower cost.” Thus Tops by Tai was born. The brand picked up immediately, making two sales just in the first few hours of being open, and I had to hit the ground running. I turned my parent’s dining room into a fully functioning warehouse, churning out $20,000 worth of apparel in a single summer.
This was one of many online shops that I’ve ran over the years, and they’ve all pretty much gone the same way. Develop a product. Post it online. Instant success.
I had never had to make an attempt at creating an online presence or truly workshopping a company’s brand image to attract a target audience. Clay House Candles was the first time I’ve had to fight to be relevant in an already crowded market.
I have been learning about SEO, social media marketing, federal small business taxes, and more as I go, all while still needing to create products and interact with customers. The growth of the company has been a steady climb, a big change of pace from the rapid influx of orders I was used to. In the beginning days of Clay House Candles, I was even delivering groceries to people to make money to pay for more candle supplies.
I am grateful for the challenges that I have and still will face, as they serve as a reminder that anything in live worth having is worth working for.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Clay House Candles produces candles and wax melts that are unique in their scents and in their design. I know that you can buy candles just about anywhere, so I pride myself on creating products that people have never seen before. Our best-selling candle is titled “Cactus Flower,” featuring hand-molded wax succulents placed on top. Also popular is “Cereal Milk,” a breakfast cereal scented candle that even has wax cereal loops sprinkled in.
We are known for wowing customers with our one of a kind style and delivering highly-giftable items that are sure to bring a smile to the recipient’s face. Whether you like fresh, sweet, masculine or floral scents, there is sure to be a candle scent for everyone.
Every candle is hand-poured and hand-decorated in small batches, adding a human touch to every item. You can find Clay House Candles online, but we also sell in-person at local Texas craft shows and markets.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is making sure my products are improving the lives of my customers. Whether it’s because of the one-of-a-kind nature of the item, the reasonable prices, or our community contributions.
Ideally, consumers are buying from Clay House Candles not just because our candles look beautiful and smell great but also because they know they will be contributing to a good cause. Starting in the summer of 2022, I am looking forward to rolling out a Community Contribution program. A portion of sales of certain scents will be donated to local causes. An Earth Month candle benefitting local conservation efforts, a Black History Month scent that raises money for local black rights organizations, etc.
Also, a number of people that purchase from Clay House Candles are buying gifts for friends or family. This always warms my heart because it means that what we’re offering is deemed worthy enough to give to the most important people in someone’s life.
What’s even more important than selling products is knowing that what I am selling is leaving a positive impact on the community that I love.
Contact Info:
- Email: clayhousecandles@gmail.com
- Website: www.ClayHouseCandles.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/clayhousecandles
- Facebook: Facebook.com/clayhousecandles
Image Credits
Ashleigh Sterling
