I met Kamari at the Pinner’s Conference this past month and she shared how she started making candles and smudges. The passion for her craft shined through every item in her booth and it felt very welcoming. We are very happy to have Kamari share her story with our readers.

In a few sentences, this is what my business does:

Amora Design Studio is a brand dedicated to cultivating wellness through design. It's all about elevating the space around us by bringing in elements that inspire us and make us feel good.

We offer a unique selection of premium soy candles and intention candles. We also offer branded candle care products and glassware. This Fall we are finally adding home essentials like blankets, pillows and wall decor. I couldn't be more excited!

My typical work environment is:

A home office. I call it "the studio". This can be any one or multiple areas of the house depending on how much space I need to create.

The training or education that is required for my type of business is:

The training/education that benefited me the most was field research. For me that meant truly getting to know my customer base and what problems needed solving. Then, actually testing my products to make sure we were a part of the solution.

To me, being part of the gig economy means:

Whether you call it the "gig economy", "entrepreneurship", a "mom-preneuer" or "small business owner" - the important thing is that I'm pursuing what is meant for me.

The benefits of my type of work are:

For me, the best part about doing what I do is that it's incredibly therapeutic. I absolutely love creating, designing and all things wellness. So, even when I'm engaged in processes that are labor intensive or mentally taxing, I experience this euphoria that simply doesn't come from being paid to make someone else's dreams come true. I would also add the benefit of connecting with like-minded people and building an additional stream of income.

The difficulties I encountered starting a business were:

Whether it's a side-gig or your primary gig, starting a business is a huge undertaking, and it can be even more difficult when you're doing it alone. In the beginning, I struggled to find balance.

I stretched myself so thin trying to keep up with the algorithms and mimic systems and sales like these large corporations. All while trying not to miss any family time and still make time for myself. I really struggled in the beginning. Then, I realized how my lack of presence was contributing to that and I started making changes that better aligned with my intentions.

The way I use/leverage social media is:

Social media allows me to raise brand awareness and build a rapport with my community. I leverage social media by sharing my own wellness journey, as well as my experiences as a mother and small business owner.

Integrating technology into my business is:

The programs and apps I rely on mostly are those that help me plan ahead and automate my processes. I'm still figuring out what works for me. I really like Preview, for example. It helps my layout and scheduling of social media content. I find that to be critical for a web-based business like mine.

”Making it” and success as a small business to me means:

To me, "making it" is being profitable while staying true to the brand mission and to myself. Win-win.

The way I balance work and personal time is:

I do this first by staying committed to the things that make me feel whole, like exercising, meditation and journaling. Then, I have the mental, emotional and physical capacity to be present and offer my best self.

The pandemic impacted my business by:

The pandemic impacted my business first by giving me the courage to start. Secondly, by making it nearly impossible to secure the resources I needed to make consistent sales. There were times when supplies were delayed by several weeks or even a month at a time after I had taken to social media and given my community a launch date. Oof! Those were really tough times.

The way that diversity impacts my business is:

Amora Design Studio is proud to be an inclusive, diverse brand. In a diverse community we can begin to diminish discrimination by creating a safe space to celebrate our differences and cultivate acceptance and belonging.

The future for my business is:

The future is brick and mortar. I'd like to see our products made available in major department stores, home and wellness capsule collections and a free-standing store of our own. The future of my business is bright!

Is there a question we didn't ask, that we should have asked:

The only thing I can think of is what has been one of your proudest achievements/experiences? - To that I would say being featured in Better Homes and Gardens was an incredibly proud moment. It was unexpected, exhilarating and validating all at once.

One final piece of useful advice I would give to others is:

Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are an inevitable part of learning. Don't expect overnight success. Give yourself grace - don't waste your time and energy comparing your journey to someone else's.

You can reach Kamari Brownlow and Amora Design Studio through the links below:

Kamari Brownlow and Amora Design Studio

Sarah O’Connor’s The Craftie Studio

Romi Naar’s Atelier Mamo