The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming our brand name confusion. My brand name is always a double looker for new customers – and I do get asked a lot of questions regarding the name and its origin. I’ll admit having the word socks in a candle brand name is rather odd (pun fully intended).
The true meaning behind the name is I wanted to name this brand something that was personal to me without having to put my actual name into it. I always wear odd socks, never intentionally, I just don’t care or rather have the time to find a matching pair. It became a running joke between my friends and family, so I figured why not name my brand after what I’m known for.
Initially, when people started questioning our candle name, I had self-doubt about my decision and started over thinking about every other decision I made after it. But I soon realised our brand name had so much meaning behind it and once I figured that out, everything clicked into place. We not only had a great brand name (I might be biased there), but we created our brand’s motto in the process, and the self-doubt quickly vanished.
We now sell socks – that of course are an odd pair – with the tag line “Life is too short to wear matching socks”.
It has become my own life and brand motto, like yes, life is too short. Wear the odd socks, overcome the self-doubt of running a business, burn that candle that is too pretty to burn, drink the expensive wine that you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Because life is too short.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Hearing stories and reviews from people makes everything worth it: hearing that we are on kids’ Christmas lists for Santa; that our millions of sprinkles candle is used at a day care for kids’ birthdays (they get to blow out the candle after everyone sings to them); that our cookie candle was a wedding gift for a groom who loves the cookie monster. These are just a few examples of the stories we get to hear.
Being able to bring people joy and impact their day in some way because of something I have made makes all the late nights, blood, sweat and tears worth it.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
One day I would love to have a small sustainable factory, be a well-known Kiwi brand and hopefully create more items that bring others joy.
Visit the Odd Socks Candles website to find out more, and connect with them on Instagram and Facebook.
