The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Like many small businesses, we’ve faced the usual growing pains from sourcing delays to imposter syndrome to managing our time and finances carefully. But one of the hardest challenges was simply giving ourselves permission to begin. To say “yes” to our own ideas and believe they were worth sharing. Each event, each new product, each bit of feedback has built our confidence and reminded us why we started. It really is true what the likes of Steven Bartlett say: just begin and you can improve and grow as you go. Having grace for ourselves as we improve is key.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The biggest pro is the freedom: to build something that truly reflects who we are and what we believe in. To choose family time and ambition. To connect directly with our customers and hear how our products impact their lives.
The biggest con? The mental load. There’s always something to do, fix or figure out and it’s hard to switch off. It’s not like a normal job where you can log off until the next day, or not work on the weekend. We are literally always thinking about or talking shop. But we wouldn’t change it. We’re proud of every candle poured and every story shared.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We’re dreaming big. Our vision is to become a household name, so that when people think of self-care, they think of Rizai’s. We want to continue growing with purpose, expanding our product range while staying rooted in our values of quality, intention and emotional connection. After our first taster at WellFest in July, we’re excited to do more markets and pop-ups, connecting face-to-face with our customers and sharing the Rizai’s experience in real time. Whether it’s through our Ritual Boxes, gifting collections or everyday essentials, we hope to build a brand that supports people in slowing down and making space for themselves, even in the busiest seasons of life. We’re also looking forward to growing our community through events and collaborations both online and in real life.
visit rizaislondon.com to found out more. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram
