Hustler of the Month: Mia Artson, Founder of a Soy Candle Line Celebrating Blackness, Isabis LLC

If you could gift a candle to any famous figure on Earth, who would it be and what scent and message would you send them? 

I would send a Coco Mango candle to Kandi Burress. She is part of the reason why I started my business. I woke up one morning and was scrolling through IG when I came across a post of hers advertising a new business venture. I thought to myself, “Damn, she is really getting it!” I am a firm believer that representation is IMPORTANT and I saw myself in her. I look up to her and I feel like everything she touches turns into a million dollar empire. So maybe if she touched my candle, my candle line could turn into a million dollar candle line. Wishful thinking [laughs.]

Hey, it could really happen! [Smiles.] Do you plan on expanding your line to include other smell-goods like incense, or even bath and body products?

I definitely want to expand my line! The sky is the limit, and limiting myself is not an option. In the future I would like to offer melts, incense, etcetera. Right now, I am playing around with the idea of diffusers. Once again, it’s a trial and error type thing. It may work, it may not.

Is this what you do full-time, or do you work another job? 

I wish this were my full time job! Unfortunately, I am not there yet. I’ve never owned a business, so in the beginning it was hard for me to juggle my business and 9-5. I didn’t know my business would take off the way it did. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond blessed it took off the way it did. But I was stressed the first couple of weeks when I launched my business because time management was hard to grasp. This is all a learning process for me. I’ve made some mistakes and I am pretty sure there will be more down the road, but I’m learning.

So how have you learned to juggle working a 9-5 with fulfilling your passion?

Right now, I have put to use my iPhone calendar a lot more than I did before. During the week, I like to ship out and manage my social media account. While during the weekends, I like to use that time to make candles, update my website, or do any administrative work for my business.

How do you manage your business with your personal life? Do you have a team to help out, or are you doing this on your own?

Scheduling is everything. I have a very active social life and my friends typically are not spontaneous so they let me know about things ahead of time, which works for me. My iPhone calendar is my best friend! [Laughs.] When it comes to my marriage, I try to make sure that after work when I do business, I finish as a reasonable time because spending time with my wife is important to my marriage and me. Time management is so essential.

As far a team, it’s pretty much just me. My wife helps with shipping and labeling when I have a big order and she also helps me sell when I have a vending opportunity. My parents help me with advice. I don’t know everything and sometimes it just takes a phone call to my parents to get some advice. So while I do most of everything myself, I have a huge support system on standby if I need them.

 Do you see your candles adorning the shelves of major retail stores one day? If so, what’s your dream store? 

I would love to see my candles on the shelves of boutiques, not so much retail stores. You know, those little boutiques you find in downtown D.C. or Philly that have the amazing body butters and sell those oversized “Black Girl Magic” earrings? Those are the stores I would love for my candles to be shelved in. My candles are not for everybody, so a major retail store is not in my future.

Do you want to own your own physical location one day?

I would love to own a physical location one day. I would love to open a location in D.C. or Maryland and offer classes on how to make your own candles, and host other small businesses to give them a platform to sell their items because I know how important it is help others.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced with your business thus far, if any?

Time management has been my biggest challenge. Like I previously stated, I didn’t think my business would take off the way it did. Because of that, I didn’t know how to handle the demand, so there have been times where I’ve run out of a fragrance, jars or even wicks and had to pay extra to have my order rushed just to keep up. I was scared to order too much but now I see—ordering more is always better. Once again, this is a learning experience for me.

What advice would you give to anyone out there looking to start their own business?

Just go for it. You are not going to know everything. Fear is a good thing. Nothing beats a failure but a try!

What affect do you want your brand to have on the world? What do you want your biggest accomplishment to be?

I want my brand to have a positive affect. I want my people to embrace their culture and their skin color. I want my people to understand: You are enough. If one of my candles can make someone feel better about themselves every time they light my candle, then that would be my biggest accomplishment. I started this company to help people love themselves. Some people show their love for their culture through t-shirts, hats or even pins. I show my love for my people through candles.

If you, or someone you know, are a Black business owner who’d like to be featured as Hustler of the Month, please contact us at contact_cm@misscm.com for more information on how to get in the spotlight.