Isabel Alvarez, founder of Albisa Candles, shares her journey of creating unique candles that evoke memories of Cuban culture. She discusses the inspiration behind her candles, the scents that set them apart, and the importance of sharing her heritage. Isabel also talks about the challenges of being an entrepreneur and the involvement of her family in the business. She mentions her plans for expanding into scents from other Latin cultures and her goals for the upcoming sales season.

keywords

Albisa Candles, Cuban culture, unique scents, heritage, entrepreneurship, family involvement, online sales, marketing platforms, upcoming sales season

takeaways

• Albisa Candles offers unique scents that evoke memories of Cuban culture, setting them apart from other candles on the market.
• The candles provide an experience and a connection to family and heritage, making them more than just a typical scented candle.
• Isabel Alvarez's entrepreneurial journey was inspired by her father, who instilled in her the belief that she could build something for herself.
• Running a small business requires hard work and dedication, and finding a balance between work and personal life can be a challenge.
• Albisa Candles primarily sells online, with a focus on reaching Cuban communities across the United States.
• Isabel plans to expand her candle collection to include scents from other Latin cultures, showcasing the similarities and connections between different Hispanic heritages.
• The upcoming third and fourth quarters are crucial for Albisa Candles' sales, and the company is preparing for the busy season.
• Marketing efforts are primarily focused on Instagram and Facebook, with some presence on TikTok.
• Albisa Candles will be celebrating its five-year anniversary with a big sale and the launch of new products.

Sound Bites

• "You're not just gonna have any kind of loyalty with that. With us, you get an experience."
• "It takes a lot of testing. You become a little bit of a chemist."
• "He's grown up, you know, it's gonna be our five year anniversary and he is always talking about our candles to people."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Passion for Heritage

01:06
Creating Albisa Candles: Inspiration and Name

03:02
The Power of Scent and Creating an Experience

04:27
Variety and Different Types of Candles

06:18
Creating Scents and the Testing Process

08:46
Entrepreneurial Journey and Balancing Work and Personal Life

10:10
Struggles of Working Too Much as an Entrepreneur

12:09
Family Involvement in the Business

13:48
Handmade Process and Getting the Scents Right

14:45
Online Sales and Reaching Cuban Communities

15:37
Opportunities for Immigrants in the United States

16:52
Cuba and the Reality Beyond the Shiny Pictures

18:02
Expanding into Other Latin Cultures

19:46
Upcoming Sales Goals and Anniversary Celebration

21:22
Marketing Strategies and Platforms

22:23
Shameless Plug: Albisa Candles' Anniversary Sale

https://albisacandles.com