Life and Work with Vanesa Hodge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanesa Hodge.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Vanesa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
So Fickle Flame was definitely an unintentional business venture. Like most San Diegans, I am a big beer lover and I had collected pint glasses from some of my favorite breweries over the years. The collection got a little excessive, so I got the idea to pour candles in them and then, my boyfriend/business partner suggested we give them as Christmas presents to our friends. And Christmas 2015, everyone received candles. We had no idea what we were doing, but it was a good time. We used soy wax and hard wood wicks to be a little different, and we picked apple maple bourbon (which we still pour) and buttered rum as the scents. A few months later, our friends were impressed and wanted more, that’s when people started saying they’d buy our candles, We were pretty shocked. We had no idea what we would call ourselves, or more importantly, how to start/run a business.

I think we decided to do the candle thing seriously when Jake came up with the name, Fickle Flame. That kind of sparked interest, like it, could be a real business, and we could figure it out. The end of 2016 was when we started researching “how to start a business” and in 2017 we were a real business. It’s been an adventure since. We have done a couple popup shops, we were part of North Park’s farmers market and part of San Diego Vintage’s Creative Marketplace. We have also been fortunate to work with some really cool breweries and alehouses around San Diego pouring our candles in their logo glasses.

Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been too rough of a road. I still have a part time job and trying to finish school, so timing is everything. Not coming from a business background had meant doing a lot of research when it comes to taxes, and licenses, and the legal stuff really. It is pretty daunting. But together we have figured it out, so far at least.

My advice would be to remember you’re not the only one trying to get a business going, The people we have met at events, other vendors, the breweries we work with they are trying to do this small business thing too. And most of them are eager to share and are willing to help out where they can.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Fickle Flame Candle Co. – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’d like to think we are known for great candles first of all. We take pride in using natural soy wax and hard wood wicks for a cleaner burn. We pour our candles into pint glasses and taster glasses, a nod to our love for beer, and even offer taster flights. Our taster flights come with a branded paddle board that we hand stain and four taster candles of your choice. We have a core 5 scents to choose from, but often test out new and seasonal scents.

I think I am most proud of keeping it going, turning a hobby into a business, and it still is so enjoyable. We have met some great people along the way, and we’ve learned so much in the past year.

I think what sets us apart is how we don’t just pour basic candles, but we pour them into beer style glasses because we love beer. We work with breweries around San Diego to pour candles in their glasses. The glasses are also completely reusable after you finish burning our candles. We also like to keep our scents as boozey as possible too, with scents like grapefruit mimosa, and raspberry sangria, we also have an apple maple bourbon. They’re different, but they work. We also take pride in our Instagram, we take Fickle with us everywhere from Imperial Beach to the Mojave desert and even a vacation in Washington. We do cheeky giveaways every now and then too!

Who have you been inspired by?
My Mom. She’s always told me to do what makes me happy.

Sophia Amoruso. She’s the ultimate girl boss.

Pricing:

• Pint Candles 20$
• Taster flights 32$
• Taster Candles 8$

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FickleFlameCandleCo
• Email: fickleflamecandleco@gmail.com
• Instagram: @fickleflamecandleco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FickleFlameCandleCo/

Image Credit:
Vanesa Hodge

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