Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Swenson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mary. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always been entrepreneurial-minded, a little creative, and into the design and home decor. And although I worked in the corporate world, I always felt this nagging pull that there was something else out there for me. Over the years, I’ve had various little side gigs and business ventures, which always sort of scratched the itch at the time, and in 2015, I randomly became intrigued by candlemaking.
After a ton of research and testing, I started making candles pretty steadily from our kitchen. I’d brainstorm business names in my head as I fell asleep at night, and whipped up a simple logo to use on labels. That lead to craft markets and a couple of local wholesale accounts, and things sort of took off from there.
About a year and a half later, I left my job and was able to focus on my business and brand full-time.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The way I look at it, the road I’ve been on these past two and a half years has been exactly the way it should be. Starting a business from scratch, bootstrapping, doing all the making/selling/marketing/administrative stuff yourself… I don’t think ever an easy road for anyone, nor should it be. Challenges, struggles, issues… they’re inevitable and they’re going to happen, and in a way, it’s good for you to go through them so you can learn how to react more efficiently if and when they happen again. I think that’s my biggest piece of advice: be prepared for roadblocks, and get creative about solutions. If you’re truly committed to making your venture work, then you can’t let challenges derail you. You’ve got to go through, above, around them… whichever way allows you to put them behind you and continue moving forward.
Staying true to your vision is important, but flexibility is just as vital when it comes to resolving problems or tackling sticky situations.
Sometimes, I still can’t even believe that this is what I’m doing for a living; it’s been completely unexpected. I just feel really lucky to be able to execute my creative vision every day. So, that perspective, along with a little bit of naiveté, is really the fuel that keeps me forging ahead every day.
Please tell us about Farm + Sea.
My business started as a candle company. I’ve always burned candles and loved how they could immediately change the vibe of a room or affect your mood. My goal was to make beautifully-scented soy candles in simple vessels with a simple logo. When I first launched Farm + Sea, a text-only logo was really the only thing I could do, due to my total lack of graphics skills, but it has actually turned out to be the perfect representation of my brand vision.
That word “simple” is really the key concept behind Farm + Sea, we all have a life crammed full of a million things and to-do’s, and I really feel like it’s so important to find a bit of pleasure and respite in the simple things. Something like a lit candle giving off a soft scent and cozy feeling, or a pretty-smelling bar of soap. Looking at these things like little treats, daily luxuries. And my aesthetic when it comes to things like this are goods that are cleanly packaged and presented, almost like they’re quiet, unassuming reminders to pause and stay in the moment. So I’ve tried to execute that in my branding, and I think it’s become something Farm + Sea is known for.
This year, my candles are a blend of coconut wax – a wax I’ve really been loving lately – and soy wax and I’ve added reed diffusers, linen sprays, and perfume oils to my lineup. It’s been exciting for me to create other products that compliment my candles so that customers have options for their homes as well as for gift-giving.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Stay focused on your own vision and don’t get caught up in what others are doing.
This is SO much easier said than done, I know. I know! Instagram can be at once totally inspiring and aspirational, but can also make you feel inadequate or insecure. And, trust me – nothing will paralyze you or your business if you get sidetracked by the comparison game.
The fact is, there are a million people making candles. There are a million people making jewelry. There are a million people doing whatever it is you’re doing. And there’s room for all of us! As one soapmaker friend put it, “There are a million dirty people out there and they all need soap.”
I buy candles from lots of different makers. Why wouldn’t I? I love candles. Same goes for soaps, jewelry, art, pottery… good people, making good products, always get my sale. So, keep your head down, do your best work, and stay confident.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.farmandsea.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farm_sea/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmandsea/
Image Credit:
Jesika Theos
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