Buying into Brighter Blaze: 1st Month Investment Update

Until I sell my first product, I still consider this entire journey a hobby in progress. Realistically, I know I’m teaching myself to do everything I already do in my day job as a marketing coordinator and graphic designer—just on my own terms. Starting my own company has given me a deeper appreciation for the business side of what I do and how operations run behind the scenes.

As a one-person operation keeping every part of the machine moving, I’ve developed a new respect for small business owners who thrive through discipline, communication, and consistency—no matter what life throws their way. It’s inspiring, humbling, and transformative.

Since launching Brighter Blaze in September, I wanted to take this moment to pause and reflect on how far things have come. If you’re thinking about starting your own creative venture or hobby, I’m here to tell you—it’s absolutely possible. Candle making, for me, has been a daily process of discovery and growth. Everything is still a “first,” but I’m progressing faster than I imagined, which gives me the freedom to slow down when needed without feeling behind.

Wow, I’ve almost accomplished everything on my startup in one month–at glance, it’s motivating to see!

After making my first batch of candles, I quickly realized I needed more materials—mainly wax and fragrance oils—since I began with small quantities. Now that I’ve refined my process and know exactly what I need, I’m confident about ordering in larger volumes. The only spontaneous purchase I made afterward was a heat gun from Walmart (a great buy for smoothing candle tops). Aside from that, I still have plenty of supplies left for my next rounds—wicks, stickers, tins, and tools.

With production underway, I’ve started investing in shipping and packaging materials, all of which I’ve added to my total expenses. Watching this build gradually has been satisfying—I’ve developed a natural budgeting rhythm that allows me to restock materials, upgrade tools, and continue progressing even before my first sale. My total startup costs remain under $1,000, and I see that as an investment in myself and my vision—something I’ll gladly earn back over time. There’s no loss here, only risk, and I’m okay with that.

Going forward, I’ll be creating a monthly shopping list to stay organized as I move into the packaging and shipping phase—something that’s approaching faster than I expected! I’ll also share monthly expense updates to stay accountable and hopefully inspire others to take their own leap. My ongoing re-up budget naturally sits around $250 per month, which keeps me from overspending or making impulsive buys (like grabbing too many fragrance oils before finishing a task). If there’s one thing I’ll always need plenty of, though—it’s wax!

Beyond finances, this journey has been a powerful personal investment. My confidence, planning, and long-term thinking have grown tremendously. It’s priceless to realize that everything I’ve done for others in my professional career, I can now do for myself. More than that, this is the most fulfilled I’ve felt in a long time. Building Brighter Blaze isn’t just about candles—it’s about joy, creativity, and self-discovery. Every day, I learn something new about what I’m capable of creating. I’m not just building inventory—I’m building something meaningful and lasting within myself. And that’s the brightest blaze of all.