By Lacie DeGough
Although Kazzi King—owner of Velvet Whiskey Candle Co.—won $3,500 in Invest 606’s 2021 pitch competition, she rarely mentions the prize money when she speaks about the impact that Invest 606 had on her business. What really made an impression on her was the coaching that she received and the confidence that she gained through her involvement in this program. Her business, located in Laurel County, provides hand crafted, high quality soy candles that are shipped to retailers all across the country. Velvet Whiskey Candle Co. has expanded tremendously since 2021!
“My business has grown both in quality and quantity since being in Invest 606. I really upped the presentation of my products, added higher end items, and really focused on blending custom scents that you can’t find on the shelf at a big box store (unless it’s one of mine!).”
– Kazzi King
Kazzi mentions that she now has over 40 stores that carry her products. Her partnerships include a custom candle for Heaven Hill, custom candles for two separate apple orchards, and a City of London Honeybun-scented candle to celebrate London’s attempt to achieve the world record for the most honeybuns eaten at one time.
Since 2021, Kazzi has improved her business by focusing on developing and maintaining her website, which has helped her immensely with sales. Her partner, Mike, has also stepped in to help her improve the efficiency of her business by engineering a way for her to mix her candles automatically, rather than manually. This allowed her to increase her daily output from 200 candles to 400. Her business is thriving!
“Being in the Invest 606 2021 cohort really changed the way that I looked at my business. I used the courses that I took to help grow my business and reach new customers that I wasn’t reaching before with different marketing strategies and just the way that I presented myself professionally to bigger companies. It also helped me switch over into a more collaborative headspace in working with other businesses (both in Invest 606 and just ones that I met along the way). It boosted my confidence of being a business owner and allowed me to push some of the imposter syndrome to the side.”
– Kazzi King
The assistance that Invest 606 provides goes far beyond monetary prizes. From a supportive community of small businesses to helpful training that impacts entrepreneurs for years to come, this program has it all. If this sounds like something that would benefit your small business, follow Invest 606 on Instagram and Facebook so that you can be notified when applications for the next cohort open up! And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter by entering your email below.
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Be sure to follow Kazzi’s business journey by checking out her Instagram and Facebook pages below! You can also visit her website to browse the many unique candles, wax melts, and room sprays that she offers.
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