Shannon Gallo at Oyster Candle Company and Coastal Gifts

CW: When did you decide to go into the business you are in?
“I started pouring candles 18 years ago. I enjoyed making them as a hobby, and when my children started elementary school, I made candles as teachers’ gifts. Before long, teachers were asking to purchase the candles if I made more. So, I started my first candle business!”

CW: How do you find your passion?
“I loved having the opportunity to work from home when my three children were younger. Candle-making was easy to do from my kitchen and garage and gave me flexibility around their school and sports schedules.”

CW: What habits do you implement in day-to-day life that you attribute to success?
“I sometimes arrive at the shop three or more hours before we open. This gives me time to focus on previous orders, restock, clean, have a cup of coffee and ease into the day.”

CW: What things do you find difficult?
“Being a small business owner often means wearing so many different hats. I have often found myself creating logos, building websites, handling shipping, making deliveries and so on. I never know what the day will bring or what I may need to teach myself.”

CW: Tell us about how you grew up and what or who shaped you into the woman you are today.
“I have been fiercely independent my entire life. I was put in a unique position where I was 100% on my own at 17 years old. When I had every right and opportunity to give up, I didn’t. That definitely made me a strong woman, and I learned very early on to never accept ‘no’ as an answer. I knew someday I would own my own business, no matter what. Now, owning my own storefront surpasses anything I could have ever dreamed of. Every single customer who walks through the door is supporting my lifelong dream and fighting efforts without even knowing it.”

CW: Tell us about your family.
“I have been married to Michael for 20 years this December. We have three teenagers, Ava (18), Mason (17) and Grant (14). We also have an amazing 1.5-year-old rescue, Nola Pearl.”

CW: Give us some success tips for someone just starting out in your line of work.
“Take it slow! I sold a purse, took the money from that and bought supplies for my candle samples. I introduced those samples to nearby stores and took orders. You don’t have to have a huge supply to start. Hyper-focus on one item at a time. When you are an artist or crafter, it is very easy to want to start multiple projects at once. Streamlining will save you time, money and stress.”

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