Hannah Clark is the 21-year-old behind The Scented Barn, a new natural soy Wax Melt business that uses recyclable packaging as well as vegan and sustainable ingredients. Here she explains how her ‘little lockdown hobby’ has blossomed into something of a full-time job
I had the initial idea to start my own business one day at work when I was bored and lost in thoughts. I knew I had potential to do more than just work for someone else, and that sitting behind a desk was not me. So, I took the leap – and my first thought was, ‘what do I love most?’ Wax melts and candles! And from then on, I just researched, designed and started ordering my equipment – and it just went from there! I wanted to create a product I loved, and to share the same excitement with everyone else during such a glum and lonely period of time. A little something people could order to brighten up the four walls they were stuck in during lockdown!
To be honest, I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for the pandemic. It gave me the boost and the kick I needed to understand that what I was doing wasn’t how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. Covid gave me the time and money (saved from not going out) to begin my dream. I have also met the love of my life during the pandemic and everything just slotted in together. I haven’t really had to adapt too much apart from the fewer nights out, but I was able to really give my all to my business! My life turned around for the better!
2019 was one of my most difficult years, mentally, due to a relationship. But I pulled through, left, and turned my life around and back to how it previously was and, as family say, ‘ got the old Hannah back.’ There was still a lot I had to cope with at the beginning of 2020 but I was doing it in a much better state of mind, supported by family. Professionally, I was in a job I loved and enjoyed but then Covid came along and took it away from me. My father then stepped in and offered me a job at the family business for which I still work two days a week.
By the end of 2020, I began having ideas about running my own business, doing what I love, being creative and turning it into a career and a life that I would enjoy and that’s when The Scented Barn began! If you had told me at the start of 2020, that I would be owning my own business at 21, I would have laughed and said ‘I would be dreaming; but here I am, having turned my life around. Anything is clearly possible. Eight months later I have no idea what a day off is and my brain is filled with new ideas for the business constantly, but I am the happiest I have ever been!
When deciding on the products to use to begin my start up we wanted to be vegan, recyclable, biodegradable and sustainable. It’s 2021. We all know how important looking after our planet is and I wasn’t going to create a business that would have a negative impact on the growing situation! We wanted a product that wouldn’t cause an issue to anyone and to be loved by all! We thought long term for our business and looked into the future. We didn’t want to be just a lockdown start-up so it was very important to choose materials that would be sustainable such as our soy wax we use! We also know that our customers health is something we want to look after and therefore would never dream to use paraffin wax and let them breathe in the toxins.
I am blessed to have been brought up with such a loving family and to have best friends who make any of my decisions valued. They have supported me through so much and given me the best life I could have asked for and there’s not a single thing I would change. My life has been a dream. I’m very fortunate to live the life I do. I wouldn’t however say I’ve had it easy. I have worked extremely hard for all that I have. I put a large amount of my savings into my start up, which to many would have seemed a huge risk but I knew I had the determination to make it work!
I have achieved all of this in just eight months of coming up with the original idea! Of course, I would love to give up the day job. It’s a dream to be my own boss and put every second of the week into my business and watch it grow to its full potential. Furthermore, my goal would be to own my own wax melt shop, with a workshop and unit out the back and to one day have a team working beside me making all this come true. Because nothing is impossible!
Visit The Scented Barn, Facebook and Instagram
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