LIFE

 

You've been dreaming of starting a stationary shop on Etsy or a gluten-free cookie company...but you think you're *way* too young. Right? Well, actually, wrong. There's no age limit to being a boss babe—just ask Ella and Lauren, the girls behind R Sprks.

We sat down with the pair of sisters to chat about their homemade candle biz and their passion for giving back. Read on for all the inpso you need to start your own hustle...

 

GL: What inspired you to start your candle business?

Ella: I have always been obsessed with candles. The smells, the warmth, the flicker, the wax. And we feel very lucky for our lives and wanted to find a way to help other people.

Lauren: There is so much good in people, and we wanted to help bring that out and share happiness. With R Sprks, someone receives a beautiful candle, and in the same step, someone else receives the support they need. It just felt right.

GL: What has been the hardest part about being a young entrepreneur and how did you overcome it?

Ella: The hardest thing has probably been balancing it all. With school, the business, sports and friends it is a lot. When it feels like too much, I focus on the good that is coming from it. I love to think about the animals that we are helping with the Animal Humane Society.

Lauren: The hardest part for me is focusing and staying true to my priorities. I feel so passionately about school and R-Sprks. I haven’t fully overcome it. I just take each situation as it comes.

GL: Tell us about the charity aspect. Why did you decide to give some of your proceeds to charities?

Ella: For me it was simple. Not everybody has everything they need, so we are trying to help give them what they need. We wanted to give a meaningful amount, so that we could make a real difference.

Lauren: I feel it is super important that everyone who is able does their part. Adding charities was a no-brainer. We wanted to give 20 percent of our sales so that it was transparent, no fine print required. And our hope is that we can donate over a million dollars one day.

GL: What have you learned (either about yourself or about business) from the process of starting R Sprks?

Ella: What I’ve learned is that life isn’t about yourself, it’s about the good you can bring to the people around you. It’s about other people and how you can help them.

Lauren: I’ve learned that any kind of giving back, no matter how big or small, can make a difference. I have also learned a ton about business from selecting aromas and blending essential oils, to doing interviews. It has been awesome!

GL: What advice do you have for other young girls who dream of starting their own business?

Ella: To follow their dreams. We can all bring our dreams to life.

Lauren: Start. No matter how big or small. The first step is the scariest one. Just take it.

If you could start any business, what would it be? Share your dreams in the comment! 

by Amanda Tarlton | 3/6/2017