Ida Koivuniemi @ Evil Queen: unique candle company specializing in “sassy” candles with attitude
Evil Queen is a unique candle company based in Los Angeles, California. Specializing in “sassy” candles with attitude, our handmade candles are perfect for any occasion. Evil Queen candles are designed to make you laugh and brighten each moment (literally), while using only the highest quality ingredients.
What are your favorite business tools and/or resources and why?
Shopify (for my online site) and ShipStation for shipping orders! They have saved me so much time and energy while getting orders out the door. I’d highly recommend using their free trials to see if it’s a good fit for your business (especially if you’re selling products).
What do you think is the biggest obstacle for female founders? How can we overcome it?
I think we aren’t taken as seriously in the business world as men are. We are sometimes seen as weak, or unable to make difficult decisions. Of course this isn’t true - women are incredible leaders and can handle anything life throws at them. I think to overcome this, we just need more examples of women breaking the mold and doing things that haven’t been done before. The more we can shock the world, the more we’ll be accepted.
How do you generate new ideas to stay relevant on the market? Is it important to innovate in your space?
I think I’m lucky in the sense that ideas just sort of “come to me” - but I do try to stay relevant with trendy words and phrases that are being used on social media. I think it’s extremely important to stay up to date with whats going on in the world, because then you can better reach your audience. I’ve built my brand on the basis of being funny and sassy and I wouldn't be able to be as clever if I wasn't constantly keeping up with whats trendy at the time.
What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
I think the biggest sacrifices (especially while starting out) are that you have to be willing to devote almost all of your time to your new business. You’ll probably have to sacrifice sleep, social events, friend and family time… but know that it’s all worth it. Once you put in the necessary steps to get started, and as you start growing, you’ll be able to hire the help and get a normal schedule back. The growing pains are something not everyone makes it through - so keep going!