Starting Stay Sea Smiles: A Tale of Doubt, Small Wins, and Scented Success on the Emerald Coast
Picture this: you’re standing on the sugar-white sands of Florida’s Emerald Coast, the Gulf of America sparkling like it’s the perfect Instagram post, and you think, “I should totally start a candle company.” That’s how Stay Sea Smiles was born… just kidding. The reality was less “inspired beach epiphany” and more “caffeine-fueled late night idea.” Starting a business is scary, you’re never quite sure if you’re doing it right. But here’s the story of how Stay Sea Smiles lit up.
Doubt and a Dream
Every entrepreneur starts with a dream and a healthy dose of self-doubt. For me, the dream was simple: create candles that capture the salty breeze, sun-warmed sand, and laid-back vibes of the Emerald Coast. I wanted scents that scream “beach day”, but I also wanted the creative part of me to come out, even if it is with fall candles. But doubt? Oh, it was my loudest business partner. “Who’s going to buy your candles? You’re not a chemist! You dropped out of Chemistry class in college ” it whispered (okay, shouted). Spoiler: Doubt doesn’t usually win with me, so I ignored it and started melting wax in my kitchen. It was sink or swim.
The early days were a comedy of errors. My first batch of candles looked like lumpy oatmeal and smelled like… well, let’s just say “Burnt Driftwood” wasn’t the vibe I was going for. But I kept tinkering, testing wicks, and Googling “why does my candle smell like regret?” Slowly, Stay Sea Smiles started to take shape with scents like “Stinky Away” and “Opal Beach.” Wick issues solved with lots of research. Wax was trial and error of comedies until the perfect formula was found.
Small Successes: The Vendor Event Hustle
The first real test came at a local vendor event in a small town. Picture me, sweating behind a folding table, surrounded by candles and a banner that read “Stay Sea Smiles” in slightly crooked letters (DIY, baby!). I was convinced no one would stop by. But then, someone did. A woman sniffed “Blueberry Muffin” and Sold! That $12 sale felt like winning the lottery.
Vendor events became my proving ground. From small towns to Pensacola, I hauled my candles to craft fairs, farmers’ markets, and even a slightly questionable “Car show” (don’t ask). Each event taught me something: smile even when your tent is leaking, always bring change for cash, and never underestimate the power of a free sample. Those small wins like selling out of Whiskey & Oak, or getting a “these are amazing!” kept the fire burning. It all came to the big one: Getting accepted to be a vendor at The Destin Seafood Festival. Oh yeah, it was a personal quest.
Milestones: From Kitchen to Online Store
Our first big milestone was launching the Stay Sea Smiles online store. Setting it up was like teaching a crab to use Wi-Fi. Domains, payment gateways, and “what the heck is SEO?” consumed my nights. But when the first online order pinged from a sweet lady in California, I danced around my living room like I’d just won Shark Tank.
Another milestone? Creating a signature scent, “Opal Beach,” that became our bestseller. Hitting the first 25 sales was another big one. I celebrated by… well, making more candles, because small business owners never stop hustling.
Lessons from the Coast
Running Stay Sea Smiles has taught me a few things. Doubt is just background noise turn it down and keep going. Trust your instinct. Don’t even tell anyone what you are planning, if your heart is in it, just do it. Small successes, like a happy customer or a perfectly poured candle, are the fuel that keeps you moving. And milestones? They’re not just wins; they’re proof you’re building something real.
The Emerald Coast is more than our home; it’s our muse. Every candle is a little piece of this paradise, crafted to bring joy, smiles, and comfort. Whether you find us at a vendor event, sweating and smiling, or on our online store, Stay Sea Smiles is about spreading smiles one candle at a time.
So, here’s to chasing dreams, laughing at the flops, and keeping the beachy smiles glowing.
Starting Stay Sea Smiles
A Tale of Doubt, Small Wins, and Scented Success on the Emerald Coast
Crafting Beach-Themed Candles for a Coastal Wedding
We had the joy of creating custom candles for a couple’s unforgettable wedding. Inspired by their love story, which bloomed on the Emerald Coast, we hand-poured each candle and carefully blending scents to capture the essence of the ocean. Working closely with the couple, we tailored every detail to reflect their vision, ensuring the candles harmonized with the natural beauty of their beachside ceremony.
Our process was filled with heart, from shaping the wax to embedding subtle coastal touches that echoed the charm of our beautiful area. We crafted a range of pale blue and white pieces for their day, from delicate accents on reception tables to a central glow for their vows, each was poured with good wishes for their journey in life. It was an honor to pour our craft into their celebration.
The Whirlwind
Managing a small candle business can feel like herding cats during a fireworks show, structured chaos at its peak. Your shop surges with orders just as your supplier says there is a delay on a fragrance shipment, leaving five frustrated customers waiting for their “Mango & Coconut” fix. The printer jams, spitting out your “Mermaid Mist” labels with what appeared to be an ancient Egyptian language, and a misplaced delivery box compounded by your attention-seeking dog results in a broken toe and a string of muttered cuss words. Your inbox is full with questions like, are the candles are “gluten-free,” while your other dog cries under your chair at each thunderclap. At day’s end, a quiet laugh is the only response to the whirlwind. As Scarlett O’Hara said, “Tomorrow is another day” though she should have added, “and I’m sleeping in.”
Rainy Days and Candlelight: Creativity in the Quiet Moments
There’s something undeniably magical about a rainy day. The steady rhythm of raindrops on the roof, the mist curling through the trees, the world slowing down just enough to let you breathe. These are the days when time seems to stretch a little softer, and the space between the hours invites you inward, to reflect, to create, to simply be.
In our busy world, rainy days offer the rare permission to pause. No guilt in staying home, no rush to keep pace with the sun. The outside hush brings an inner quiet, and for many of us, that’s when creativity tiptoes back in.
For me, these gray-skied days are for candle making.
The process begins with intention. I choose the scents like I’d choose the mood of a story: comforting notes of vanilla and oak when I’m feeling nostalgic, cucumber and mint to clear the mental fog, watermelon candy when I’m more whimsical, or something earthy and resinous like patchouli or amber when I want to feel rooted and present. Each blend becomes its own little world in wax, a sensory echo of the emotions that inspired it.
Candle making is an art of patience. You don’t rush the wax as it melts, just as you don’t rush the thoughts that arise when everything else has gone quiet. There’s a satisfaction in the act itself measuring, stirring, pouring like putting order to the formless. It’s soothing the chaos of even the strongest thunderstorm.
Creativity often blooms in these stormy days—not because they’re productive, but because they’re undemanding. Sometimes I write. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I just sit and watch the rain. But there’s always a candle nearby, its warm flicker a quiet companion steadily glowing, easing my thoughts and calming the dogs through the thunder’s rumble.
So the next time the sky turns heavy and the rain begins to fall, take it as an invitation. Brew your favorite tea. Silence the noise of the world. Light a candle and allow the scent to carry you through memories, feelings, and quiet reflections.
Rainy Days and Candlelight
Creativity in the Quiet Moments
The Art of Candle Making
Candle making starts with a vision. You choose your wax soy, paraffin, or beeswax each with its own personality. Soy burns clean and slow, perfect for eco-conscious customers. Beeswax carries a natural honeyed glow. Then comes the scent, the soul of the candle. I love experimenting with different fragrance blends, creating scents that evoke Florida’s essence: citrus groves, ocean breezes, or the earthy calm of a mangrove forest. Other times, I long for the fall scents with anything Cinnamon.
The process is hands-on and meditative. Melting the wax, measuring the fragrance, setting the wick just right—it’s a rhythm that pulls you in. Pouring the molten wax into a mold or jar feels like capturing a moment in time. As it cools and hardens, there’s a quiet anticipation, knowing that soon it’ll bring light and comfort to someone’s space. Testing a new scent or design and seeing it glow for the first time? Pure joy. Even the selection of different types of glass or tin is part of the creating process. I sometimes wonder if I spend too much time on that. But in cases of the Opal Beach Candle, it produced artwork that is impressive.
Smile!
Many event goers have said, “I love your business name!” It’s a playful nod to my name, Stacey, with “smiles” added for fun. I’m usually smiling and love bringing smiles to others, even the grumpiest ones—it’s like a little quest. I chose this name long before starting my business. At a vendor event, someone entered my tent who I later learned was a “competitor”. I don’t like seeing anyone as competition, though, we are all creating beautiful things. They were rude, and despite my efforts, I couldn’t get a smile. Another customer whispered they were checking out my items to copy them, ending with, “Bless their hearts.” That made me smile and reminded me of an old friend. If you sell similar things, I wish you luck and smiles. If you want to copy me, I’m flattered—never thought I was worth copying! Stop by my tent anytime; you’ll get a smile, whether you buy or not. Life’s hard, but smiles are free.
My First Blog Post
In October 2024, I took the plunge and filed the paperwork to make Stay Sea Smiles an official business in Florida. For years, fear of the unknown held me back, despite crafting candles and soaps for fun, weddings, parties, and gifts. Florida’s business-friendly environment turned my dream into reality. Starting out, I was overwhelmed by licenses, insurance, websites, and wholesale purchasing. Creating is my passion, but numbers and organization aren’t my strengths. Thankfully, my husband stepped in to handle the business side. Still, as first-time business owners, we faced a steep learning curve.
Our first vendor event, a small one just two miles from home, was a whirlwind. Setting up was a challenge, and the event brought surprises: territorial vendors arguing over inches of space, kind vendors helping elderly neighbors with tents, and eager early birds buying before we could unpack. Despite the chaos, it was exhilarating. We made new friends, gained repeat customers, and were hooked. Family members even joined to help. Since then, Stay Sea Smiles has grown, with an expanded product line and a bright, beautiful future ahead.
Stacey