Today we’d like to introduce you to Luz Cortes
Hi Luz, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2021, as a hobby, I decided to create something with my hands. Years ago, I used to knit, do macramé, cross-stitch, and more. I was looking for something that would bring me peace and help me channel my energies, so my daughter suggested working with candles, and I felt an immediate connection—lighting up a candle that lit up my heart.
I started by watching YouTube tutorials and bought my first kit on the Internet. However, due to my job, I had little time to develop this new interest, so it gradually fell by the wayside.
In December 2023, I had surgery on my right foot and stayed home for three weeks, during which the hospital bills quickly piled up. That’s when I decided to revisit the kit I had stored in my closet.
Determined to turn Luz & Aroma into a sustainable business, I invested in a candle-making course and began purchasing supplies (actually, more than I needed, because I became passionate in a way I can’t describe). With guidance from my instructor, I started producing various types of candles, taking photos, and sharing them with friends and family to initiate sales.
I officially launched my business, Luz & Aroma, with the help of my daughters. We developed a logo, brand name, social media, and marketing.
The positive response to my products encouraged me to scale up production, focusing on quality and the best aromas. I began participating in local fairs, and the success was remarkable. Luz & Aroma expanded from making a few candles per order to catering for events, corporate gifts, baptisms, weddings, quinceañeras, gender reveals, and more.
To ensure continued growth and quality, I am constantly refreshing my knowledge from my professional background in Financial Administration from Colombia. This ongoing training helps me manage the business effectively and provide excellent customer service—something I am deeply passionate about.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I arrived in the USA three years ago, directly to Charleston, fleeing from lawless groups in my country that had threatened me for being a social leader in my community.
I came here with my husband and my 12-year-old daughter to start over. Two months later, my husband decided to return, leaving us behind and with all the financial responsibility for my daughter, in addition to the significant language barrier.
For the past three years, I have worked tirelessly. I have two jobs caring for children, and on some days, I do DoorDash and/or Uber Eats, and now I also run Luz & Aroma.
My biggest challenge is the language barrier, but I work every day to improve my English so I can reach more customers and achieve a broader outreach.
Another challenge is technology, as it advances at a rapid pace, making my learning process a bit slow. However, with my daughters’ help, I learn more every day.
Convinced that I have done the best I can, I am confident that these will no longer be obstacles in the future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In Colombia, I earned my collage degree in Financial and Systems Administration. I ran two small businesses, and when I started working with the community, threats against me and my daughter began.
When I arrived in the USA, I started working in cleaning, and thanks to my experience caring for children in Colombia, I began working as a nanny, which I continue to do to this day.
I hope that with the proper trainings I receive, I can gain the knowledge necessary for the successful operation of Luz & Aroma and for it to be recognized worldwide for its excellent quality, aroma, and customer service.
I am proud to see how quickly my business has grown in such a short time.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My right hand has always been my daughters. They laugh and cry with me and are there in good and bad times. Every day, I strive to repay their trust and to set an example of always fighting for their dreams, continuing to grow, and loving themselves. I want my daughters to say: “If my mom can overcome every obstacle, then I can too.”
As we pave the way with Luz & Aroma, I have met incredible people with a lot of knowledge and determination, willing to help me. Fellow entrepreneurs who, like me, are just starting out and can support each other, loyal customers who have embraced my business, my family and friends who support me, and of course, my parents’ prayers. They are all my mentors, giving me their best to encourage me and give me the strength to move forward.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luz.aroma1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luzyaroma1
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/luzaroma1/
