Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do!
My name is Suraiya Nanji and I’m the founder of Homecoming Candles. In addition to making products and shipping orders alongside our team, I spend my time running our business, experimenting with scents, and dreaming up new ways and interesting ways to invite comfort into your space. You can learn more about Homecoming by visiting homecomingcandles.com or following us @shophomecoming.
What are your non-negotiable morning rituals Before Life Happens?
I start every morning with a big glass of water and then a big mug of tea. I’m from a family of serious tea drinkers so this is a ritual I have had for many many years. Running your own business means every day is different – one day I might be laying incense out on drying racks, the next I might be hosting a candle-making workshop, taking meetings, or preparing for an event. The one thing that never changes is tea, and spending some quality time with my dog Nico of course.
If you could pick one song to kick off your morning routine, what would it be and why?
I’d have to say Eternal Loop by Sam Gendel — it’s an instrumental track which helps ease us into the day, especially when we’re working in our studio. It’s warm, comforting, and has a really beautiful atmosphere; the perfect soundtrack for restocking our shelves, prepping our supplies, packing orders, whatever the day calls for first.
Once the afternoon rolls around, we switch to either pop or 90s hits for a needed energy boost.
What’s a self-care habit you swear by that helps you stay grounded amidst the hustle of entrepreneurship?
The one habit that I have kept up with for the last few years is to schedule weekly morning walking dates with friends. Most are also business owners and it’s great to catch up on life, and share our work wins/struggles while getting some movement in first thing.
Can you share a tradition you have at Homecoming Candles that keeps the team motivated?
We went to our first out-of-town market a few years ago and had the best time. Since then we have travelled for trade shows and other events and have tried to make that a yearly tradition. While we are typically there to sell/show the brand we always try to have at least a day for exploring to check out local shops, museums etc. We always return home feeling very inspired and ready for whatever is next.
What’s your favourite way to unwind after a long day, and how does it contribute to your overall well-being?
Homecoming started as a way to experiment with creativity outside of work, now that Homecoming is my job I still like to find new ways to be creative. Sometimes that means cooking or baking, other times it might be taking on a new DIY project, like wreath making or soap making. Yes, there’s usually an “end of workday” cup of tea too :)
Entrepreneurship can be a rollercoaster. What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned along the way?
While there have been many ups and downs over the years I think the one thing that has surprised me the most is the relationships we have made and the community that we have become a part of. When I left the corporate world I was worried that owning my own business might be lonely but through Homecoming we have made great friendships that extend past the business world and have been able to work with brands and artists we admire. It’s community over competition always.
If you could give your past self one piece of advice when you first started this journey, what would it be?
Done is sometimes better than perfect! I spent so much time trying to make sure everything was 100% before I really committed to Homecoming and looking back I can see I put so much unnecessary pressure on myself and on the brand for details that’s no one else would even notice. Even after all of that preparation things will still need change and adapt over time and putting your brand out there and getting feedback from your customer is the best way to do this.