Life & Work with Qi’Shaun Coyle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Qi’Shaun Coyle.

Hi Qi’Shaun, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Working from home amid the pandemic with nothing to do, I started searching for ways I could make extra money or potentially start a business with little start-up costs. I searched online and I searched on YouTube which is where I got the idea to start experimenting with candles. I’m a crafty, DIY kind of person anyways so the more I got into candle making, the more I began to stockpile all of these materials. Initially, I gave my candles away with the disclaimer: I’m just doing this for fun so if your house blows up or something catches on fire, that’s not on me. Thankfully, neither ever happened!

Prior to the pandemic, some would call me the queen of hustle. I worked multiple jobs, pursued an undergraduate degree, delivered food through Grubhub/DoorDash, dog sat, and a number of other things. Somehow, I was even able to maintain a social life but I never truly had free time. Sitting in quarantine gave me that. With this newfound free time, I decided I would be more intentional about my mental health/well-being so I began practicing “self-care Sunday.” It gave me an opportunity to reconnect with myself, family, and friends.

Combine these separate but simultaneous journeys and you get the birth of my self-care brand and candle line, Self Care Sunday.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I answer this question amid laughter because to some it probably appears to be a smooth road. Entrepreneurs have this hidden talent of “making it look easy” but by no means has it actually been easy. Not only do I have to focus on creating a quality product and maintaining its integrity, I am also the sales and customer service rep, shipping/receiving clerk, social media guru, technical support specialist, web developer, graphic designer, brand model, and publicist. I forgot to mention I do all of this out of my apartment– my dining room, pantry, and second bedroom which I call “The Lab.” So, to answer the question everything has been a struggle but I’m grateful for the journey because I’ve learned so much along the way that I can pass on to others who just need the motivation to start.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Self Care Sunday is a self-care brand featuring soy wax, all-natural candles. Each candle has a name that promotes intentional self-care based on the fragrance oils it contains. For example, one of my most popular candles is ‘Let That Shit Go’ which contains peppermint and eucalyptus and are known for assisting with muscle and mental relaxation as well as relieving sinus pressure.

Last year, I participated in ‘In the Black’ which is a business cohort and pitch competition hosted by Venture Noire, an organization that provides resources to Black entrepreneurs. I competed against other Black-owned businesses in various stages during a 4-minute virtual pitch for the first-place prize of $10,000. I won first place… it still feels unreal.

I know that people can go anywhere and buy candles but burning a Self Care Sunday candle is a mood– the name of the candle make your aware of your senses, the flickering light sets ambiance, scent triggers memory, and essential oils regulate mood. What I’ve done with my brand is created a way for people to exercise passive self-care without having to take time from their already busy lives and inserted myself into a practice that they’re already doing.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Learning lessons is the worse! Sometimes, I want to go to God and ask, “Why did I have to learn this way? You couldn’t have just called me and told me things would work out this way?”

One that was difficult but necessary for me to learn is if you allow people to take advantage of you, they will. I don’t think I’m a people pleasure but maybe I am to a degree. It’s hard to say no but in running my business, I’ve learned that saying no is absolutely necessary and it sets healthy boundaries and is a way of practicing my own self-care.

Pricing:

• $12.50 per candle

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: selfcaresundayxo.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/selfcaresundayxo
• Facebook: facebook.com/selfcaresundayxo