Meet one of my newest clients who is just as fabulous as she can be! She exudes class, style and grace. Denise Reese is the founder of Grace The Collection. Her candles smell DIVINE.  Let’s get to know her!

What is Grace The Collection? 

We are luxury home fragrance brand.

What inspired you to start it? What problem do you help customers solve?

My boyfriend is a serial entrepreneur and had been encouraging me to start my own business.  When we first started dating, any time we went out someone was stopping to complement me.  He would always follow up with “See…that’s a customer!  Figure out what you can sell them because they’ll buy it!” 

Fast forward to 2020 and COVID happens…I wasn’t traveling and spending more time at home.  I realized how much money I was spending on home fragrance from other luxury brands and it hit me that that was my thing! 

Grace was my word for 2020 and as I thought of all the things that happened during that time, a pandemic, the loss of my Grandmother, a racial reckoning… I realized the importance for us to extend grace to our selves and each other.  

Grace The Collection is more than just the beautiful home fragrance products we provide.  It’s a reminder to open the door to the divine that exists in all of us!  Grace always comes full circle!

What have been some challenges in building your business?

Whew! I don’t know if we have time to list them all!

I started the company during the early stages of COVID, so I dealt with supply chain issues and even a glass shortage that significantly delayed receipt of the vessels for my 8 oz candles. Boxes for the candles were stuck at the ports…it was a mess! 

A consultant I hired to help me stand up the business, blocked me from working with the initial supplier I chose, this meant I had to go back to the drawing board for manufacturing and fragrance creation.

I work full time as well, so building a business with a demanding day job was stressful to say the least.

What skills have you used to pull it all together?

I’m fortunate to have over 20 years in corporate.  I’ve leaned on that experience, particularly as it relates to building new businesses, revenue streams, entering new markets, and strategic alliances and partnerships.

These skills have been invaluable as I’ve launched Grace The Collection.

Also, some good old fashioned tenacity has helped me significantly.  As a Black woman, figuring it out is absolutely one of my super powers! 

What are your main keys to being successful in business?

Unshakable faith is key.  Many won’t understand what or why you’re building…but stay the course.

Trust your gut…our intuition is often God speaking.  Don’t discount that still small voice.

As my Mom always reminds me, don’t despise small beginnings!  Social media will have us thinking we aren’t moving fast enough or growing at the same pace as others…and that’s fine.  Just stay the course.

Work the fundamentals.  Every industry has nuance, but what doesn’t change are the fundamentals of business. Understanding your path to profitability, creating experiences that delight your customers, study your competition (but don’t obsess over them,) and be consistent.

Favorite me time escape? 

Travel for sure.  I love a good solo trip! Oh…and the spa! 

What would you like your legacy to be?

I would like my legacy to be one of service.  I want folks to remember me for giving my all and ensuring everyone I encountered felt seen, heard, and valued.

Any last words of advice for an entrepreneur just starting out?

Do you!  Don’t get too far ahead of yourself and definitely don’t compare.  Comparison will steal your joy and cause you to make decisions that might not be in your best interests. 

Any recommended reading -a book that helped your biz or your personal growth?

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz, Roz Brewers Masterclass.  Also, if you’re on a Delta flight, check out “The Steepest Climb: How Delta Air Lines Navigated the Global Pandemic.”  Ed Bastian is a top rated CEO for a reason and this movie demonstrates why.  Definitely a masterclass in customer experience, the power of a pivot, and taking exceptional care of your people. 

How can our readers reach you? 

www.gracethecollection.com

 IG and FB @ gracethecollection

Twitter @accessiblegrace

 phone: 404-850-2628

 email:  denise@gracethecollection.com