Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Richardson.
Hi Maria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Thank you for inviting Envisage Candle & Bath Company to be part of the Hidden Gems series. I am truly grateful that you give small businesses like mine a platform to be seen and to share the beautiful products we create. During this season of family, fun, and togetherness, it feels like the perfect time to share a little about who I am and the person behind the brand.
I am a mother of two beautiful children, as well as a sister, aunt, relative, and friend to many. Of all the roles I hold dear and take seriously, being a mom is the most important. Motherhood has brought me moments of joy that I would not trade for anything in the world. Watching my children grow into their own unique selves and live up to their fullest potential—and beyond—is an accomplishment I will always celebrate.
In 2023, my daughter, Carmella, was diagnosed with stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system. After completing four rounds of combination chemotherapy, she was declared cancer-free. After her treatments ended, I realized that rebuilding myself into the woman I had been before her diagnosis was essential. After my family came through this crisis, I needed to pause, breathe, and rebuild myself. I remember one evening at home I was alone sitting in my personal space surrounded by infinite quiet. I poured myself a glass of wine and lit a candle to create a bit of ambience. It was then I started connecting with me spiritually, connecting with me internally. This was my beginning, I didn’t realize how much I needed to restart the rebuilding process like an epiphany. A candle became more than an aesthetic object for me; it helped me release the unwanted energy that still lingered within my spirit. Through that experience, I came to believe that many women like me could relate—and might also need a gentle reminder to care for themselves. Creating the brand opened a door to healing, and through the simple, restorative act of reconnecting with myself, I slowly began to feel like Maria again: loving, fun, caring, warm, and happy – that is when Envisage Candle & Bath Company was born.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Envisage Candle & Bath Company, like many start up brands, has endured minor bumps so far. While my brand is still newbie, my primarily obstacle has been the cost of production materials needed in addition to administrative costs in running the business. Funding is key. Every business, regardless of how large or small it is, needs capital to grow, purchase equipment, and hire people to help build the dream. While Envisage Candle & Bath Company is still a work in progress, having personal resources I can tap into helps sustain the business in the interim. Then there’s visibility. There are so many candle brands in the market competing for visibility and the ideal customer base. The idea of simply getting out there and selling sounds simple and easy, right? Actually, it involves goals that aligned with the mission of ECB what will it take to achieve those goals; infrastructure in place and some operational methods I can incorporate ensuring the business to start run seamless and during product creation. All of this was a learning curve for me. I had to learn and understand that not everyone will patronize my business, and not everyone will be drawn to what I offer. I knew and embraced this reality. But I also knew that the candle industry is an open market and there is room for every entrepreneur to start and build a profitable business. What distinguishes my candle products from those of other brands? Well, being a small business owner, I do have the capacity to oversee every aspect of the products I create, from the scents to the packaging, ensuring that my customers receive the quality I want them to have. I can speak with customers directly, answer their questions, and learn what they like and dislike in a candle. I find that many people prefer to patronize a smaller business because of the personal touch that comes with it. I had to learn what that meant during this journey.
Having the opportunity for my business to receive professional guidance was, and still is, essential to my growth as an entrepreneur. The AMBER Business Accelerator Program facilitated through the Montgomery County Black Collective was a blessing to be a part of. Through this 14-week program I’ve understood the process of developing firm strategies, local resources and business tools that can support my one-woman operation was relieving to me. However, operating singularly is at most challenging for you me I am overseeing every section of the business: administration, customer service, marketing, manufacturing, production, distribution, packing, and shipping requires multiple hands. Nevertheless, I love what I am doing because the reward is helping women feel that they matter. Hearing customers say they enjoyed my products makes it all worthwhile. Lastly, I will say that discouragement often times sneaks in and tries to push you off course, surround yourself with people who are in your corner and cheering you on to keep going and don’t stop!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Envisage Candle & Bath Company is a minority woman-owned home-based brand specializing in handmade luxury candles and self-care essentials, including soaps, shower steamers, bath salts and bath bombs. Founded in 2023 and launched in fall 2024, the brand was created with a vision to encourage women especially those women who wear many hats, carry much responsibility for the love of their families and communities—take time to embrace moments of rest, comfort, and self-care without guilt. My candle bath products are hand-poured using the finest soy wax base, I carefully choose quality fragrances and essential oils for the best scents, cotton/wood wicks, and clean ingredients environmentally friendly and animal products. Every product is carefully made with sustainability, consistency, authenticity and quality in mind because these are the guiding principles I am bound too and a gold old dose of love to top off. Inspired by warmth, sophistication, romance, comfort, and earthy tones, ECB scent collection is designed to complement the aesthetics and culture of indoor living while enhancing the self-care experience.
I believe the aroma of a candle scent has the power to transform a space, calm the mind, uplift the mood, and nourish the soul. What I am most proud of is that I am now among the many Black women business owners who have stepped out on faith, believing within themselves and in possibilities, becoming our own boss unapologetically. I had to speak to my own existence “Maria believe in yourself when no one else does”. Envisage Candle & Bath Company’s mission is to create products that embody the ultimate wind-down experience for both men and women through ambiance, relaxation, and intentional living.
Before the brand came into my life, I’ve built a career spanning more than 25 years in records management, information governance, and compliance. During that time, I also earned both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration from Strayer University. Investing in myself was a gift I don’t regret. It has allowed me to build a strong professional background and develop advanced technology skills. My ability to use office suites, AI tools, and software applications adds value to my entrepreneurial instincts. It has also helped me create a solid business plan which my company stands on, build a knowledge base to guide me, and establish processes and procedures in place that adheres to all federal, state, and local regulations.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
As a resident of the great state of Maryland, I love suburban living overall. I enjoy the openness of walking through the parks, seeing the beautiful trees, and watching people embrace the beauty of nature. I remember when my children were younger taking them on local trips in the state was fun like visiting Ocean City, Maryland and walking the boardwalk; or visiting the Baltimore Harbor Aquarium are true gems. There are also wineries nearby and a steam of family friendly events to participate. I am blessed to have one of Maryland’s regional parks behind my home, so at any time, I can take a short walk on the nature trails, participate in area activities, or visit the neighborhood recreation center. As a local resident of Montgomery County, I appreciate that we are a diverse community and, in my opinion, have some of the best restaurants around. There is always a place to eat, live, and enjoy—especially when blue crabs are in season. What I like least about the state is rush-hour traffic around my community; accessing the interstate can sometimes be a nightmare. Unfortunately, the DMV has many traffic congestion points, and getting through them is certainly a test of patience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.envisagecandlebath.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/envisagecandlebath/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565581075906&mibextid=ZbWKwL
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/envisagecandlebath-3b350a337/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ecb854?_t=ZT-8xmMXsmQbmg&_r=1
