Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Stinnett.
Hi Shannon, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur in Jr. High School. I started by downloading music from LimeWire and FrostWire and burning mixed CD’s. I would sell them for $3 a pop. Yeah, I know it’s illegal but at the time, I didn’t and I thought I was a legit business owner. Haha. By the time I reached high school, I had switched from burning CDs to designing party invitations and other graphics. Very basic Microsoft Word design but I had the technique and was an expert in all things Word. I did that all through high school. It helped that I was in the yearbook from 10-12 grade and even served as the Jr. and Sr. editor, respectively.
Fast forward to college. I was still doing graphic design but had slowed down significantly because COLLEGE! I was free to experience all things college, so I but my entrepreneurship on the back burner for one year. By the Fall of 2012, I was itching to get back to it. I started working on the launch of an online boutique. I launched 27th North Imoree September 2013. It was a full-service online boutique that featured clothing for both junior and women, men’s tops, women’s shoes and jewelry.
I continued with 27NI on into the new year and eventually quit my job at Subway to go full time. BIG MISTAKE. I had no idea what it really meant to be a full-time entrepreneur, but rent and other things quickly humbled me. I went back to work part-time and continued to run my business part-time. This continued until the beginning of 2015.
It was at this time that I realized that I missed graphic design tremendously. The passion of retail had dwindled, which in part is because I was working part-time in retail while running an e-commerce business. I just didn’t feel the same anymore, so I sold out of inventory and never replenished. I announced that 27NI would be closing and asked for support in a new venture, set to launch November 2015. That new venture was Lotus 5ive. Lotus 5ive started as graphic design for on-campus clubs and organizations, then finally transitioned into full-service digital media. I added Photography (Lotus 5ive Memories), full graphic services (Lotus 5ive Design), event planning (Lotus 5ive Events) and general PR services (Lotus 5ive Agency).
Lotus 5ive expanded rather quickly but I forgot to personally expand with it. In the midst of approaching college graduation, I was running a small company and working full-time hours. I was spread THIN and burnt out. I continued with Lotus 5ive, as is, until 2016. In 2016, I stepped back and did some rebranding. I dropped the Events sector and the PR sector and proceeded with graphic design and photography.
Fast forward to how Climax Candle Company came to be. In April of 2019, I attended a small business workshop in Houston with a friend. On the way to Houston is where I realized I wanted a product-based business alongside my service-based business. From there, I started developing the idea to launch a candle brand that was centered around sensuality and owning your sexuality. Man, was I in for a JOURNEY! Candle making is truly a science and I underestimated just how much. After months and months of testing and product development, I launched Climax Candle Company April 2020. It was a crazy year, but this was a bright spot. I launched a total of 13 scents last year in candle and wax melt form. I offered what I call Sample bags so that customers could smell the entire line of scents prior to committing to a full candle or wax melt. I also made massage oils. I was able to get my brand picked up in a local Condom Sense adult novelty store and shipped samples to several influencers and celebrities.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing about entrepreneurship is smooth. At any time, you will be tested, doubt yourself, want to give up and even lose investments. That comes with the territory. The biggest struggle I anticipated facing with launching Climax was public reception. Many people know me to be quiet, but I am truly a free-spirited person. Thankfully, I was able to quickly see that this wouldn’t be a struggle at all, actually. Launching a sensual brand brings about even more challenges, especially for funding. That’s a different story altogether though haha.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My professional life and career is so multi-dimensional. I am an entrepreneur and the owner of two small businesses. I am an employee for a major financial organization, currently working in IT as a Project Manager. I am a creative, and this is where my passion, drive and motivation comes from. I believe in duality and believe it is achievable if approached with an open mind. Even if my businesses scale, I still intend to be an employee.
I am most proud of the adversity I’ve overcome. I haven’t had a lot of positive representation to look at in my life, so I had to become it. I had to fight to become the person I wanted to be like when I grew up. The greatest quality that sets me apart from others is my strategic and futuristic approach to all things in my life. Anything I do, I start with the end in mind. From there, I strategize and work backwards to achieve the goal. Along the way, I remain steadfast and adapt to whatever hurdles come my way.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Dallas is truly a melting pot. So many people from different walks of life. I like the diversity and the supportive nature of the residents. I also like the opportunities here. I’m not a native, but Dallas has been my home since 2017. I’m sure everyone says this, but it’s definitely the traffic that I like least. I am not a fan of driving here!
Pricing:
- My candles start at $12 and go up from there. We ship nationwide and even have a pickup option for local customers.
Contact Info:
- Email: support@climaxcandleco.com
- Website: climaxcandleco.com
- Instagram: @climaxcandleco
- Facebook: facebook.com/climaxcandleco
Image Credits
For headshots: Mari Jaxn Studios (@marijaxnstudios) Additional photos: Lotus 5ive (@lotus5ive)
