In the world of entrepreneurship, there are stories that inspire, and then there are stories that resonate deeply with the essence of passion, creativity, and determination. The tale of VIBES, a startup based in West Bengal, falls beautifully into the latter category. Founded in 2022 by Srilekha Raha Ghosh, Vibes has been creating a variety of distinctive and much-loved aroma candles.
Srilekha’s journey began with a burning desire to break free from societal expectations and make her own mark. The spark that ignited her path was Aromatherapy, a holistic approach to well-being. Fueled by her creativity and a desire to alleviate modern-day stress and anxiety, she explored the art of Aromatherapy, crafting aroma candles with pure Soy Wax and Essential Oils.
Today, we are thrilled to introduce you to Srilekha Raha Ghosh as she shares her incredible journey with us on The Inspiring Chapters. From her roots to her vision for VIBES, this exclusive interview unveils the heartwarming story of a woman who turned her dreams into reality. Let’s dive right in!
Hi Srilekha, we are glad to have you with us today on The Inspiring Chapters. To begin with, we would like to know a few lines about yourself.
I have done Master’s degrees in both English and Education before securing a job in a private management college as a communicative skills faculty. I don’t come from a business family, both my parents were government service holders. So, I always kind of had an untold pressure to get a good job to settle in life. But in the back of my mind, I never wanted this, as I wanted to make something by myself. I always had the urge to start my own business. Finally, that happened last year, when I decided to leave my job to start VIBES.
What sparked your interest in aromatic candle making and led to the establishment of VIBES?
I am a very creative person as I have been trained in the field of classical dancing since the age of 4. I have never thought of starting any stereotype business which everyone is doing nowadays. And moreover, I wanted to make something which can help people somehow.
When I was doing R&D for my startup idea, I found that contemporary lifestyles often lead to people experiencing busy schedules, stressful days, anxiety, depression, and various other challenges. So, I wanted to make something to reduce them.
Subsequently, I learned about Aromatherapy and started making Aromatherapy Candles with pure Soy Wax and Essential oil. I initially tried them on me and my husband. We found that these candles were doing magic. The aromas were very relaxing and destressing. And, that is how I finally started my hand-poured Aroma Candles business.
Please tell us about VIBES.
VIBES is basically a homegrown sustainable brand that uses only natural organic materials. And, now VIBES has entered into an agreement with an NGO where we are contributing Rs. 2 from each sold candle for children’s welfare. Furthermore, VIBES is a women-driven brand. Right from the founder to all the staff members all are strong women who can literally manage both Home and Work.
The world of aromatherapy and scents is vast. How do you go about selecting and blending the perfect fragrances for your candles to create unique and captivating experiences?
It’s a really long process. It’s not that all the aromas I use can be bought easily from the market. I literally blend the aromas by myself. When working on Aromatherapy, it’s not only about good fragrances, you also have to get the proper knowledge of the therapeutic values of each and every aroma.
The research and development phase, along with extensive testing and trials, is quite substantial and takes a lot of time. It takes expertise, experience, and passion to create new things. I don’t know more about all this. I just love my job in VIBES and I spend a lot of time on creating each and every product.
Crafting high-quality candles requires both skill and creativity. Can you walk us through your creative process, from conceptualizing a new candle idea to bringing it to life?
As I told you before, the whole process takes a lot of time. I had no knowledge about the process of candle-making until I started. Practice and only practice helped me in developing my skills. And honestly, I feel in this era of Internet, if you want to learn something or do something, it is not that difficult anymore.
Srilekha, how big is your team right now?
Right now, I have a small team of 4 strong women.
As a small business founder, you likely have to wear multiple hats involving multiple roles. How do you prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively to ensure the business’s success?
Yes, this is the most important question I feel. Now I am able to have a team from last month but before that, I was all alone. I assumed roles ranging from the founder and worker to social media manager, photographer, product designer, marketing head, and salesperson, among others. It’s definitely very difficult to manage everything especially when you are a woman because you have one more responsibility to manage your home properly. But if you really love your work and have a big dream, trust nothing feels difficult.
What are some of your signature products?
Aromatherapy Jar Candles, Motichoor Laddoo Candles, Wax Sachets are some of the signature products of VIBES.
How has been the journey for VIBES till now?
It was never too easy to walk on a different road. Aroma candles in India are still not something that people in India buy as dresses or jewelleries. First of all, I need to educate people about the benefits of Aromatherapy, then only I can expect a good number of sales. The journey so far has been really fun!
How do you go about building a successful customer base for your brand?
Basically, people who know about these candles or use them buy from me. I want people who don’t know about Aromatherapy to start buying my candles and get knowledge about it.
What are the present challenges? How do you plan to overcome them?
Securing funds has always been a challenge for us, alongside the need for effective marketing strategies. I am working on them.
Please share the investment details.
In the initial days, it was all from my savings. After that, the grant of Rs. 10 lakh from Britannia Marie Gold My Startup Contest helped me a lot to fulfill my dream.
Srilekha, you recently took part in a business reality show. How was the journey there and what has changed since then?
Yes, of course, it changed a lot. When you are a self-funded entrepreneur, funding is always the main issue. Because without investment you cannot make your business big. After winning the grant from the reality show, I immediately started working on scaling up my business.
Looking towards the future, what exciting developments or new directions can we expect from VIBES in terms of products, diversification, or even expanding your brand’s reach?
Basically, I want to make VIBES the best hand-poured brand of aroma candles in India. I know this goal would take a significant effort, but without a dream, there can be no fulfillment.
Anything else you want to share?
I just want to tell everyone that “Sapne dekho, kyuki sapne sach hote hain”. It’s very important to prioritize the right thing at the right time.
And one final question of this session Srilekha, if you have had one wish what would it be?
Right now, I only have one wish which is to make VIBES bigger and better, and, actually the best!
VIBES is more than just any other brand. It is a movement towards sustainability, women empowerment, and children’s welfare. Srilekha’s commitment to blending fragrances, creating unique experiences, and her relentless dedication to making VIBES the best hand-poured brand of aroma candles in India are truly inspirational. So, let her story and VIBES Aroma Candles remind us to dream big, pursue our passions, and prioritize what truly matters. In the gentle flicker of a candle’s flame, we find not just light but also the promise of dreams becoming reality.
Cheers to VIBES, to Srilekha, and to all the dreamers and doers out there. Your story can be as radiant as the candles Srilekha crafts with love!
