Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Rodriguez.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey has been bumpy, to say the least!
Candles are really something that happened by accident. In 2004, while on vacation, I found a candle I loved but when I saw the price I said, “Um, I can make this!” At the time, I was a teacher… ten years in the classroom and was teaching middle school math. A job I loved and a career I was proud of. I truly still miss the classroom, let’s face it deep down I’m a math nerd! I love a good algebra problem! Anyway, at the time, I was also running an online invitation business called Everything but the Stamp. It was sorta my side hustle. At the time, a friend who was also a teacher was eager to get out of the classroom and asked me if I could give her a job with my invitations but that wasn’t profitable enough for two of us. So, I suggested making candles. Well, crickets. That’s what I heard. Two weeks later, she called me in tears and was desperate to get out so she agreed to hear me out on the candle idea. I set out to order what I needed to make soy candles. Massage candles at that. Later finding a contract manufacturer and working closely with him to make our candles. I kept it simple and allowed to grow the business without having to make the candles ourselves.
Why massage candles? Well, when I set out to start the previous company, I knew there had to be something to set it apart from the others and back in 2004/2005 the focus was turning to reduce our footprint, so I thought a soy-based candle would be a great idea and making it a massage candle, double whammy! I put in more hours than I can remember but it’s what was necessary. She went to people and small events to sell them and I ran all the Operations and Marketing and Accounting and inventory and Artwork and Social Media and let’s face it… everything!!!!
Let’s remember I was a teacher. No business background (except watching my father build a beautiful business in the clothing manufacturing world and learning from his work ethic) and no fragrance background either. So, yes, flying by the seat of my pants! But somehow, I succeeded in building a brand! It took about four years to convince my partner that we had to go wholesale. Think bigger. I basically said, “either we do wholesale or I’m out!” So, the trade shows and traveling started in 2010. I took a short break in 2011 to have a baby and then kicked it into high gear taking part in about 10 trade shows per year, plus numerous road trips to visit accounts throughout Florida. Once again, I was the one doing it all, including the traveling. After many years of this, I began to resent having a business partner who was pretty much an absent partner. Needless to say, eventually, it all came to heads in Feb 2017!
I very quickly had to rebuild my professional career. After many many many years of being the one putting all my sweat and tears into a business, the crap hit the fan and we ended up in a nasty lawsuit that ended 6 months later! Both of us could have done many things differently but, of course, we know hindsight is only 20/20. Sadly, friendship was lost. Anyway, It ended with me being the one to walk away from the business. I cut my losses and sold my 50% to her. Such a long story!
Now… before the blow up in February, perhaps the week before I was telling a friend how I had a bad feeling about the current situation and that I wanted to start my own line but knew it would cause problems with my partner. She encouraged me to plan and do what I needed. So, off I went and did just that. I created the line I wanted all along. A complete line of home fragrance products as well as bath and body, now even offering amenities for locker rooms and hotels. I got to start over on my terms. It was perhaps the roughest year of my life, no doubt. I had signed a non-compete and knew that I had to tread carefully but with a coconut based candle and 13 other products I was free and clear. (Previous company was only soy-based candles).
So, I started pulling my resources together and Coco La Vie Home Fragrance + Apothecary was born. I Flew to China to meet with vendors, found a source in the USA for Coconut Wax, new fragrance house here in South Florida..new everything. I needed to start over and didn’t want to deal with any previous vendors. I set out to make the perfect hand-poured coconut based massage candle and full line of coconut infused products. Knowing I wasn’t close to ready, I called Lisa at Live Love Spa and signed up for Atlanta and Chicago trade shows (July and August 2017). Showed up to Atlanta with PRODUCTION samples but nobody would have guessed it! I remember setting up and going up to my room and just sitting on my bed and crying… sobbing! I could not believe that in three months, I was able to pull together what I had done!!!! Then, came ISPA, the big spa show, and again I was there ready to launch the new line and reconnect with many in the industry. Meanwhile, the lawsuit was still happening and the opposing side was less than thrilled that I was doing shows and moving forward! But I held my head up high and kept pushing!
While in Chicago, I met with an old friend who I adore and admire. She’s very well respected in the spa industry and the stars just happened to align. In November 2017, she started working with me as the National Account Manager. I’m truly blessed to have Joanie believe in this line and believe in me as she jumped on board when it was just a dream really!
So, yes. I had to rebuild my career and start over! I am so proud of what I have accomplished in my life so far. Perhaps, what I am the proudest of is that my children have watched me bust my butt. I’m a single mom and everything I do is for them! Amanda is 13 and the queen of prepping trade show Goodie Bags and Andrew is seven and he mostly just watches over us! My hope is that they will grow to understand and appreciate the hard work I put in and perhaps they will work with me in the future or create their own businesses.
Oh and I forgot to mention that my parents are my number one fans! They have invested in this venture and the fact that they back me up makes me realize that they believe in me, which means I’m doing something right! My mom is my number one employee!!! She’s with me at the warehouse most days and whips up an amazing body butter and packs candles like nobody’s business. My dad keeps me on my toes. Daily phone calls about what’s being invoices and what’s coming and going. He’s definitely the money guy and he’s a damn good administrator. I’ve learned a lot from watching him always! He’s old school. He keeps everything on a yellow steno pad. Gotta love that!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I believe in telling my story, above all, my obstacles and challenges were faced head on! I am very proud of all I have done and perhaps my favorite quote, with good reason, is:
“A strong woman looks a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink.” ~ Gina Carey
I don’t see any of the challenges or obstacles I faced as roadblocks, they simply have pushed me to work harder and be creative in all I do. I am no quitter!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Coco La Vie Home Fragrance & Apothecary – what should we know?
Coco La Vie Home Fragrance + Apothecary was founded in Miami, Florida in the summer of 2017. The ultimate goal is to bring to market a complete line of luxury home fragrance and bath + body products infused with the goodness of coconut oil. As a Florida native, I have loved and used coconut oil on just about everything for years. When it came time to create the new line of products it seems only fitting that coconut oil is the main ingredient.
Why coconut oil? The answer is simple, coconut oil is rich in antioxidant Vitamin E and is an excellent moisturizer for all skin types. From our proprietary coconut wax blend massage candle to sugar scrub, body butter, and soap, the Coco La Vie Collection will moisturize and leave your skin feeling soft and refreshed, while your home is filled with luxurious fragrances of the room spray and reed diffuser.
Coco La Vie is unique in several ways. Perhaps the main reason is that all the products are available in all the scents across the board. In addition, our coconut wax blend candles can be used as a massage oil or moisturizing lotion with fragrances that will not only fill your home with amazing scents but will leave your skin feeling refreshed and silky soft! Our products are great for the hotel and spa industry, as well as gift shops and boutiques. Private label is also available.
All our candles and products are hand made and hanin small batches right here in Miami, Florida.
What do you love about our city and what do you dislike?
Likes:
being close to the water
our beaches
summer year round
the cultural diversity
perfect blue skies
foodie paradise
born and raised – my family is here, my roots
beautiful people – it’s about healthy living
surrounded by art
the Keys are so close – a quiet escape, my fave!
Dislikes:
traffic is dreadful
getting too crowded
fake people, but those are everywhere and easily avoided!
I really am pretty easy going, not much I don’t like!
Pricing:
- Scented Massage Candles $38
- 3 oz Travel Tin $10
- Body Butter $28
- Sugar Scrub $30
- Handmade Soap $9
- Massage Oil $22
- Bath Salt Crystals $24
- Lip Balm with SPF $6
- Room Spray $24
- Reed Diffuser $38
- Travel Sets $42
Contact Info:
- Address: Coco La Vie
7172 SW 47 Street
Miami, FL 33155 - Website: http://shopcocolavie.com
- Phone: 305.302.2262
- Email: maggie@shopcocolavie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopcocolavie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopcocolavie
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shopcocolavie
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggierdgz/
Image Credit:
@modern_image_by_candy, Candy Meynarez, Modern Image by Candy
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