Meet Regina Pasqualone | Owner & Maker, Tiny Kitchen Candle Co.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Regina Pasqualone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Regina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Deciding to start my own business was not something that came easily to me. I was a public school teacher before starting TKCC. It was the only career I had ever known and it was “safe.” However, in the last few years of teaching, my mental health was deteriorating. I was constantly tired, anxious, and depressed. The little energy I had I used to get through my work day, and once I got home, I would collapse on my couch. As a mother, the guilt of having nothing left to give my son only compounded the difficult feelings and emotions I was already experiencing.

BUT, it took me landing in this dark space to finally muster up the courage to make a change. I knew I couldn’t continue doing what I was doing and so I took a risk, resigned from my job, and put my health and happiness first. It was the best thing I ever did. Owning and operating my business has afforded me the time to focus on my health and my family.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I think the idea to start a candle business came about for two reasons: 1. There was a creative side of me that wasn’t being fulfilled in my teaching career and 2. There was a deeply-rooted desire to create a more peaceful life for myself. Candles really served as a vehicle for making both things happen. I had to ask myself, “How can I create a moment of peace and joy in someone’s life?” And so I really considered a person’s pathways to pleasure…the 5 senses! I had to try and appeal to as many senses as possible in order to create a change. Visually, I landed on amber glass vessels for a soft, calming glow. All the labels we design are accented with gold which brings about a romantic quality. The fragrances are developed and curated to elicit positive changes in mood and an overall sense of well-being. Rather than use a traditional cotton wick, we decided to utilize crackling wood wicks to mimic the sounds of a cozy fireplace. Every single aspect of the design process focused on creating a complete sensory experience for our customers and so far, feedback has been wonderful!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a proud Jersey girl so it goes without saying that we would stick to the Garden State for our adventure! In the summer months, we would spend a few days in my favorite place, Cape May. We would take early-morning bike rides through the farms and wineries, then spend the days on the beach, reading books and watching for dolphins. We would enjoy fresh seafood from the local fisheries and do some shopping at Washington Square mall.

There is SO much more to enjoy in this state! Lakes, mountains, botanical gardens, FOOD! A week wouldn’t be enough!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are SO many people that have influenced this journey! First and foremost, my husband, Dom. Thank you for putting my well-being above all else. Thank you for supporting my vision and being my #1 fan. And thank you for handling all the spreadsheets (because we both know how much I hate spreadsheets!)

To all the amazing women at Jennifer Layne Acupuncture and Wellness- I will always be a work in progress but I am so grateful to have you as my healers.

To the friends, family members, colleagues, and strangers on social media who continue to hype me up and support this dream of mine….you’re the real MVPs!

Finally, thank you to Jen Sincero for writing “You Are a Badass.” You were right- I am a badass.

Website: www.tinykitchencandleco.com

Instagram: @tinykitchencandleco

Facebook: @tinykitchencandleco

Image Credits
Michelle McCooe Photography