Meet Stephanie Decker | Candle Maker

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

Hi Stephanie, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Reading an exciting book and diving into the main characters world. Having a glass of wine and a good conversation with close friends. Spending time at the ocean and in the mountains. Being able to sleep in. Being flexible with my time. Being able to create new products and to bring a vision to life. Knowing that my candles brought someone a little joy. Getting a good review or positive feedback. The feeling when I know I didn’t waste any supplies and I have exactly the inventory left someone is requesting. Being able to spend time with my partner, my family, and friends. Creating something with my hands. Seeing the outcome of my effort. Making our home cozy. Having deep conversations. Laughing. Standing up for myself and people I care for. Giving back some of the luck and privilege I have experienced so far.

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?
When I started creating my own candles and the brand jannu & me. I was trying to create a unique product that combines my European roots with everything that I have been experiencing in Boulder, CO. My purpose was to give the candles a clean and minimalistic style like I knew it from Northern European countries, I also wanted to give it a playful side, find names that relate to the mountains and the outdoors, and give people an idea of this very special and inspiring vibe in Boulder. At the same time the product should be as sustainable as possible. The packaging should be reusable and recyclable, the wax vegan and renewable, and the fragrance oils and essential oils organic and natural. That’s how jannu & me. was born. ‘Jannu’ is actually a mountain in the Himalayas and literally means ‘mountain with shoulders’. I liked the idea of balance this name is symbolizing: The balance between two homes, two countries, between nature and humans, and the balance lightning a candle can bring to your home. Over time I learned how to make a product even more sustainable. It’s an ongoing process, and you can always improve your products and the way you are distributing them. That can be exhausting sometimes, but it’s also the beauty of it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would try to give them the perfect mix of everything Boulder has to offer: Go for a hike at Mount Sanitas in the morning, browse through the cute little stores on Pearl Street, have a coffee and little snack at Boxcar Coffee and CURED. Have a little dip in the Boulder creek. Relax during a yoga class at Amana. Spend some time in the amazing Boulder Bookstore. Visit a workshop at Rebecca’s Apothecary. Enjoy the best cocktails in town at Bartaco. Then end the day with a little picnic at the Red Rocks, overlooking the town and soaking up the sunset.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The idea to create my own product and to start my own little business has been in my mind for a while. What really inspired me and motivated me to actually just jump into it, was a German book called ‘Einfach mal machen’ / ‘Just do it’. It features young, inspiring, and courageous women who followed their dreams and started their business, opened a little store, or online business. I brought this book with me when I moved to the U.S. from Germany over two years ago, and it reminded me of what I really want to do – put my personality, my effort, and my energy in a product I really love. I couldn’t have done all of that without my husband, who supported me all the way, listened to my ideas and my doubts, brainstormed with me, believed in me, and just helped me with so many little countless things.

Website: https://jannuandme.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jannu_and_me/
Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jannu_and_me/

Image Credits
Courtesy of jannu & me. LLC Pictures of me: Lisa Hantke Photography