October 1, 2011

November 5, 2011

December 3, 2011

January 28, 2012

March 10, 2012

May 5, 2012

June 2, 2012

Note: SAT^® is a registered trademark of The College Board.  The Tutoring Place is not affiliated with The College Board^®, and The Tutoring Place does not administer the SAT test.

“I saw the article about you in the newspaper. What made you decide to start a candle business?” I have heard that question countless times since I launched Eleanor Hamm & Co. my freshman year in high school.

I realized early on that nights of macaroni and cheese, Goodnight Moon and fussy toddlers were not going to be my preferred path to earning money. I love kids, but it did not take me long to realize that I do not love childcare. If you are a fifteen year old girl in Dallas, Texas, babysitting is the most obvious way to fill your wallet with cash. Jobs are plentiful, the pay is good, and it’s comfortable and predictable. However, I wanted something more – something uniquely challenging where I could be creative. I wanted something I could call my own.

After substantial brainstorming, including research on the Internet and canvassing family and friends, I went from making macaroni and cheese to producing a premium line of candles. Initially, my plan was to sell the candles to family, friends, and neighbors. However, I quickly learned that while teenagers love candles, they don’t want to spend their limited resources on such discretionary items. Moreover, I realized that while family and neighbors are typically supportive, by limiting my market to them, I was limiting my potential sales. A good business plan was critical to generate meaningful sales.

I concluded that I would develop an upscale product line with premium fragrances, soy-based wax, stylish containers and packaging. My strategy was to appeal to the shopper who wants high quality and classic design at a lower price. My objective was to have my customers consider me as an alternative to the more expensive retailers. By networking with family and friends, and donating to charitable events, I was able to market the candles through word of mouth. I planned to target the various school bazaars and fundraising markets throughout Dallas/Fort Worth. (Later, these shows proved to be the most lucrative venue for selling my candles.)

I had my work cut out for me. Supplies had to be sourced, including the embellishments that ultimately came from a range of places such as Rhode Island and China. Production techniques, including experimenting with various waxes and fragrances, needed to be developed. Weeks went by, and my parents’ patience, support, and goodwill had been tested. I wasn’t even driving at this point, which meant I had to rely on my parents to transport me everywhere.

As my business grew, I realized the part I loved the most was experimenting with fragrances, containers, and packaging. These aspects of the business were most appealing to me because that’s where I engage my creative side. While I was able to embrace my creativity, I also had to source materials, make the candles, and give up my weekends to attend shows. With my mother’s help, I opened a bank account, secured a merchant account so I could take credit cards, learned how to make deposits and pay bills and, eventually, taxes. It was up to me to allocate the proper amount of time and energy to each aspect of the business, from making the candles to managing the finances.

Although my initial objective was to earn additional spending money, I have gained much more than financial rewards. I have gained confidence in myself by learning to successfully balance a very busy life. Managing all of my responsibilities has been challenging, and at times, stressful. But I’m proud to say that my business experience has matured me and prepared me for any challenge. I have developed the skills to manage my time and prioritize the things important to me: attending a demanding college prep school, playing varsity tennis, volunteering in my community and, of course, growing Eleanor Hamm & Co.

I feel compelled to declare that my parents take care of all of my needs and certainly most of my “wants”, and for this I am grateful. Admittedly, I’m no different than most teenage girls who desire clothes, make-up and all of the other “stuff” that teenagers can’t live without. While my parents have provided for me, they have made it clear that if I want “extras”, I have to find my own way of financing them, and my candle business has certainly helped me accomplish this. I have learned to stand on my own by being resourceful and industrious.

As I’ve matured into a young adult, I’ve learned that setting goals, overcoming obstacles through patient, persistent, hard work is much more rewarding than any material things I thought I wanted. Now I have the confidence that with a good plan, personal commitment, and steady hard work, I can achieve any goal.

Call or email us today for more information or to make an appointment.

eleanor hamm & co

soy based   .   hand poured   .   highly scented  .  candles

When Ellie came to The Tutoring Place to get some advice on her college entrance essays, she wanted to write one of her essays about her business – a successful candle company she started while in high school.  Since The Tutoring Place is locally owned and operated, we understand the hard work that goes into running a business and are impressed by students, like Ellie, who demonstrate an interest in entrepreneurship.  That is why she is our inaugural Star Student.

A recent graduate of Ursuline Academy, Ellie is now a member of the TCU class of 2015.  The Tutoring Place wishes her the best in her future educational and business endeavors.  Please click on Ellie’s logo above to visit her website.

To read Ellie’s essay, please click here.  (Please note that the attached essay is the personal intellectual property of Ellie and has been used with her permission.)

1. Be prepared.

The student should know what he or she needs to work on before walking in the door. In a 1-hour tutoring session, time is precious, so don’t waste any of it trying to find that elusive worksheet.

2. Try things on your own.

When you have an assignment you want to look over with a tutor, take a stab at it on your own first. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what you truly need help with.

3. Eliminate distractions.

Don’t wait until the middle of your session to use the restroom, get a drink of water, etc. It’s okay if you have to do something like this while you’re working, but it’s best if you don’t. You’ll be more focused if you take care of those sorts of things before you get started.

4. Take notes.

While not all of the tutors here are sought-after lecturers, they’re all pretty good at what they do. More importantly, they’ve done this before, and they have a good idea of what’s important for you to remember the next time you’re tackling the same sort of issue without a tutor by your side.

5. Ask questions.

Don’t leave a tutoring appointment with questions. Get them all figured out during that hour. We know you may be pressed for time, but it’s much better to get all of your questions answered than to finish your homework without knowing how to answer the same questions on the next test.