Teri Johnson is a 47-year-old New York Black woman who turned her love for Harlem’s cultural heritage into a lucrative candle business.
Johnson founded Harlem Candle Company in 2015 using $50,000 she had saved for her wedding.
Now, the company earns $2 million each year.
After moving to Harlem, Johnson started making scented candles in 2014.
She initially made them in her kitchen as presents for friends and family.
However, she realized this was her chance to blend her hobby with the cultural heritage of Harlem.
Everything Clicked For This Enterprising Black Woman
Johnson revealed to Inc:
“Everything just fell into place. I was encouraged by friends and family who had received my candles. I was making the candles in Harlem and I loved the Harlem Renaissance. My goal became to put Harlem on the map with a beautiful, luxurious fragrance.”
Johnson benefitted from her background as a former management consultant with an MBA from the Florida A&M HBCU.
However, her biggest issue had been finding a worthy venture.
When she landed on the candle making idea, she was so excited she repurposed the $50,000 she had set aside for her wedding and invested it into her inventory.
Johnson founded Harlem Candle Company and started selling $50 luxury candles inspired by the Harlem Renaissance.
Now, the business is worth $2 million, with the enterprising Black woman’s candles in 134 stores, including major stores like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom.
What sets this Black woman’s candles apart is her focus on storytelling.
Each package and fragrance spotlights the tales of Black luminaries like Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington.
One of her candles, Purple Love, even made the 2023 Oprah’s Favorite Things list.
“I do my research, and my perfumers take my vision and go deeper to create these essences that really do transport you back to a 1920s speakeasy or to the creative space of a Langston Hughes.”
Johnson also plans to expand her business with the Harlem Design Company, which will create journals that celebrate the Harlem Renaissance.
She hopes her brands will show the new generation the importance of the Harlem Renaissance.
“With me being a Black woman, having a business based here, and celebrating Black culture that celebrates Black excellence, and Black history, I felt a very strong responsibility to be a part of it.”
