Episode 165 // Michelle Myers of Dirt Road Candle Co.
Today kicks off a brand new season of the podcast, and as announced, this year we are going back to interview some of the people and businesses featured in our first episodes to find out what they’ve been up to since then! Who better to start off with than Michelle Myers of Dirt Road Candle Co in Lewis, Iowa (pop. 357)?
I first talked to Michelle back in 2019 when her candle business was still a side hustle. Fast forward to today, and Michelle has not only made her dream a full-time reality, but she’s built an incredible brand, expanded her shop, and even hosted farm-to-table dinners on her farm.
In today’s conversation, we’ll dive into how she made the leap to entrepreneurship, the importance of protecting her creativity, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. You’ll hear about the power of community, her evolving style, and how she’s crafted a brand that truly reflects her rural roots. Michelle’s journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible with hard work, creativity, and a strong community.
So grab your favorite candle, sit back, and enjoy this inspiring conversation with Michelle Myers of Dirt Road Candle Co. And be sure to stick around until the end, because we have two very exciting announcements for you!
Listen right here or on these platforms:
“In 2019 I was working a job that I liked, I did not love, and I had this idea that was kind of taking off and I thought, well this is a crazy idea but maybe I could do this full time. So I worked really, really, really hard. And paused some friendships to accomplish that. Because I just had to have like horse blinders on and just work. And if I wasn’t at my day job I was just pouring candles, shipping candles, developing new products, all the things out of my tiny little kitchen on 17th Street. There were candles in literally every room of my house.”
- Michelle Myers
“I felt crazy (for going out on my own), but I also was like, this is what I’m supposed to do.”
- Michelle Myers
“Our angle is selling the experience of what that scent encompasses. So like transporting someone back to a certain place in time or a certain place that they love. We really pull from our rural backgrounds. All the people who work for me are from a farm or a small town.”
- Michelle Myers
“Now here we are today and I’ve outgrown the shed I built and it’s bursting at the seams, and I have employees, and I’m just really grateful for everything that’s happened.”
- Michelle Myers
“I guess I just make what I like, which is how it should be, right?”
- Michelle Myers
“I hired a new employee to do my shipping and boy how that freed up my creativity. So there is something to just giving yourself space to be able to create and dream and do all the things.”
- Michelle Myers
PODCAST SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:
2019 Interview
Lewis, Iowa
Faire
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