After 20 years working in sleep medicine, Rock Hill resident Tanisha Burke said her “entrepreneurial spirit” and passion for helping others called her to do more.
“There was a persistent feeling that I was meant for something greater,” she said. So in 2020, Burke founded Malaysian Lights Candle Company, which sells a variety of handmade candles, wax melts, room sprays and other fragrances, all made for people with scent sensitivities.
Burke, 45, said her products are crafted without parabens, sulfates, sulfurs or phthalates, each of which can trigger an allergic reaction.
“That’s where my whole business comes from,” she said, “creating a solution.”
Malaysian Lights offers four signature candle lines: Lit Libations, Floral Flames, Candle Confections and Frosted Flames. Each is inspired by one of Burke’s passions, such as cooking and flowers.
Earlier this month, Burke won the $5,000 top prize and the People’s Choice Award in the 2024 Score Charlotte Pitch for Growth competition, which was open to small business owners in 13 North Carolina counties and three South Carolina counties. Ten finalists out of 150 applications pitched to a panel of business professionals in front of a live audience at the Mint Museum on Randolph Road.
Malaysian Lights has two locations: Yorkville Marketplace (108 N. Congress Street) in York, S.C., and Southern Lion at Carolina Place Mall (11033 Carolina Place Parkway) in Pineville.
In our Q&A, Burke talks about the competition, her business, what’s in store for the future and more. Her answers were lightly edited for length and clarity.
Tell us about your experience during the competition.
I was so excited. When we got to the Mint Museum, we got to meet everybody else, all the other business owners. That was cool because we all were supportive of each other. It was nice. It was a lot of fun to get up there and pitch during the competition.
How did you feel when you were announced as the winner?
I was taken aback simply because there were amazing businesses — not to say that mine was less than or nothing like that. It just makes you feel … validated, that I’m walking in my purpose and this is what I’m supposed to be doing.
You also won the People’s Choice Award, which was determined by the audience. How did it feel to receive that recognition?
That felt amazing, because you see where people are connecting with you, which is exactly what you want. It’s super important that my message gets across by me just speaking about my candles.
Can you share a bit about your journey in founding Malaysian Lights?
My passion and purpose is to leave a legacy for my nieces. My niece Malaysia, she’s whom I named my business after, she’s seven. She’s the light of my life, and that’s where you get Malaysian Lights. Then, my niece Zadariya. We both, unfortunately, share a similar story now in life because when I was 17, I lost my mother. She instilled a lot of different things into me, like tenacity. She struggled with diabetes, and it’s actually what brought her to her demise. My niece, unfortunately, last year, after she turned 18, we lost my sister and her mother, Aziza. So she’s like, “I look up to you because I see how far you’ve come with your dreams, and I know I can do the same.” She’s now in school for nursing.
What inspired you to start a business focused on handmade candles and other scented products?
I always wanted to have a business that was going to give back to the community and impact it in a positive way. Any small change can make a big impact. Just suffering from migraines and allergies and needing some type of solution. That’s where my whole business comes from — creating a solution. I have a background in sleep and respiratory care of 20 years. I took my research and applied it to my business, and now I’m just having a little bit more fun with it.
The problem is that ordinary household candles emit chemicals that can cause reactions in people who have migraines, vertigo, allergies, asthma or just insensitivities in general. My candles are made with a sustainable soy blend wax that I blend myself. All of my fragrances don’t have any parabens, sulfates, sulfurs or phthalates. Even my car fresheners and room sprays are made with a coconut vegan base.
Your business features four signature candle lines. What inspired those lines.
Every line is a part of my love language. I love to cook, which is where all the dessert candles come from. I love to bake. In my family, there’s tons of bakers. My grandmother baked, and my mom. That’s what we used to do during Christmas. I love a little glass of wine. That’s where the drink line comes from. My florals — I love flowers. I love to self-care. That’s where the aromatherapy line comes from.
How do you plan to use the $5,000 prize to grow your business?
I plan on expanding my business. I’m going to be making candles for other businesses so I can bring the same healthy candles to other communities. I’m super excited about that. I will also be offering a private label, and they can customize their scents. Once they customize that scent, I will not be selling that scent anywhere else.
Where do you see Malaysian Lights in the next 2-3 years?
The sky’s the limit. I want my own store on Rodeo Drive (in Beverly Hills). I took my picture last year in January on Rodeo Drive, where I would want my store. I want to be international one day. I do want to mass produce, to some extent.
As a small business owner, what advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who are just starting out or thinking about entering the market?
Definitely have a plan. One scripture I stand on is Habakkuk 2:2-3. “Write the vision down, and make it plain and clear so he who reads it will run to it, although it might tarry. Just be patient and stay after it because it will come to pass.”
I’m huge on writing everything down. Nothing is concrete until you write it down. Write down what you want. Go after your goals, and always have it somewhere where you can constantly remind yourself: This is what I’m supposed to be doing. This is where I’m supposed to be going. Nothing’s going to stop me. As long as you have that mind and determination, you’ll be fine. Then pray when it’s time to leave — leave and step out on faith and go all the way with it.
What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned as an entrepreneur that you wish you had known when you first started Malaysian Lights?
I have learned you can’t trust everybody. Everyone who smiles and has a friendly face is not necessarily friendly, so you do have to guard yourself and be a little more aware. Another thing is literally putting yourself out there and learning about resources. There are so many resources out there that can help you with a startup, and as a startup, even when you’re just fresh with an idea.
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