Valerie Wray | The 125 Collection

AGE || 44

COMPANY NAME || The 125 Collection

JOB TITLE || Founder

YEARS LIVING IN NEW YORK || 21

COMPANY START DATE || 2016

SOCIAL HANDLES || @The125Collection; @val_wray

WEBSITE || The 125 Collection

What did you want to be while growing up?

I wanted to be a fashion designer.

What gave you the inspiration to start The 125 collection?

Well, I love candles, but more so I started it because I wanted to create something that you could have in your home but still was relatable. It allows you to speak your mind and empower you and have something to laugh at. It was a combination of more so having something that was a self-expression piece but, at the same time, was also functional.

How did your background help you in starting the company?

In my twenties, I was always starting little businesses. So, I think just the ability to be super resourceful in an industry that I didn't really know a whole lot about. My background of being resourceful and creating other little small businesses along the way really helped me.

How do you define success?

I think success is putting your mind to something and accomplishing it. Rather, creating a goal and getting there to accomplish whatever that goal could potentially be. It doesn't necessarily have to be monetary, but just being able to accomplish your goal and feel good about the strides you took to get there.

What is your creative process like for making the candles?

I worked in the fashion industry at one point and I wanted the vessel to still be kind of sleek, so that's why it's black. That was the inspiration around why I took a black jar versus a clear jar because the black jar just looked more sleek and sophisticated. Then, as far as the quotes, I really try to stay relevant and present on what's going on culturally, socially, and then pop culture. It could be something that I've seen that kind of spiked an interest. It could be something that I've heard before or a variation of it. Sometimes it could be something that's going on with me personally that I know probably other people experience. Just having that feeling and knowing that other people could potentially feel that way and say, you know what? I'm going to put this on a candle because this is totally relatable. That's been my process.

Also, trying to find things that interest people. So with the cats and pets and things like that, but for the most part just trying to stay relatable and relevant.

For people who don't know the history of Harlem, could you share a bit about the namesake and why you chose it?

Harlem, for people who don't know about it, it's just a very hip, eclectic place. There's a lot of history. It's fashion forward. It's still very diverse. To me, it embodies New York City. It still has this edge, but it still has its sophistication with brownstones. But then you still have your high rises. So that inspired me. I live in Harlem, and so I thought, What is in the center of Harlem? What is kind of the mecca of Harlem? It's 125th street. It's known all over the country, all over the world. People know what Harlem is, and the vein of Harlem is 125th street. So that's why I named the collection that.

What is the most important thing you've learned since starting the company?

That you have to be really agile and able to just pivot when you need to. If something's not working, you don't give up, you just have to find another way. For me, whether it's changing something with the product itself, whether it's finding different types of quotes or creating quotes that are relatable to someone that may be very different from myself. I think the key is to be very flexible and agile. Keep going and get some rest.

Do you have a go-to motivational quote or personal motto you stick to?

Oh yeah, one of the quote candles I have is she believed she could so she did. That resonates with me because I think every woman needs to know that and believe that because there have been so many times, even with this business I've encountered so many hiccups along the way, and you just have to keep going. You will never know if you don't try. So you just have to believe in yourself and keep going and you will be amazed at what will happen.

Which women inspire you?

There's so many. First, my mom inspired me because she was married very young, had three kids very young, and divorced very young. Even though she wouldn't say, you all need to go to college and get an education or you need to be the best, we just watched what she did. I think observing that really help ingrain in my sisters and I that you can do anything. It doesn't matter what age. You can accomplish whatever you can despite what has happened in your past or any challenges coming your way. So I would definitely say my mom would be a big inspiration.

What has been the most rewarding thing since starting out?

I would say getting testimonials from customers saying how they relate to the candle and how it just changed their mood or their energy. Or maybe it was something they're going through and they got that candle and have it in their home and really relate to it. I love getting those testimonials because when I see that, I know that I created what I was intended to create, and it's doing its job.

What advice would you give to other women trying to enter your field?

Do your research. Get a mentor. It doesn't have to be someone that is in the same industry. Just have someone that you know that you can ask questions to. Then go for it.

What are some of your goals moving forward for the 125 collections?

I definitely want to expand it into a lifestyle brand. Now with COVID-19 it's a little tricky. It's still on the horizon post-COVID, but just to create experiences for people that are relatable which incorporate the candle and things that are going on socially.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.