- Laid-off marketer lights entrepreneurial fire with $500 candle biz.
- Leveraging Amazon tools, startup becomes top seller, on pace for 8-figure year.
- Stick-to-itiveness pays off for ecom founder poised to reap rewards.
Summary
Entrepreneur Mikey Kim leveraged Amazon tools and smart strategy to take his home-based startup to the next level.
The Fragrance of Fortune
When Mikey Kim was laid off from his marketing job at a startup in 2020, he decided to turn lemons into lemonade by launching his own e-commerce business.
With just $500 in startup funds, Kim began handmaking natural soy candles under Hemlock Park and selling them online via Amazon and Etsy.
The Aroma of Ambition
In the first year, Kim broke even on his investment as he worked to build his customer base. But thanks to financing offers from Amazon Lending and Goldman Sachs, he expanded production and moved manufacturing operations to two warehouses in Nevada.
Today, Hemlock Park generates 60% of sales from its Amazon storefront, with thousands of positive reviews and a top seller ranking in the natural candle category.
Scents of Success
A key part of Hemlock Park’s success has been Kim’s savvy use of Amazon’s advertising and account management tools. Kim has scaled his marketing efficiently by leveraging ad automation software and dedicated strategists.
“I used to spend 20 hours a week managing ads and inventory. Now it’s down to 5 hours, thanks to the tools,” said Kim.
Lighting the Way to Riches
With over 2,000 retail partners and a quickly growing Shopify store, Hemlock Park is on track to bring in eight figures in revenue this year – a 200% year-over-year increase. Kim credits consistency and patience for this growth.
“Get past that first, hardest year and stick with it,” he advised other prospective e-commerce entrepreneurs.
Kim hasn’t yet paid himself, reinvesting profits back into the business. But with his top 10 seller status and continued expansion, this young candle maker is poised to reap the rewards of his vision soon.
