Meet Marsha Guillory, PhD | Chandler & Medical Coder/College Professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marsha Guillory, PhD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marsha, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?

What’s one piece of advice you disagree with? “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”-Confucius

Although you may thoroughly enjoy what you’re doing, once ambitious goals are set, even your dream business/career will require lots of hard work. The fact is, big goals always require big action, even if you love it. Despite the freedom & flexibility I experience in my businesses, I sometimes need to do tasks that are not fun or interesting (invoicing, taxes, social media, handling technical issues, etc). Doing something you love is not about avoiding mundane or annoying work, it’s about achieving a sense of fulfillment despite the difficulties. Since I tend to let my businesses consume a large part of my life, I highly recommend finding activities you’re interested in and passionate about outside of business hours (mine are bowling & running). This will help decrease the chance of burn-out & exhaustion, while providing the opportunity for “me time.”
Instead of expecting a business to feel less like work, perhaps aim to find something you love so much that you don’t want to stop doing it, even if it becomes difficult. I also believe what you love should push your limits periodically to propel you to higher levels of greatness.
Learning candle crafting and now expanding to producing bath & body products has been an amazing adventure. It brings great fulfillment by allowing me to develop skills I’ve never tapped into from any previous work environment. That rush & joy of knowing that Guillory Candle Co’s natural products won’t harm the environment & encourages a sense of wellbeing, outweighs the stress (and hard work) that comes with growing a business.

What should our readers know about your business?

Guillory Candle Co. is a luxury brand candle company inspired by my family’s southern creole heritage–hence the candle names. What makes us “luxurious” is the hand poured craftsmanship, natural wax, wooden wicks, toxin free fragrance oils & classic vessels. All items are sourced with conservation of the environment in mind. We use all-natural coconut soy wax without paraffin, artificial colors & phthalate free fragrance oils. The crackling wooden wicks not only add a relaxing ambiance, but our source donates a portion of their profits to replenishing trees. We educate customers to repurpose their vessels to help prevent waste. Guillory Candle Co. has implemented a “refill” program that replaces the candle(wax), eliminating the need for a new jar. I’d say this helps set us apart. The journey has not been easy, but because there’s such a passion to produce clean & safe products, it drives the desire to keep moving forward. One of the items I’m excited about is the addition of our plant-based bath & body products. This includes body wash, lotion/body butter, sugar scrub, beard oil & soaps for women & men, which helps our customers create a total self-care experience. Most challenges have been overcome by staying persistent, consistent, and committed to the goal of succeeding. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is not to let self-doubt or insecurities become debilitating. When sales aren’t great or you see 100 similar businesses thriving, just dig deep & rely on the confidence, fortitude & prayers you had when first starting your business. The world should know that Guillory Candle Co. will not compromise on the safety, quality & integrity of our products. I’d rather produce ONE great product than 10 mediocre ones.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

The Post Houston is in Downtown Houston & is the new hotspot in the city. Here, we can enjoy a delicious array of food & drinks, stroll through art galleries & shop with local small businesses while enjoying some of the best views of downtown through the rooftop garden.
Shopping at McQueen’s Custom Tailor Shoes & Accessories on Almeda is an absolute MUST! McQueen’s has a vast assortment of home décor, unique clothing, unique curated pieces and GUILLORY CANDLES!  Our candles are available
for purchase at this boutique, as well as XOXO Tracy Cosmetics which is a favorite for lipsticks, glosses, lip scrubs & hydrating lip creams.

Good Eats
Brenner’s on the Bayou & James Harden Thirteen Restaurant for an upscale dinner.
4501 Food Truck Park (The Birria Queen has AMAZING birria tacos).
Phil & Derek, Grace’s or Breakfast Klub for Sunday brunch
Sparkles Hamburgers for a juicy cheeseburger in the heart of Houston for a lunchtime splurge.
District 249 for the best crawfish in the city & sand volleyball to burn a few calories.
Day 6 Coffee for breakfast bites & a delicious coffee/ tea. Day 6 is a family-owned business.
Heights Bier Garden, Sunset and Loro for bar bites, specialty cocktails and beautiful patio views.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I must give credit to my niece (Kirkland Guillory) & nephew (Carrington Guillory) for being instrumental in the successful launch of Guillory Candle Co. I’m so grateful for all the brainstorming, creative ideas & hard work! Honorable mentions to Maxine & Al Guillory for their immeasurable contributions.               

Recognition goes to McQueen’s Custom Tailor Shoes & Accessories (@mcqueens_htx) for allowing us to host events & showcase our candles in their unique boutique. Last but certainly not least, thank you to all the loyal customers, family & friends who have supported the business along the way–they are the real MVPs!

Website: www.guillorycandleco.com

Instagram: @guillorycandleco

Facebook: Guillory Candle Co

Youtube: guillorycandleco@gmail.com