![]() ![]() I am not shy to try new creative channels. There isn’t much in the arts I haven’t dabbled in, whether it was painting, textiles or computer imaging. It is a lifelong struggle, and we are here to help.Ĭreating something with my hands is the way I recharge. Grief doesn’t end after the funeral, nor six months later. We offer them guidance to help educate them on how to be a good friend in difficult situations. AFTER reaches out to the supporting loved ones (our customers) to remind them of the hard days their grieving friend has ahead of them. ![]() I want to make sure we are doing all that we can to help illuminate grief. To me, it is not enough to just sell a product. What sets us apart from other gift stores is the complimentary service we offer. It’s important to remember that grief is not just about death it is about loss. Our ‘Remembrance’ candle line offers grief support for loss such as losing a pet, miscarriage, and soon to be released AFTER: Cancer and AFTER: Divorce. Most people don’t have a clue on what to do with themselves, and this candle box can help with that. I feel like this product can be the most supportive because there is nothing on the market that addresses this day. My personal favorite is AFTER: Deathiversary, because it’s the heaviest (emotionally) and represents the griever’s first day of the rest of her days with grief. Our ‘Yearly’ candles are similar but are more specific to the hard days throughout the year, such as anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc. suicide, accidental, illness, etc., as it talks about grief in a universal yet supportive way. This candle box can be applied to most deaths i.e. It is intended for general grief, to be sent during the funeral timeframe up to two years of grieving. Our signature product (and best seller) is AFTER: Love and Light. It sells for $49, which is less expensive than most bouquets. We’d love to hear more about your business.ĪFTER sells grief support candle boxes that include a hand-poured soy candle, 16-page booklet, coaster, keepsake box, matches, and tissues (all made in Longmont). Operating AFTER is how I can help heal the world of grief. Operating AFTER is my way to help others connect in the face of grief. Our customers inspire me every day to keep going. It’s easy to run a business that provides consumers with products that are needed. Some recipients of the sympathy boxes end up becoming our customers because the product meant so much to them that they decide to send one to their friend. This is where AFTER comes in.Ī large percentage of our customers return to make additional purchases. People want to help their hurting loved one they just don’t know how. Our sympathy support boxes offer a way to heal during grief without trying to fix it as if it were a problem to be solved. They want a unique, meaningful gift that conveys their sorrow for their hurting friend or co-worker. Consumers are looking for an alternative to sending flowers. In the retail shop, “what a good idea!” is something we hear regularly. However, our candle boxes are truly resonating with customers. Sure, flowers are the traditional go-to bereavement gift, so I have to compete with that billion-dollar industry. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?įor the most part, there haven’t been many challenges. We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Since then, we have sold over 200 grief support boxes and continue to sell more across the country via our eCommerce website. I put the first product, our signature grief candle box – AFTER: Love and Light, on the shelf of my retail store in 2018. I created the AFTER Company to help people in their grief as well as help the supporting loved ones around them. It made such an impact on me that years later, I decided that this idea could help others. It was a tiny companion to help me navigate through my grief. ![]() Instead, it gave me the freedom to be sad. It wasn’t there to try to make me feel happy. It did something that the other gifts did not it filled a void those gifts could not touch. I finally found comfort in the light from a handmade candle sent to me with love from a friend. I received the usual sympathy cards and gifts, but after the flowers wilted and the food was gone, I was still not okay with my new reality and felt even more alone. ![]() That’s what happened to my family and me when my older brother, Daniel, killed himself in 2014. Your life shatters when a loved one dies. So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story? Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Marie Patchem. ![]()
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