Q: For those that don’t know you, will you tell them a little about yourself?
Justice: I’m a 28 year old entrepreneur. The youngest of 5 and I’ve lived in Lakeland all my life. I’m married, with 3 kids and I love to eat and cook.
Q: You’re a very busy person. Let’s start off with your business first. Tell us a little about your business Kommon Scents Candle & Bath Co. What inspired you to create your scented candle, and bath products line?
Justice: Honestly, I’ve always loved candles. I love a good smelling house and I’m a sucker for bath and body products. What really inspired me was realizing that over the years of buying a lot of “big brand” candles and bath/body products; they were mostly made with cheap toxic and filler ingredients. Giving you less of the actual product. The same toxic and filler ingredients that are known to interfere with your endocrine system and hormones.
Q: How much time goes into creating your products?
Justice: The seconds, minutes, hours and days that I pour into my business are endless. 7 days a week, I’m either formulating/testing new products, working on restocks, preparing orders, completing formulation courses, hosting classes or getting ready for the next event to sell my products at. I’ve learned anything of being an entrepreneur, it’s knowing that you work around the clock. Especially when you have kids. Sometimes I stay up so late knowing that I’m only going to get 4 hours of sleep before I have to get up again.
Q: Where can we purchase your Kommon Scents Candle & Bath Co products?
Justice: My products are actually currently available in 3 locations; Milltown Market right here in Lakeland, Southern Hive in Stockton, GA and also Rowan’s Children’s Resale in Valdosta. I’m currently in the works of expanding my products to other cities. A dream of mine is to eventually open my own brick and mortar store.
Q: Not only are you a growing entrepreneur, but you do a lot for your community as well. You want to see our city grow. How responsible are you with helping with the town market square each month?
Justice: Our monthly Farm to Table Market is held every 3rd Saturday of the month from 10AM-1PM. I attend several shows and markets on monthly basis. I basically “recruit” other entrepreneurs like myself to come sell the products that they make. Whether it be homemade bread, locally grown produce, or candles and soap.
Q: What direction do you see our city town market square going within the next year?
Justice: Within the next year I see huge pivot in economic growth within our community in Lakeland. I’m hoping to make it one of the biggest markets within a 30 mile radius. While attending markets in other cities, I always talk about our town as well as our Farm to Table Market. Informing people about lil Ole Lakeland. Inviting them to attend our monthly market as shopper or vendor. That way they can dine here, shop here, get gas here all to bring in revenue for the city.
Q: How important it is to you on seeing our city grow. What vision can you see for our city within the next few years?
Justice: It’s extremely important to me to see our city grow, especially for the younger kids; they are the future. This helps create consistency and stability for them and gives them things to look forward to. I see us on the rise of development. We need more people to be involved, be a voice and step up.
Q: Can we see Justice maybe running for one of the city offices in the future?
Justice: Ehh, probably not. At least I don’t think so, but I am a board member on the Lakeland-Lanier Chamber of Commerce. I just want to be one of the small voices to make a big change for my community.
Q: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to conduct this interview. You do a lot for our community, and it deserves to be in the spotlight. Are there any last comments that you want to make?
Justice: You’re welcome and thanks for allowing me to share. I do believe that’s all I have to say for now. Until next time.
Facebook: Kommon Scents Candle & Bath Co.
IG: @kscandleandbath
