Startup Story
Everyone loves beautiful perfumed candles to light up their homes and create a certain kind of ambiance - they are romantic and atmospheric. In Mozambique, entrepreneur Patricia Vasco, is building a new brand of beautiful, handmade, decorative candles called Luminara. She is also demonstrating that it is possible to build a new brand from scratch with little investment but a lot of creativity.
LoA chatted to the successful, serial entrepreneur founder, Patricia Vasco to find out more.
What does your company do?
Luminara is a Mozambican brand, based in Maputo, dedicated to the production of handmade, decorative and perfumed candles.
A Luminara é uma marca moçambicana, baseada em Maputo, que se dedica a produção de velas artesanais, decorativas e perfumadas.
“The idea of creating this brand arose from a challenge in which I wanted to prove that it is possible to create a profitable business with a low investment cost.”
What inspired you to start your company?
The idea of creating this brand arose from a challenge in which I wanted to prove that it is possible to create a profitable business with a low investment cost. Many people regretted the fact that they did not feel able to open a business, as they believed that it was necessary to invest a lot of money for this. In this way, I had the idea of creating Luminara with only 500 meticais of investment, the equivalent of less than 10 dollars, and in the first week managed to make a profit of more than 100% of the investment, proving to people that it is indeed possible to start a business and a brand with little money invested.
A ideia da criação desta marca, surge de um desafio, onde a fundadora Patricia Vasco, quis provar que é possível criar um negócio lucrativo com baixo custo de investimento.
Muitas eram as pessoas que lamentavam o facto de não se sentirem capacitadas de abrir um negócio, pois acreditavam que era necessário investir muito dinheiro para tal. Desta forma, Patricia Vasco, teve a ideia de criar a Luminara com apenas 500 meticais de investimento, o equivalente a menos de 10 dólares, e na primeira semana conseguiu fazer o lucro de mais de 100% do investimento, provando as pessoas que é sim possível iniciar um negócio e uma marca com pouco dinheiro investido.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
The creativity, aromas and recyclable material that is used to create each candle, makes the business more than special.
A criatividade, os aromas e o material reciclável que é usado para a criação de cada vela, torna o negócio mais que especial.
Tell us a little about your team
Since the brand was created recently (November), as founder I am the only member of the brand. Candles are produced by hand at home and by a single person.
Uma vez que a marca foi criada recentemente (Novembro), a fundadora é a única integrante da marca. As Velas são produzidas artesanalmente em casa e por uma única pessoa.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I have extensive experience with regard to entrepreneurship. I am the founder of Amorambique, a brand that is already known in the Lionesses community and in some parts of the world, and that already has 7 years of existence in the market. I am also a co-founder of other startups in Maputo. Thus, it was relatively easy to think about the idea of creating a new business.
Patricia Vasco, tem uma vasta experiência no que diz respeito ao empreendedorismo. É fundadora da Amorambique, uma marca que já é conhecida no Lionesses e em algumas partes do mundo e que já tem 7 anos de existência no mercado. É também co-fundadora de outras startups em Maputo. Desta forma, foi relativamente fácil pensar na ideia de criar um negócio novo.
“I had the idea of creating Luminara with only 500 meticais of investment, the equivalent of less than 10 dollars, and in the first week managed to make a profit of more than 100% of the investment.”
“I hope to consolidate the brand in the market, and make it known not only for the quality of the product, but also for the history behind the creation of the brand.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I hope to consolidate the brand in the market, and make it known not only for the quality of the product, but also for the history behind the creation of the brand.
Espero consolidar a marca no mercado, e torná-la conhecida não só pela qualidade do produto, mas também pela história por detrás da criação da marca.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The greatest satisfaction in being an entrepreneur is the fact that I have the freedom to express all the creativity that is within me and realize that it is a source of inspiration for many people.
A maior satisfação em ser empreendedora, é o facto de ter liberdade de expressar toda a criatividade que está dentro de mim e perceber que ela é motivo de inspiração para muita gente.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
A única forma de começar um negócio é COMEÇAR.
The only way to start a business is to START.
Contact or follow Luminara
INSTAGRAM | EMAIL luminaravelas@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
There is something really special about serial entrepreneurs - they have a special type of vision. They see business opportunities where others do not, and importantly they turn those opportunities into realities. Patricia Vasco is one such serial entrepreneur, and her latest brand venture may be very different from her other businesses, but no less special and close to her heart. When Patricia sets her mind to starting a new business, she is both determined and passionate about what she does, which already sets her on a positive road to success. This is another great brand to watch in her expanding portfolio. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa