Meet 5Strong Candle Company
FOUNDED BY
THE INTERVIEW
Written by Boston Women’s Market & Rhonda Champagnie
BWM: Can you tell us a bit about what led you to begin your journey with your business? Was there an aha! Moment?
Rhonda Champagnie: My journey with 5Strong Candle Company began in 2020, during a time when the world was experiencing so much uncertainty. I wanted to create something positive—something that represented family, strength, and togetherness.
The true “aha!” moment came from realizing that this could be about so much more than making candles. I wanted to build something meaningful that I could share with my grandson (who began the process with me) and eventually leave as a legacy for my family.
That’s where the name 5Strong came from. The five represents the values that are at the heart of everything we do: Love, Respect, Unity, Longevity, and Loyalty. Those aren’t just words for us—they represent the foundation of our family and our business.
What started at home in 2020 grew little by little, and in 2023, I was blessed to take a huge step and open our first brick-and-mortar location. Seeing something that started as an idea become a physical space where people could experience our products was an incredible milestone.
Today, 5Strong Candle Company has grown beyond candles into body oils, room sprays, beard oils, and other self-care products, but the purpose behind the brand remains the same: creating quality products while building something that represents family, connection, and legacy.
For me, 5Strong is more than a business. It’s something I’m building with love today that I hope will continue long after me.
BWM: For many women starting out in the entrepreneurial world, there can be a lot of self-doubt. Do you have any personal stories about how you conquered self-doubt? What guidance would you give to others?
Rhonda: One of my biggest lessons has been learning not to compare my journey to someone else’s. It’s easy to look at another business on social media and think they’re further ahead, more successful, or have everything figured out. I had to remind myself that I was building something that was uniquely mine, at my own pace.
Opening my brick-and-mortar location in 2023 was a huge moment for me. It reminded me that many of the things I once questioned myself about, I had actually accomplished. Sometimes we’re so focused on where we’re trying to go that we forget to look back and recognize how far we’ve already come.
My guidance to other women is simple: start before you feel completely ready. Confidence doesn’t always come first—sometimes confidence comes from doing the thing you were afraid to do and realizing that you are capable.
Give yourself permission to make mistakes, ask questions, change direction, and keep learning. Most importantly, remember your “why.” My family and the legacy I want to create are a huge part of mine. On the difficult days, that purpose keeps me moving forward.
You don’t have to know everything to begin. Believe in your vision, surround yourself with people who genuinely support you, and don’t allow a moment of self-doubt to make you give up on something you worked so hard to build.
BWM: A mentor can play an integral role in someone’s career progression and personal growth. Did you have a mentor that influenced where you are today?
Rhonda: I didn’t have one specific mentor when I started my entrepreneurial journey, but I’ve been fortunate to have people along the way who have encouraged me, shared their knowledge, and helped me see things from a different perspective.
I also learned very early that mentorship doesn’t always come with an official title. Sometimes your mentors are the people who challenge you, the people who believe in your vision, or even other entrepreneurs whose journeys inspire you. I’ve learned to listen, ask questions, observe, and take pieces of wisdom from different people while still trusting my own instincts.
My family has also been a tremendous source of motivation. Building 5Strong with my grandson and thinking about the legacy I want to leave for my children and grandchildren has influenced many of the decisions I’ve made. They remind me that what I’m building is bigger than just me.
As I’ve grown, I’ve also realized how important it is to surround yourself with people who are willing to tell you not only what you want to hear, but what you need to hear. I believe we should always remain teachable, no matter how successful we become.
And now, as I continue my own journey, I hope I can be that source of encouragement for another woman who is just getting started. Sometimes simply seeing someone else take the leap can give you the courage to take your own.
“The biggest lesson for me has been: don’t be afraid to fail, but never waste the lesson that comes with it.”
BWM: Many women begin their small business journey as a way to seek fulfillment they may not be getting in their 9-5 job. Others aren't sure where to begin and need help "digging deeper" to find what it is that fills their cup. What are some steps someone can take today to begin that journey of discovery?
Rhonda: I think the first step is giving yourself permission to explore. You don’t necessarily have to leave your 9-5 job or have a complete business plan to begin discovering what fulfills you. Sometimes it starts with simply asking yourself, “What do I enjoy doing? What am I passionate about? What would I still want to do even if no one was paying me to do it?”
For me, building 5Strong Candle Company gave me a different kind of fulfillment. I was creating something that belonged to me, represented my values, and could eventually become part of the legacy I leave for my family. It started at home, and I allowed myself the opportunity to learn and grow along the way.
I would encourage women to start by writing down the things that bring them joy, the things people naturally come to them for, and the talents or interests they may have pushed aside because life, family, or work took priority. Sometimes your purpose has been there all along—you just haven’t had the time to pay attention to it.
Then, take one small step. Research the idea. Take a class. Make the product. Attend a networking event. Talk to someone who is already doing something similar. You don’t have to figure out the entire journey before you begin.
I also believe it’s important not to think that your 9-5 and your passion have to compete with one another. Your job may provide stability while you discover and build something that fills another part of you. There is nothing wrong with allowing both to exist.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. What fills your cup at one stage of your life may change at another. Keep learning, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to explore an idea simply because you don’t know exactly where it will lead. Sometimes the first step toward finding your purpose is simply being willing to begin.
BWM: We think the stories of failure are just as important as the stories of success. Can you talk about a time that you failed in an entrepreneurial venture or objective? How did you face and overcome this failure? What was the lesson learned?
Rhonda: I’ve learned that failure in entrepreneurship doesn’t always look like losing everything or having a business close. Sometimes failure is simply putting time, money, and energy into something and not getting the result you expected.
There have been times with 5Strong when I’ve introduced a product, participated in an event, or tried a business idea believing it was going to do extremely well, and it didn’t. In the beginning, I would take those moments personally and question whether I had made the right decision. As an entrepreneur, especially when you’ve created something from the heart, it can be difficult not to connect the success of a product or idea to your own personal success.
Over time, I learned to look at those experiences differently. Instead of asking, “Why did I fail?” I started asking, “What is this teaching me?”
Maybe the product wasn’t what my customers wanted at that particular time. Maybe I chose the wrong event for my target audience. Maybe I invested too much before testing an idea on a smaller scale. Whatever the situation, there was always something I could take from it and use to make a better decision the next time.
One of my biggest lessons has been learning to test, listen, and adjust. Listen to your customers, pay attention to what is selling and what isn’t, understand where your money is going, and don’t continue doing something simply because you’ve already invested in it.
I’ve also learned not to let pride keep me attached to an idea that isn’t working. Changing direction doesn’t mean you failed—it means you learned enough to make a better decision.
Entrepreneurship has taught me resilience. Every idea will not be successful, every event will not be profitable, and every decision will not be the right one. But if I can walk away from an experience with more knowledge than I had going into it, then I don’t consider it a loss. I consider it part of building a stronger business.
The biggest lesson for me has been: don’t be afraid to fail, but never waste the lesson that comes with it.
BWM: Do you have a favorite moment so far with your business? Where you really felt like you were on the right path?
Rhonda: One of my favorite moments with 5Strong wasn’t necessarily one big event—it was the moment I realized that people were actually connecting with something I created.
When I started in 2020, I was making products from home and figuring things out as I went. I didn’t know exactly where it would lead. Then customers started coming back. They would tell me how much they loved a fragrance or a body oil, recommend 5Strong to someone else, or come looking for me at an event. Those moments meant so much because they showed me that people weren’t just buying a product—they were becoming loyal to my brand.
Opening my brick-and-mortar location in 2023 brought all of those feelings together. I could stand in my own space, look around, and see how far something that started at home had come. That was definitely a “this is real” moment for me.
But I think what continues to reassure me that I’m on the right path is when someone comes back. A returning customer is one of the greatest compliments I can receive because they have so many choices, and they chose 5Strong again.
Those are the moments that keep me going. They remind me that success isn’t always about how big you become—it’s about creating something meaningful, staying true to why you started, and having people believe in what you’re building.
And every time someone chooses 5Strong, I feel like they’re becoming a small part of the legacy I’m working to create.
BWM: How have you continued to manage the growth of your business while also finding time and ways to invest in yourself?
Rhonda: One thing entrepreneurship has taught me is that I can’t pour everything I have into my business and leave nothing for myself. In the beginning, it was easy to feel like I always needed to be doing something—making products, answering customers, preparing for events, thinking about the next idea, or figuring out how to grow. There is always something that can be done when you own a business.
Over time, I’ve become more intentional about giving myself permission to step away. Spending time with my family, traveling, celebrating milestones, resting, and simply enjoying life are important to me. Those things aren’t taking me away from my business; they actually allow me to come back to it refreshed and inspired.
I also invest in myself by continuing to learn. I’m always looking for ways to improve my products, strengthen the business, learn new systems, and become a better entrepreneur. I believe investing in yourself includes both personal self-care and personal growth.
Most importantly, I’m learning that I don’t have to do everything at once. Growth is important, but I want to enjoy what I’m building along the way. I want to be successful, but I also want to be present for my family, enjoy my life, and take care of myself.
I’ve realized that I am one of the most important investments in my business. If I’m not taking care of myself, eventually I won’t be able to take care of what I’m building.
BWM: From one small business owner to another, what is your favorite go-to business tool or resource you can recommend to our community?
Rhonda: I would have to say Canva is one of my favorite business tools. As a small business owner, you wear so many hats, and marketing is definitely one of them. Canva allows me to create flyers, social media content, signage, and other marketing materials while keeping the look and feel of 5Strong consistent.
Square has also been an important resource for my business. Having a system that helps me manage sales, payments, products, and the day-to-day side of running the business makes a huge difference.
I would also tell any small business owner not to underestimate the power of social media. It gives us an opportunity to tell our story, showcase our products, connect directly with customers, and build a community around our brand without having a huge marketing budget.
But beyond any particular tool, my biggest recommendation is to find systems that make running your business easier. As entrepreneurs, we sometimes try to do everything ourselves. The right tools can give you back something incredibly valuable—your time.
My philosophy is: work smarter where you can, stay willing to learn, and use the resources available to you. You don’t need every business tool out there—you just need the ones that help you consistently move your business forward.
BWM: What is your go-to Podcast or book of the moment?
Rhonda: I don’t necessarily have one go-to podcast or book at the moment. I’m actually someone who learns from a little bit of everything. I enjoy listening to conversations with entrepreneurs, especially women in business, and hearing the real stories behind how they built their brands—the successes, the mistakes, and everything in between.
I also find myself looking for information based on what I need at that particular stage of my business. If I’m working on marketing, growing my social media presence, developing a new product, or trying to become more organized, that’s what I’m going to research and learn about.
For me, learning doesn’t always come from one book or podcast. Sometimes it comes from another entrepreneur, a class, a conversation, or simply being willing to ask questions.
I think the important thing is to remain teachable. No matter how long you’ve been in business, there is always something new to learn.
