Yam Collective lights the way: how PayPal helps the high-end candle brand glow

“Find a way to make money doing what you love.”

Jillian Saravong truly burns the candle at both ends. By day she’s a full-time accountant. But her nights and weekends are dedicated to her flourishing candle and home goods brand, Yam Collective.

Saravong founded Yam Collective, named for her daughter Yamilah, in 2022. An artistic spirit led Saravong to her new venture. “I’ve found that I've always needed some sort of creative outlet,” she recalls.

“What makes us unique is that we really keep it simple,” elaborates Saravong. Every Yam Collective product is handmade in small batches with organic ingredients and packaged with a minimalist aesthetic. Her candles are vegan, clean-burning, lightly scented, and free of phthalates and parabens.

And business is thriving.

Here’s how Jillian Saravong balances growth with simplicity as Owner and Creator of Yam Collective, and how PayPal powers her brand’s bright future by streamlining online payments.

Find your community

“Networking is essential.”

When Saravong decided to turn her creative passion into a business, she had some challenges to solve. She would need clean ingredients, luxe packaging, and a way to sell her candles and other home goods.

Fortunately, she found active communities on social media willing to share their knowledge and resources freely.

“There are specific groups for fragrance oils, soaps, perfumes, and more,” says Saravong. “So anytime I was looking for something, I could go to that group, post ‘Hey, I need help!’ and people were so helpful. That was huge for me.”

Saravong also formed relationships with other business owners by participating in local events, festivals, and markets. “Building a network can help you build your brand awareness, and then from there, build brand loyalty,” advises Saravong.

On Waxing, Waning, and Holding Steady

“I want the buying experience to be as easy as possible...”

Ensuring consistent quality for her elegant home goods is part of Saravong’s mission. Providing consistent shopping experiences for her wholesale and retail customers is just as important.

PayPal Checkout plays a part in Yam Collective’s commitment to consistency, enabling a streamlined, predictable checkout process for buyers.

Saravong emphasizes, “PayPal is an easy payment choice, and I want the buying experience to really be as easy as possible for my customers.” To add flexible payment options, Saravong also offers PayPal Pay Later so customers can pay over time.

From creative outlet to retail outlets

“It is a lot to do on your own...”

Saravong advises customers to trim their wicks short to increase the burn time of their candles. The same principle applies to her business strategy: trim the excess and focus on longevity.

That’s one reason Saravong has shifted away from selling at events–at least for now. “In the beginning, every event was new. I didn't know what to expect, so it was exciting.” But the pace became exhausting, between preparing and packing for each event. “It is a lot to do on your own. And when you're doing it every weekend, it’s just too much,” Saravong reveals. She aims to keep building her online retail and wholesale niche, while keeping her business manageable enough to stay within her family.

Lastly, Saravong’s business advice is as beautifully simple as her candles: “Do what makes you happy and then find a way to make a living at it.”