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Date: 3/23/2022
HAMPDEN – Student, pre-teen, entrepreneur – all these words describe 12-year-old Kairi Os, a Hampden resident with dreams of being her own boss.
Os began exploring the idea of starting a business after reading “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. “I learned what an entrepreneur was and how it’s better to work for yourself. I want to build a financial future for myself,” she said.
Os decided to take her hobby of making “crafty stuff I can use,” to the next level. She said when deciding on which craft to base her business, Os looked at working with poured resin and other handicrafts before settling on candles. From there, Kai’s Krafts was born.
Kai’s Krafts has been in operation since the beginning of the year. Three months into the endeavor and Os has sold over 150 candles and made more than $2,000 in sales. “I thought I would quit by now, but I don’t think I’m going to,” she said.
The candles are 100 percent soy wax with food-grade dyes and are packaged with recycled materials. Os said it is important that the candles are clean-burning and safe for the environment.
“I figure out what scents are unique to me, that you can’t get anywhere else,” Os said. “I love experimenting with scents.”
Kai’s Krafts has two lines of candles. The specialty candles have scents such as “Tutti Frutti,” “Rise & Grind,” “Love Struck” and “Birthday Cake.” The marbled ones have swirls of color and scents named, “Weathered Amber,” “Life’s a Peach” and “Warm & Fuzzy,” among others.
Os can make a specialty candle in about five minutes, but the process for the marbled ones takes an hour. “But they’re so pretty,” she said. Being home-schooled gives Os the flexibility to work on her products. “I can do more work one day and make candles the next day,” she said.
Candles from Kai’s Krafts can be ordered individually, but Os said she will do bulk orders if the customer wants. The shipping time for in-stock candles is about a week, but custom orders take longer because the product takes two weeks to cure, she said.
Most sales are made through the Kai’s Krafts website or on its Facebook page, Os has been exploring wholesaling and her candles are available at The Hair Shop in Hadley.
While candles are her focus now, Os said she is not sure what she will do as an adult. “I might start a different business or keep this one, or I might do multiple businesses,” she said. No matter what she chooses, she said the plan is to be her own boss.
To learn more about Kai’s Krafts, visit https://kais-krafts11.myshopify.com or https://www.facebook.com/Kais-Krafts-100713449165738.