I sat down at my kitchen table, opened zoom and waited for our computers to connect. Brittney is on the other end, sitting comfortably and warmly greets me after we figure out the technical difficulties of zoom and microphones.

“I am working from my bed because why not”, she says with a laugh. This is one of many signs that she is just as down to earth as her brand, Emerald Hearth. She is honest and sincere, but gives you a warm feeling like you’ve been friends for years. Her furry coworkers are not in the picture, but can be heard faintly in the background.

I met Brittney through a mutual friend back in 2016. I was just starting at UC Davis, and she had graduated a few years prior. Our paths have crossed at holiday parties and concerts, and each time I am delightfully reminded of how fun she is to just talk with. She’s an old soul with a creative spirit that anyone could find interest and comfort in. I chose her to be my inaugural interview because I wanted to showcase everything that she does; she’s a powerhouse of creativity, and she’s a caring dog mom with a gentle sense of humor.

The Interview

“What inspired you to create Emerald Hearth?”

“I was really miserable in my corporate job. I wanted to figure out a way to get out of it. It was one of those moments where I was like, ‘ok, let me figure out what I spend a lot of money and then kind of look into the market value, and what that means and what my competition means’. And then I just decided, I buy a lot of candles, and so I taught myself that and thankfully it has worked out”.

“Where would you like your company to go in the next five years? Do you think you’ll stick with candles or will you expand?”

“Well, I had a five year plan in moving from my corporate job to this, and in one year [since leaving the corporate job] I am full time. I’m wanting to have some comfort clothing; I am having hoodies being pressed for the holiday season. I know I want to stick with candles, and I know I’ll need a warehouse facility soon, so hopefully I’ll be working at full capacity with some employees.”

Do you think it will be in Santa Cruz or outside of Santa Cruz because of the sheer cost?

“I mean, there is actually a couple warehouse spaces open right now, and there are a other business owners looking to share space. I think it’s the most cost effective and sustainable way to do it. Just share a space with another entrepreneur, and make sure that I trust them and then go from there. Sticking somewhere close to my house would be ideal.”

What started you on this vibe of witchy, magic, siren,– what started you on this vibe?

“I’ve always been into more of that dark asthetic, since i was a kid. It was more of figuring out who I am. Like, ‘oh, i’m a witch’ and this is who I identify as, and the first idea I had was for Siren [of the Sea] because I am a scuba diver. I am basically making candles about myself which is somewhat narcasistic, but it is what it is. So, I think a lot of it has been in my subconciuos for a long time, but I am such a data/analytics person that I was getting off balance and needed to do some sort of creative thing, and this is what came out. I went with it.”

What is your own personal favorite scent that you’ve created thus far, or do you not have one?

“Probably the cauldrons and the apple scent. It reminds me of fall, and if the weather would just cooperate… It’s fall, I wanna wear my skeleton onesie, and I want to light my candles, and I want to eat too much candy to have my stomach hurt, and I can’t do that when it is super hot outside.” She pauses and sarcastically adds, “but global warming isn’t real”, and I think we can all feel her eye roll. “I cant. I cant with those people.” On the topic of belittling and being made to feel small, Brittney instilled some much needed words of wisdom:

“I think that we get caught up as women in this expectation that we are supposed to know less and not say as much, and it’s like no i know more than you, period.”

Brittney Durbin

Speaking of education, you have your English degree from UC Davis, and now you are working on your MBA, do you recommend this path for people who are going into business for themselves? Would you redo any of it, like do you think that you should have gone a different path?

“I dont think I would redo any of it because having a degree in English has really helped me with a lot of foundational aspects of running a business. Theres a lot of writing involved… I use it everyday… I use it for social media, email marketing, when I am creating my email templates for marketing, like being able to use the english language and the right verbiage to be able to capture an audience is a really important skill. Most businesses have to hire out for a copywriter and though I should hire a copywriter, I need to just do it myself. I know how to do it, and I have a hard time finding someone else with my same voice. I think I would just recommend finishing something because I feel like business is hard and it pushes you, and theres a lot of things you can learn from college on just finishing something.

What do you think is the most important advice that you could give to anyone or that anyone has given to you about going into business for yourself?

“There is no right way to do it afgter you finish the foundaitonal portions. After you claim the name that you want, and the domain that you want, and get your business lisence and get your tax stuff going; after all of that foundational stuff, there is no schedule and a lot of peopel will tell you there is a certain amount of hours, etc, but you go into business for yourself because you want to work your own hours which is really hard to unlearn that expectation of having to work all of the time.

So what do you do to unwind?

“It depends. I have been working long hours because we are coming into the holiday season, but unwinding has been microdosing. I struggle with anxiety and depression and things like that and psilocybin is being researched for that. It’s really helpful, I can have a relaxed evening and not feel stressed as I move forward.”

What’s your next step in the business? You said you are working on sweatshirts, but do you have any other interests that you want to get into?

“I am working on an affirmation deck because I have to think of what works for my business right now. So right now I am thinking that I will be working on the printing in the next year.

“I’ll work from when I open my eyes to when they won’t stay open anymore just so I won’t have to work for someone else.”

Brittney

Is there a lot of trial and error in your business?

“Yes, oh man yes. And being ok with failing is one of the most quintessential skills… it’s one of those things where our brains tell us we need to be perfect before trying anything and that doesn’t make any sense.”

Do you think you’ll bring your dogs into this business at all?

“I don’t know. I think if there were a market demand, I would, but right now, they are my little cuddle bugs and they help me unwind. Right now I don’t have plans for it, but it is not out of the question.”

I am just really down to see Charlie in a little skeleton hoodie.

“I have like little t shirts with skeeltons on them and I put them in their matching t shirts for meetings. I am that mom, and I have no shame…. They are so cute. I never don’t want dog pictures.”

Further into our conversation, we discussed dogs and ASPCA availability for dogs. Brittney adopted Charlie while studying at UC Davis, and has become the matchmaker for others to adopt dogs.

“When I retire, I would want to have a rescue. I would want to go into the homes of people who wanted to adopt the dog and give that same level of care that they give when they adopt out children. Where are they gonna live? What are they gonna do? Where are they sleeping? What food are you giving them? What vet are you taking them to? There are too many people who don’t have a plan in place and they don’t realize that this is not an impulse thing, it is not just an accessory, and this is a member of your family…. It’s a big responsibility and a real actual investment.”

Your partner seems very supportive of Charlie from what I’ve seen.

“Well at first he didn’t want him in the house because he didn’t have a dog, and I was like, well we are a pair, so if you want to date me, you are also dating my dog. And that’s that. He changed real fast. I am not gonna get rid of my dog because you don’t want him on the couch. That’s his couch.”

If you are interested in Brittney's creations, her website is: https://www.emeraldhearthcreations.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emerald_hearth/