Career Confessions: The sister duo behind a TikTok viral brand that’s generating six-figures sales

Do you like your job? Or wonder what it would be like if you’d gone against your parents’ advice and pursued your dream career? Her World’s Career Confessions column spotlights the professional journeys of its subjects and reveals how each individual’s career path and the choices they have made can have an impact on their personal finances, psychological health, and interpersonal relationships.

The inception of Emporal Co. was sparked by a simple gift – a candle from co-founder Grace Lim’s aunt during her time in Paris. 

“A few years back, I moved to Paris for my studies and work and my aunt gave me a candle to use while I was there. Back then, I had never used a candle before and it was winter. I was alone during Christmas when I decided to light the candle to enjoy the Christmas Spirit by myself,” recalls Grace.

“​​I realised how much warmth a candle gave me and how much I loved the smell and the atmosphere it created. That moment was when I started falling in love with candles.” 

Upon returning to Singapore amidst the pandemic, Grace decided to team up with her sister Lena to start a self-care business together. “We are sisters, and we have always been close, and the older we got, the more we realised that our skills complement each other in different ways,” explains Grace on their decision to embark on a journey together. “We have amazing chemistry as siblings and I always felt that we could do something together.” 

Launching a brand during a global pandemic was no easy feat, but for Grace and Lena, it was a chance to bring joy during dark times. With lockdowns keeping people indoors, Emporal Co. offered comfort with their candles and skin care products, making homes feel cosy and lifting spirits. “During the lockdown, most people were at home and couldn’t leave the house often. With candles and room sprays, it can bring about a change in atmosphere, and the different scents can help to relieve stress, and brighten up the room.”

Now, just 10 months later, they've moved from making products at home to having their own showroom and warehouse, with much of their success owed to their presence on social media. Emporal Co. has gained a big following on TikTok, allowing them to connect with customers easily. 

“Social media allowed us to connect with customers more easily. We were able to share our journey, growth and have them be part of the experience alongside us,” the co-founders note, when asked about how social media has played a role in building their brand.

“TikTok has provided us the ability to share the behind the scenes and inner workings of a small business, as well as day-to-day snippets of what we do as a small business owner. We also use the platform to share customer stories, experiences, and reviews that have been shared with us.”

Here, the duo share more about their career journeys, how working together has brought them closer, as well as their personal favourites from the brand.

Name: Grace Lim
Highest Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Title & Industry: Co-Founder, E-commerce
Years of Work Experience: Since starting Emporal Co., 2.5 years.

Name: Lena Lim
Highest Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Job Title & Industry: Co-Founder, E-commerce
Years of Work Experience: Since starting Emporal Co., 2.5 years.

Tell us a little bit about your life and how you grew up.

Grace: I started my first online business when I was 16, buying and selling thrifted products. Since then, I kept trying out different businesses, from running an events company in Paris, to being a singer in a local band, to selling clothing. 

Lena: Ever since I was young, I have been interested in media, as well as computer programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. My previous jobs have all been related to media or design in some manner, and it is something I really enjoy.

How would you describe your career? Would you describe it as a job, a career, or a calling that you’re extremely passionate about? 

Emporal Co. has been our dream since young. It’s a calling that we are extremely passionate about. It’s not just running a business but building a community of friends. It is a very exciting journey as we are building a family business, not only are both sisters involved, but our parents also support us and help out a lot whenever they can.

Is this the career path that you envisioned for yourself?

Grace: Yes, I have always wanted to have my own business, and this is the most successful and important business I have done in my entire career. 

Lena: This wasn’t a path that I had envisioned, however, when my sister asked me if I wanted to start Emporal Co. with her, I knew that this was the right choice to make.

Do you feel pressure to have a successful career, or to earn more money? If you do, is it mainly internal or external pressure? 

Yes, to some degree. We feel that it’s completely normal to feel some sort of pressure with any kind of work you do. However, because this is our own brand and business, we feel more motivation rather than pressure.

Has your career impacted your relationships with other people? 

Yes, in a positive manner. It has brought our family closer, especially us sisters, since we now work in much closer proximity.

If you could tell your younger or future-self something, what would you say? 

Grace: I would like to tell my younger self that it is okay to fail, because it’s just part and parcel of the journey. If you work hard enough to overcome the setbacks that you face, you will succeed.

Given your focus on self-care and wellness, how do you personally incorporate these principles into your own lives, especially as entrepreneurs with busy schedules? 

One way is through exercising and trying out new activities (such as dragon-boating), picking up a new skill (such as a new language), or learning a new craft to relax (such as making jewellery or crocheting).

What are some societal pressures and stigma that have arised from your unconventional career choice? 

People constantly ask us if running a small business is actually a viable career choice in the long run, and if the business is profitable. We also receive comments that running a small business together as siblings might result in more conflict and disputes.

Emporal Co is now generating six-figure sales. What achievements are you most proud of, and what milestones are you aiming to reach in the future? 

Our biggest achievement was growing the business to a point that we were able to rent our own warehouse and production space. We are also able to give back to our parents who have supported us the whole way through. 

A future milestone we wish to aim for is having a retail shop in Singapore.

Do you have any personal favourite scents or products from Emporal Co, and why do they hold a special place for you? 

We personally try out all our products for months before releasing them, and we only release them if we like them. 

Grace: I personally like our Sleeping Lavender Room and Linen Spray, because it helps me fall asleep quicker at night. I also really like our lotions, especially when I’m travelling, as my skin tends to get drier overseas. 

Lena: I personally like our skin and hair care products. I use our scented body wash daily, which really helps to even out my skin tone, and our leave-in hair conditioner always makes my hair smoother when I have a bad hair day.