A Small Dream, A Big Journey

Starting a small business has always been a dream of mine. I didn’t grow up in a business-oriented family, and because of that, business was often seen as risky something unfamiliar and uncertain. With little understanding of entrepreneurship around me, that dream slowly tucked itself away, hidden deep within.

Life moved forward, and I came to New Zealand to pursue higher education and build a career. It was a huge step. I graduated, secured a corporate job, and on the surface, everything seemed to be going well. Yet deep within me, the desire to build something of my own never truly disappeared.

Three years ago, I met a wonderful man who is now my husband and soulmate. From the very beginning, he has been my constant support believing in me even when I doubted myself. He encouraged me to revisit a dream I had once set aside and has stood beside me through every step of this journey. He is also a professional photographer and takes all of our product photos, bringing Cozy Nook Studio to life visually. I am incredibly lucky to have him in my life and deeply grateful for everything he does for this business and for me.

Yes, that's us.

Even then, deciding what kind of business to start and how to begin was not easy. After months of brainstorming, one thing became clear: I find true happiness in creating. I love baking, and I love making things by hand. By combining those passions, Cozy Nook Studio was born through dessert-inspired candles and wax melts.

The next challenge was sharing our creations with others. We began by attending craft markets, and the response was heartwarming. Hearing people’s kind words and seeing them connect with our products was priceless encouragement.

Around this time, I lost my job. That happened four months ago, and it was one of the most difficult periods of my life. Losing a job isn’t just about financial uncertainty it deeply affects your emotions, confidence, and sense of self-worth. During that time, my small business became my emotional anchor. The kindness and encouragement from our customers, and even from those who simply stopped by our market stall to appreciate our work, meant more than I can express.

Then came Christmas season. We decided to take the leap and go online, even though we were unsure how our products would be received in such a competitive market.

I poured everything I had my time, energy, and heart into Cozy Nook Studio. The response was overwhelming. In 3 weeks, we received so many wonderful orders, including repeat customers, which is incredibly meaningful for a small business like ours. Every order, message, review and word of encouragement reminded us why we started.

We are happy to share that all Christmas orders have now been fulfilled. Next week, we’ll be taking a slightly long break to visit our families and will be back at the end of January, 2026. This time away will allow us to rest, reflect, and prepare for the next season.

Looking ahead, we are excited to explore new ideas that support local artists and strengthen our community. We can’t wait to return with fresh inspiration and meaningful collaborations in the upcoming seasons.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has supported us, believed in our work, and been part of this journey. Cozy Nook Studio exists because of your trust, encouragement, and love.

Wish you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!