University sophomore Dida Valenzuela is no longer unemployed.
Jobless after moving from Portland to Eugene earlier this year, she started making candles — a craft she learned at a Portland shop she worked at for two years in high school.
Valenzuela said there are not many student jobs in Eugene, and she needed something to help supplement her loans.
Now, Valenzuela doesn’t have a boss. She has her own business, Firefly Candles, a booth she runs at the Eugene Saturday Market.Starting Firefly Candles was a move that took a lot of courage for someone new to town who had no experience running a business.
“I was really scared, to tell you the truth,” said Venezuela who is interested in elementary education.
The 8-by-8 space she rents for $10 a day accommodates two short tables covered in thick, black cloth, where she lays out her goods, one chair and two large Tupperware containers to store candles and supplies. She works under the cover of a tent she bought at G.I. Joe’s for $100.
Because she doesn’t have a car, Valenzuela’s roommates drive her
— and all of her equipment — to the market every Saturday.
She said the hardest thing about her job was mustering the initiative to do it.
“Now it’s just a matter of showing up every weekend, making sure I keep my stock up,” said Valenzuela, who added it’s only her third Saturday working the booth.
The Saturday Market, which has been a Eugene cultural staple since 1970, has live music, jewelry, tasty food, clothing and crafts such as Valenzuela’s candles.
It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday, usually from April to November, depending on the weather and vendor schedules. The market is located on the south side of East Eighth Avenue, with two blocks full of booths on both sides of Oak Street.
The Lane County Farmers’ Market, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is located just across the street on the north side of East Eighth Avenue. Farmers offer a plethora of goods such as locally grown produce and honey.
Venezuela said she and most of the other vendors enjoy their work, especially creating or growing their wares.
She has a double-boiler her father insisted she needed to melt the candle wax. She adds dye for flair and essential oils for aroma.
She’s made three different colored vanilla candles since she began working at the market.
Although the student also plans to add cinnamon soon, she already sells candles scented with sandalwood, lemon grass, lilac, hazelnut and one she calls “rain.”
“Rain smells like clean laundry,” she said.
The name of her booth also has a story.
Venezuela said she and her mother came up with the name, Firefly Candles, together.
“My mom and I were thinking: What was the bug that lights up?” Valenzuela said, smiling at the memory. “And we couldn’t remember the name.”
She added that right after coming up with the name, the two weren’t sure about it.
“My mom actually wanted to change it to strong woman candles,” she said. “She thinks I’m such a strong woman.”