Conversations with David And Courtney Sloan

Today we’d like to introduce you to David And Courtney Sloan

Hi David and Courtney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We met in Nashville working on a food truck together at the July 4th Hot Chicken Festival. Things progressed incredibly and we got married in November 2019. We started Cedar & Howl on July 4th, 2020 as a bit of an ode to our first meeting day.

Courtney has an artistic knack for things such as photography, graphic design, painting, and interior design; and David grew up working in a woodshop lending him a good understanding of how to build intricate, useful things. These skills helped create their vision for a company that specialized in handmaking Wood and Wax Homewares. Over the 4 Years Cedar & Howl has been in business we have done countless Craft Shows, had our products in multiple Nashville based stores, created an online store, and shipped country-wide.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Operating a Small Business is one of the most challenging things either of us have done. Keeping track of our expenses, putting our handcrafted work out there for people to see, and hoping everything shakes out to a successful business can be incredibly taxing. Doing this as a married couple definitely helps though, because we understand when someone needs a break and how to talk to one another for emotional support. Working as a Small Business doesn’t have normal 9-5 hours, it is more like 7 days a week, all hours you are able to be awake, which is another obstacle we still run into from time to time. Preparing well in advance helps eliminate those late nights right before a Craft Show or order deadline though and is something that proves invaluable if you have the time to do it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
100% Soy Wax Goods:
– Speakeasy Candle Collection: A conceptual candle selection that ties back to the Prohibition Era with scents like, Blind Tiger, 1838, and Tobacco & Suede
– Rocks Glass Candle: This small batch candle has a smooth oak aged bourbon scent with a crackling wood wick and is poured in a whiskey rocks glass for use after you are finished burning your candle

Wood Goods:
– Vinyl Wall Displays: We created a sleek wall display that sits snuggly against your wall and has a groove cut into it to hold your favorite vinyl or matted artwork. These go great on gallery walls or above your record player for a “now playing” option
– Whiskey Flights: Our flights were created to showcase more of a sleek modern design for the bourbon lover and when not in use can double as an accent piece for a wet bar

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Organization is extremely helpful. Being kind to others will make your business stick out in a beautiful way. Don’t be afraid to charge for your labor, it is very easy to take advantage of your own time, but what you are producing will speak for itself if you put your whole heart into it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cedarandhowl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedarandhowl
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cedarandhowl?si=eabjAdzHNEraLd_a