901 Now: Soulsville student lights up community with candle business

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – A 17-year-old student at Soulsville Charter is lighting up the community with his candle business.

Terrell Fuller never envisioned himself as a business owner until he started working at Butteriffic Bakery and Cafe.

“When I met Tamika, I was just like, I see how she is with her customers maybe I can have my own business,” Fuller said.

Now, he sells his candles at the shop.

“I was like, ‘wow I can get people to buy something from me and they’ll like me based on what I’m trying to sell,’” Fuller said.

His love for both customer service and candles led to his business, “More than a flame.”

Each candle offers its own distinct scent and experience.

With a little assistance from LITE Memphis, a nonprofit that helps high school students jump into the world of entrepreneurship, Fuller said his business got the jump start it needed.

“I had never been in a space where people are always supporting you, they are always trying to make sure you’re put on the right tracks,” Fuller said. “They are always checking on you 24/7 just to make sure you’re doing what you have to do in order to win at the win.”

As a graduating senior, he said it’s not easy juggling being an entrepreneur and a student, but says his grit and grind help him pull it off.

“Being from Memphis you automatically have that grit and grind mentality because a lot of us don’t get to make it out,” Fuller said. “A lot of us don’t get to have that knowledge to know I need to do this in order to be somewhere successful in my life, and that’s all I want to do, because I don’t have any male role models in my life so I wanted to be that one male role model to start it all.”

Fuller’s business is approaching a one-year anniversary later in May.

He’s also been nominated as Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Memphis Elegance Awards.

Plus, he’s graduating this year and plans to become a firefighter.

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