Running Scented Pages Workshop taught me that creativity needs structure to become reality. One of the biggest challenges I faced was figuring out the supply chain—finding bottles that wouldn’t leak, labels that wouldn’t smudge, and a reliable alcohol base that could preserve our essential oil blends safely.

I learned to reach out to local suppliers in Vancouver, comparing prices for bottles in different shapes and volumes while calculating shipping costs. I tested various label materials by leaving them in water to check if the ink would run, making sure every product we sold would be durable in real use.

Working with suppliers also meant learning how to negotiate pricing and manage minimum order quantities within our budget as a youth-led business. I tracked all costs using spreadsheets, calculating the cost of goods sold, potential profit margins, and break-even points.

Logistics became a practical lesson in business: coordinating pickup times, storing inventory in organized bins, and preparing shipping labels for online orders. I realized that while the creativity of scent design was exciting, mastering these operational details was what allowed us to scale and maintain quality.

These experiences made me appreciate the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating a brand. They also gave me confidence that I could navigate the practical challenges of entrepreneurship, using quantitative analysis and negotiation skills to keep our project sustainable while staying focused on the mission of bringing classics to young people through scent.