Meet Traneka
Traneka is an entrepreneur at heart and owns a homemade candle shop in Memphis, TN. In 2022, Traneka joined Grameen America to improve her financial mobility, grow her business, and meet like-minded entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship runs in Traneka’s family. Since she was fifteen years old, Traneka has been following in her mother’s footsteps as an entrepreneur and took classes about how to start a business.
“My mom is my inspiration. She owns her own business and pushed me to create my own entrepreneurial identity. I want to make a legacy for my kids and allow them to carry on my business name. My daughter is an entrepreneur and I’ve been showing her the ropes of packaging products and pricing.”
Several years back, Traneka received a candle-making gift set from a friend, sparking a love for the craft that eventually led her to starting her own business.
To start her online shop, Traneka taught herself how to design a website and created her own packaging and marketing materials. Traneka’s favorite part about starting her own business is setting her own hours and providing a high level of customer service. As a mother of three, owning her own business has also allowed Traneka to find more time for herself and her family.
“I want to be known for my excellent customer service and I always go above and beyond for them. I love being able to make someone’s day or make my own day because of a positive experience with a customer.”
In 2022, Traneka joined Grameen America to improve her financial mobility, grow her candle business to open a storefront, and surround herself with like-minded entrepreneurs who could share business ideas, knowledge, and resources. In March 2023, Traneka opened a shop where local customers can find a variety of fragrances.
“I always wanted to start my own business so I am living my dream. This is my calling. It took a lot of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice to start my business and fill the shelves with products. I had to trust the process, stay motivated, and never give up. I became my own cheerleader.”
Traneka uses the additional loan capital to enhance her online store and purchase more products and supplies needed to make candles. Through her loan repayments, Traneka’s credit score has improved and she is working to increase her credit line. Traneka is always working to improve her business and has expanded her products to offer body scrubs and oils at her shop.
“Grameen America is a movement for women in business and entrepreneurship. It has helped me with my business and brand identity. My goals are to gain more customers, generate more revenue, and improve my website. I’m thinking about opening another location in the future.”
Recently, Traneka was nominated to be a Center Chief by her fellow Grameen America members, a role recognizing her strong ability to support new members, communicate effectively, and help keep members focused on their business growth. In this leadership role within the Center, Traneka also connects with women on a human level and talks about the real moments in each other’s lives.