Plainfield Mom Turns Grief into Growing Business

What started out as a labor of love has turned into a growing business for a Plainfield mom.

In 2003, Julie Coda and her husband, Jim, lost their twin daughters shortly after their birth.

By 2010, with her two older children in school full time, Julie said she wanted to do something in memory of the girls, whom the couple had named Mia and Gianna.

“I didn’t want to sit home and clean all day,” said Julie, who previously worked in the mortgage industry. “I wanted to do something in honor of them.”

Recently, Julie was named one of the Top 200 Leading Moms in Business by Startupnation.com for her home-based business, Mia-Gia Soy Candles.

With 106 different scents, the Mia-Gia offers non-toxic soy candles, along with soy-based room sprays and accessories including wick trimmers and candle shades.

Julie said she opted for soy-based products because they’re safer than paraffin candles.

“Soybean is natural, it’s biodegradable,” she said. “It doesn’t burn any toxins or carcinogens,” Julie explained, adding the candles also burn longer than their non-soy counterparts.

Julie said she felt candles were the perfect product to honor her daughters’ memory.

“Whether they realize it or not, every time someone burns one of my candles, they are doing it in honor of them,” she said.

Recently, Julie said she learned she was one of Startupnation.com’s Top 200 Moms In Business.

“It’s just exciting that we're finally being recognized,” she said, adding more than 350,000 votes were cast in the website’s search for the top moms.

While she may eventually sell her products at retail stores, for now, Julie said she’s focusing on online sales and home shows.

To browse products, place an order or learn more about hosting a home show, visit miagiacandles.weebly.com.