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Month: January 2022

UnCommons will Reveal First Speakeasy Candle Co., Coming this May to Much-Anticipated Southwest Las Vegas Community

Posted on by UnCommons Website

UnCommons, a $400 million, 40-acre mixed-use community by Matter Real Estate Group, will be home to the first Speakeasy Candle Co. The innovative eco-conscious, plant-based luxury candle maker, whose creations are inspired by the aromas of popular craft cocktails, will debut this May at the much-anticipated Southwest Las Vegas development.

Speakeasy Cocktail Co. is a new home fragrance brand inspired by the delectable aromas of popular craft cocktails. Specializing in gourmand fragrant candles, the local candle crafter will occupy a 1,200-square-foot space conveniently located next to UnCommons’ parking garage, serving as an aromatic greeting for visitors.

“We could not be more excited to debut our first Speakeasy location at UnCommons and introduce our craft, eco-luxe candles as part of this vibrant community,” said Speakeasy Candle Co. founder and expert chandler, Alisha Alexander. “What we’re serving up at our speakeasy is neither shaken nor stirred, neither up nor on the rocks, though they are served with a twist.”

Speakeasy’s inaugural spring launch will boast scent profiles of iconic cocktails from the prohibition era and today. The first collection, Happy Hour, includes candles inspired by four popular drinks: Old Fashioned, Gin and Tonic, Hemingway Daiquiri, and Rosé. The second collection of candles, The Craft Cocktail Collection, offers an elevated take on libations you can find in a speakeasy, including Bee’s Knees, Blood Orange Margarita, Vegas Sidecar, and Haute Toddy. Both collections are handmade with natural plant-based waxes, primarily from coconuts, combined with other thoughtfully-selected, highly-refined ingredients.

An eco-conscious brand, Speakeasy intentionally seeks to source supplies and raw materials that are recyclable, sustainable, and reusable. Shoppers are encouraged to participate in the brand’s refill and recycle program, through which they can return their vessels to be refilled into a candle of the same or a completely new scent. After five returned vessels, customers can receive a complimentary candle of their choice. If customers choose to recycle at Speakeasy, they can enjoy additional savings on future purchases.

With the scented candle market expected to grow by 3.4 billion by 2025, Alexander has carved a lane for her small-batch, locally crafted cocktail candles. Speakeasy’s products tout cleaner burns that prevent buildup and soot, plus longer and stronger burns that trigger candle lovers olfactive sensors like never before. In addition to shopping for eco-luxe collections, customers are invited to join weekly candle-making workshops that allow them to handpick their very own high-end fragrance composed by industry-leading perfumers. The candle-making company will also collaborate with local businesses for their team building and gifting needs, event planners for their milestone celebration needs, and custom bulk orders for the needs of fundraising.

“At UnCommons, we’re curating a lineup of experiences and brands that place importance on the same principles that we do, being connected to your community and the environment,” said Matter Real Estate Group Partner Jim Stuart. “We can’t think of a better fit than Speakeasy and Alisha, who embody intention and thoughtfulness when it comes to creating a quality product that makes a meaningful impact on not only the lives of our community members but also the life of our planet.”

Speakeasy will also focus on candle care, offering a specialty kit for their vessels and advising enthusiasts on ensuring their candles burn safely. “Handmaking candles are a combination of so many things I love: creating, experiencing, and impacting,” said Alexander. “But what I also love about Speakeasy is that we truly have something for everybody. If our signature scents are not your thing, we’ve also curated a scent library with a clever mix of fragrance notes that are ozonic, floral, woody, crisp, and fresh. Our in-store experts are fully equipped to guide guests to creating something truly unique and scentsational.”

 

A toxic workplace can lead to a 300% increase in depression; how to know if you have one and steps to solve the problem

Posted on by UnCommons Website

 

As we jump into the new year, we take inventory of what is working and what is not: relationships, physical movement, mental health and the elusive work-life balance. When we map these out, we tend to focus on our personal lives outside of the work when we should also be applying these — relationships, movement, mental health — to work itself. After taking inventory of these areas, evaluate what changes need to be made. Are there small changes that can improve your work life? Or, maybe it’s time to make a bigger change and find a place that works better for you.

A study in Australia found that toxic workplaces increase the risk of depression by 300%. Let’s break down the key aspects we laid out above and identify what is toxic and how to break the cycle.

Relationships

We’ve all seen the cartoon of the boss versus the leader where the boss is yelling orders juxtaposed with the leader to helping to carry the load.

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We work harder, better and more enthusiastically for someone who lines up shoulder-to-shoulder with us than when working out of spite or fear. Most of us spend the majority of our time and energy on work. Leadership must acknowledge and support employees without demanding a lot of their time and also allowing enough time to complete assignments. Ways the workplace can build better relationships:

  • Open and honest communication
  • Appreciate employees: Acknowledge accomplishments right away
  • Show value and be empathetic: Learn the kind of praise each team member values – in front of the whole company, a private moment, involving their family, etc. – and deliver accordingly
  • Follow through on commitments: Showcase deadlines and follow-up if not met
  • Learn from your employees: Acknowledge that their views are important

Movement

Movement promotes active, alert and engaged employees. Having a calendar full of back-to-back meetings brings down morale as well as energy and creativity. Management can set an example by showcasing how important it is to take a break and move your body.

Ways to move:

  • Offer to pay for standing desks
  • Have employees block time to walk outside or take a work-out break
  • If able to meet in person, have walking one-on-ones or walk to a coffee shop

Mental Health

Outside of movement, we need mental breaks to gather our thoughts. Employees benefit from setting out time in the morning to see their day ahead and to settle from the morning they might have had, especially for those still working from home. I know I personally need a break after my toddler yells at me because she wants a different backpack, so you never know what colleagues and employees are having to juggle at home. It’s also useful to take a break between projects to reset and give your best work to the next task.

Ways to have a mental break at work:

  • Offering Headspace to employees for free
  • Setting mental time for beginning/mid/end of day
  • When on PTO, not reaching out to give that mental space
  • Making sure that employees take their earned PTO

Choose to implement some of these changes for yourself, for your team or suggest to your HR team. Little changes go a long way. And remember, perfection is the enemy of greatness. The balance will always be a bit off but we can all continually reevaluate in search of that harmony.