Meet Mari Sulukyan-Maurin | Candlemaker & Registered Nurse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mari Sulukyan-Maurin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mari, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In all honesty, starting a business was never the plan. The initial idea was to use my creative talents to raise money for charities and causes near and dear to me around the world. Particularly, for families effected by the Artsakh war in 2020. It was also a way to share something special with my mom who suffers from chronic illness. Although her capacity to create has been greatly impacted by her ailments, I get so much of my creativity and vigor for arts from her. What started as a project at my kitchen table has turned into something beyond my wildest dreams. I am able to continue to make charitable contributions, be a stewardess of my faith, and do something that helps me connect to people in all capacities. It has been the greatest blessing of my life. I’ve had many evolutions in the last few years and all forks in the road have led me to this point.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a nurse by day and entrepreneur/creative 24/7. I think it was necessary for me to find a creative outlet to balance out my professional life. Initially, Boho x Momo (my brand) was meant to be a hobby of sorts. It started at my kitchen table as a outlet for me, a way to raise funds for charities I connected with, and a way for me to connect with my mom. But, my background in the service industry and as a nurse has really contributed to my ability to connect to people on deeper levels and thus contributed to my growth as a brand. It has certainly not been easy getting to this point. Between the psychological impact the war in Artsakh had on me and my dad being diagnosed with ALS, I had many days and months where I can confidently say I checked out. I was just floating by on the creative side. Uninspired. Unmotivated. But, something clicked a few months after my hiatus in 2021. I came back last year, with a new direction, new purpose, but same core. Boho x Momo was and will always be an extension of me. I realized that if I’m not enjoying it, then it’s time to rethink. The challenges I faced was really narrowing down my products. I was having an identity crisis. Was I a flower shop? Wreath shop? Hat shop? Candle shop?? Heck, I didn’t even know. I decided to truly let go and let God. I prayed on it night after night and over the last year or so, I’ve really cut down on products offered and have focused mainly on my candle line and expanding from there. My aim has been to provide non-toxic, eco-friendly and luxury candles at relatively affordable prices. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve accomplished, despite the setbacks and unpredictable events of life. I’m a risk-taker and too stubborn to quit. One thing I’ve learned along the way is that you must always remain authentically you. People come for me just as much as they come for my products. I hope to never lose that connection.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Gosh! So many cool things in and around Fresno, but I’m going to break it down:

Places to See/Things to Do:
• Underground Gardens
• Basilwood Farms
• Shaver Lake
• Japanese Gardens @ Woodward Park
• Fresno Art Musuem
• Go to a Grizzly Game
• Day Trip to Yosemite
• Show @ Roger Rockas

Places to Eat:
• Heirloom
• Saizon
• Michaelangelo’s
• Annesso
• The Limelight
• Lily’s Kitchen & Catering

Coffee & Dessert:
• Kuppa Joy
• Spirit Made Cakes
• Bears Papa’s
• Alchemist

Cocktail Lounges:
• Bespoke
• The Modernist
• The Red Room
• Quail State

I mean, I can go on and on. Our City has really grown in the last decade. It’s exciting to see what’s next for our big little town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a handful of people I must credit for my success. First and foremost, I’d like to give a huge shoutout to Jill Spruance who shouted me out. Haha. Jill hosted one of my very first pop-ups. I was so unsure of myself and her encouragement and constant warmth has kept me going over the last few years. Other than that, I credit much to my family, particularly my mom, sister, husband and mother-in-law who’ve spent many hours helping me prep for my markets. I’d also like to give a big shoutout to the City of Fresno & Clovis for embracing their small business community. Without the support of City leaders and the citizens of our city who show up and show out every day, we could not be where we are. Lastly, shoutout to the Man upstairs. My faith. That’s my real fuel.

Website: Bohoxmomo.com

Instagram: Bohoxmomo