Gift Focus - Sep/Oct 2019 (Issue 115)

50 A glowing year for Candlelight Gift Focus talks to Debbie Isles, sales director at Candlelight, about new launches, the brand’s overseas presence and going back to its roots When did Candlelight Products start up? Who set up the business and why? Back in 1972, at 23 years old, Mike Winch and a friend started Candlelight Products. Previously Mike worked at Johnson’s Wax, and during the Miners’ Strike, he kept getting asked if the company (Johnson’s) sold candles. It didn’t, but it gave him a good idea. With just a £20 investment, which they used to create a candle-making machine, and a rented out a barn in Rotherham, Candlelight Products Ltd. was born! How has the company developed over time? Four years later, Mike became an importer, moving from candles into giftware, with Candlelight gradually evolving decade after decade to become what it is today – a major design-led importer and wholesale supplier of giftware, candles/fragrance, home accessories and seasonal products. Some 47 years later, the company – which has proudly remained in Rotherham, and trades from a 150,000sq ft landmark premises – has gone back to its roots launching a range of branded candles and fragrance earlier this year. Today the company’s UK HQ, employs more than 100 people, including a team of seven designers. There’s also a huge Candlelight operation in a prime location in Hong Kong that supplies every continent and most major retailers. That has been run for the past eight years by Tommy Bartels, supported by Ben Winch (Mike’s son). Then there’s exclusive, bespoke product for the UK and the international Blue Chip retailers, which is a long-established part of the Candlelight offer. And lastly, there’s our logistics business, representing some 20 clients that utilise the company’s warehousing skills and facilities. What inspired the name? Inspired by the candles that were produced back in 1972. Tell us about your product offering. We predominately offer Home Adornment, including our new candle/fragrance collections, which launched earlier this year – a staggering 150 new lines! We’ve recently launched a range of dinnerware, mugs, kitchen and tabletop accessories, winning an award at Exclusively Housewares earlier in the year for our designs for the Deco Glam collection. And now, for this season, we’re expanding our occasional furniture offer, launching our Monkey tables in gold and silver (other animals to follow). These will be on display at the Autumn Fair in September – Hall 8 Stand D81. What’s your most popular collection?