Gift Focus - Sep/Oct 2019 (Issue 115)

51 COMPANY PROFILE There are so many – especially our faux plant/ flower collections and candle/fragrance ranges. The repeat sales have been fantastic. Have any products taken you by surprise with their popularity? Mainly our candle and fragrance collections, our resin animal collections and the faux plants/flowers range have been a huge growth category! How do you keep your designs fresh and current? How often do you launch new lines? Our talented and experienced team of innovative designers and our product development team, supported by Candlelight’s design director Sue Mayo, create the latest trends. Also by working closely with our customers to produce bespoke and one-of-a-kind, design- led ranges. We also launch Candlelight collections twice a year, in which we hold in stock for our independent customers. What have been the key milestones in the business? We’ve recently been awarded with the recommended product design on-trend for our Deco Glam collection at Exclusively Housewares in June 2019. Candlelight is coming up to its 50 th anniversary! This is something to look forward to. How are you finding the current economic climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? Trade is very challenging. However, this doesn’t seem to be having an effect on Candlelight. People will always buy gifts, but it’ll be very much about quality, price and good design, with products needing to have perceived value. This is what Candlelight offers. We’ve invested a huge amount in stock this year, which we hold in our warehouse in Rotherham. Are you active on social media? We use Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Do you visit trade shows? Which ones, and how are these important for the business? Following a four-year period during which Candlelight went under the radar, we’ve fallen back in love with trade shows, which has been very much on our agenda throughout 2019, exhibiting at Harrogate, Spring & Autumn Fairs at the NEC and also making a presence at Exclusively Housewares for the first time in many years! In 2020, our stands will be even bigger! Do you have any tips for new traders? Work out what you want to do, believe in it, believe in yourself, give it your best shot and enjoy yourself while you’re doing it! What can we expect in the future from Candlelight Products? More innovative designs and product categories launching, including the recent launch of our Kitchen/Housewares ranges, expanding our occasional furniture offer and, of course, lots more new candle and fragrance designs, with exciting news of new brand Katie Alice, a candle/fragrance collection launching in the new year. Exciting times ahead at Candlelight! For further information, visit the website candlelight.co.uk or call +44 (0)1709 723 000 .