Parkminster Founder Krystyna Patey’s focus has remained the same from the start: create thoughtful, handmade products while building meaningful, long-term relationships with independent retailers around the world A lasting impression When did you start up and why? Parkminster began around 2010, when I started creating natural body and home fragrance products at my kitchen table. I was looking for products that felt honest, well-made and fairly priced, but struggled to find anything that truly matched what I had in mind. What began as a small personal project slowly evolved into a business built around thoughtful craftsmanship and a calmer way of living. What prompted you to launch the business? The idea for Parkminster really took shape during a 2008 visit I made to New York with my partner, who was there for his design business. While exploring the city, I discovered a number of small, independent brands hand-making natural skincare, bath salts, candles and perfumes. These products were being sold in beautifully curated neighbourhood lifestyle stores that championed small makers and placed the focus firmly on natural ingredients and thoughtful craftsmanship rather than large, massproduced brands. The ethos of these shops – encouraging people to step away from mass production and towards products that are kinder to both the planet and our wellbeing – left a lasting impression. It inspired me to begin experimenting with creating my own natural fragrances and candles, which ultimately became the foundation of Parkminster. What challenges have you overcome since the company’s launch? Like many independent businesses, growth has required patience and resilience. One of the biggest challenges has been expanding while staying true to our original values – continuing to hand-blend fragrances and pour candles ourselves rather than outsourcing production. Maintaining that slower, more thoughtful approach while supplying hundreds of stockists has required careful planning and a strong, experienced team. Another challenge many brands face today is the constant expectation of growth. There is often an assumption that success means becoming bigger and bigger each year. Over time we realised that our ambition isn’t to become the largest candle maker in the industry, but to build a business that is strong, resilient and genuinely rewarding for the people 26
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