Boxes of Light
Last month, Aylesbury Box Company delivered 2000 litho-printed cartons to Nadia Pomfret, owner of a new enterprise, Ally Candles. These presentation boxes will hold her range of natural candles.
Every new business owner has an emotional attachment to their venture. They have to invest considerable time, money and effort into getting it off the ground. Then it demands continuous attention, learning and development to make it a success.
For Nadia, an emotional connection with her business is stronger than most. Her candle company donates 10% of all sales to Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), a charity close to her heart. Unfortunately, Nadia lost her son, Alessandro (Ally) from an undiagnosed heart condition. He was a young, active 17-year-old, full of life and energy when he died of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome.
The candle business was born from her desire to play an active part in raising awareness and preventing other families from sharing such an experience.
Why a Candle Business?
Following the tragedy, friends and family drew light and hope through the lighting of candles in memory of Ally. An online community was formed. Those who knew and loved Ally could come together and pay their respects through the lighting of virtual candles.
This prompted Nadia to develop an interest in how candles were made and she began hand pouring candles. With a passion for natural ingredients, she learnt the process of using soybean and coconut wax bases and experimented with natural fragrances. When she had mastered the method and scaled production, she put everything in place to launch her business.
A Sensory Range of Candles
The delight of natural scented candles is that they have sensory appeal. The desirable fragrances can transport you to place far and wide. The ambient light of the flame, when the 100% cotton wick is lit, is entrancing. The muted light, flickering flame and natural oils can a positive impact on the body and mind.
The Ally Candles range includes scents that would appeal to every taste. Would you favour the fresh and citrus ‘Sicilian Lemon and Mint’ or the exotic Black Orchid? Are you intrigued by Basil and Neroli, a mood-lifting scent or Black Fig and Vetiver, which can promote relaxation?
Sourcing the Ideal Gift Boxes
Nadia contacted Aylesbury Box Company for advice on suitable presentation boxes and shipping cartons. Where possible, she was keen to use natural, renewable materials and a local company. A Buckinghamshire cardboard packaging specialist seemed like a good bet.
She admits to not knowing the first thing about packaging in her first meeting with Helen. They talked through different ideas and Helen explained the best solutions. Nadia found Helen a lovely contact to deal with and said she was helpful. Not only did she solve the packaging challenge, but she also recommended other local companies that could fulfil Nadia’s other business requirements.
After several packaging samples had gone back and forth, the final design was agreed. The grey box features text which tells the story of Ally Candles and a reflective foil heart.
“When the boxes were delivered, they were all flat packed. It was so emotional as we started to fit them together and place the candles inside. I have had so many comments on how beautiful the boxes are”.
– Nadia Pomfret, Ally Candles
The business launched just before Christmas and the response was immediate; lots of candles were ordered as festive gifts. Having restocked, Mother’s Day orders are now underway and the future looks positive for this fledgling business. Looking forward, Nadia and Helen are now in the process of designing bespoke shipping boxes for orders.
If you would love to fill your home with light and beautiful aromas, whilst supporting a small business and charity, take a look at the Ally Candle collection.
If you would like to discuss product packaging and bespoke shipping boxes, contact Aylesbury Box Company on 01296 436888 or enquiries@abcbox.co.uk.
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