Sustainability at the core of our rebrand

Earlier this week we spoke to Shop Hartlepool about our brand update and why sustainability is at it's core. We also give you a little insight into current trends and our favourite scents right now.

We noticed that being eco-friendly is a key focus of your brand, why was this particularly important to you and could you tell us a bit about how you have incorporated being eco-friendly into your business? 

We care about the environment and the impact we have on it and wanted to be able to create products that performed well, but without having a negative impact on the world around us. From the outset we have kept that in mind when making decisions. We've recently moved away from soy wax to a more sustainable natural blend of rapeseed and coconut wax which is sourced from Europe and the UK so the cardon footprint is reduced, compared to our previous soy wax. It is also much more sustainable and eco-friendly and performs better too. Burning at a lower temperature you get a longer lasting scent and an even, clean burn, so better quality and value too. We also use plastic free packaging wherever possible to reduce waste and enable our customer to recycle the boxes our products come in. 

What was behind the decision to re-brand Lily and Faith and could you tell us a little bit about that new brand?

We started thinking about updating our brand late last year because we were having trouble sourcing our usual candle jars. We knew we needed to change jar which would mean changing labels and also the recipe of our candle due to the shape of our previous jar. We took that as an opportunity to really think about the whole image of the brand and bring out more of our values such as the sustainability through our look and feel. We have worked with a graphic designer, Carrie Clark based in Newcastle, who was able to really uplift what we had, taking it to another level. She got us to think about our values, making them part of the brand's image and keeping sustainability at the core. Through the update we also moved from clear glass vessels to matt black which was a big change, but we love the new look and have had some amazing feedback already from our customers.

What do you love most about being a small business, specifically in Hartlepool?

We love the support we get from the people in the town, we have lots of loyal customers in Hartlepool which is so nice to know they love our products and they want us to succeed. Initiatives like Love Hartlepool also mean a lot, getting the message out there about businesses in the town is so important. Flying the flag for us small guys and getting people to think about what is available on their doorstep really makes a difference. 

Have you noticed any trends recently in the orders you’ve had? Do you have a current best-seller? 

During the summer we always see a move from candles towards reed diffusers, which is a great way to keep your home smelling good when it's too hot to light a candle. Our best-selling fragrance is Black Pomegranate which is not surprising as it smells so good.

Do you each have a personal favourite scent or product?

James' current favourite is Damson Plum, Rose and Patchouli, which is the perfect blend of fruity and floral without being overpowering, we have this candle burning in our living room right now. And my [Christina] favourite is Eucalyptus and Peppermint, it's a great spa like soothing fragrance, I love it in a reed diffuser in the bathroom.

What would you say to someone considering making a purchase from a small business, to convince them to shop local?

By shopping small and local you are likely to get a better quality product that’s made with love and care. Every purchase, big or small, makes a difference and supports a dream.

Find out more about Shop Hartlepool and discover some great local businesses you can support on their website.