Freckleface Home Fragrance in Stamford wins Independent Retailer of the Year award at the Rutland & Stamford Mercury Business Awards 2022
What started out as a 14-year-old’s school project has grown to a brand worthy of winning Independent Retailer of the Year at the Mercury Business Awards 2022.
Noah Carlile-Swift began making candles with his mum Tara in 2017 under the name Freckleface Home Fragrance.
What started as a hobby grew into a successful business, with a workshop in Bourne, shops in Stamford, York, Leeds and Cambridge and products stocked in more than 650 other stores.
The team from category sponsors Downtown team, were observing the period of national mourning afterThe Queen died.
Leo Media is an associate sponsor of the awards and produces the videos guests are shown so director Chris England stepped into present the award.
On behalf of category sponsors Downtown, Chris described Freckleface as having ‘a fantastic back story and a profitable product with huge appeal and ethical values’.
Also: Pictures from the Mercury Business Awards 2022
He added: “The brand, led by very commercially astute, strong, and yet grounded owners, already has great resonance locally, and huge potential with numerous routes to market.
“This is an incredibly impressive business built on solid foundations.”
Tara and Noah, who attended the ceremony with colleagues and family, were ‘shocked, amazed and thrilled’ to receive the award.
Noah said: “We have always planned to have a successful business and are proud of what we have achieved.”
Like everyone, the business faced a challenging time during the pandemic but managed to navigate the rocky waters.
Tara said: “During lockdown people still bought the home fragrance so all our stockers were still making an income by selling our product.
“Not only did we keep our family supported but also other businesses.”
Keen to continue expanding the business, Noah is pioneering an idea to create coffee shops under the Freckleface brand.
The first café was launched in Red Lion Street, Stamford in July.
Stamford-based Peters’ Cleaners and Tracey’s Emporium, a quirky gift store in Uppingham were finalists in the Independent Retailer of the Year category.
