Entrepreneur Sally Bennett reveals export hopes after launching Beanmade Candles

A Lancashire entrepreneur has launched her own business after spotting a gap in the market while studying in China.

Sally Bennett, a 27-year-old UCLan graduate from Longton, established Beanmade Candles after teaching herself how to make the products and drawing on her experience in food industry product development for retailer Marks & Spencer.

With the business now four months old, Sally plans to supply high street department stores and eventually export candles to China. At present, the company’s products are available in stores in Penwortham and Tarleton, as well as online.

She was helped in getting Beanmade Candles off the ground by the Growth Support Programme at Boost, Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub.

Sally studied nutrition at university and moved to Shanghai to study Mandarin. While there, she identified a gap in the market for handmade British products and experimented in making candles using soy beans and essential oils.

She started selling at markets in Shanghai and wanted to set up a business, but after experiencing language barriers she instead returned to England and launched Beanmade Candles.

Sally said: “The response so far has been great and I’ve already got a strong customer following. The whole process has been so exciting – and I’m learning a lot along the way.

“I’m not from a business background but I’m very independent and have always wanted to do something for myself.”

She continued: “I found out about Boost after attending a networking event and the support has been really valuable.”

“The workshops have taught me to ‘think bigger’ and enabled me to see the bigger picture and all the opportunities.”

Discussing her future plans for Beanmade Candles, Sally commented: “As I started in China I’d eventually like to export back there, I think the way forward will be to outsource parts of the business – if I had a manufacturing site I don’t think I’d be able to focus on the growth of business as much and ultimately that’s what I want to do.”

Rona McFall, head of entrepreneurial solutions at Winning Pitch, which delivers the Growth Support Programme alongside Enterprise4all, said: “Sally has turned her business dream into a reality and we’re thrilled to have been able to support her in getting this venture up and running.

“Establishing a business involves many unknowns but Sally is a great example of somebody who is making the most of all the support which is available and we’d encourage other people in the same boat to get in touch and find out how we can help them.”

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